We are having hella storms here in the DC area last night and ongoing into this morning, so while I still have power (!!!) I want to thank you one and all for making this a fantastic launch week for SOME LIKE IT SCOT!! It’s been an exciting few days and I truly hope you all enjoy the beginning of this Hot Scot series.

And speaking of books….this week’s Free Stuff Friday giveaway is for an advance release copy of my new HQ Blaze, SIMON SAYS, coming in out in July. Thank you for the avalanche of entries and the excitement for that upcoming release. We have three winning Blog Babes this week, and they are (drum roll…….) Cindy A, Sue H, and Nancy C!! Woot woot!! I just need addresses (for those who didn’t include it in their entry) and your copy of SIMON SAYS will be on its way to you! I hope you enjoy and happy reading!!

I hope everyone has fun plans for the Memorial Day weekend. Stay safe, have a blast, and I’ll see all of you back here on Tuesday with another Free Stuff Friday contest announcement.

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So, last night on American Idol, everyone and their mother (but not David Cook only Dane Cook) came out to wish Simon a huge farewell, and…oh yeah, Lee won. The concert was certainly a spectacle (in all of its varied meanings) showcasing everyone from the Bee Gees to Christina, from Hall & Oates to Janet Jackson to Alice Cooper and Joe Cocker (which would have been an awesome duet on the scale of seriously?)

All of the former winners (sans Cook for reasons not explained…maybe there is a thing where they can’t all be in the same building at the same time in case something happens…Idol Security…) showed up, along with a number of notables from season’s past both contestants (Constantine! Bo! No Clay! No Lambert!) and the notorious auditioners (that went horribly awry, didn’t it? Like they didn’t see that happening?) I fast forwarded through parts (Michael McDonald, Chicago not having enough collective wind left to make any of their, uh, instruments, sound good…), happily enjoyed others (cool seeing Brett Michaels perform and looking amazingly not dead, thought Crystal out-Alanis’d Alanis) and then, at the end, it was like they suddenly went, “Oh yeah, this is the finale. Who won, by the way? Oh, right, envelope please.” And it was Lee, and Crystal seemed quite happy with that, lots of glittery confetti rained down…and they cut him off singing. Because, you know, THIS is a American Idol. And don’t ever forget it.

It was a very anticlimactic season (and if someone with Crystal’s most excellent chops can’t beat out a sub par singer/performer like Lee in an otherwise very mediocre season, then why any girl should ever try out again, is beyond me) and with Simon gone and all kinds of rumors on how they might revamp the judgery, it will be interesting to see where things go from here. You know….if you cared. At the moment, I’m kind of ho hum on the caring. I’m far more excited about So You Think You Can Dance coming back, starting tonight! Please be my summer romance, show. Well, when Burn Notice and Leverage aren’t on.

Don’t forget to enter this week’s contest. See Monday’s blog for all the details. Winners (yes, more than one!) announced in the blog tomorrow. So check back to see if you won. But right now? DISH! What did you think of the Farewell, Simon Concert (and, oh, right, there’s a winner) Show? Happy for Lee? Could care less? Watching the French Open instead? Speaking of which, I am tanking on the men’s side in my French Open Fantasy League. (Thanks, Gasquet, for letting Murray back into it) but excelling on the women’s side (top 15% as of this morning.) But what is that black lace with red trim corset dress thing that Venus is wearing? Because that’s not distracting, no, not at all. Ah, but I am enjoying all the lovely views of the city they give you during the match coverage. I call it Paris Porn. Makes me want to go back and wander the streets, sit on the little corner cafes with a baguette… Ah, Paris in the springtime! I miss you!

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First, a huuuuuge thank you for making the launch day for SOME LIKE IT SCOT so successful! I appreciate all the well wishes, the congrats, the tasteful billboards (grin), and the purchases! Woot woot! I hope you all enjoy the launch of the series. I am looking forward to finishing this final book…and am excited to tell you about the next series….but that has to wait for official word.

