It’s been an amazing year and I have a lot to be thankful for, not the least of which are all the lovely, funny, loyal, and supportive Blog Babes out there! Thank you all for following me and joining me in my daily DISH!

Check back on Monday for some exciting and fun news! We’re going to start the New Year off in a very yummy kinda way. Can’t wait to share with you all!

In the meantime, it’s time to announce the final Free Stuff Friday winner of 2010! And the lucky Blog Babe is? Flora B!!! Flora, just email me at donna@donnakauffman.com with your address and a few book choices (in case I’m out of your first choice) and your prize will go out with the new year’s batch!

I believe I have used up the entire remaining quotient of exclamation marks I had left for 2010, so I will sign off for the year and wish you all a safe, happy, wondrous, fantabulous holiday weekend! (Okay, so I had one left. ) Eat, shop, and be merry.

See You Next Year!! (Shhh. Borrowing two from next year’s quota….)

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Thank you all for sharing the celebratory joy of OFF KILTER hitting the stands yesterday! All your comments and notes were truly appreciated. I hope all of you who pick up a copy enjoy Roan & Tessa’s story!

And here it is….actually on the shelf, where folks can buy it and everything!

Thank you also for joining in for the Release Day Contest. I tossed all the blog babe commenters names in a hat and pulled out….Johanna Jochum! You’re the Big Winner!! Email me your address at donna@donnakauffman.com and I’ll put a copy of OFF KILTER in the mail to you. Thanks for playing!

And stay tuned in for the weekly contest winner announcement in this Friday’s blog. What? You haven’t entered that one? Well, check out Monday’s blog post for all the scintillating details! Good luck!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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I often get asked which book that I’ve written is my favorite. Which is rather like asking which of my children I like best. Depends on when you ask me! I’m always most in love with the book I’m currently writing, which…I’d better be, right? But it is true that some books end up holding special places in your heart for a variety of reasons, and OFF KILTER is one of those books for me. For reasons both personal and sentimental, as well as….well, I really just enjoy these people, I’ve been more anxious than usual for this book to finally hit the stands.

When I say that the advance critical praise has been gratifying, that’s an understatement. I always want my books to be well received, but this go around, it feels especially good to know that the readers are truly enjoying this story.

I just got another review in last night, and it does a pretty good job of summing up this book, and the series (which began with SOME LIKE IT SCOT, June 2010) as well. So….I’ll let it do the talking for me!

OFF KILTER – Donna Kauffman
Kinloch Series, Book 2
Brava
ISBN: 978-0-7582-5089-6
January 2011
Contemporary Romance

Kinloch Island, Scotland, the Present

The population of Kinloch is made up mainly of the McAuley and MacLeod clans. Graham MacLeod is about to cement his position as island leader by marrying an American descendant of the McAuleys. His good friend, and perhaps the most popular man on the island, Roan McAuley, is about to drop his kilt in public…Oops! What is that all about?

Roan is devoted to his community and promotes its economic development however he can. To publicize Kinloch, he and other island bachelors are entering their—not quite bare-all—photos in the Highland Hunk of the Month calendar contest. They are lucky to have an internationally known photo-journalist for the shoot.

Tessa Vandergriff came to Kinloch to stay with her one good friend. She and Kira MacLeod attended a London boarding school together and have remained close in spirit if not proximity. Tessa needs to come to terms with her life, and to heal, if that is possible. Tessa suffers from post traumatic stress disorder after years of photographing hot spots around the world. She has seen just too much of the evil that men can do to each other.

Initially put off by her touch-me-not attitude, Tessa begins to get under Roan’s skin.

Readers won’t be surprised that Roan and Tessa become the main focus of OFF KILTER. Who would not be moved by her unfolding story? And what woman would not fall for Roan? Handsome and charming and caring—not to forget sexy—he’s that rare blend of alpha and beta male. He can be funny and serious, strong and tender, and has an uncanny ability to really see Tessa. They are surrounded by other interesting characters, several of whom beg for tales of their own. Though it’s not necessary to the enjoyment of OFF KILTER to have read the first book set on Kinloch (SOME LIKE IT SCOT, June 2010), those who have will be happy to catch up with old friends.

