Happy 2011, Blog Babes! Why is it that when I type 2011 it looks all futuristic and 2010? Not as much. Just me? Alrighty then.

We’re going to launch off this futuristic year with some yummy fun (and a couple opportunities to win free stuff this week!) But first, the yummy fun part. Man Candy and cupcakes. Honestly, what more does a happenin’ blog babe need? (Well, other than a stack of really yummy books to read? See: Cupcake News below!)

So, who is the first Man Candy Candidate of 2011! Hello, Daniel Sunjata! You may recognize him from Rescue Me and his soon-to-be-more prominent role on Grey’s Anatomy as Nurse Eli…and possibly Dr. Bailey’s own personal man candy. But the reason I feature him here? He has also snagged the most anticipated role in recent casting history. (Okay, okay….so this is according to me. But then, this is my blog.) Who is he going to play on the big screen you ask? Well, none other than that sexy, secretive, most highly trained badass man candy of them all…..yes, he’s going to be Ranger in the movie version of Janet Evanovich’s first fabulous Stephanie Plum mystery series, ONE FOR THE MONEY. I know? How mmmmmmm is that? Very mmmm, if you ask me. What say you, Blog Babes?

But the yumminess, it does not end there. Oh no. I have very exciting news to share with you all! This is going to be a fun year of book releases. Right now OFF KILTER is on the stands, which is the second in the Hot Scots series (SOME LIKE IT SCOT being the first)…and the finale of that series will wrap up this fall in the Brava Christmas anthology, UNWRAPPED. But that is just icing, as they say, on the cake. Tomorrow, (yes, as in almost today already!) I have another release coming out, this one from Running Press. I have a short story in THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF SCOTTISH ROMANCE, which also features stories from Connie Brockway, Susan Sizemore, Jacquie D’Allesandro and many more. Here’s the yummy cover! (Are you sensing a trend of yumminess?)

And where does it all lead, you ask? And what about the cupcakes? Well, that’s my Big Announcement! We can enjoy hot Scots all year long (and really, that’s an entree I can have again and again) and then, this fall, dessert! Yes, I have a new series coming your way. I’ve been researching and writing my patootie off (and will keep doing so) to get ready for the launch of the CAKES BY THE CUP series. Yes, a series set in and around a cupcake bakery, Cakes by the Cup….the first of which will debut the end of this year, titled SUGAR RUSH (featuring hunky Brit hero Baxter Dunne, aka Chef Hot Cakes!)

As I mentioned, I’ve been doing a lot of research for this book, not only learning all the ins and outs of running a bakery and all the fun stuff that entails, but also learning about the world of bakers, pastry chefs, and all things flour, sugar, and butter. I did mention the whole yummy thing, right? This research was the yummiest yet. And because I believe in really immersing myself in my research, it made perfect sense to me to turn my kitchen into my own little pasty chef school. I kept a journal as I did so (and continue to as the research is on-going) and I thought it might be fun to share that journey with you all.

So! I’ve launched a separate site, blogging my adventures into becoming a world-class (according to me) baker…one cupcake at a time. Please join me over at Cakes By The Cup Blog and share the ups, the downs, and the occasional kitchen disaster (okay, so I define “occasional” perhaps a bit more loosely than some might…) with me. I’ll be posting at least once a week (yes, there will be photos! And recipes! Well…of the ones that turned out, you know, edibly…) and will always cross post here so you don’t miss a single, delicious bite!

Whew! I think I got it all in! OH, wait!! No, I didn’t. I am guest blogging today over at Romancing the Book. If you swing by (there’s an excerpt of OFF KILTER!!) and leave a comment, you could be in the running to win a free book!

You can also be in the running to win a free book right here. First Free Stuff Friday Contest of Futuristic 2011! Just send an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with “Cupcakes? And Man Candy? Sign me up!!” in the subject header. I’ll draw a name from the pile and announce the winner here in Friday’s blog.

Okay, Blog Babes…that’s a heapin’ servin’ of yummy. What do you think? How was your holiday? Are you ready to tackle the future? Because, it’s here! It’s 2011! So, join me…and DISH!!

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