tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73379709356905425262024-02-07T13:51:38.382-08:00Karen Foley Romance BlogKaren Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-31128550010009800212010-01-19T02:40:00.000-08:002010-01-19T03:12:10.434-08:00Road TripMy dad and I just completed a 1,500 mile road trip, from West Newbury, Massachusetts on the northeastern seaboard, to North Port, Florida. My folks have a beautiful home there, and normally they would drive down together in October, but my mom recently had a hip replacement and was not given the doctor's okay to drive so far. So she flew down on Friday morning while we drove the van. In the back, nestled in amongst the luggage, was their 13-year old golden retriever, Reilly. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428404613332383698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhso1UTbGf9sf5RZE5lD6pQQUvvfYvjyiJeJkDRt9c9g6PZO-7AZb_-N-FUx69ARALTSTkEBYNs4BewjHdgP-jlVl4Iv3TrH98weVx3czHA3RzfAAwwvrfs-Zq1LRFHLfSdxHmHeOdlA_/s320/103_0250.JPG" /> We traveled west, through the Berkshires, and then south through New York and Pennsylvania, where we hit lots of icy snow and fog in the Scranton area. No fun. But we got through that and by the time we hit Virginia, the roads were clear, although it was frigid cold and everything was covered in snow and ice. But we made it through the bad weather and the rest was more or less clear sailing.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 295px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428404423372888418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_oMQagv_AecG4jWWTRG9FDkeQgAdve33VHwXAx7sUJAnGSdy6q7Co_Yjp0y5ZSgCItqBfnn6TM9FNy8vFIhvXCDHohdLY5NjK6uR-bLHXyVmzGR4CQ09zlROSHSJzLrOiY1Oxhzjtt1A/s320/north+carolina.jpg" /> We spent the second day driving through North and South Carolina to my cousin's home in Georgia. He and his wife own a sprawling horse farm in the countryside, with two horses, two ponies, five dogs, two cats and a parrot. It was so much visiting with them, and their home was so beautiful that I didn't want to leave! Here is a picture of Jodi with the ponies:<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428403842809473314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTNt2_Tn9YlD5rLU79Q7T4qi9euj7DYzIb0D8gKA4QQ_AmSYiiLAfPbICwPCBPmrPXDUsTB-m0UL21gROtKHLvsxDcTyGtIesSFNTTqkS2qJe5VRVvlWzKXpOz2MitNS1geSEd5qeoHss/s320/jody.jpg" />And here I am with my cousin, Mike:<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428403445689544434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2i2SinqfdTA67t6w6fYcprOeI_dvF-fWB96Q7dGgVL0t4FJ_wOOOEHZlelr2QZvA5QrJc6opcMylx2wL-7HDMRGZxr-YXTJDOyeSKPBCS70mLRn0rT6xzqrvBt7kGazchAMPyjU_wEEZZ/s320/103_0264.JPG" /> We reached Florida by dinnertime on the third day, and although I'd been looking forward to the warm weather, the temperatures were only in the 20's. Many of the trees and bushes had to be covered that night for protection from the severe frost, and my sister and her husband were protecting their beehives by wrapping them in heating pads and heavy blankets.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 264px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428401169703226258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUH4P2_k_5cdW6V62ub5d2xtM_hyphenhyphenYsm3EZaObdvqGMMd1Zkj0fq9X9pdpxrdfBeXy_wNuk_oAXcqaYvvEzXp_T3bdouAKyfRk9IQ66ch4qJB01jItenlNbn4m_feFn5LoEyYRme1M7_G29/s320/florida.jpg" /> I spent the night at my sister's house and then flew back the next morning, so not much of a visit, but I really enjoyed spending the time with my dad. Would I do it again? Ask me in the spring.Karen Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-16046716513700780812010-01-04T16:05:00.000-08:002010-01-04T16:29:39.640-08:00Dreaming of Ireland<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiQwjoUhbiRX8sGwPEarlqoT24luI6v3iGa440Gn47lKQUMx9AMAuImf9Du_OnoEDRKwHad4GJZN8sgly7shhPIVzFcOm_xXW8aAwRTnfKeIGlHxrf0UsZx1i6yFpV_h_t8o9ak1sQ1RH/s1600-h/ireland.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 255px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423045443603685794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiQwjoUhbiRX8sGwPEarlqoT24luI6v3iGa440Gn47lKQUMx9AMAuImf9Du_OnoEDRKwHad4GJZN8sgly7shhPIVzFcOm_xXW8aAwRTnfKeIGlHxrf0UsZx1i6yFpV_h_t8o9ak1sQ1RH/s320/ireland.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div></div><div>I've been dreaming about a trip to Ireland for several years now, and this year it may finally become a reality...if the airfares come down just a bit! Right now, the roundtrip fare is running about $900 per person, which is a little steep considering there are five of us. I initially wanted to go at the end of August, but since my niece, Colleen, will back in school by that time (and we really want to bring her with us), we're now looking at going in June.<br /></div><div>Just before the holidays, we watched the movie, <em>Falling for a Dancer</em>.</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 176px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423044714085249314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinff-ctSBlKcgFCHaxGtbIhO37rS6ZhLVSR9UlauElSt_sCPDgNOaLFeZdXa0w1qA96QipPqHn-vc_aBYEBbiBBXnqO_0n7-cEka2lwjXKdGd1ZInBatcJGByZZirn8inT89IEZVDG_1b2/s320/dancer.jpg" /></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>This a wonderful love story which takes place during WWII on the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland. If you haven't seen it, I recommend that you go out and rent it. The movie stars Liam Cunningham and a young Colin Farrell, and both do a terrific job. The scenery in the film was so breathtaking, I knew we had to visit there.</div><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423044412409757906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlq_GwLMJPZ-nYumS8mctqMj9bYuMaA6aXWrzJL2HUJVhtSDWQX65zutxOh4qqYP3fHen_U_f3C0NGmSdkFgpXbnmQ1ku_ichPVxrc5FpeI23Mf3VVBtQrJi8vRgk3ucXwo6pUnEfnJbui/s320/dingle+peninsula.jpg" /><br /><div>So my itinerary has us flying into Shannon and renting a cottage on the peninsula for a week so that we can spend some time exploring the area, like the town of Dingle, below. </div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423043949572046146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXC28sEEk788GjtiD6VAtbz7H6wqwqDDVkeb0afV0MwGIoFFxFbhYDefi-3Iyup6rh952Q9dpYAGuwt1nVsHWNk5c1fO3JW7wOauGT98-jRU81U2OtyHWioy-JEwUXEaTY40NHm1-NaUyW/s320/dingle.jpg" /><br /><div></div><div></div><div>For the second week, we'll rent another cottage in County Cork...<br /><br /></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 245px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 164px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423043688513136482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqO23NCjkFFtHPgtyRAnwNu1oVnsYIV_8FDCbiOz2EwHN9dEq-OLbmnpf4B_zU9JAFMrtGyn9J6eqBvJC9CAUUps1ZNZht8_kS74-_aeAaHpQ0kTJs2mErTEjmoY6hfY6ZZtiByYZuend/s320/cork.jpg" /></div><br /><div></div><div>...but for now I'll continue to plan our itinerary and watch the airfares.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Karen Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-21381122178193200262010-01-03T08:16:00.000-08:002010-01-03T08:35:06.627-08:00Let it Snow<div><div>It's been snowing more or less steadily since Friday night, but we've only received about six or seven inches of total accumulation. But the winds have been tremendous and I didn't think I'd be able to sleep last night with the windows rattling and the ice on the river creaking and breaking. We drove up to Derry yesterday afternoon and delivered a cooked ham to John's dad, and the road were very slick and icy. I was glad to get home.