Wouldn’t you love to have one of those calendars? What is it about those Highlanders, anyway?

OFF KILTER is a fun and lovely, heartwarming story.

Jane Bowers
Romance Reviews Today

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To read more reviews for OFF KILTER, click on the book cover in the column to the right, or just go to my home page! And to help me celebrate the Big Day, I’m going to offer another mini contest this week! Yep! In fact, this contest is just For This Day Only, so not bad odds on winning! I will draw a name from all who leave a comment on this blog post and the winner gets a copy of OFF KILTER (or, if you already snatched up your very own copy, you can choose another title from my website bookshelf.) I’ll announce the winner in tomorrow’s blog. You have until midnight tonight, EST in the US, December 28 to leave a comment.

Good luck! And thanks for celebrating with me!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Ok, show of hands. Who’s buried in snow right now? Shockingly, my hand? Not being raised. Given the 100% chance of being buried in snow that was predicted yesterday, we only got flurries. The nor’easter ticked a bit east instead. Missed it by that much!/Get Smart voice.

So no shoveling for me today! I guess that’s a bonus. But I was kinda looking forward to the pretty white stuff. All we got instead were gale force winds. Nothing really positive and glowy to say about gale force winds. My dog would concur, since the sound it makes outside our windows sounds like the dawn of the dead being slaughtered in their sleep. Again.

Yeah. I’d rather have had snow.

What DOES make today exciting? Well, it’s the anticipation of tomorrow. Which is when OFF KILTER finally hits the stands. Woo hoo!!! (And I’ve had reported sightings that it made the shelves in some stores in time for Santa to include it in a few stockings.) So, tomorrow I will go through my Happy Book Release Day Ritual. Which basically is just finding it on a bookshelf in a bookstore somewhere…and standing there with a goofy grin on my face, admiring it. Sitting there. On an actual shelf. In an actual store. Where people can, like, buy it. Once again, I managed to pull it off. And fifty books in…it really doesn’t get old, the ritual. I love it every single time.

I hope you love it, too! I can’t wait to hear from my blog babes and readers extraordinaire on this one. The advance critical reviews have been incredibly gratifying, but you guys are the ones that matter to me.

So…lemme know what you think!!

And no, I didn’t forget Man Candy Monday!! Because it’s worth a repeat….this is the Santa I wished had come down my chimney and stuffed my, er….stocking. He wouldn’t even need to bring me a new car. What did he leave you this year?

Free Stuff Friday Contest this week….last one of the year! To enter, just send an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with Happy New Year! in the subject line. I’ll draw one name from the pile and announce it in Friday’s blog. Good luck!

And now? DISH!! Favorite holiday gift? What are you going to return? And, most importantly, who is gift card shopping today? ME!!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Thank you all for entering this week’s contest! We do have a winner!

Congratulations Seoyoung G! Just send me your mailing address and a few title ideas from my website bookshelf (in case I’m out of your first one) and I will get your prize to you.

I hope everyone is having a good holiday season! I will be back on Monday. Ho ho ho!!

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The thing about holiday baking…is that it inevitably leads to holiday eating. Which somehow tends to continue on well after the holidays are over and the Christmas cookies are all devoured, and then I have no excuse. Except it’s cold. And the days are short. The nights are long. And long nights and good books are somehow better with homemade hot chocolate. And whip cream. And shortbread.

I’ve decided I’ll worry about it in the spring. Or whenever I can’t zip my jeans shut. Whichever comes first!

In the meantime, Kensington, my lovely and wonderful publisher, sent along this bit of Wow for me to ogle whilst I nibble. This is the ad for the new releases, including OFF KILTER, that you might see popping up in your favorite magazine or online site. I thought it was pretty nifty!