I spent Launch Day in an all day altered arts class. As some of you know (and have attended!) in addition to writing full time, I also teach metal and paper-crafting classes. I grew up in the craft world in my mom’s shop. She’s long since retired and the business is long gone, but I re-entered that world as a freelance instructor a few years ago and am very much enjoying the creative alternative to writing. I tell my students that it’s my way of not staying home and playing with my imaginary friends every day! Important to have contact with, you know, actual real people, from time to time.

Yesterday, however, I had the absolute pleasure of being a student again and taking a day long class by multi-published and renowned artist, Michael DeMeng. His aesthetic is a bit darker than mine (okay, it’s a lot darker…skulls, coffins, demented toys…) but he was fully open to his students going in any direction we wanted, so I went in a zen beach direction with my Cave of Pages “assemblage” as he calls it.

It was an intensely creative day, spent in a room full of women who were otherwise canvas artists, silversmiths, collage artists, altered artists, and the list went on and on. Enormous fun! Will be interesting to see if I can somehow integrate some of the techniques I learned into the kind of work I teach. To that end, here is a sample of one of my upcoming classes of mine on metal work!

Morning After Commentary…
On with the MAC! Have any of you been watching Finale Week? I did catch the end of DWTS. Kate, seriously? Still so annoying and so very bitchy. Why do people care about her? I simply do not get it. But I enjoyed the final dances, was disappointed that Erin/Maks didn’t make it to the final two, but not at all surprised. I agree with a lot of you who feel that while Nicole definitely worked hard and earned her mirror ball trophy, given that everyone pegged an Evan/Nicole final two from the very first night…the producers might want to think a bit more on who they cast. I like to see folks like Erin and Chad, who really grow and learn during the competition. If I wanted to see all professional dancers, I’d go to a Broadway show. (Speaking of which…I am! Promises, Promises, with Kristen Chenoweth and Sean Hayes. I can’t wait!)

Back to finale week….in Idol finale news, Crystal blew the doors off the joint and sang in the DeathStarAuditorium that is the 7000 seat Nokia Theater like she was perfectly at home at the corner bar and OWNED the night….while Lee sang U2, not particularly well. In even better news, there was no ridiculously tragic and horrifying original song FINALLY so we don’t have to go through that hot mess again, ever, one hopes. Given the crowd reaction to Lee, I still think he’s as much up for this as Crystal. Of course, Evan had all the polls by a strong lead on DWTS and he ended up second. So….it’s anyone’s guess. I don’t know that I care any longer…I just want it to be over.

You? Tell me how you really feel. DISH!!

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I feel like Steve Martin in The Jerk: “The phone book is here, the phone book is here!” But…my book really IS here!!

Today is the Big Day when SOME LIKE IT SCOT officially hits the shelves and launches the Hot Scot trilogy. !!!! I feel like it’s been forever waiting for this series to launch and I’m so excited it’s finally begun. I hope you enjoy it and can’t wait to hear what you think. You guys, all the Blog Babes, have always been SO supportive and wonderful in getting the word out there, posting reviews any and everywhere, and chatting up my books, I couldn’t be more grateful. I hope you feel the same about SCOT!! I truly appreciate all the help and positive support I get. It means a great deal to me that you all take time to post, tweet, chatter, FB, all of it. So, please accept a big thank you from me for all that you do!!

Now on the Morning After Commentary on DWTS…

Each of the three final teams did a dance style the judges picked and their freestyle. I thought Nicole and Derek did the best, because…duh. Evan, cute as he is, still leaves me completely cold as a performer. He really puts his heart and soul into his routines, but he’s the most monotone guy otherwise and I don’t find myself at all excited. Maks and Erin have the best chemistry and are the most fun to watch. Of the three, she is the least accomplished and polished, but I’ve enjoyed her progress the most. I thought she did a great job — for her — with the samba. So I was truly happy to see her grossly overscored. I don’t care! For her? Total 10.

