Here we are on Day 3 of Brenda Novak Week, with the lovely and generous Brenda! This week is all about raising awareness about diabetes and money for the cure of diabetes. So, please, if you can, check out the gift basket my blogmates and I have put together: Kiss And Thrill Gift Basket and also some of the many other incredible Auction Items. In … Continue reading Day 3: Brenda Novak Week: Embarrassing Moments to Cure Diabetes!
A heartfelt cyber-hug to everyone affected by the the tornado in Oklahoma City yesterday. My thoughts and prayers are with you! We’re on DAY 2 of BRENDA NOVAK WEEK! Yay! Brenda has the most interesting stories about how she researches her books and, if you tune in to the following video, you’ll hear first hand how she does it. In the meantime, please don’t forget … Continue reading Researching Books and Diabetes with Brenda Novak
Diabetes kills more people every year than any criminal. We’re close to a cure, and people like Brenda Novak and her charity, “For the Cure of Diabetes,” are raising money to make a real difference. In honor of her online auction this month, I’m declaring this Brenda Novak Week here on DianaBelchase.com! Every day I’ll post one segment of the four part interview I did … Continue reading Brenda Novak Week: For the Cure!
I’d like to welcome Angi Morgan for being my guest blogger today. I have a special place in my heart for Angi because she presented me with my Golden Heart Award for my book The Spy in the Mirror a year and a half ago.
Thank you Angi for sharing your story! Shout out to Lena Diaz for arranging this blog post, too.
A RANGER KISSED & THRILLED
My May hero is a Texas Ranger. Now, I’m an 11th generation Texan. Seriously. My 
ancestors on my mom’s side received original Spanish land grants and we don’t know when they arrived, but the first recorded death is in 1759 “by Indian arrow.” My father’s grandfather was a Texas Sheriff who owned the local saloon. So both sides of my family have been here quite a while. Die Hard Texan…that’s me.
I have no idea why I became so “Texas Proud.” My family wasn’t crazy about it. I spoke to my grandmothers to receive colorful stories and history. One that pops into my mind is from the Depression about a swinging ham in the smokehouse and my grandmother cutting some fingers off a thief. But I think my real love for Texas came because there is so much to see and write about. My books are all located in Texas and when I wanted to go west…the only logical hero was a Texas Ranger.
I was surprised to discover that the Rangers are the oldest law enforcement organization in the northern continent. Established in 1823, there could be several generations of Rangers in one family–sort of like generations of cop families. Enter Cord McCrea…he’s definitely a ‘Kiss & Thrill’ hero, loyal to a fault, good at his job, and in love with one woman–his ex-wife. Continue reading “A RANGER KISSED & THRILLED”
Breaking news …
Multi-award winning author, Lena Diaz,
was dragged out of a conference in Anaheim last summer and actually forced to speak — on film, no less — by the audacious Diana Belchase.
Despite her fervent protests, Lena was beaten into submission in the most terrifying and horrific manner by her blogmate. Subjected to the greatest inequities, deprived of food and water until she capitulated, you, the viewer, will see here, the abject misery and torment to which an author can be subjected — not only by the nature of her profession, but in the name of so called friendship.
We ask you to judge, both the perpetrator and the victim. Leave your verdict in the comment section (here or at KissAndThrill.com) and for your efforts, one of you will win an e-copy of Lena’s newest release, Explosive Attraction, for your effort. But be warned — if you consider this a bribe, and the verdict turns unduly in Lena’s favor, Diana has vowed to retaliate — by searching out and videoing each of you… (insert loud menacing echo here).
MUUHAHAHA
Okay, now that that’s over (I just couldn’t resist!), I do have real news. At a recent conference, it was heard that Lena is a new rising star who not only is doing phenomenally in the states but is taking Germany by storm as well! All I can say is YIPPEE! Continue reading “Lena Diaz Dragged Out in Public and Forced to Speak!”
Author Diane Kelly is actually making money from tax evasion! Writing about tax evasion — that is. Her books are murderously funny, the plot twists keep you dying to get to the end — where everyone gets their just desserts. I sat down with Diane and found out her ideas come from her real life as a tax attorney. Please enjoy this short interview, and … Continue reading Diane Kelly Profits From Tax Evasion!
Bestselling author, Brad Meltzer, sat down with Diana Belchase on the night his newest novel, The Fifth Assassin released at Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington, DC. Find out how Brad came up with the idea for a Presidential serial assassin, the scoop on his TV show, Decoded, and how he ended up consulting for the Department of Homeland Defense. For a look at the Everybody Hates Brad Meltzer funny … Continue reading Brad Meltzer Kills
Sometimes things just don’t go well.
Rebecca is a fellow member of two of my writing groups. Knowing the interview/blog was coming up, I had my husband snap a photo of the two of us at a party we attended together. Rebecca wore this drop dead elegant faux leopard coat, I was in my holiday best. The photo he got had my hair standing on end and both of us in the midst of smiling. 