Oh, and, while I’m gratuitously promoting myself (hey, it’s my blog!) I’ll remind you that after the frenzy of gift opening passes and all the cooking is done, and you’re settling down with left overs and a need something good to read? Well, as it happens, OFF KILTER will be hitting the stands on December 28. Just in time to use that bookstore gift card Santa left you! (I know! It’s like they timed it or something!) And if you do pick up a copy, I’d love to hear what you think. The advance critical reviews have been gratifyingly wonderful, but it’s you guys who matter to me. So, drop me a note, shout it to the world, tell your neighbor…

But….DISH! (And don’t forget to enter this week’s contest! Details in Monday’s post. Winner announced tomorrow!)

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Last night was the live finale of Sing Off and I must say I’m sad it’s all over. I don’t even care who won/lost (though my favorite DID win!)…I just enjoyed listening to all the lovely singing. It’s great background music. There were musical guests (highlights for me? Sheryl Crow and Neil Diamond!) and much joy spread around. In the end, my church boys, Committed, won the day. All the teams were amazingly talented, so it would have been hard to argue against any win, but it was a pretty joyous moment watching them reel in stunned shock as the magnitude of how much their lives are going to change (prize includes a recording contract!) began to sink in. We need more feel-good stuff. Or, I do anyway!

I hope all of you in the pre-holiday planning/rushing/shopping/wrapping/baking mode are taking time to enjoy the pleasures of the season as well. And by pleasures, of course I mean hot chocolate and home baked cookies! We’re having a white Christmas here and it has definitely leant a festive air to the occasion.

And, of course, you can’t let that all that yummy hot chocolate go to waste (did I mention the whipped cream? Hey, it’s Christmas! That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it. Santa made me do it!) If you’re going to curl up with a mug, there should be a good book involved. That’s been my reward for making cards, baking cookies, and getting wrapped presents all boxed up for shipping. (Like it’s grueling work…. ) I’m currently indulging in Teresa Medeiros’ latest release, GOODNIGHT TWEETHEART, a relationship that develops 140 characters at a time, via a tweet conversation. It’s the perfect tidbit!

What’s been your sneak-away, steal some time pleasure this holiday?

Don’t forget to enter this week’s contest! Winner announced Thursday, so hurry! Details in Monday’s post. Then come back on over, pour yourself a mug o’ chocolate (don’t forget the tiny marshmallows!) and DISH!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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It’s Monday…so you know what that means! A little Man Candy Santa in your stocking! And he’ll wax your car? He gives and he gives… Santa is a giver! Enjoy.

So…last night on Survivor the improbable happened. Yes, our sweet, goofy, but sharper-than-he-looks (or is able to convey in actual English) dude actually took home the prize. Three straight immunity wins (with puzzles, too…Dude!) and a charming ride through Tribal Council brought one of the more uneven seasons to an end with a 5-4 vote giving Fabio the win against Chase. And, um, Sash? Skunked. Skunked again by Probst in the reunion. Did Jeff ask the guy a single question? Yikes! Fan Favorite was Jane by a landslide. For a season that wasn’t particularly motivating or memorable, I couldn’t have asked for a more hilarious outcome. You go, Fabs! And love the new ‘do!

Next season on Survivor they’re all excited about this new Redemption Island twist (which you’ll hear all about and I’m not tryin’ to explain here, mostly because…meh. I’m not nearly as excited as Probst.) Not a single mention, however, about how this is also supposed to be a season of returning players. Also seeking Redemption? I guess they can’t exactly call is “All Stars.” All Villains maybe. But when propping the next edition….nuthin. So, who knows? It starts mid February. I’m sure we’ll hear all about it by then.

In the meantime, show of hands on who is gonna watch the new dance show by Paula Abdul? ME!! And that’s despite Paula being involved. I just love anything with dancing, so I’m there. At least initially. I’m not a big America’s Got Talent fan, and there’s a definite AGT-vibe to the commercials. But no sight of Piers. So maybe it will all be okay after all. I’d rather sit through Pauler.