I wasn’t all that wowed by any of the freestyles, but I gotta admit that, again, Maks and Erin’s was the one that was most memorable. This morning, do you really remember the other two? Sure, it was frantic and not nearly as polished as it could have been, but wow, talk about doing something completely different. For that alone, they get my vote.

How will it go tonight? Well, Nicole should win if it was strictly a talent contest, which, of course, we all know it’s not. Not entirely. If the polls are any indication, Evan has this in the bag, and that’s the gold medalist taking the podium there. But, hey, you never know, Erin could get the dark horse/underdog vote and surprise everyone. I don’t know if that would be the right thing and probably isn’t, though I’d argue she’s come the furthest with the least amount of training and natural talent. (And yeah, yeah, she had ballet and tap as a kid. So did I. Trust me, that does not, decades later, a ballroom dancer make.) And, comparatively with her currently actively choreo’d competition, puts her at an even further disadvantage. So…I’d thoroughly enjoy a Maks/Erin win. I know. Don’t judge.

Free Stuff Friday! Don’t forget to celebrate my new release with me by entering this week’s contest. Up for grabs is an early copy of my July Blaze, SIMON SAYS. Check out Monday’s blog for the contest rules and details.

Then head back over here and DISH!! Who will win? Who should win? Who do you want to win? And are you on pins and needles on the American Idol final sing off tonight? Pins even? Just needles? Me, neither. But I’ll be watching! Check this space tomorrow for the DWTS finale and Idol sing off MAC!

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I hope you all had a great weekend! I spent a rainy Saturday and Sunday in my hometown of DC, oohing and ahhing over some of the Masonic sites like the Supreme Masonic Temple, along with the awe-inspiring National Cathedral and monastic Bishop’s Garden, which was surprisingly lush and even more stunning viewed during a stormy sunset. We topped off the fascinating exploration with a delicious Sunday brunch at the historic Old Ebbitts Grill. Lovely, wonderful time, raindrops and all!

Tomorrow is The Big Day for SOME LIKE IT SCOT! Wahoo! I’m so excited to finally see the launch of the “Hot Scots” trilogy. Book Two, OFF KILTER, is complete, and I’m excited about diving into the final book. To that end, I’ve been continuing my basket-weaving education, which is at the core of this series, and have made some forward progress. I finally worked up the nerve to finish the edging on the woven, beaded tray. Turned out pretty nicely!

And though the hand-shaping is turning out to be a challenge, it’s not going too badly! Well, it doesn’t completely look like I was blind-folded…with one hand tied behind my back…while weaving. A little more to go, then a whole new way to rim to be learned to finish it off.

This has been such a fascinating journey and I’ve been so fortunate to get to learn such great hands on research. Now that I’m learning all the steps, I can’t wait to try out an original design.

I also announced last week that my advance copies of SIMON SAYS, my July book for HQ Blaze, have arrived and, with that excitement and SOME LIKE IT SCOT hitting the shelves tomorrow, I think we should celebrate by giving away a few copies. Whaddya say? So, to enter the contest for this week’s Free Stuff Friday, just send an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with “Simon Says…pick me!” in the subject line. Three lucky Blog Babes will win a copy, winners announced in this Friday’s blog. Yep, THREE! So enter now and good luck!

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I hope everyone has had a great week! It’s been fun here, getting very excited about SOME LIKE IT SCOT finally hitting the stands next week and launching this series I’ve been working so hard on. I’ve been knee deep in research for the final book in the Hot Scots trilogy. More basketweaving, and some fascinating research into shoe design. I know! Never a dull moment. Trust me, it all fits together… My trek into basketweaving has been such a fascinating one, and one I know will stay with me beyond these books. It’s been very rewarding to have met such wonderful, wonderful craftsmen and women who have, each and every one, been so generous with their time and knowledge. It’s both gratifying and humbling, how kind and open folks are to helping out this writer. I hope I make them all proud with this series of books.