</div><br /><div></div><div>John found a tractor/snowblower that he bought from a gentleman in Ipswich yesterday. He spent a couple of hours clearing the driveways, the sidewalks, and then the neighbors' driveways and was happy to get up this morning and do it all again. </div><div> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422552689968835106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5MVXpblpsB6jTWdwsLWOsvfsasqVeXKR0Y_T1OetUn7uosh5T2RjOyae1D5QrmEXNRvDbGxmxo6cGIGcHkjymxOtgpC9K49A3m_1mELiZZbPtAhvtr0XeWHv22q48_3bBX3j3CS9Oirl/s320/snowblowing.jpg" /><br /><div></div><div>Here is a picture of the river from my kitchen window. It's not completely frozen over, since the rain we had last week melted most of the ice, but you can see the slush beginning to form on the surface. If the temperatures remain this low, the surface will begin to freeze once more, especially where it backs up at the bridge. </div><div> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422552092392831202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaUCz8b6SnCjacZh-8d06IHrlPnAmcmXM5P0u1oxKPvfYGSKumsV3rkpuJ7EKlho86xl244d9ZlkXv4wtId6scgRTvh7UqDBKD3bbGehQoQKeyuQy9g4J2IK9ZE4HRVE3mr3VRtVmsn3p/s320/frozenriver.jpg" /> <div>We went to breakfast yesterday at the Fish Tale diner, and the water was higher than I've ever seen it in Newburyport harbor. We saw two men paddle a canoe under the Rte 1 bridge toward the ocean, with no life preservers, maneuvering their way through the ice floes. There's stupid and then there's stupid. If that canoe overturned, they'd never make it to shore before they'd succumb to the frigid waters. </div><div></div><br /><div>We're off to a surprise birthday party today for the husband of a friend, at the Ale House in Amesbury, so that should be fun. Maybe later we'll meet up with some friends for coffee or a drink in Newburyport, before we go home and watch the Pats game. A perfect Sunday!</div></div>Karen Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-17537435458618858322010-01-01T07:02:00.001-08:002010-01-01T07:43:24.407-08:00Happy New YearI can't believe it's already 2010! Where did the last year go? Worse, I can't believe I haven't updated this blog since March...<br /><br />My New Year's resolution is find a new webmaster for my website (sadly, my former webmaster is pursuing a new career), and to stay current with my blog, if only for family and friends.<br /><br />My daughter, Caitlin, turned sixteen last week; I love this picture:<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421796882963750194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRMDDIsbYFP3aDkaSIVO4rJ8G9HYF__m0hYCsSy5RuJZpLxYwSNxd0KqfHzLllrTa1JF1emtRdlIxq4_J8Jk5yo-QACpfXHsfCOP189A8_ogJt-ptvoOuyUwaIxRiUz-8FClt6qqELaKQ/s320/birthday.jpg" /><br />And here is a picture of our tree, which sadly comes down today since it is now bone dry:<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421795693298438066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LTeQ2mLg9z1v2_2TcmV88budMI6S5mlYfCncig14Wsi0bxR11ftxhZu9Ka-q4LFdWG-N6rklg-_gzUQz7vFhKhtUc_BaFMp3tEg0OFnQBk65uZgVoj8BiRPCfhK9zB5jpifJEVxa-K9b/s320/tree.jpg" /><br /><p></p><br />So what's new for 2010?<br /><br />I have a book coming out in July, part of a Blaze anthology entitled BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY with two of my favorite authors, Jill Shalvis and Rhonda Nelson. My story is entitled <em>Packing Heat</em> and tells the story of Matt Talbot, a Marine sniper who returns home a hero, but finds his new status seriously messes up his love life!<br /><br />I have another release in September, tentatively entitled <em>Hot-Blooded</em>, about a special ops soldier who believes women have no place in combat, and is unprepared for the female civilian who is assigned to his remote outpost.<br /><br />I'll also be working on a third book, for release sometime in 2011.<br /><br />But for today, I'm happy to sit curled in front of the fireplace with my laptop, working on my next book.<br /><br />Happy New Year!Karen Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-85188754419113961412009-03-04T14:17:00.001-08:002009-03-04T14:18:29.452-08:00Looking for Housemouse88Housemouse, I have a gift here that I would love to send to you, but you need to send me your address. Email me at <a href="mailto:karenefoley@comcast.net">karenefoley@comcast.net</a> so I can get this to you.<br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br />KarenKaren Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-60660828061114845642009-03-03T17:40:00.001-08:002009-03-03T18:02:39.648-08:00Jane Porter Appreciation Day<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcYhyUd2z0eAXY-vWE9f-Q1595xek51OmL09MqBumWVMbqc6wjtQdXXxgOLG3l19n61hABObCaJ36bjJvW4Dy24DR6xFHRgHcdL2BZAFYhf68q8GFK8ZJWgsRF5j1PTvoUjRMjsiJJFip/s1600-h/jane.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309146606916971490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 90px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 118px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcYhyUd2z0eAXY-vWE9f-Q1595xek51OmL09MqBumWVMbqc6wjtQdXXxgOLG3l19n61hABObCaJ36bjJvW4Dy24DR6xFHRgHcdL2BZAFYhf68q8GFK8ZJWgsRF5j1PTvoUjRMjsiJJFip/s400/jane.jpg" border="0" /></a>I'm declaring today to be Jane Porter Appreciation Day, partly because she sent me a gorgeous red mug with gift cards and pretty Jane Porter promo items in it as part of a blog giveaway (I love getting fun things on days when I'm feeling down), and mostly because I just admire this lady so much. I've been reading her books for years, and although I love her Harlequin Presents stories, I'm a big fan of her single title books. I swear that her book, <em>Flirting with Forty</em>, raised my sister out of her post-divorce depression and allowed her to find love again (she got married again this past weekend to a really great guy who swears he's been waiting his whole life for her).<br /><div><div></div><br /><div>If <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3J43XLCRrei_GUJiM8AH26dvKKAy-3zR5ktXnsIlbEXSIH1DgCiB4kVzzXJChdUNbY1_i833whET7Via4xMZZclrN_Gf6eHCizRr9XpZ8X-kZkfNR4MBMsmCiS-XpWXyvQNy6igTbyGhyphenhyphen/s1600-h/flirting.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309146966652433170" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 85px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 129px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3J43XLCRrei_GUJiM8AH26dvKKAy-3zR5ktXnsIlbEXSIH1DgCiB4kVzzXJChdUNbY1_i833whET7Via4xMZZclrN_Gf6eHCizRr9XpZ8X-kZkfNR4MBMsmCiS-XpWXyvQNy6igTbyGhyphenhyphen/s400/flirting.jpg" border="0" /></a>you've ever read Jane's blog, then you have a pretty good idea what kind of person she is; caring, energetic, enthusiastic, courageous, generous, loving...all those positive, upbeat, good things that I wish could I emulate a little more. Not only that, but she looks fabulous...like she's closer to 24 than her real age. She's one of the few 40-something women I know who can put on a glittering little dress and kick butt on women half her age. Yes, she is my idol. And her own personal story reads like one of her books. I think I cheered along with all her other fans when she found Surfer Ty. </div><br /><div></div><div>I make a point of attending her workshops at writer conferences, because she's honest and real and funny, and it's like you're talking with a good friend. I'm happy for all her hard-earned achievements and well-deserved success, and I'm looking forward to her next book, <em>Easy on the Eyes</em>. So, Jane, here's to you! Thank you for being such a great role model and inspiration.</div></div></div>Karen Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-84847129878529270732009-03-01T18:21:00.000-08:002009-03-01T18:43:59.647-08:00In Like a Lion...I woke up this morning to find an email from a friend in Virginia, about how happy she was to see her daffodils coming up. Her message made me happy, too, because it meant that Spring isn't that far off and in just a few weeks, I might see crocuses and daffodils begin to appear, too. