| Caridad Pineiro® Romance Author

December 6, 2011July 8, 2019

Sharing My Weekend Writing Retreat

I wish that Google+ photos actually allowed you to do a slideshow. For the life of me, the little create slideshow link just isn’t showing up! So, you can go to visit the album here, but in the meantime…

I headed out on Saturday with my friends Melinda Leigh and Rayna Vause for a writing retreat weekend! Our destination: The Inn at Boonesboro and the Turn the Page Bookstore where we got to meet Nora Roberts as well as a number of authors.

I got up at 5, was on the road by six and picked up my friends shortly after 7. We hit the road and got to Boonesboro just before 11. It was the open house day at the Inn so we got to visit all the rooms, but first we met my friend Lora and then headed to the book store to pick up our books and get ready for the signing. Here’s a picture of my buds in front of the Inn.

At the bookstore, we got our purchases and since Vesta’s pizza was packed, headed to Crawford’s Guns, Ammo and Restaurant for a bite before the signing. Where else can you pick up ammo, check out the rifles and get some delicious sweet potato fries?

Then it was time for the signing!! I had my books for research (nothing better than Eve and Roarke to get me inspired!). I also had a J.D. Robb “book lamp” that I had made and Nora was so nice and signed it as well. Here’s me and Nora!

Then we were back to the Inn for the open house. Such gorgeous rooms and bathrooms. I loved the Galahad pillow on the chair in the Eve and Roarke room! The rooms were totally romantic and did any of you guess which room I would choose for Rey and Paola from AMAZON AWAKENING?

If you guess that it was the Westley and Buttercup room you were right. I could so imagine a big bed like this made of a sustainable rainforest wood like Ipe.

After that we headed for a walk through Boonesboro and then to dinner. We returned to the site of the Inn with all its lovely Christmas trimmings.

Ducking inside the inn to take off the chill, we had some wine and cheese and also celebrated my friend Melinda’s debut book (more on that on Thursday!).

In the morning, we headed to the Antietam battlefield for a bit of history and research. Since Ryder from THE CALLING/REBORN Vampire Series was a physician during the Civil War, I’m toying with the idea of bringing back someone else from that era. You may remember that Samantha Turner from TEMPTATION CALLS knew Ryder back then (and was the one who turned him). Not sure whether this someone is a hero or villain, but walking/driving the fields of Antietam certainly gave some ideas for a new character.

I even managed to climb the Observation Tower! The trip up was quite a hike, but the trip down was interesting as my fear of heights kicked in. Luckily Rayna lent me her shoulder to hold so I could keep my face to the wall and not see the big open scary hole in the middle of the stairs!

I hope you enjoyed this little travel journal!

Also, if you need some tips on writing short fiction, come and play with me today at my friend Catherine Bybee’s blog where I am talking about how to move from writing long fiction to short!

September 29, 2011September 29, 2011

In Death-Fest & Upcoming Blog Tours!

I have been on a major J.D. Robb-fest, trying to catch up on all the books I haven’t read so that I can get to my — SQUEEE — autographed copy of FROM NEW YORK TO DALLAS!! I’ve only got about 6 books to go and to be honest, I’m not sure I can wait that long. As it is, I’ve been reading them out of order due to time constraints and so I may just do the same with FROM NEW YORK TO DALLAS. Of course, I’m also tempted that once I do that, I’ll start reading the series all over again in order from book one which when reread rather recently was just as good as I remembered.

Anyway, that’s why today’s Thursday 13 is an In-Death Fest where I’m sharing the 13 characters and/or things that I love about the series in no particular order.

1. Eve Dallas. Was there ever a more perfect heroine.
2. Roarke. OMG. Can’t say much more. He melts my bones.
3. Peabody. Love her as a sidekick. Just too awesome.
4. McNab. His outfits are burned into my retinas.
5. Feeney. Great father figure.
6. Mira. As a substitute mom, she’s the best.
7. The candy thief. I’m convinced it’s Roarke. There is a scene in CONSPIRACY IN DEATH where the candy bar disappears with only Roarke nearby and he chides her about eating better. In TREACHERY IN DEATH, Eve discovers her stash missing and Roarke admits just seconds later that he had broken into her office. Hmm. Too much coincidence for me.
8. The love scenes. Soooo soooo hot and romantic.
9. The murder cases. After an overload of crime-type stories on TV, it’s amazing that these are still interesting.
10. The world of the NYPSD and Eve’s men and women. Little by little you’ve gotten to know each one and have seen them grow.
11. NYC in the future with its glide carts and soy dogs. So can related to my favoritest city.
12. Mavis. What an interesting and outrageous best friend.
13. Eve’s fear of anything feminine. I can so relate.

Hope you enjoyed today’s Thursday 13. If you’re familiar with the IN DEATH series, please add your own favorite moments.

As for the blog tours, I’ve got two – count them two – coming up in October.

Join me at various sites (list will be up tomorrow!) for the ENTIRE month of October as we chat about THE LOST and share lots of fun things about the book and about me! Leave a comment on any of the blogs for a chance to win a $10 Gift card, a LOST T-shirt and a copy of STRONGER THAN SIN. The more comments you leave, the greater the likelihood of winning.