I’ve also been hard at work on the proposal for another series of books! (Gotta plan ahead!) And whereas I got to dabble in the creative world of weaving this past go around, for the next set of books, I get to play in the kitchen. A really big kitchen. The kind that comes attached to its own bakery. The kind of bakery that specializes in…..cupcakes! The amassing of books, information, and another batch of incredibly kind and generous people is already underway and I couldn’t be more excited to dive into the writing itself this coming fall when the basketweaving trilogy is done. The location is also going to be exciting as well (can’t wait to tell you all about it!) and I can’t wait to visit and explore. First, I have to get this proposal done and cross fingers that my editor loves it as much as I do. So…send good cupcake vibes my way!

And, to make the week even more fun, my July book, SIMON SAYS, arrived this week. I actually wrote this book quite some time ago, as a special invitation back into the Harlequin fold to celebrate the tenth anniversary of their Blaze imprint. It’s a Wrong Bed book, which was my favorite type to write and I’m really tickled to finally see it out there. So, to celebrate the celebration, I’ll be giving away two copies to the lucky Blog Babes who win next week’s Free Stuff Friday contest! Tune in Monday to get the details on how to enter. Here’s a sneak peek…

SIMONS SAYS
July 2010
Harlequin Blaze
ISBN 0373795580

Uh-oh. Respectiable night manager Sophie Maplethorpe is about to break and enter - in her own hotel. Worse, she ducks into the wrong room! But it’s hard to be sorry when she discovers the most sexy, mysterious guy in it …

International security expert Simon Lassiter is on the verge of finding a stolen precious - and pricey - gem . . . until the most criminally inept but majorly hot woman creeps into his room. Much to their soon-discovered mutual pleasure!

But Simon’s got hard-earned savvy and sophistication. He’s not about to trust a woman who just happened to stumble into a major heist.

Not even if she is willing to do anything Simon says in the bedroom . . .

Good luck in the drawing next week! Right now, let’s give away this week’s Free Stuff Friday prize! Lots of entries this week, one lucky winner. And the lucky blog babe is? Lisa T!! Just send me an email with your address and I’ll get your winning book out to you.

I hope everyone has a lovely May weekend planned. I will be tromping around my hometown city of DC, on Dan Brown’s Lost Symbol tour. My family are Masons and in the Eastern Star, and I was a Job’s Daughter, so I’m excited about exploring this part of my heritage, in my own city, that I haven’t even been aware of. Should be fun! I’ll share photos on Monday! Have a great weekend, everyone!

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I mean, after you watched the home town visits, how could you not love this guy? He’s obviously the most moved by this, and wants it the most. The support for him was bigger than I’d expected. It looks like we have a winner. At the very least, it’s going to be a strong contest with him and Crystal, but I think it’s totally his to lose at this point. And Casey’s sing out with his little cousin on his lap was pretty damn darling. So, like every other reality show this winter/spring, this one has gone as expected. Who wins? What’s your call?

In other news….I got a wonderful advance review for SOME LIKE IT SCOT yesterday! Thank you Coffee Time! Here is some of what they had to say:

“Some Like it Scot starts off pretty evenly, but the sexual tension along with the time restraint builds the plot into a crescendo that you thoroughly enjoy. Ms. Kauffman has a vivid imagination, bringing forth this compelling story with a very sexy Scot who leaves you fanning yourself just from imagining his brogue. The obligations that both Katie and Graham had were heavy with irony; Katie wants out of her family obligation, Graham is trying to find a different solution to his, and in the end Katie leaves her detested duty behind to help Graham with one that is quite similar to hers. I thought adding the mysterious visions the characters had was a brilliant strategy and leaves the reader trying to guess what would happen next. Whether you are a fan of a sexy Scot, a strong woman, Ms. Kauffman, or just romance in general you will enjoy reading this novel.” 4 cups ~ Danielle, Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More

Don’t forget to enter this week’s contest to win a copy for yourself! Details in Mondays’ blog post. Winner announced in tomorrow’s blog!

Next week, a special giveaway featuring my July book, Simon Says… Woot!