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308412913180412978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 95px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 127px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUH09_w1BEG5jMMXkhjZHalf1FAsi_qB5_03K5QFI96_shdUEdtJiemQk104aFrHDWdP2kXQxkeTKlaHy4rrPSOtJD8h5CZJGQmmZjw9nyX-EQIq10hKRcOQXM2kZuq5FKkQH511DTVPR/s400/crocus.jpg" border="0" /> <div></div><div></div><div></div><div>But then I looked outside and saw snowflakes falling. At first, I wasn't too concerned since they were so light, but they didn't stop. They continued until dinnertime, and although the total accumulation was only a few inches, I've been told it's only a prelude to the real show. The news reports say we're in for a pounding tonight, beginning about...now...and ending sometime tomorrow afternoon. Which means that instead of looking like early Spring int the morning, it will look more like this:</div><div><br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308414894892304226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wEoojxEguPcmV519oiOtaPCYQQco4w9DVHBkDLtYmthCTO3hv5HFuUyTHYM1AZIJDaKY-YrIQm1Ixm0TEe9OCZMQZ3kzLbgmcb2-hcbSgT1mPohNy1MsJsbf4Kyz-Cpv1ep256hjPb5h/s400/Snow_Large_Pines.jpg" border="0" />So the silver lining in all of this is that I get one more day at home with the girls (yes, I'm a total wimp and will not drive to work). We'll light a fire and watch movies, and I'll cook grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup for lunch, and in between, I'll work on my manuscript. <br /><br />That sounds like heaven to me...<br /><div></div>Karen Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-24984610129971808102009-02-24T17:29:00.000-08:002009-02-24T17:50:21.337-08:00Always Use Protection<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mZVz7KjpCHKXeIQ9p4iGZPmbe9SJnA4uMHUgoWFfmkOhCk6QLdK00xeRH0ILO8JB70iuoD1e0gj1tR0gTb8hjZzCFjGRGTZcN6aHdhW8En8Xhu0NnZVVi_va8iyQ0TC4qL9yTHnwB3gO/s1600-h/trojan.jpg"></a><div>My 15-year old daughter caught a nasty virus because she didn't use protection. Okay, folks, I know what you're thinking, but get your minds out of the gutter...I'm talking about her laptop. </div><div></div><br /><div>This kid spends every spare minute on her laptop, IMing her friends, and visiting MySpace and Facebook. So when she received an email from her friend, Morgan, with an attachment entitled, <em>Look at these Great Pictures!,</em> she didn't think twice about it; she opened the attachment and let the Trojan Horse into the city.</div><div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306546213889216114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 101px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMVaDzAEHE_scWt1vhNJsWUAbj-Sh_Kj-3SS_uBcrXLN7Wvkekf2YTZgmcitloLYRmz55T_wgezU_HHdYtGqgtW2W8FB52lk4VajDOkKtoPxKWmexoOnLpvM4olae1qXr9aVymw_Oqlhw/s400/trojan.jpg" border="0" /> <div></div><div>Almost immediately, her computer began convulsing, bringing up strange websites in rapid succession and no matter how desperately she tried to close them, more would appear. She shut her computer down but it was too late. As soon as she opened it, the strange, rolling websites reappeared. I told her to run her Norton Anti-Virus, and she confessed that she had been ignoring the update messages for more than a month. Her subscription had expired and she was no longer protected. As she so aptly said, she is now in computer hell, unable to recreate freely. I told her not to send me ANYTHING. Although I do have antivirus protection, this thing has me so scared that I don't want to risk catching it. I've backed up all of my manuscripts and research material, and tomorrow I'll bring her laptop to a computer shop for diagnosis and (fingers crossed) a cure.</div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306544898212954754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 199px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEzYAOUL-bCTWFrnVuyXC8rMznyudBDdknF9yc0-MhqINLy6hS3px8fcLR7Ii0DzlhUcmwPKINAI9HP42d_DDkEopakUh48spGTK_VTZc4H4byy-FZDGecbxC8pbhgMZWrBbSr8t9mec1/s320/computer-virus-480.jpg" border="0" /></div><div></div><div></div><br /><div>So remember, folks, if you value the health of your computer...always use your antivirus protection!</div></div>Karen Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-6490806315265736162009-02-23T13:55:00.000-08:002009-02-23T16:08:27.148-08:00I Saw Him First!When my editor sent me the cover for my first book, <em>Flyboy</em>, I just about fell off my chair. I don't think I've ever seen such a gorgeous guy, and despite my pleading with Harlequin to have him grace the cover of all my books, I have never seen him on any other cover. It's probably just as well, because I really don't want to share him!<br /><br />I also love the cover of my February book, <em>Able-Bodied </em>and maybe it's wrong, but I consider this guy to be Delta Operator Ransom Bennett. <em>My</em> Ransom Bennett. My guy. He and I have a relationship, where I write his story and he lures my readers in with his sexy expression and killer abs. I don't mind that other women find him attractive, so long as they're admiring him on my cover.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306130850418496994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 169px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 131px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2h-GZT3-lKTASmEzvVGBMINOJr3U76jMEVnOWobLECuGS4xgTS699t0cNuA3KQxlUo69wITWFMp4fo1UcuEy-4SIm9MykWzgPzVzzwUazsauTrICu1HsbHWTpmJKhvApjPpWrUufE-b5/s400/my+guy.jpg" border="0" />So imagine my surprise when I picked up a copy of the March <em>Uniformly Hot</em> book, <em>Always Ready</em> by Joanne Rock, and who do I see on the cover? None other than my own hero! Realistically, I knew this might happen, but I never expected to find my guy cheating on me so soon! I mean, our relationship is technically still on-going. It's still February! How dare he show up on bookstore shelves, on the cover of another woman's book, while he should still be promoting my story! But I love Joanne Rock, so I will willingly share my guy with her.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306130643361358226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI58A1oy6cybn3YDDhwXhghIwWAOpmn9nD3LigWBBE3XnlFFUa8oVG8Jq294O-p0V1x9q36-RGqTr1WYlmW35Aj-cFbrpG6Z08TO-7OyhYFueofpmDub3Ay_CO-wLXtmJ6poRwXPGT__nE/s200/joannes+guy.jpg" border="0" /> Just remember, Joanne...I saw him first!Karen Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-17046679009483572332009-02-21T16:22:00.000-08:002009-02-21T16:24:51.958-08:00And the Winners Are...<strong>Katie and Housemouse88!</strong><br /><br />Housemouse88, please drop me an email at <a href="mailto:karenefoley@comcast.net">karenefoley@comcast.net</a>, and I'll pop a copy of Able-Bodied into the mail to you!<br /><br />Congrats, and thanks for stopping by!Karen Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-63447476451170723852009-02-20T05:31:00.000-08:002009-02-20T06:28:57.116-08:00My Mid-Life CrisisFor the past nine years, I've driven an apple-green New Beetle. When I first bought it, my girls were three and six and fit perfectly into the back seats. I loved this car and said I would drive it into the ground, and then buy another one.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304884286827714002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 111px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBSb4fe7YAEpjru-UupGbUB-p7mnSuR70C16dnVgjCKx3VzhusClRIqbJcCSsKLXLlwaaNlwK8XbCgqJo8oOmcH8sRh5M1i2DoyKqGvvLcNOtyo1l5qBZUsaGt1jtjPgAJ7CxALqIsRD1/s320/beetle.jpg" border="0" />Well...I've definitely driven this baby into the ground, but I won't be purchasing another one. I'm actually very sad to be saying good-bye to my little green punch-buggy. I live in a tiny little town, and this car was instantly recognizable by just about everyone, especially the kids in town. But as much as I might want to buy another Beetle (a shiny red convertible would be my first choice), I have a mutiny on my hands. My girls say they absolutely refuse to be squashed into the back of another Beetle. Since my little one (now 12) is 5'9" tall, I guess I can't blame them too much.