Not forking out the dough for the RWA Conference this year, with evening wear, suits, high heels and whatever “business casual” means?

From July 28-31, come hang out with some terrific, savvy authors — and you don't even have to brush your teeth (although, seriously, good dental hygiene gets you extra points.)

We'll be hosting panels on:

The Power of Three: A crit group tell-all (Paranormal)

• Crystal Jordan
• Patti O'Shea
• Dayna Hart / Rowan Larke

The Lolitas of STEAMED! Present Writing the Steampunk Romance — more than leather corsets and brass goggles!

• Marie-Claude Bourque
• Theresa Meyers

Whips, Chains, Slings, Oh My: It Really Isn’t About the Toys (BDSM Erotica)

• James Buchanan
• Joey Hill

The Great Big YA Panel

• Rhonda Stapleton
• Shannon Delany
• Kiersten White
• Carrie Ryan
• Linda Gerber
• Saundra Mitchell
• Lara Zielin
• Brenna Yovanoff

Register for free at Romance Divas, then come join us on the forums for the discussions, as well as some terrific prizes:

Eden Bradley/Eve Berlin:
1) erotic e-books, THE SEEKING KISS and TEMPT ME TWICE.
2) a synopsis critique in any sub-genre of erotica/erotic romance.

Jax Cassidy:
1) erotic e-books, DEVIL'S HEART and BRUSH STROKES.
2) book cover design or banner ad

Kristen Painter: copy of her e-book, ALL FIRED UP

Rhonda Stapleton:
1) STUPID CUPID YA Book trilogy
2) a proposal critique (1st 3 chapters and synopsis) for any genre of book, romance or not

K.B. Alan:
1) The choice of one of her e-books: PERFECT FORMATION, ALPHA TURNED or BOUND BY SUNLIGHT.
2) A $25 Barnes and Noble gift card.

Robin L. Rotham: Signed copies of BIG TEMPTATION, ALIEN OVERNIGHT, and ENEMY OVERNIGHT

AJ Chase: copies of e-book CAT AND MOUSE

Inez Kelly:
1) e-book package of both MYLA BY MOONLIGHT and SALOME AT SUNRISE
2) The complete Dirty Laundry Series (3 e-novellas) co-written by Ginny Glass aka Wordsugar and Inez Kelley

Kate Pearce:
1) a three chapter ~and~ synopsis critique-any erotic romance, paranormal romance or historical romance.
2) Winners choice, in either print or e-book format (if available), of a set of the Simply series (there are 5) ~or~ a set of the Cowboys (there are 3) ~or~ a copy of KISS OF THE ROSE — readers choice.

R.G. Alexander: Winners choice of any two e-books from her Samhain or Ellora's Cave back list

Nadia Lee: Critique of 1st chapter & synopsis-paranormal or contemporary romance

Shelley Munro: Winners choice of any one her backlist books from Ellora's Cave or Cerridwen Press

Ciar Cullen: Winner's choice of any one e-book on her website.

Voirey Linger: A copy of her e-book RISKING ETERNITY

RF Long:
1) a submission package critique (letter, synopsis and 3 chapters)
2) e-books! (details TBA)

Crystal Jordan:
1) 1st chapter and synopsis critique
2) One copy of any e-book off her Samhain backlist (http://samhainpublis…/crystal-jordan)
3) One copy of IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (print or electronic, winner's choice)

Jeannie Lin:
1) a first chapter critique, any genre
2) an official BUTTERFLY SWORDS souvenir charm

Elise Logan: Winner's choice of any e-book from her backlist

Marguerite Labbe:
1) A critique of an m/m story
2) Signed copies of her m/m vampire trilogy MY HEART IS WITHIN YOU, HAUNTED BY YOUR SOUL and OUR SACRED BALANCE

Seeley DeBorn: One jar of home made body or face scrub, customized to the winner's preferences and skin type. For example: Orange Spice Oatmeal, Coffee-Cocoa, Citrus Salt, Lavender Mint, Honey and Flax

Sela Carsen: a copy of her e-book CAROLINA WOLF

Hailey Edwards:
1) a copy of her sweet fantasy romance ebook, EVERLONG.
2) two five dollar MBaM gift cards

Charlotte McClain: Copy of her two e-books, LOVE TO DECLARE and ROCK STAR'S RETREAT

Cynthia Justlin (Golden Heart Finalist!): Proposal Critique (3 Chapters and synopsis)-any genre other than erotic

Lainey Bancroft:
1) signed copies of her contemporary romance, THE TROUBLE WITH TESSA and her chick lit romance COZUMEL KARMA
2) Proposal critique (3 chapters and a synopsis) any genre except Steampunk

Tina Burns-Publisher-Liquid Silver Books:
1) a critique of 1st 3 chapters & synopsis
2) 3 be-book prizes for 3 different winners! Winners choice of any one e-book download from LSB library.

Mima: Winner's choice of one e-book from her backlist-see her website for booklist.

Taneasha: handmade jewelry by our own Taneasha-details to come!