Starting October 17, all four authors in the anthology A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS are going on a mini blog tour! At each stop on the #VampXmas tour, Michele Hauf, Laurie London, Alexis Morgan and I will be answering questions about our novellas and giving away cool swag, including a signed copy of A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS, one of our other books and an ornament. Please join us.

Here’s the mini-blog tour schedule:

10/17 Vampire Book Club
10/19 The Qwillery
10/25 Tynga’s Reviews
11/4 All Things Urban Fantasy
11/12 Literal Addiction

Feel free to post either of these buttons on Facebook and/or your blog to help spread the word. It’s always more fun when there are a lot of people.

September 20, 2011July 8, 2019

Fun & Fandom

I’ve been counting the weeks until last weekend which I knew was going to be fun and filled with lots of SQUEEE moments! Why the SQUEEE! Well, my buddies and I planned to go down to Boonsboro, Maryland to get our copies of the just released FROM NEW YORK TO DALLAS, the next book in my favoritest IN DEATH series.

We started our journey with lots and lots of traffic which unfortunately made for a late check-in at the INN AT BOONSBORO ON THE SQUARE which is partially owned by Ms. Roberts.

Each of the rooms in the Inn is themed to a book and my friend and I were lucky to be in the Nick & Nora suite (although we coveted the Eve and Roarke suite across the way! LOL!) The room was gorgeous as was the inn and the innkeepers, Suzie and Patty, made us feel like we were at home.

For some more pictures of the inn (including one of the control panel for the toilet!), you can click here.

Of course, then there came the SQUEEE! moment as we got to meet and talk to Nora and get our picture with her. SQUEEE!

We had a wonderful time and are so looking forward to going again!

The next day was likewise a lot of fun as I was due to sign and do a reading at the Brooklyn Book Festival with the wonderful Comadres group and La Casa Azul bookstore.

I had a great time with old friends like Sofia Quintero as well as making new friends with Daisy Martinez, from DAISY COOKS!, as well as Carmen Mojica Fabian, Charlie Vasquez and Justin Torres.

Speaking of friends, please drop by tomorrow when I’ll have Bonnie Lea Elliott coming by for a guest blog and join me and Anjanette Delgado on Thursday, Sept 22 at 9 pm EST as we talk about break-ups, men and all other kinds of sexy fun things during our next live video event. If you can’t see the widget below, you can use this link: http://t.wbx.me/f8qgs

September 2, 2010September 2, 2010

Thursday 13 – Kick Butt Heriones to Love

The women in today’s paranormal, suspense and urban fantasy books, movies and television shows are not the heroines of old. They are empowered, know how kick immortal ass and are capable of saving themselves. It’s why I love them and today, I’m sharing 13 of those top heroines from my favorite works (or at least I’m hoping to reach 13. If I can’t, I hope you’ll join in with your favorites).

2. Eve Dallas. Tortured, strong, honorable and with a loving heart that grows with each IN DEATH story, J.D. Robb’s Eve is the ultimate powerful heroine.

3. Selene from Underworld. Kate Beckinsale totally rocked this role. I could watch the movie and its sequel over and over and over again.

4. Anita Blake. Some readers think Hamilton’s character went south with CERULEAN SINS, but early Anita is pure gold and not to be missed.

5. Rachel Morgan. This uber-witch from Kim Harrison’s Witch series touches your heart with your vulnerability, but raises you up with her desire to protect those whom she loves.

6. Paige Winterbourne. Kelley Armstrong’s heroine from the Magic series is a wonderful character trying to cope with being thrust into a role she hadn’t imagined for herself.

7. Gracie Hart. What can I say about Bullock’s interpretation of an FBI Agent who is totally not in touch with all things feminine. The transformation of this character is a must-see.

8. Anna Valerious. Kate Beckinsale makes the list again with this empowered female from the 2004 movie VAN HELSING. Tough and yet vulnerable, she has you rooting for a happily-ever-after with the always gorgeous Hugh Jackman in the role of Van Helsing.

9. Hermione Granger. Yep, you read that right. This pint-sized heroine packs enough brain power and magic to keep the men in tow.

10. Lara Croft. Wow, what can I say. Action, adventure and Angelina. Not to mention both Daniel Craig and Gerard Butler as potential love interests. Too yummy for words.

11. Wonder Woman. Lynda Carter brought class, sass and beauty to this role on the small screen. Filling her shoes in a movie version will be a hard act to follow. Could explain why so far this movie franchise can’t seem to get off the ground.

12. Supergirl. What can I say? I wish Superman’s little sister didn’t live in his shadow so much. Maybe she needed her own identity? Think of Robin becoming Night Wing. And why not Superwoman and not girl? But regardless, she ranks up there with the top kick ass heroines.

13. Catwoman. LOL! You thought I was going to say Batgirl didn’t you? Nope, this is one time that a villainess ranks up there, especially since in my hopefully romantic heart I kept on hoping for her to be redeemed and end up with Batman.

Hope you enjoyed today’s Thursday Thirteen. I welcome you to add any of your favorite kick ass heroines in the comments sections.

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