But right now? DISH!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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First, on DWTS, some…interesting entertainment. FF’d through Miley and the audience pick dance. I thought the second college team was ridiculously good, and Sarah McLachlan was awesome. Love getting to see Anna and Jonathan dance together. Aww. Also enjoyed the backstories on the pro dancers. At the end of the night, there was no shocking elimination…Chad went home. Erin gets to dance with Evan and Nicole. All is…pretty much what we predicted from the time the names of the contestants were announced pre-season. No ringers next season, producers! Oh, and not only do they have to do four dance (why that many?) but all the contestants come back to dance again. Yes. That means Kate.

On to focus happier things…kinda. The final three on Idol sang last night. One song of their choice, which was kinda snoozy, but what else is new? Lee did do the best, but it’s kind of like comparing apples to apples to apples. They could all record on the same album. Not a lot of range here. Second round was chosen by the judges. Casey got John Mayer and well, I loves me some blond guitar guy, but gag me on anything by Mayer. Shudder. Then Crystal gets McCartney/Lennon and does a very Crystal like version of the song. The pimp spot is saved for Lee - a coinkidink? - I think not. He gets Hallelujah. Seriously. Seriously? Like, we couldn’t find something that hasn’t already been done on the show and memorably? (Hi, Forest Creature! We miss you!) And, yeah, he does another fine Lee kinda job and gets a choir and wins the night, but it wasn’t the moment the judges all tried to make it be. It was a moment for Lee, comparatively, maybe. But I’ll remember Jason’s rendition of that song for far longer than I’ll remember anything that was sung last night, or this entire season, for that matter. And Jason Castro wasn’t that memorable, compared to other former contestants. They’re all good singers, these finalists, but it’s just not a get up out ya seat kinda season, is it. Like DWTS, I’m very okay with it finally being over. It’s between Crystal and Lee. It’s always been between Crystal and Lee. Evan/Nicole, Crystal/Lee…zzzzz. I honestly don’t care who wins.

What say you, Blog Babes? Shouldn’t we have given Nicole the trophy on week 2 and let everyone else dance for second place? Could Evan and his fans pull an “upset”? Have the judges all but proclaimed Lee the Idol winner? Have you downloaded a single song from this season? I haven’t. When does So You Think You Can Dance start again? Soon. Please.

DISH!

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I got the great news that Sony has chosen SOME LIKE IT SCOT as their e-book Pick of the Month for June! Wahoo! One week from today is Release Day! Seven days! Not that I’m counting….

So, on the weaving front, there has been progress! I still haven’t attempted the woven rim on the tray, but I have made progress on the vase-shape basket. Aaaand, so it’s not all that vase-like, but, hey, it’s not wobbly! And yes, it is small. Most waxed linen baskets are as they stay soft and malleable. The bead work is what creates the puckered shape, which is both cool, and a big reason I’m having a hard time shaping the dang thing. But, for a first try at this type basket, I’m not mortified with the result, so that’s a good thing.

Here is the current status:

Morning After Commentary:

And, while weaving, I did watch some Dancing… Each team in the final four did one Ballroom dance and one Latin dance. The judges were exceedingly kind, especially to Erin, who I thought tried her absolute hardest, but looked a bit gawky and a lot nervous. I actually thought Chad did better in both dances than she did, but he didn’t score higher. Still, they were kinder to him than they usually are. And perhaps it was because Erin’s dances were more complicated. But, as much as I love Erin/Maks, I thought Cheryl showcased Chad exactly right and I think he has a good shot at Final Three. And, after last night…he might get it.

Evan definitely improved in the personality department and I thought he did really well in both dances. But, of course, the night belonged to Nicole as it always does. There is certainly no argument that she’s not the best dancer out there. I do hope they bring in all celebs with less experience next season. (And, sorry, I know they’re amping up Erin’s ballet/jazz dancing as a kid, but I did that, too, and the whole drill team thing and I’m sorry, but that would woefully prepare me, decade or so later, to do this.)

So, I think, the finish order is Nicole, Evan and Chad/Erin either one in third. What’s your take?