Barbara Sheridan:
1) Winners choice of one e-book from her backlist-see her website for booklist.
2) Critique of up to 20 pages of either M/M, or M/F romance or erotic romance in various subgenres (contemporary, historical, paranormal or suspense/mystery)

David Bridger: A copy of his ebook BEAUTY AND THE BASTARD

Victoria Janssen: 3 print books TBA (whatever she finds at the RWA Conference)

Gemma Halliday: Signed copy of SCANDAL SHEET

Jennifer Leeland/Jennifer McKenzie:
1) copy of her e-book MARKED FOR PLEASURE (Kindle version available upon request)
2) copy of her e-book MARKED FOR DESIRE (Releasing June 29th) (Kindle version available upon request)
3) copy of her e-books The Command Series (Trilogy)
4)copy of her BDSM e-book series (3 from TWRP and 1 from Samhain)

Emily Ryan-Davis:
1) Critique of novella-length (up to 30k) manuscript; any time period, m/f, menage, f/f (m/m not her area of expertise)
2) signed print copies of her anthology: MATING CALL, DRAGON DANCE and DRAGON BOUND
3) e-book copy of CHANGING THUMBELINA

Sabrina Darby:
1) Signed copy of her erotic historical novel, ON THESE SILKEN SHEETS
2) Critique of first thirty pages of any Regency (erotic or non erotic fine, but m/m outside my area of expertise)

Alina Morgan:
1) copy of her e-book The Twilight Deception
2) copy of her e-book The Shadow Unveiled

Debbie Mumford:
1) Critique of a synopsis
2) Winner's choice of any e-book from her back list.

Kimberly Troutte:
1) copy of her e-book SOUL STEALER
2) copy of her e-book CATCH ME IN CASTILE

Sasha Devlin: 1 pair of hand made writing mitts or gloves-style and color TBD by the winner

Julia Knight Winner's choice of one copy of any of her books available in e-book format

Usually I feel like exercising is a big waste of time. It's probably because I feel like I could be doing something else during that time. It's doubly true because I've stopped exercising to lose weight. (Exercising — alone — to lose weight doesn't really work because diet determines at least 50% of your weight loss endeavor, and I haven't wanted to diet for a while.)

But recently, I've noticed that when I do go to the gym and spend a lot of time stretching and doing prehab work, I just feel so much better. I've been feeling some significant neck and back pain, and an hour of stretching and ball exercises really loosens up the knots in my back.

So if you're feeling tight in the back, have a stiff neck and so on, why not try stretching for half an hour? Your body may thank you.

Only in Japan would the Prime Minister think it's a fantastic idea to talk about doubling the consumption tax (Japanese equivalent of U.S. sales tax) three weeks before the national election.

Obviously his party lost control of the Upper House. It remains to be seen if he's going to resign over this, which BTW is the standard MO for 99.9% of Japanese prime ministers. He took over in June 2010. (No, that's not a typo.)

I don't even like cats that much (am very allergic), but this video made me want to get a Scottish fold kitten…

Jeannie Lin posed an interesting question over at Romance Divas: Which would you prefer — publishing one monumental book (like To Kill a Mockingbird) or publishing many lesser books (like one book a year or whatever)?

I wouldn't want the former unless the sole book I published was so significant that it won the Nobel Prize in Literature. Nothing else could make the first scenario appetizing enough.

How about you?

I love drinking ginger tea regularly. It gives me a little perk-me-up, plus soothes my throat.

Ginger tea is super easy to make, though you need to do a little preparation first. Here's how I make mine.

What you need:

• fresh ginger roots
• honey and sugar (brown or white) mixture — I prefer a 1:1 ratio
• a glass jar big enough for the roots and honey and sugar mixture
• a mandolin slicer (or a knife)
• a mixing bowl

1. Wash the ginger roots and scrape off any dark spots and/or bruises, etc. You may peel the ginger if you want.
2. Slice the ginger very thinly. I use a mandolin slicer for this. (Collect the ginger juice during this process if you can, but don't worry about it too much.)
3. Dump the ginger slices into a mixing bowl.
4. Pour the honey and sugar mixture over the ginger. You should have enough to cover the ginger slices completely. Mix well. (FYI — Ginger to honey/sugar is about a 1:1 ratio, volume-wise.)
5. Put everything in the jar and store it in the fridge.

This mixture will last, like, forever so long as you keep it in fridge air-tight. The flavor's the best after about one week, but you can make tea with the mixture almost immediately if you don't want to wait that long.

To make the tea (a 1-person portion) —

In a pot, put enough water for one person and 1 tablespoonful of the ginger roots from the jar. You may add some of the sweet liquid from the jar into the pot if you want. This will make the tea sweeter. Bring the water to boil, then simmer for about 20 minutes. Toss the ginger roots away and serve immediately.

If you want your tea stronger, add more ginger roots next time.

Enjoy!

P.S. The honey / sugar / ginger slices mixture in the jar can be used to make a ginger glaze when you cook. :)