<br /><br />So we spent the long weekend car shopping, and although my intention was to get a practical car, like a van or a smaller SUV, I spotted this car and had to have it:<br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304884130491012418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 298px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 205px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0rPaV_ISX5zh6A0lyWB_sJeZ9H3xXesiZRq62hM9OK5hMYHJIwRiQUZeHQWPXp0vTDmRzEMP1VAYKlH6F_sDuYD7Pqd5cKEjcbeM3vgu3Aymub6L_HR_wEIreg5Foqj2jnDJMEC8IqyG/s320/sebring2.jpg" border="0" /> Is it practical? Probably not. But the price was good and I told my husband that as far as mid-life crises go, I could do a lot worse. I have no interest in running off with a younger man, LOL! Or an older one, for that matter! And what better time to have a convertible than the beginning of Spring? And this car has the teenager Seal of Approval. They can both fit comfortably into the back seat, even with the top up.<br /><br />So tomorrow we say good-bye to the punch-buggy and bring this car home. Have you ever had a car that you just hated to part with? Or bought a car that just made you want to drive around all day and night? Share your story, and I'll send out a B&N gift card to one randomly selected visitor. </p><p>Thanks for stopping by!</p>Karen Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-53388299779438654182009-02-15T15:55:00.001-08:002009-02-15T16:12:36.487-08:00A Giveaway!I went out today and bought myself a brand new, shiny, sleek laptop and I am so happy! I'd been putting it off for months, but it was something I really needed to do. My old laptop was getting, well, <em>old</em>. The "e" key was missing, it was very slow, and it didn't have enough memory for me to load the software required for my new printer/scanner. It would freeze up on me, or boot me off line, and there were more times than I care to remember when I nearly tossed out the nearest window.<br /><br />So now I have a new laptop, and I find I'm inspired to begin working on my next manuscript, a story that will be part of a 2010 Harlequin Blaze summer anthology called <em>Born on the Fourth of July</em>...I guarantee it will be hot!<br /><br />And now that I have a new laptop, I've also made a promise to myself to be better about updating my blog and keeping it current. More contests, more giveaways, and more fun. And since my third book, <em>Able-Bodied</em>, is on bookstores shelves right now, I'd love to give away two copies, accompanied by a box of luscious chocolate. Just drop me a note to be entered into the contest, and I'll choose a winner at the end of the week! <div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303181315020688338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 158px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5g8qFYWaOpwVU9HDcmSvP_SHYrw9Rtn4CWjxlYb3fN5prIS7FmCKzHh24EOHMPCG8ng_8WfgT8y0_7Ogxb7ZQOL1RDFYIy_6aBDCqyw-9zoQdE9WBbjtH99x_uK8rNTRFKlW88zQ4tP4/s200/godiva-chocolate-valentine.jpg" border="0" /></div><div> </div>Karen Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-33353025203454277712008-12-23T18:43:00.000-08:002008-12-23T19:22:00.215-08:00Four and a half stars!!ABLE-BODIED gets <strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">four and a half stars</span></em></strong> from Romantic Times BookReviews!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZt7pVKz2LGfYICAdbfy74PgO_GVz87Ul5C-sp5HfU-AKQV4O2V2zqI3-L0hKcHYwOBjA9Ica_uR1ku4tKqUrGG1Y_VKKa6QrFqSsJpYORBDb8UhbgjdJp1lNwjKTLY7h_AWmlNUWWt1Zb/s1600-h/ablebodied.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283186421885295058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 318px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZt7pVKz2LGfYICAdbfy74PgO_GVz87Ul5C-sp5HfU-AKQV4O2V2zqI3-L0hKcHYwOBjA9Ica_uR1ku4tKqUrGG1Y_VKKa6QrFqSsJpYORBDb8UhbgjdJp1lNwjKTLY7h_AWmlNUWWt1Zb/s400/ablebodied.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p>Here is the review:</p><em>ABLE-BODIED (4.5) by Karen Foley: In this meltingly hot story, Reiki healer and sensitive Hannah Hartwell flees Boston after a crooked police officer frames her when she won't sleep with him. She disappears in the night, accidentally taking some money with her. Setting up her new business in North Carolina, Hannah meets Ransom Bennett of Delta Force, a man wounded in both body and heart. She works to heal him even as the powerful erotic connection between them explodes. But danger lurks. Ransom is wonderful and sexy, a strong, silent hero who protects those he cares for. Hannah is appealing and sweet. This is a wonderful romance you won't be able to stop reading.</em> —Page Traynor<br /><br />This review is the best Christmas gift I could ask for, especially considering how difficult this book was to write. I distinctly recall having just a week left before my deadline, and having to travel to upstate New York for business for two weeks. I literally locked myself into my hotel room over the weekend, lit my creativity candle, set my energizing crystals on the table beside me, and wrote for two days. I barely ate, barely slept, and kept thinking, "How am I ever going to finish this book without compromising the characters I've come to love so much?" I mean that sincerely; I love the hero in this story so much. Ransom Bennett is abrasive and rude and completely intimidating, but the heroine sees past that to the tender heart he tries so hard to hide.<br /><br />I'm so thrilled that this book received such a wonderful review, and I hope that my readers love the story, too! <br /><br />Merry Christmas!Karen Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-57600090810813529432008-12-05T20:42:00.000-08:002008-12-05T20:54:57.929-08:00Robert Pattinson PhotosWith nothing much to do tonight (I'm in a Dallas hotel for two weeks on business), I thought I'd just post some gorgeous photos of Rob Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. Enjoy!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRhinLZa3hqrD0L0_YFKm-UEnSd_KcqXEBzy_VXR3yoM3kmQNvF_cKMgaeMwCnfrHBfWcidg0Y2MLLMFI-zxxi2GyS0D8FP3yfriRv7fSIOhUnnoM4aJzaA5plneAX_oIMV1Qr5rw6P7x/s1600-h/edward11.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276534907326418610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 296px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRhinLZa3hqrD0L0_YFKm-UEnSd_KcqXEBzy_VXR3yoM3kmQNvF_cKMgaeMwCnfrHBfWcidg0Y2MLLMFI-zxxi2GyS0D8FP3yfriRv7fSIOhUnnoM4aJzaA5plneAX_oIMV1Qr5rw6P7x/s400/edward11.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpb5yoFQDQUAuuRqM57NKkLY_B8aWHDZ9xddpJ9XuUo77jmizMZF-rUtJWdUaJTH_5vd8p51io-Uexlhij8gDIFfJbP6m_u8lPgFY6iwXkV4MBzUBhInH_zw33xi1BhghgMOf_hdThuWfD/s1600-h/edward12.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276534352682784594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpb5yoFQDQUAuuRqM57NKkLY_B8aWHDZ9xddpJ9XuUo77jmizMZF-rUtJWdUaJTH_5vd8p51io-Uexlhij8gDIFfJbP6m_u8lPgFY6iwXkV4MBzUBhInH_zw33xi1BhghgMOf_hdThuWfD/s400/edward12.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQfKM5Mug4SPN4lFHQis8tdK37sKUPiaISOK7pCU8D3YxaZN7EC6u1C-lct8zk1ju_4WTwSPHS0WK5eRgJ12Lv8Ocl_Rsc7aqgWwo9DVF9qLq36SPdYEXn0GGIRcdYz0U7mssfdIesy5W/s1600-h/edward13.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276533848754308930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQfKM5Mug4SPN4lFHQis8tdK37sKUPiaISOK7pCU8D3YxaZN7EC6u1C-lct8zk1ju_4WTwSPHS0WK5eRgJ12Lv8Ocl_Rsc7aqgWwo9DVF9qLq36SPdYEXn0GGIRcdYz0U7mssfdIesy5W/s400/edward13.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div></div></div>Karen Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-11875814891823468942008-12-03T20:38:00.001-08:002008-12-03T21:26:59.989-08:00Love at First Bite<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGQK2-dORJKsMBuM4tCvmK58oIxCjnz_lPlPjyg7738gODzoy3-PgxMjZWClE_Cwv68YqnfUFbPeVb-oEysAPek-sWhsetqLXC-5FH-zlbrZdshiTlhXFlAGc3n7J8eZrrJUxjT-aKY0p/s1600-h/twilight-movie-poster.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275799237690632626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 270px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGQK2-dORJKsMBuM4tCvmK58oIxCjnz_lPlPjyg7738gODzoy3-PgxMjZWClE_Cwv68YqnfUFbPeVb-oEysAPek-sWhsetqLXC-5FH-zlbrZdshiTlhXFlAGc3n7J8eZrrJUxjT-aKY0p/s400/twilight-movie-poster.