Tonight the Final Three Idols sing and they get judges choice and their choice. Could be interesting, or, you know, not. I’ll be tuning in.

Don’t forget to enter this week’s contest. See details in Monday’s blog post. Winner announced this Friday, so get your entry in! And then come back over here…and DISH!

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It’s a rainy Monday here in the DC suburbs, good day for curling up and writing a good book…or reading one! To that end, I think we should give away a free book! Whaddya say? SOME LIKE IT SCOT hits the stands a week from tomorrow, and to celebrate, the winner of this week’s Free Stuff Friday contest will win a signed advance copy! Just send an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with “I need a rainy day read!” in the subject line. I’ll draw a name from all entries and announce it here in Friday’s blog. Good luck!

Many of you have been asking about the basketweaving photos I posted awhile back. The new “Hot Scot” trilogy is centered around the ancient tradition of waxed linen weaving, and — totally in the name of research, of course! — I’ve been learning how to do it myself. Special thank you to Joanne Howard, my basket guru and reed pusher. Below is a picture of the current work in progress. This is a small tray, the pattern was designed by the fabulous and talented Judy Wilson, with a definite American Indian influence. My series is set in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, where they have their own Celtic pattern influences. And just as soon as I get better at this, I’m going to try my hand with their more complex designs. The puckering in the tray is intentional and caused by the beads that are slid onto the spokes and woven into the tray pattern. That black band inside the outer edge is actually all beads. All that is left to do with this tray is braid the remaining tan spokes into a woven, finished edge. And just as soon as I work up the nerve to do that, I’ll post the final result!

I’m also currently working on a small waxed linen woven basket, which is a vase-like shape when finished. The trick to this one is that you have to hand form the shape of it as you weave. Yeah. We’ll see how that works out for me. I’ll be sure to post my results! The photo below is the newly started vase/basket formation.

On to Monday Morning MAC news! Yes, the best season ever of Survivor is over. No, Russell did not win. Neither did Parvati. Both made the final three, Jerri and Colby did not. And I’m okay with that line up. The ones who played and schemed the hardest made it to the finals. In fact, all three players to make it to the finals have been there before. Two of them have won before! (Can you believe anyone who won the game before was allowed to get to the end? Seriously.) But they did, and for that alone, totally earned. In the end, it was “lippy” Sandra who went home with the dough. Again. I wasn’t too happy when she won her first season, but I was okay with this win. It looked like an under-the-radar/coattails game, but it really wasn’t. She was a shrewd manipulator and despite never winning a single immunity challenge, she and her one, lone immunity necklace pulled out a victory. I wasn’t all that invested in any particular person winning…so I was good with that. Plus, I know she’ll do something good with the money for her family, and community. I don’t know that the same could be said of Parvati, and you damn well know it wouldn’t be said of Russell. Next fall? Nicaragua. I’m on board!

Tonight we get dancing, tomorrow night is singing, and in a week, all of our shows will be over. Good thing their bringing on the dancing in So You Think You Can Dance. And did you hear? Castle has a summer season. Mmmmm yummy! AND! Over on Top Chef, which was filmed here in my lil’ ol’ city, Eric Ripert has joined the judgery. Eye and ear candy. Mmmm, yummy indeed!

What say you, Blog Babes? Hate the Survivor finale? Love it? Surprised Russell didn’t get a single vote? Again? But he did get Fan Favorite! (Did you see Rupert’s face? Yikes.) Who are you rooting for on Idol? DWTS? Or are you past caring about winners at this point? I’m kind of on reality burnout. I’m up for SYTYD and Top Chef, but otherwise, I think I will catch up on all the fabulous movies coming out this summer (saw Robin Hood this weekend and, unlike many critics, I totally LOVED it. Can’t wait to see where it leads…) Also going to catch up on my reading this summer. Okay, so it might take the next three summers, plus all the other seasons, but hey, it’s a start! Next on my pile is Jane Green’s Dune Road. Have any of you read it? I’m looking forward to it. And you? What’s on your must read/must see/must watch list? DISH!!

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