This week, I’m shopping, baking, wrapping, and shipping…and doing it all with a soundtrack of my favorite Christmas movies going in the background. Mine are a bit off the beaten path. Every year without fail, I watch White Christmas with Bing, Danny, Ellen & Rosemary….and Desk Set, with Hepburn & Tracy. Sometimes, Elf manages to find its way into the mix, too.

This week I’m also having Free Stocking Stuffer Friday contest!! (Which, this week is going to be shortened to a Free Stuff Thursday contest…) To enter, send me an email to me at donna@donnakauffman.com with “I want a Sexy Santa!” in the subject line. Winner gets a free book from my website bookshelf. I’ll draw a name from the pile and announce the winning blog babe here in Thursday’s blog!

And after you enter, come back and tell us what is your Must Watch Christmas movie every season? And what’s on your Must Watch list this coming winter tv season?? DISH!!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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We had a lovely dusting of snow here in the Metro DC area yesterday. Well, lovely if all you had to do was watch it through your window while tucked warmly inside, anyway. But definitely added a little holiday spirit!

Also spirited was the continuation of really amazing a capella singing on The Sing Off. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this program and wish all the groups could just come out and sing for my own personal pleasure every week and nobody had to go home. The opening number to Little Help From My Friends was all kinds of awesome and riveting. I listened to it twice. There is such diversity amongst the remaining five groups, it’s fun and interesting to hear how they blend them all together. Super enjoyable feel good stuff.

In the end, after the first round of medleys, my bud’s from Oregon were finally auf’d, but their final words, which managed to work in a pun about every judge as well as the host, and their “sing out” of Final Countdown, kept them true to their hilarity and fun right to the bitter end. The final four came back and each sang a song picked by the judges to showcase their talents. Committed got Al Green’s Let’s Stay Together, and the way they handed off the leads and just sounded so smooth and sweet…..I heart them for the win. Street Corner Symphony got Down on the Corner, and did a good job, as they always do. Something about them is off putting to me, but there’s no denying they have a good sound. (I think it’s because I don’t think their lead singer is All That and he comes off as a guy who is trying to get back into the industry and would ditch his buddies in a heartbeat if he thought it would move him forward. Just sayin.) Still, nice job. Jerry Lawson & Talk of the Town’s rendition of House of the Rising Sun gave me chills. Yes, Jerry needs to stop the drunk uncle hip wiggling, because…ew. But in every other way, I love these guys and am so glad to get to hear their interpretation as it comes from the other end of the experience register. That leaves the Backbeats, who do the least for me, in terms of motivating my voting fingers, but they are a talented bunch. They got Landslide by Fleetwood Mac, which is a tough song to sing, but did well with it. Still….I’d have voted them to go home when it came time for the Final Three announcement.

Only? No Final Three. We get to vote on a Final Four. And, you know what? More singing for my entertainment and I’m all for that! I voted for Committed and tossed a few Jerry’s way as well. Will be interesting to see who takes the prize Monday, but ultimately I’m just looking forward to one last night of great singing. What about you? Who are you rooting for?

Okay, time for Free Stuff Friday!! Thanks for all the entries this week. The winning blog babe is? Jessica S!! Woot woot! Send me an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with a few title ideas (in case I’m out of your first choice) and an address.

Next week is Crunch Time for last minute holiday shopping, and doing my part to keep stockings happily stuffed, there will be a Free Stuff contest next week, only it’s going to be Free Stuff Thursday! Tune in Monday to get all the Survivor Finale MAC, and the details on how to enter. Winner announced in Thursday’s blog.

Hope everyone has a safe and wonderful weekend!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Ok, they need to spread these shows out a bit. That’s all I’m sayin. I made it through the cookin’ and the survivin’, but the singing has to wait until tonight.

So, on Top Chef, the ridiculously talented crew was split into four teams, who each cooked their asses off for the quickfire by working together as seamlessly as possible under a ridiculous deadline. Then, they take those same four teams and send out to four different NYC restaurants helmed by four very different, very iconic chefs. But those wicked Top Chef producers didn’t pit one team against another, noooo. Instead, they pitted each team’s teammates against each other. Yikes. And, in case that wasn’t nerve wracking enough, they announced that two chefs would be packing their knives.