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>I can't believe this has happened to me; I've been bitten by the <em>Twilight </em>bug. In my own defense, I've only seen the movie twice, but mostly because I'm on business travel in Dallas for two weeks, am stuck in a hotel without a car, and not a theater in sight.<br /></div><br /><div>I read the first book when it came out, but confess that I found the story unforgettable. No disrespect to Ms. Meyer, but I found the writing a little on the insipid side and couldn't understand why Edward--the vampire hero--laughed, grinned, chuckled, and snickered his way through the story. I found his habit of sneaking into Bella's bedroom (our ordinary teenage heroine) to watch her sleep a little on the creepy side, and if the author had made one more reference to his "crooked smile," I was going to toss my lunch. </div><br /><div>Ah...but then the movie came out. </div><div> </div><div>I have two tweenie daughters, so we played hookey from school on the day the movie was released, had lunch at a nice restaurant and went to an early matinee. I sat, completely enthralled, for the entire two hours, wishing I could replay some of the scenes just to watch the expressions on Edward and Bella's faces. The music score was beautiful, the cinematography was breathtaking, and the emotion and chemistry between the two star-crossed lovers left my own heart beating faster and wishing I was, oh, about thirty years younger! I think Kristen Stewart did an amazing job, and she was absolutely luminous in her portrayal of Bella. I wasn't so sure I was going to like Rob Pattinson in the role of Edward, but he was perfect. I completely bought into the intensely smoldering looks he gave Bella, his barely-restrained passion, and his own tortured existence. And if I hadn't known he was British by birth, I'd have never guessed his American accent wasn't the real deal.</div><br /><br /><p>Here are some outtakes from a recent Vanity Fair shoot...I love these first two photos.<br /></p><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkEdd8LZrrTGQYx9asOhGJmckp_5OSydsprWQbxy-hitXOdiZ7aV6va2BSKfgL5a4QNUZYgyWLP_gRwjjvg8FFVEevBRB95kJ3bKWJCAZeVGCfLvxNY2CMRYGzkjN56Qxzn5bkKBj5tnw/s1600-h/edward3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275792737597886898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkEdd8LZrrTGQYx9asOhGJmckp_5OSydsprWQbxy-hitXOdiZ7aV6va2BSKfgL5a4QNUZYgyWLP_gRwjjvg8FFVEevBRB95kJ3bKWJCAZeVGCfLvxNY2CMRYGzkjN56Qxzn5bkKBj5tnw/s400/edward3.jpg" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275801489739639906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 327px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6tmDhy9Yi8-YmUbgmBCas0UUIMnWwg5ZzzSnFrb2QgkcWBNXx8Mn13in2TyOUi0OUJnBDFkjd0yM-YEj5Kg26lncz0k2CjuPddyhxlQDxcXAhyphenhyphenSPqR4bBElPWrFOTSONePhAJBRqeozL/s400/edward4.jpg" border="0" /><br />And here's a picture of Robert Pattinson that I really like...<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqjt4W5bAwyi064_04GDNqMZRK2nywL-F9dlx5n-mh7rOxJOixAW6LsTJ1BF6uYPsk9fzLQqAB8H1YZ_qs3cCsY3enquC3MDxL5kVZfoUKUNCx74frNhWT1ktO8rN4-Ke95AVybICtdOn/s1600-h/edward2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275792441726807058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqjt4W5bAwyi064_04GDNqMZRK2nywL-F9dlx5n-mh7rOxJOixAW6LsTJ1BF6uYPsk9fzLQqAB8H1YZ_qs3cCsY3enquC3MDxL5kVZfoUKUNCx74frNhWT1ktO8rN4-Ke95AVybICtdOn/s400/edward2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />A talented musician in real life, Rob Pattinson really played the piano in the movie.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hOXT-D1aSvT-v4-cM21M6le6o3CKjwCY336_loRg2mv0jOu9NI17uJp-lNvMy28g7aXJly8c8Lj3t6aY9aQtccwD4STYryFzQtovwaFyINzElHAbkYBADj5DZXc-V0GZNatSdQNa-IAL/s1600-h/edward.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275791449798879186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 290px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hOXT-D1aSvT-v4-cM21M6le6o3CKjwCY336_loRg2mv0jOu9NI17uJp-lNvMy28g7aXJly8c8Lj3t6aY9aQtccwD4STYryFzQtovwaFyINzElHAbkYBADj5DZXc-V0GZNatSdQNa-IAL/s400/edward.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Another VF outtake:<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5awHJVwNWHGFtYN8nlEiEawp0hV-uDOHESIxtR0-kdhzfHSMqSi-2Fw5DQODZss_FOvqeJgYq4zd8HSZoci37vOk2FrulhxrA4ECybvo_0Sg5PlT1tkuLLL26K_h7mmDvuNtlXr2CMMqU/s1600-h/edward9.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275791218258567858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5awHJVwNWHGFtYN8nlEiEawp0hV-uDOHESIxtR0-kdhzfHSMqSi-2Fw5DQODZss_FOvqeJgYq4zd8HSZoci37vOk2FrulhxrA4ECybvo_0Sg5PlT1tkuLLL26K_h7mmDvuNtlXr2CMMqU/s400/edward9.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p>I'm thrilled that this movie is doing so well in theaters, and that a decision has been made to film the sequel, <em>New Moon</em>. I'm looking forward to seeing more of these two talented young actors.</p>Karen Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-58880782907976697582008-10-29T15:56:00.000-07:002008-10-29T17:22:23.448-07:00Autumn in New England<div>There's nothing better than autumn in New England, and everything that comes with it. I love baking that first apple pie, or simmering that first pot of mulled cider. I love going to the farms and picking out pumpkins, and then enjoying a cider donut or a bit of maple sugar candy. I love watching the trees explode with color and feeling the air change. There is a certain amount of sadness in bringing the boat in for the winter and hauling the docks in, but then there's the anticipation of long, cozy evenings curled up by the fireplace with a cup of something hot and a good book. Yes, I love autumn in New England. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262715175350205938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gjJ_WYeqbalWjkL6I_C5NnmLte-dSIFOMI81qR0XXAcNngi9X2MUAjiIQzusy7Q-qT5QJBopCR8ZFyoz4rGjbHlLEdUYVTQMDD4fM5jSdKBtzvBmFsWDaOR8KHKRH8IUrVW62rKUO-zN/s400/100_2832.JPG" border="0" />Last weekend, we went up to Loon Mountain in Lincoln, NH to celebrate my mom's birthday. Check out this amazing cake; we called it the Alice in Wonderland cake. The kids loved it!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262718798341422274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLyl9bHsPFraH1P5IwjVYTom_x4mYDxBRV3Eaws0w-KXDnyo5Zyk1aWRUJE1dXh4WlYV8CQgYBhyphenhyphenQTiZSH9xbu1WBWF3E8dR6RAiTpJVSLaBXI1p8Uzzr7p3bcobsgNe1fO7hD554vgP2/s400/100_2818.JPG" border="0" />My mom rented a five-bedroom home in the mountains that was spectacular, and my two sisters and their families joined us there. Here's a picture of part of the family room (there's a whole other seating area that's not shown):</div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXS1Y-1rCVATnkFHJJiEu2A7xehR4_kTW8dhDvOSqwFm_CD9RwfNQdK9KY2ZB-P-qSia6cvXiqsewVTWoSc4xTAoc_lBWUsqUs5r6af2rfUi12sbNBNmjDPxKi-xRDa-fnTRahBD_sW7bT/s1600-h/coolidge.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262735143590893602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 288px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 216px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXS1Y-1rCVATnkFHJJiEu2A7xehR4_kTW8dhDvOSqwFm_CD9RwfNQdK9KY2ZB-P-qSia6cvXiqsewVTWoSc4xTAoc_lBWUsqUs5r6af2rfUi12sbNBNmjDPxKi-xRDa-fnTRahBD_sW7bT/s400/coolidge.jpg" border="0" /></a> The cathedral family room had floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over a birch forest, and the morning sun through the branches caused it to glow with brilliant orange and yellow. It was fabulous. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262717215862995154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0uM54cYDGWiwh6wx_bxbd6hi4xDNMrrg46FGdh03bilXfB1_xDrR6LWJzDVWNI4_sJRkOqVafow6hnnAEcBx9gTjTA6k0_Y3kv7xiZZ2JoYDUF4IzZ76p7DIJhyphenhyphenC4M4qJ3Pj-PeZm1j7/s400/100_2822.JPG" border="0" />We took walks in the woods, rode the gondola up to the top of the mountain, ate delicious food, poked through some of the local shops, and generally had a fun, relaxing weekend.