How cool! I won’t be able to read it, but I can’t wait to see it translated into Korean.

How Do I Love Thee?

Pack Rules by Alexis Fleming

Blurb:

Shapeshifters? Dangerously sexy men turning into wolves? Life sure gets interesting when Tori invites a stray dog into her home.

Excerpt:

Tori curled up on the couch and the dog immediately joined her. He cuddled close, his head up, tongue lolling out. ‘You might look like a fierce wolf, but you’re really a softie, aren’t you?’
The animal tried to lick her mouth again. She fended him off. ‘No more doggie spit. I think you’re cute, but I don’t like you that much. However, if you’re going to keep coming around, you need a name. Hmm, how about Rover?’
When the animal flashed his canines at her and shook his head, Tori roared with laughter. For a moment there, she actually thought he’d understood her. ‘Um, okay, Fido? No?’ This time a slight growl accompanied the movement of his head. ‘Blackie? Patch? Rollie?’
She threw her hands in the air at the dog’s continued negative response. ‘Wow, opinionated for a four-legged beast, aren’t you? You should meet Kaeden. You’d make a good pair.’ She chuckled. ‘There’s a thought. I’ll call you Kaeden. That should get a reaction from him when he knows I’ve named a mutt after him.’
Her new pet stretched his lips wide and made a strange raspy sound. His body shook, the hair ruffling around his neck. Damn, she’d swear he was laughing. ‘Okay, I guess Kaeden it is.’
Images of the two-legged Kaeden slid through her mind. For some reason, the dog reminded her of him. The amber eyes. The cocky attitude. A real alpha personality. She lifted her hand and dragged her fingers across her lips. The imprint of his mouth remained, like a fiery brand on her skin.
She shivered, sensation overwhelming her. Her thoughts took on a decidedly raunchy edge. One little kiss, and here she was, acting like a teenager with her first crush. Heat gathered inside her, spread out to encompass her entire body. Her skin felt tight. Her breasts ached. Tension gripped her, demanding release.
‘Enough already!’ She jumped to her feet, waving a hand in front of her face to cool herself down. She had to stop thinking of Kaeden like this. He’d never given her any indication he wanted to be any more than a friend, and maybe not even that at times.
Well, except for that kiss.
‘Get over it, girl.’ Stalking across to the sideboard, she grabbed a packet of flea-control pipettes and rejoined the dog on the couch. She snapped the end off one of the vials and patted her lap. ‘Okay, K-that’s your new nickname, by the way. I can’t keep calling you Kaeden. It ties me in knots every time I hear his name. Now, let’s get this sorted out. Put your head down here.’
K lowered his head to her lap, wriggling to get comfortable. He snuffled a time or two until Tori tapped him lightly on the tip of his nose. ‘No sniffing, remember.’ Spreading the thick fur on his neck, she poured the contents of the pipette on the skin. The animal whimpered as if in pain.
‘Don’t be such a wuss. It doesn’t hurt. Now.’ She scratched him behind the ear. ‘I’ll keep you inside tonight and tomorrow I’ll take you over to the surgery. If you’re going to stay with me you have to be fixed.’
The dog raised its head and stared at her, his lips pulled back, a soft growl coming from its throat.
‘Don’t look at me like that. I don’t want you out there tom-catting around. Okay, so dogs don’t tom-cat, but you know what I mean. So tomorrow you get the chop, you hear?’
K bounded off the couch and skidded across the polished floor. He hit the door with a thump, the timber vibrating with the force of the impact. Then he started to scratch to get out.
Before Tori could get to the door, he threw himself against it again. ‘What’s wrong with you? It’s one tiny little snip.’
Mouth opened, head raised, the dog howled. The hair on Tori’s arms stood up, goosebumps pebbled her skin. She opened her mouth to tell him to calm down then snapped it shut as shock splintered through her.
The air around K wavered, circled about the beast and reshaped itself. Like ripples in a pond spreading out from a central point when the surface is disturbed. Sparks shot out from his body, hung in the air a moment and then disappeared. Heat swelled and surrounded him, hot enough for Tori to feel it on her face. His body twisted. Limbs contracted before lengthening, changing. Growls issued from his mouth and the hair on his body receded, leaving behind tanned flesh. The last thing to change was the elongated snout.
Fear clawed at Tori’s gut. The breath strangled in her throat and she fought to drag fresh air into her lungs. She didn’t know whether to run in horror, or stay and confront whatever was happening.
With a final burst of flickering light, it was over. Instead of K the dog, there stood Kaeden the man. Naked!
He advanced on her. Tori backed up until the edge of the couch hit her behind the knees. She blinked her eyes and lifted her hands to her head, squeezing, trying to make her brain function.
Kaeden stopped within an inch of her. ‘Just so you know, ain’t no-one coming anywhere near my family jewels. You start talking the chop and I’ll start biting. Got that?’ He tapped the end of her nose with one long, human finger. ‘And just for the record? I don’t have fleas.’
Tori flopped backwards onto the couch, legs splayed, hands hanging limply between her spread thighs. ‘Holy freakin’ nightmares! Toto, I think we just left Kansas.’

On to the conference now. This year the Romance Writers’ of Australia conference was held at the Crowne Plaza at Coogee Beach in Sydney. The view from our room was outstanding.

Thursday was set aside for a workshop for published authors, with a variety of speakers. Let me tell you, if you ever get the chance to go hear Wendy Harmer speak, do so. You won’t be sorry. This lady is incredible.