It was interesting to see the food served at each of the restaurants and watch the various chef’s reactions and deliberations on what they would do. I thought Angelo once again had the win as he had the most fortuitous pairing, with french asian, and he did make the finals, along with Angry Dale, Antonia (who is rocking this season, however quietly) and Tre.

Mmmm. Tre.

In the end? Angry Dale was the winner. Surprised me. On the bottom? Fabio (please keep him around. He’s the only one who fights hard, but totally gets the absolute absurdity of what they’re being asked to do, and the rationale to understand that, in the end, it doesn’t matter. He’s just happy to play.) Happy Dale, Sommelier Stephen, and Tiffani-With-An-I. Who goes? End of the day, Stephen, which was a no brainer. Even he realized he was outclassed right from the get go. And? Happy Dale. Awwww. I like Happy Dale. But I’m so tickled that we get at least another week of Fabio’s acerbic take on the competition, that I’m still in my happy place. Oh, and the prize? 6 night stay in New Zealand. I’d LOVE that.

Now….over on Survivor, they WISH they had the loser dishes on Top Chef. Hell, they wish they had food. Period. This was the always emotional family member visit show, which is a season favorite for me. Everyone had good times, then Chase outs his top threesome, which, for me begged the question, just how did Sash get himself into that three over Jane? I still don’t get it. Except, oh, wait a minute….Sash can’t win. Jane would. Never mind. And despite Jeff’s most obvious man-handling at tribal council to date, did the three underdogs (Jane, Dan) and my other favorite Fabio) rise up and try to force a tie by voting Holly (the only one of her three without an idol around her neck.) No. They all vote Jane. And Jane? She voted Sash! ??? I totally don’t get any of that. But? Buh bye Jane. And love her or not, I did love her very honest reaction to finding out her neck was on the chopping block while still in camp. On Day One, she’s the one who made fire for them without a flint. So she dumped not one, but two buckets of fire on the camp fire before heading out. Can’t blame her. In fact, right on.

So, this Sunday is the season finale. Three hours of Survivor Goodness and I will be there, despite having only one absolute favorite. I don’t want Chase to win. I don’t want Sash to win. And despite playing a pretty good game, all in all, I can’t say I feel the desire for Holly either. These players just don’t have me. Not feeling the love and I can’t see that changing with two back-to-back episodes left. I do LOVE that Dan has made it this far despite being essentially crippled. That’s what makes this game so fascinating. But win? Yeah, that can’t happen, and won’t. Which leaves the only one who grabbed me from the very beginning, and for whom my love has only grown. Fabio. Yeah. I said it. I hope he wins it all and neener, freaking neener to the rest. Man, that would be so satisfying. About as satisfying as my other favorite Fabio winning Top Chef. What are the odds of having two favorite reality players on two completely different reality shows both named Fabio? I ponder. Will either Fabio win? I sincerely doubt it. But boy, it would be damn entertaining. Even making it to the finals would make me a happy viewer.

Then, in Probst’s weekly blog, he announces that they will tease the next season on Survivor at the end of the reunion show, as they typically do. Only, this time he calls the next season EPIC. His caps. And, from the comments made in response to his blog, it sounds like there’s another All Star season in the making…only the theme this time? Redemption. Um….can you say welcome back Russell Hantz? But, to balance that sour taste, it’s also welcome back Boston Rob. (Be STILL my heart!) Wow. Dammit. Now I have to watch.

What about you? What are you watching? Who are you rooting for? On Survivor and Top Chef. And don’t tell me who went home on the singing show! I swear I’ll watch it today. Check out the MAC tomorrow, along with the winner of this week’s Free Stuff Friday contest. What? You haven’t entered? Check out Tuesday’s blog for all the rules and hurry up already! Then come back here and (say it with me….) DISH!!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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