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262718037614258722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SCz-DqNvpJWhBZp_Z0or6p4q-85cHzxtfN7WiV87WNMgGNsoOJKhOD8PESK90meIwJsrUiDvCedyfKv9mOT4uIPYUm2brBQysUX6TyN7vmwhHWbYwuR8LckJQ9iT9Llzgm_JVI7sTrzk/s400/100_2842.JPG" border="0" />I didn't want the weekend to end. I loved seeing my sisters, and really loved how much all the kids enjoyed each other's company. They only see each other once or twice a year, so this weekend was a real treat for them, as well. Here's my daughter, Caitlin, with my niece, Sophie.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262718562607290450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFt5VSYmRQul4AxvdwaVmHJ0vh4pRGWZI9wvTrjygamiJXbPaj9Y6FlprsNS8tX3-kux1CiWL0wSJyWrWP0YzyG6uS3M3v1DW1HTUV94p-n7wiexgQ2z6_ACy03j5pCuSdV5yFnbOJyUCy/s400/100_2904.JPG" border="0" /><br />And here are all the kids (Colleen Caitlin, Brenna, Emma, Sophie, & Jack), with Papa sneaking up behind them in true monster style!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262719875100354642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RKLlaLRUM8o0hnGqEIUs52ujXliQc6U7pcDNJfLlcbDqpVYaDH9q-CT4TJ37jXo2L6b3WW63N6q26GPjv1uZmaSFgt9t-PrUIjvW7QyVU_8xP9Pvxrf3ekei_9DzABfbETPOx_Zj9zEk/s400/100_2834.JPG" border="0" /><br />Here's a picture of Colleen and Caitlin, who are only a couple of months apart in age. Colleen moved to Florida seven years ago, but she's a New England girl at heart.<br /><br /><div><div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262720875732794354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbkXGxwxI6NofuwsXoFpLMVsSH5bThjEIhnE9QR5QN9JY_BAysOTQ0eaXXjkVYYSMbOcjtuUU1ieSIA4lrvW5VWfKcqJJTiCBYst_-IkXuQ21X8HvGx20FvZDSPF0L-xClplNR8XBgiX0/s400/100_2900.JPG" border="0" />Just like me!</div>Karen Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-38154095363127166302008-10-28T12:22:00.000-07:002008-10-28T16:16:03.295-07:00Desert StormeToday's blog is dedicated to my dear friend, Storme, who has bravely volunteered (repeat, <em>volunteered!)</em> to do a six-month deployment to Iraq. She and I first met many, many moons ago when we both worked at an office on Pease AFB. I immediately liked her; she has this energy and enthusiasm and killer sense of humor that I couldn't resist. I think we've been friends for about twelve years. A lot has changed in both our lives during that time, but her passion and enthusiasm for her job hasn't changed at all.<br /><br /><div><div>So here she is, over there somewhere, with a former colleague and military officer, LTC Rich Hornstein. I guess it really is a small world when you can work for somebody in Massachusetts, and then run into them again halfway around the world. Doesn't she look adorable in her BDUs? Better yet, doesn't he look adorable in his BDUs?? </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262289049596258770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9X2hBHkKfJHWROh8JrptJyLZGNq57uMzmZy11LYdEyP1M2E2wtQ4ZYbnF_Ds0wpEF9cgZLHj4ZgOY014KqJ_cFP2iRbyqi6MNUKnN_1BTau9YsMFgXCqftfp1ZKhIvJYzXfF6T6Qdh3tQ/s320/storme.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>I admire Storme so much for what's she's doing, and trust me when I say it's important work. I admire and respect our military personnel, that goes without saying, but there's something so inspiring about a civilian woman who is willing to give up her family and support system (not to mention sex and alcohol!!) and spend six months in a hostile environment, where the workdays are long and the climate is harsh, doing what she believes in. </div><br /><div></div><div>So, Storme, this one's for you!! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262290147901484306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 112px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBg8ecux1Su2I6LpSzKi9NXZycgQgWCUdSdst0CZyJhLihPNl46ePb2oRBkwxB0WgbU9M3nCr-Az3umK7CRCZVBJjZZFYCE3_Wq4xIxARnCfxcLkTRS0XlO_7uQLAfVpyQX5JWJifgNO9/s400/margarita.jpg" border="0" />Come home safely! </div></div>Karen Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-47074253334919981632008-10-17T06:59:00.001-07:002008-10-17T07:11:56.182-07:00The Language of Love...<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLoha2OihyphenhyphenWqjeVgPbt7xRWNwE9Msm6OzGVOUL8Vgo8nvnszbTfS8IhztdKSpNYf9C-TfsZK-ozs3knTsCitPG6NrYouJDNffBMef1H2s_Hr8O9LGG27tLMM22n9neiPtsZ6jd8QC7dxr/s1600-h/tiffany.jpg"></a>I came home from work the other day to find a package waiting for me from Harlequin. I opened it to find the German translation of <em>Flyboy</em>! How totally cool is that? I took German in high school and college, and even lived in Germany for five years, but as I tried to read my own story, the words were...well, totally <em>foreign</em>! There's a whole vocabulary out there that they didn't teach us in German class, LOL! Here's a peek at the cover...<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258123038095934434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ba7Q0dwFhhsgU8u6rRa2oZsI5kZ4Fg4Fxh_VP2_IF0cK3xb18OvCJJ0KtRiP-C9ziDPDwFWU3lZjyvzxADZtLZACI4Eco0ysYupI1fwU_-I3DajItrIVuuT9S0HN4lj2VQFZna9qOk0N/s400/tiffany.jpg" border="0" /><br />Roughly translated, the cover reads:<br /><br /><div align="center">3 Sinful Romances</div><div align="center"> <em>Sultry Nights on the Beach</em>, by Colleen Collins (English title is <em>Shock Waves</em>)</div><div align="center"> <em>When Sparks Fly</em> by Jill Monroe (English title is <em>Share the Darkness</em>) </div><div align="center"><em>Fly with me to Paradise </em>by Karen Foley (English title is <em>Flyboy)</em><br /></div><div align="left">I met a woman at the RWA conference last year who is a German bookseller, and this past July we ran into each other again in San Francisco. She was excited to tell me that <em>Flyboy</em> was being published in Germany, but I didn't realize it would happen so soon. I just think it's way cool!</div>Karen Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-2532093341606860152008-10-05T17:24:00.000-07:002008-10-05T17:39:09.904-07:00My New Cover!Coming in February...now this is what I call a Happy Valentine's Day!!!<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253831746300013666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pVZjNoWpLdzm60EMZc25XknOdL2P7p3Q-agVXF4nL5F2RZ-HSTPssqtcUXrEJFcdE3PItRtQjMo1UUYAmH0h6_IBBhWX4Tv9Ssy3CeUgUDegnErkmR2EoahX6ifzjeYfIvn-M6w4F2Ly/s400/ablebodied.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><strong>Subject:</strong> Ransom Bennett,<br />Delta Force Operator<br /><strong>Current status:</strong> Injured but still hot-blooded!<br /><strong>Mission:</strong> Regain crack military reflexes. Prove<br />he’s ready for active duty.<br /><strong>Obstacle:</strong> Hannah Hartwell. Fascinating.<br />Tantalizing. His new neighbor.<br /><br />All Ransom wants is to get healthy enough to<br />return to the field. But sexy Hannah is testing his<br />composure. The woman is under his skin…but she’s<br />also fleeing a shady past. Damn! Hasn’t he learned<br />not to play with fire?<br /><br />Still, Ransom can’t help exposing her secrets…and<br />a lot more! Then it’s on to his post-injury mission.<br />The highly clandestine operation will involve<br />delicate negotiations, complex maneuvers and<br />fiery explosions.<br /><br />And that’s just in Hannah’s bed!<br /><br /><strong>Uniformly Hot! The Few. The Proud.<br />The Sexy as Hell!</strong></p>Karen Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-47298246857000460552008-10-04T11:55:00.000-07:002008-10-04T12:36:06.829-07:00How 'bout them Red Sox?<div>I was fortunate enough to get a ticket to last night's Red Sox game against the Anaheim Angels, and boy, was it a game. This was my first Red Sox game (that time I had box seats at Fenway doesn't count, since we only stayed for two innings and never actually watched the game). The Angels stadium is beautiful...gorgeous rock structures with tumbling waterfalls behind the outfield, comfortable seating and everything was spotlessly clean. We had great seats, in the lower section, right behind the left field foul pole. This picture looks like we're far away, but we could see the players clearly.