I had the day off on Friday, so spent it with a friend before getting ready for the book signing. Not sooner was that finished then it was up to our room to get ready for the cocktail party. The Friday cocktail party is always themed, this year’s being “Fantasy Island” which pretty much leaves it wide open as to the choice of costumes. My daughter, Kelly Ethan, and I decided to hit the scene with a little bit of steampunk whimsy, while out roommate, Bronwyn Stuart, went with Lara Croft. One thing I now know. I’m glad I didn’t live in Victorian times. Those Victorian outfits are seriously heavy and hot!

Saturday and Sunday were back-to-back workshops with the awards dinner on Saturday night. Before we knew it, it was all over and we were headed home. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with my writer friends but it was nice to get home, even if I brought the dreaded flu bug home with me. Now I just need to throw off the last of it and get back to the writing.

So if you’re in Sydney on 13th August, don’t miss out on this exciting event!

ARRA/RWA Booksigning Event
Where: Terrace View Rooms, 1st Floor, Crowne Plaza Coogee Bay, Sydney
When: August 13th, 2010
Time: 4.30pm to 6.00pm

Nalini Singh, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Anna Campbell, Keri Arthur, Denise Rossetti, Kandy Shepherd and Kelly Hunter are just a few of the many authors attending.
I’ll be blogging and posting photos while I’m away so don’t forget to check in.

And a final offering from my garden:-

It’s the middle of winter over here in Australia. When we were living in New South Wales, winters were miserable. Cold and often raining. That drizzly rain that just seems to go on and on. I’m afraid this old body has too many bones that ache when it’s cold and wet so I never looked forward to the winter months. Some people like the changes that come with the winter season. The leaves turning on the trees, the shorter days, the comfort of an open fire.  Me? I’m a summer girl. I love the heat and the sunshine, the fact that I can run around in a light layer of clothing.

So I’m pleased to say that now we’ve shifted, winters are a treat. Yes, we’ve had some cold days, but nothing like we experienced in our last place. Now the temperature is sitting on a nice 27 degrees, the sun is shining, my garden is full of flowers breaking into bloom, I’m running around in cotton cargo pants and t-shirt, or alternatively, a cotton summer frock. It’s warm enough I can take the laptop out beside the pool and write.

Now this type of winter I can take!
Winter? What winter?

Q: WHAT IS AN AUSTRALIAN KISS?
A: It’s the same as a French kiss, but “down under.”

Q: WHAT DO YOU DO WITH 365 USED CONDOMS?
A: Melt them down, make a tire, and call it a Goodyear.

Q: WHY WERE HURRICANES NORMALLY NAMED AFTER WOMEN?
A: Because when they come, they’re wild and wet. But when they go,
they take your house and car with them.

Q: WHY DO GIRLS RUB THEIR EYES WHEN THEY GET UP IN THE MORNING?
A: Because they don’t have any balls to scratch…

AND:

Q: WHAT IS A MAN’S ULTIMATE EMBARASSMENT?
A : Running into a wall with an erection and breaking his nose.

You’ve met this fantastic guy/girl who pushes every one of your buttons. He asks you out, takes you to dinner and then sees you home. Is that first kiss going to turn you off? Is it going to make you gag, or make you weak at the knees? Many a relationship has floundered at this point. We’ve all swapped spit with the bad kisser: the lizard or snake kisser who keeps flicking and hissing, the cannibal who wants to eat you alive, the washing machine with his round and round whiz of your mouth, the spelunker who wants to delve deep without considering whether you’re suffocating or not, and so many more.

How about Mr. Wet Vac Hoover?

This is like sucking frogs out of a drainpipe. He want to suck your tongue right out of your mouth and has no intention of letting you have it back. By the time he’s finished and you’ve got your tongue back, you’ve got slobber all over your mouth. And just how many of your fillings did he suck loose?

The Vampire or Woody Woodchuck kisser.

Hey, a little nibble on the lower lip is fine, if fact it can be a hell of a turn on, but give it a break. It’s not some gourmet delicacy for you to suck and chew on. No way do I want to explain the next day why my lower lip is sporting a purple bruise.

The Speed Demon

His idea of a kiss is a prelude to getting to the main event. Overwhelm you with his kisses fast enough and he can get you into bed. Hard. Fast. No finesse at all. Yeah, guess who’s saying no to the next date offer?

The Tonsil Tickler.

He’s going for gold. Tongue straight in, takes over your mouth, until you wonder what he’s done with your tongue. Hell, there isn’t room in your mouth for your tongue. He’s taken up residence. And the only thing this type of kiss induces is the gag reflex.

Unfortunately, not all kissers are equal. A good kiss starts slow, changes, is ever mobile. It makes you smile. It makes your hormones go on the rampage. And it’s something you remember long after the event.

So what was your first kiss and how did it make you feel?

If you’re in Sydney on 13th August, don’t miss out on this exciting event!

ARRA/RWA Booksigning Event
Where: Terrace View Rooms, 1st Floor, Crowne Plaza Coogee Bay, Sydney
When: August 13th, 2010
Time: 4.30pm to 6.00pm

Nalini Singh, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Anna Campbell, Keri Arthur, Denise Rossetti, Kandy Shepherd and Kelly Hunter are just a few of the many authors attending.
Go to www.australianromancereaders.com.au or download the registration form here .