We ended up looking as if we were gnashing our teeth! I called Rebecca and told her we couldn’t use the photo and she laughed. Her husband, who is an excellent photographer, apparently hadn’t gotten a good shot of her that day either. Oh well. That’s life, and I’m sure rotten photos plague bestselling authors even more than they do me. After all, how often have I been in the paper compared to the incomparable Rebecca York? Glad she could send this lovely photo of herself instead.
Doesn’t she look mysterious against that black background? I couldn’t let Rebecca get away without asking her a few questions today! She graciously set aside some time to let me ask away.
Before I forget, please make sure to leave a comment in order to be entered to win a copy
of Rebecca’s newest Harlequin Intrigue, Her Baby’s Father. (You can gain two extra entries by also posting a comment at KissAndThrill.com and by following this blog.)
Diana: You’re known as one of the premier authors in romantic suspense, how did you start writing in this genre? What drew you to it? Continue reading “The Mysterious Rebecca York”
Kim Boykin is absolutely delightful. She writes the way she lives — deeply and passionately. In today’s video she talks about her life as a Southern Woman, her mother’s beauty shop, her roses, and her wonderful new book: The Wisdom of Hair. As Kim says, “As women we believe if we can change our hair, we can change our lives.” I couldn’t agree more. Kim … Continue reading A New Rose in the Literary Garden: Kim Boykin
Mary Kay Andrews books are transformative. When you’re done with them, you think twice about your life decisions, and you feel as if you’ve found long-lost sisters. She takes you down the back roads of America — to little towns and places where traditions and secrets run deep, and friendship runs even deeper. Her heroines are the kind of women I want to be — … Continue reading Mary Kay Andrews Reveals Murderous Secret Identity!
Today, we’re pondering an age-old question: What is under that kilt? <G> And who better to answer it than my guest, Willa Blair, best-selling and award-winning author of Highland Healer. Her novel is the first in a series set in the 16th century Highlands, when the old ways and old talents still shaped events.
Even Victorian women were curious about Kilts
Have you ever wondered:
– why you never see a Scotsman shining his boots?
– or wearing patent leather shoes?
– why there’s no men’s Scottish gymnastic team?
– Just what does a Scotsman wear under his kilt? Continue reading “What is Under that Kilt?”
NY Times best selling author, Eloisa James sat down with me at a conference at McDaniel College. She gave advice for new writers, told me about her family, her career, and discussed genre fiction versus literature. What a treat! I couldn’t wait to share this. The interview is divided into four parts. Make sure to click on the link “continue reading” to see the entire set of interviews. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
Interview #1: Eloisa gives some sage advice to want to be and young writers:
It’s been a while since the Golden Heart Nominations for 2012 were announced, so, you might well ask, where have you been all this time? Was something fishy going on? Were you off on another covert assignment? Here are the possibilities:
Diana was:
a. Sitting around eating bonbons? (The completely delicious, fat-free ones that never add an ounce of weight)
b. Traveling around the world with a really cute and rich guy? (Imagine castles in France, the casino at Monte Carlo, the Yacht moored off of Mykonos. <sigh>)
c. Leaving all the work to naughty little elves who didn’t write her posts as they’d promised (because she is as prolific a writer as Nora Roberts and just didn’t have time)?
d. Sort of uncomfortable bragging about being a Golden Heart Finalist again when so many of my writing friends didn’t make it?
Anyone who knows me will guess, “Yup, she was squirming in her seat, trying to hide while people made a fuss.” While I’m crazy about being nominated, drying friend’s tears — and knowing how talented they are — makes it a bit hard to talk about my incredible good fortune. This was NOT going to be a post — until they all ganged up on me and literally forced me to write about it. Continue reading “Going for the Gold — Again!”
Some days I feel as if I just can’t win.
I guess today was one of them. My manuscript is ready to be seen by editors, and I wonder if this round of submissions will be “the” one? Will someone love it? Will my book be finally good enough to sell?
So many other people seem to be getting deals. They talk about their editors and publication timelines, and all the hard work it takes to bring a book to market. From this end, their worries seem so much easier than mine. Their books have sold, and will be on bookshelves — whether real or in cyberspace — and their stories will finally be read.
It is wonderful hearing about friends getting their books published, garnering three book deals, going on tours. I wish them luck, really, really I do. I love them, and I know how hard they worked, and how much they deserve it.
I just want to be one of them. <sigh> Continue reading “Dancing in the Shadows”
Welcome everyone, this is my blog. I’m just starting out in the blog world, but I’m ready to get going. I’ve been nominated for the Golden Heart award for my suspense novel, The Spy in the Mirror, and I can’t wait to find out how I did. For a blurb go here: Spy in the Mirror I’ll be blogging about writing, about the Golden Heart … Continue reading Starting up this Blog