</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253384399906562002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNwS07g-wNZoXAPEiJDnu8Pz_zZrcaov5smnpi80wFRHVFi4MaWH8E6TqssyOOy4xyLAl7Ll9bg8zoW3wLYtlK1yqyvELJas3LYS1Om1f4cGAOts1Zvp7AeyXcZjn5qJbCpuy8kd-W-sx/s400/100_2725.JPG" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div>Here we are, walking into the stadium:<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253383294461853922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2DWksG-VpYHwNMr01gDgoDqSNOMgi9os4DW54LcLNoHffmzGHO8yJ-Dl3-Y8YmtcNWRagsq4JkubUOA_HF8S-UYXXodWn6Z3fwYyoHkGR7YB47i61lMppeMFGYG2FpXhP33UL3SWf6AS/s400/100_2724.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><div><div></div><div>We were right next to the warm-up cage, and at one point, I was so close to Jason Varitek that I could have reached out and touched up, if it weren't for the six foot chain-link fence, the concrete retaining wall, and the four security officers standing nearby. I couldn't get my camera out of my itty-bitty pocketbook in time to snap his picture, but did get one of Dice-K warming up:</div><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253380904081933186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWjHa0m2NGJyvm9y6G82efmDIn4LJ4mNZ4zlUm_Mq5gu9ISXAX1D1qfJsaEwrr7PIpAnEhuSvScalSiMknwvnJe9KNgB2tM_XyUC_JNS4tddMggym97mWNCH5PDC66sOBGTuKZNDxixxm/s400/100_2726.JPG" border="0" />Here we are, in our seats...we were fortunate to have a number of Red Sox fans all around us, which didn't make the Angels fans in the row behind us very happy. They left in the sixth inning to find friendlier territory. </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253381542952950610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bIpcYVjHdJX6L1RdMieoMMZw__mIjuwdzoy3daBcSPRefbYVajAjQnFQhYRVHSBXNcFD43p7MPE6n_gv4jIKkl7zpiSAvJiOOBQ6XCLd1H2n8J06zXMuHAE4O4BNM4XINEcCe3x4abZl/s400/100_2729.JPG" border="0" />The game was amazing, with an opening inning that saw four Red Sox runs. The Angels came back over the next six innings and tied the game 5-5 until the top of the ninth, when the Red Sox banged in two more runs, and the Angels were all done. I've never heard a crowd so loud...they were absolutely deafening. Here's a look at Big Pappy on the scoreboard...<br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253382379768753778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZR9nRyI9HL5TKVIwYN29_qoWEhdZUoKa1agoK0VwRRqmZGQdotAIMfA1vSEyL01RPSH2IAelTFgXyOgxK9kaiCXVjjSqSU81l4V1ku-pSZEuXheQaV_eDinukmK9wUJRrlCqnQbUegOJ1/s400/100_2734.JPG" border="0" />And a look at the scoreboard at the end of the game...it was completely satisfying!<br /></p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253382867354030114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGridBUhsMEuzisZSy0jCkCA698XtwgNUI5A5qenj4wHy77NoJxdGKcIo0bESzBaNrXu1C92ktlZn9BaGn1phCq0GHUVXR-CCRPPAOxLdZPH6Y1GTeQ_F61zlBdOFZv-NzcZ5Xyk0kkGU/s400/100_2737.JPG" border="0" /> Have a great weekend!!</div></div>Karen Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-28548848656203434822008-10-02T21:31:00.001-07:002008-10-02T21:59:52.087-07:00Santa Ana BluesI'm currently in Santa Ana for the next ten days as part of a 17-member review team, associated with my day job. I've only been to California once before, and that was when I went to San Francisco in July for the RWA National Conference. So while I wasn't thrilled about the long flight out to the west coast, my boss assured me that he'd take me to see the sights, and we'd eat some fabulous, authentic Mexican food.<br /><br />I love Mexican food.<br /><br />You can tell me we're going to Hell, but if you tell me there'll be homemade tortilla chips, spicy salsa, and a salty Margarita waiting for me when I get there, I'll be the first one to sign up for the trip.<br /><br />So tonight, we worked late and didn't head out to dinner until about 7:30. I hadn't eaten anything since 6:00 that morning. I was so hungry I would have foregone Mexican food just for something--anything!--to fill my stomach. The hotel recommended an authentic Mexican restaurant called Las Brisas. The office we were visiting also recommended this restaurant, so we figured it was probably a safe bet. I envisioned soft lighting, salsa music, maybe a man dressed in traditional Mexican dress, playing guitar and serenading us while we sipped on margaritas or sangria. Here's a picture of the Las Brisas restaurant at Laguna Beach:<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252782513774715602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-IPEEJsvRnx8ISm4_aFQxOtV0DDB9waUwGgBO6QBUDd3ghGawKRe_DVKXXjk5b37_U9Zh7ncXQyZxzIMBoIQ1qns2HDCB4AmSzea45IKDJXgHlSi8YhSf8x-1fTDranQuHzvvjfHpmUva/s400/las+brisas.jpg" border="0" /> This is not where we ate. After following some misguided GPS directions, the seven of us who had ventured out, ended up in a disgusting strip mall where the sidewalk was covered with old chewing gum and the public phone had been ripped out of the wall. A homeless man shuffled past the doorways which, by the way, were protected by steel bars. Neon lights flashed in the garishly lit windows and we all agreed we must have taken a wrong turn somewhere. But no, there was the sign...Las Brisas. It looked more like this:<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252783346832619890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdWEfNaVEFrJteN1odsTjBDP0ZH4SteLrqixkOmeXLim9Qvyi0kcH3Yz_uVqPPGu35yV7cHg80i94TcRavg7cOQJKQYJhLV0UDmgmwNVUxoNjvnFcJxcEjl_bNJut2YQ7WmXrvHH0M3od/s400/strip+mall+restaurant.jpg" border="0" /><br />Inside was no better...Formica covered tables under flourescent lighting, and a walk-up counter where you placed your order. There were seven of us, and after laughing hysterically for ten minutes at the thought of eating here, we decided we'd do it. The menus were all in Spanish so I ordered the only thing that I recognized...Chilis Rellenos...one of my favorites back in Massachusetts at our favorite Mexican restaurant, The Border Cafe. We sat at a table near the jukebox, and drank a beer while we waited for our food to arrive. On a table behind us sat the congealed remnants of a meal that had never been cleared. When our food arrived, it all looked the same...runny, gray beans, some dried yellow rice, and the main entree. I had taken just two bites of mine, when something got wrapped around my tongue that I couldn't swallow...a long, black hair, twisted around my chili rellenos...I was so grossed out that I couldn't eat any more, and I didn't dare send it back. To me, the food might as well have looked like this:<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252785123737492082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1BJVTHf2PMKsSr8o8GYzjx5gkv6Mgs_e6_xP4LyMiYwVEYqQMzATuKkkYXcd01C8eTU2ASrcJ8Xzey7GaYb71J2M5jSikX9sEAnFG2botvT6mUBIW5m1eCk7ikmaG3D9ctGY9MzeKpBc/s400/rat+on+a+plate.jpg" border="0" />So while we all laughed, I noticed that none of us finished our meals, and instead concentrated on swilling our bottled beers. So this weekend, we're determined to locate a Mexican restaurant that will, hopefully, erase tonight's traumatic events and leave us with a more pleasant memory instead. Stay tuned...Karen Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-389685848645717992008-09-20T05:54:00.000-07:002008-09-20T06:19:25.143-07:00NEIBA BooksigningHarlequin invited me to do a booksigining of <em>Overnight Sensation</em> yesterday at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, as part of the New England Independent Booksellers Association trade show. So John and I took the train in, enjoyed walking through Copley Square, and browsed the convention for an hour or so before I actually sat down to sign books. Mind you, this convention is a huge event for booksellers. Every large publisher and small, local press is represented. Their tables groan beneath the weight of the books they hope to launch over the following year. The booksellers walk from table to table, scooping up free books and placing orders for their bookstores. John and I felt a little uncomfortable, since many of the publishers assumed we must be booksellers and sort of fawned over us. But even when I confessed I was just a lowly author, they were gracious, and I did score some advance copies of several coveted YA books for the girls, who thought it was very cool to have a book that looks exactly like the ones you find at Barnes and Noble, but with the words, <em>"Advance Uncorrected Reader - Not for Sale"</em> imprinted on the cover.