Exciting news!At last I can shout it out.January saw me offered two contracts – and would you believe it, both on the same day! Red Rose Publishing have offered me a second contract.  This is for No Sex Necessary, a contemporary romance set here in New Zealand.   The second contract was from Cerridwen Press which is part of Elloras Cave for a time travel/romance set in the time of Henry 8^th, tentatively titled Love in Waiting.   So I’m very pleased with the start to the new year.    Here is an excerptNo Sex Necessary

 She sensed him at first.  Bold and assessing.  A lion on the prowl. Swiveling in her chair, Tara searched the vast marble lobby of Charteris Developments for the man responsible for the unrestrained panic channeling through every fiber of her being.Dark chocolate eyes, deep and mysterious stared blatantly back, the stranger’s interest apparent. One ebony brow arched and the corners of his full mouth curved upwards slightly. It sent a prickling awareness creeping up her spine, when she should be thinking of something else—and definitely not lust!  The hunt for the dreaded dollar should be foremost in her mind right now, not eye candy.The air around her thickened with a scandalous lustful heat. Palpable. So real, she believed she could almost reach out and touch it.The man picked up his briefcase and her gut clenched into a rigid knot. She swallowed hard. Surely he wasn’t coming her way. Sparks of heat cascaded through her veins and the hairs on the back of her neck tingled.  Flustered, she quickly turned away and yanked her jacket across her chest as if to protect herself.From what…or should that be whom?

The answer was easy.  From herself.

  Happy reading everyone. Jane Beckenhamwww.janebeckenham.com 

Okay, January 7th 2008 already.  What have I done, achieved.Zilch, baby.  Nada.  Oh, well, i tell myself that’s okay, i’m still in holiday mode, but then how long does that particular mode go on…all year long? But then my friend Melody Knight, who also writes as ND Hansen-Hill has done brilliantly. In the 1st five days of this year, the lady was offered 3 – yes 3!!! book contracts.  Hows that?  Brilliant I say.  She’s a writing machine.  All power to her.  And so…as six a.m. filtered through the curtains and hubby hauled his cute butt out of bed ready for a new day at the coalface, I decided it was time this gal got her (cute! yeah right) butt out of said bed and placed it firmly at the computer face.  That done, it’s now 7 a.m. and I’ve finished the edits of my current WIP – an historical set in the time of the Huguenots fleeing France – late 1600s – This mind you was editing that should have been done a loooong time ago.  But hey, it’s done and i can move on to new things.  No – not back to bed.Writing.  Creating.  I don’t think i’m in the same groove as i was in 2007, but i’m there. Sort of.  Trying.  And isn’t it the trier that gets there in the end, hopefully winning the race?So, if you’re like me and not quite into the productive business of non-holiday action, then come on, what’s stopping you.  Get moving,.  Okay, you can do it slowly, but move. Start now!Happy reading everyone.  By the way Hiring Cupid was nomianted as Reviewer’s Choice on Love Romances.  Was thrilled with that.  Makes all the hard work worthwhile.Jane Beckenhamwww.janebeckenham.com  

Jingle bells to everyone.  Am so excited.  I lurrve Christmas. and of course down here in NZ it’s summer time. Though I must say our weather isn’t exactly summer yet.  Warm and humid, but a bit too much cloud and rain for my liking!

But too bad, i’m too happy to worry about the weather.  Santa came yesterday!  A courier dropped off my print copies of He’s The One!  Oh it looks so yummy.  Hero Cade Harper is definitely hunk material.  Mind you, so is his brother Zane. His story is in the pipeline!

Check it out at Fictionwise

Here’s a brief teaser for ya!

Happy holidays one and all

Jane Beckenham www.janebeckenham.com

HE’S THE ONE ..:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” />

By Jane Beckenham

From  Linden Bay Romance

She knew that to Cade Harper, she must have seemed like a prim little girl, about to be bad.

Without speaking, Cade opened the car door and she slid in, careful not to get too close. However, once seated Taylor wasn’t so sure accepting his offer was a good idea. The interior was small and far too intimate and only served to fire her wayward hormones.

In clipped tones, she gave him her address and retreated into silence.

As the car eased out of the car park, excitement, fear and anticipation all rolled into one coursed through her veins. It forced Taylor to focus on emotions she’d never experienced before and she felt totally inadequate. Nothing in her life had prepared her for Cade. Being engaged to Rob held nothing on being taken for a ride by Cade Harper.

And there lay her problem.

“So how come wedding planning? Don’t the couple and their families do that?” Cade asked as they drove through the silent suburb.

Her tension eased with a sigh of relief. This was her forte and at last she could relax. “In the past, yes. But today people want something different.”

“And you can give it to them?” he questioned. Although Cade drove, Taylor read the true interest in his expression. She smiled, and then chuckled with laughter. 

“What?” And he gave her a comical expression, “what did I say wrong?”

“Nothing. It’s just the same expression I’ve seen many times before. The grooms would be happy with a tent and few beers, then the bride gets some ideas and it’s never the same again. Horrified groom versus excited bride.” 

“So what do you do?”

“Dr Phil says, if the ‘wife ‘aint happy, then no one else will be either’. So seems to me there’s a bit of meeting in the middle to get it sorted.”

Cade looked suitably appalled, then refocused on the road. “And does it—get sorted I mean?”

“Mostly.”

“So what sort of weddings, besides expensive, do you conjure up for ‘happy’ couples?”

“Fantasy of course,” she said proudly. “I create fantasies and give the couple the dream wedding they’ve always wanted.”

Cade brought the Mustang to a halt right outside her house. The night-light switched on automatically. Taylor frowned. No necking on the doorstep. She’d have to get rid of that light first thing in the morning.

He switched the engine off and suddenly everything was silent.

“What about your dreams, Taylor?”

Just had a great experience of being in the ‘other’ seat, as I was interviewed by Joyce Anthony. You can check out her great questions and my…answers here.  Would love to know what you think!

Mind you, i said I was writing …liar, liar.

I’ve hardly had a moment to write, life just gets in the way sometimes and I suppose at this time of year, it’s so true.  Presents, parties, …too much to do, and not enough hours in the day.  (A frown here)…Have I said this before?  Think so!

Am trying to work out what I’m cooking for Christmas day.  Of course down under it’s summer, so hard to think about slaving over a hot stove.  But Pavlova is in store, so if you check back in the next few days, I’ll hopefully write up the pavlova receipe.  It’s to die for, and absolutely no good for the figure!

happy reading

Jane Beckenham

www.janebeckenham.com

Such a lovely day yesterday.  You know the kind, when you’re excited because you’re catching up with friends.  Well I had a meeting scheduled with authors ND Hansen-Hill, Melody Knight and Yvonne Walus.  We try and get together once a month, offically to talk about what we’re working on, but hey, when u get a bunch of gals together, it’s talk talk talk.  Yvonne has just come back from South Africa, promoting her book Murder @ Work and told us all about it.  While ND was buzzing with news that Harriet Klausner (a NYT reviewer!) has given her book Erratic a fab review… check it out here.

Me… i’m still buzzing too about the sale of my next book to Red Rose Publishing  and the fab reviews of Hiring Cupidand He’s the One

Of course the festive season is coming up fast, and I’m rushing to get it all sorted, so that the days leading up to it are stress free – ha ha ha – I live in hope.  Anyway, back to work!

Happy reading

Jane Beckenham

www.janebeckenham.com