<br /><br />I had a great time doing the signings and am happy to say I was able to give away most of the books that Harlequin had for me to sign. Since the books were giveaways, there was no pressure and most people were happy to accept a signed copy from the author. I also really enjoyed meeting the Harlequin reps, Laurie and Carolyn, who were so friendly and fun to hang out with.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248087060552649714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHN7mZEi1igviE9Zm-qvxz5h6njEDm48d9rgACRKqOe6bl8loAnD4FgxnJvyfXX-EtkhzyVSofM8veYvK-IR1XVERInnGukInEDZ0hrZ-Me2Mu9MZEgnHSAyaWnxKMhtB94E83avdqUgH/s400/neiba.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Have a great weekend!!Karen Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-8765677644853381382008-09-14T15:34:00.000-07:002008-09-14T18:40:55.900-07:00Football -- Not Just for Guys!One thing you might not know about me...I am a <em>huge</em> Pats fan. Not hard to understand, given their amazing achievements these past six years.<br /><br />But today is the first time in 128 New England Patriots games that quarterback Tom Brady did not start. The last time the Patriots played a game without Brady was early in the 2001 season. As much as I love this team, I didn't think I'd be able to watch the game without Brady, despite the fact that Matt Cassel came through with a win last week after Tom was injured facing off against the Kansas City Chiefs. And this week's game against the New York Jets was strange, for sure, with Cassel getting sacked three times in the second half, and throwing just one long pass down the field. But then our team sacked Brett Favre, dragging him back down the field and almost into his own endzone, for a loss of (I think) 24 yards. Unbelievable. In the end, Cassel came through again, with a final win of 19-10. Go Pats!<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246056685394403874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ukRPFNH5UMnT4tFAG79irQAhnP8kE465uPiQyZBrjijy7brHJotbU_HyWLiD-WdIqfNSvsmv4qAlvS0WOgxo6RJYxd413Meco7q_ILYhdFq6YvQF13XbSOG10iT8XdG-Q61mj2q83Kpd/s400/NEQuarterbacks.jpg" border="0" /><br />So I think I know the secret to how these quarterbacks are selected, and let me be the first to say that I approve wholeheartedly.<br /><br />1. You have to be at least 6'4" tall<br /><br />2. You must be in superb physical condition<br /><br />3. You must be cover-model gorgeous<br /><br />I mean, check out the Pats quarterback lineup. First, Tom Brady. Could he be any cuter? And at 6'4", 225 pounds, he's one gorgeous slab of beefcake:<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246056263506125906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIvD73r-801DIVZhW3DQxOHwSk-IB5BOvSJayAu-QtBzTUgCqBAGPOoYourE8aA63IMTMx_R2OWp1V19r3hq4F7S2a7aMeYRTi1CYqDa8kIAMG6-6mjN5DPDE_NrG9PzwTcxIaAy5VmFV/s400/tom_brady_stetson2.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><div><div>Then there's Matt Cassel, the backup quarterback who, so far, has been able to lead the Pats to two consecutive victories. At 6'4, 230 lbs, he's an able stand-in for Brady in more ways than one!</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246052266319829426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZQDI8Hyojf93mu7ElIjdepogHv88sQqY_QrTdLRkXofrn-j0lZp72zM5iVlH2bpzSlS9ZVx-88b0FmmYvX9n5GAdiHCE3aSmHBd0RVelXpfUvqPT7jPNlDBnds32lCiK5VQndiBz3wCd/s400/cassel.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div></div><div>And finally, there's rookie quarterback Kevin O'Donnell, fresh out of college and learning the ropes from the best in the league. At 6'5", 225 pounds, he's absolutely adorable.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246049584809040178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVuJT81rUZOjgzJ5e4T04FVB-9QECkZhoJ-cb8CXNeuZz4yMKu_rX20mA7e4ZUjpwLUV5NYH7fcApd2GgC0oHVALqk6KYFEaoKZqmbBzWLvqZp8AZ8sKV6L5eB5lRcF2NjDdCtAdWEUvH/s400/oconnell1.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div></div><div>Who says girls can't enjoy football?? I say, go Pats! </div></div></div>Karen Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-51853589940268350682008-09-08T17:46:00.000-07:002008-09-08T17:57:57.851-07:00I Saw It!Brenna and I finally took a drive to Borders booksellers yesterday and snapped a couple of pics of <em>Overnight Sensation</em> on the bookstore shelves. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243818298046488338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISPuMZEIZDNIrHTuXLAq-41_MBSb9ZlVOhi2WJoM8n1RlhwVMWBhIue7VhfRrlcN2WCd33BBL0bQZ5AfRgyvbEgqn1ZzcN67pjx2LG1Q1j3vQgUHxkUJ7I40Ez_sGQ074mT9ofO9NI8zj/s400/OS3.jpg" border="0" />And here's another picture. Isn't it lovely??<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243817304182296018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKhmz88pBYWvnOn-0Ot-BuDL3A7d6u-bPDEunPk83IHoYbZl_ix4aa0gfjB64L87i9AWBiEcTveL9BNSXdxZuvrpL2JjKCQ3spWv82Hy9fOOqbYglY0depKd4fnvhiDhm3GaBDHKqSucV/s400/OS2.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><p>Hope everyone had a good weekend and survived Hannah.</p><p></p>Karen Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337970935690542526.post-3879689543514024472008-09-05T06:09:00.000-07:002008-09-05T06:37:24.807-07:00Overnight Sensation Hits Bookstores!Well, it's official! My second book, <em>Overnight Sensation</em>, is now available at bookstores near you! My two daughters were at the mall last week with their grandparents, and found copies of it at Walden Books and Borders. My dad took pictures of it with his cell phone, but I haven't actually seen it for myself on the shelves.<br /><div><div><div></div><div> </div><div>When my first book, <em>Flyboy</em>, came out, my younger daughter, Brenna, and I were (again) at the mall, looking for a book for her. It was about a week before the book was due out, so imagine my surprise when I saw it on the shelves! We just sort of stood there together, admiring it, and then went and splurged on a pumpkin spice latte! So I told Brenna that she and I have a standing date this weekend to visit our local bookstores and take a picture of <em>Overnight Sensation,</em> and then go celebrate with something delicious.</div><br /><div></div><div>My husband did something so incredibly sweet that I have to share...he had a charm bracelet crafted for me, with a different charm for each book I've written. The first charm is a tiny Super Hornet fighter jet, since my hero in <em>Flyboy</em> is a fighter pilot. </div><div></div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242530649663198722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSruMTUAxAKXF0GaFgolRvzekA_RxVjH3nc_oYCiP2WHOHrSAJAJatrxT8Xwy_2lVo3DvT1dwmZX_D0XjSkYNcxD_GjKfsMywuLLhUNgQthiicp2azDHakn6dYXDFHpsbeXAEL8vsL49h/s400/super+hornet+charm.jpg" border="0" /> <div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>The second charm is a movie-camera, since my heroine in <em>Overnight Sensation</em> is an actress. </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242528562661962130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsAeR4aEGK0UZz5U7riEP3XNK3rXbKeFHsO8Yskxa1-ynbG0c-eluKK_8uiAI2ib2Jh5ddRsE4jG4A-fP_YdiYClzTuknM675nc9BunNXnew7PpqIV4EgbQrx0F_arDkuN3Lc-pXOwf2T/s400/camera+charm.jpg" border="0" /> <div></div><div></div><div>My third book, <em>Able-Bodied</em>, which comes out in February, features a Delta Force hero and a Reiki energy healer heroine. I don't know what kind of charm he's selected for that book, and he's told me I won't get any hints, and will have to wait until February to find out! </div><div> </div><div>Thanks for stopping by, and have a great weekend!</div></div></div>Karen Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240886980911148915noreply@blogger.com2