IMHO Welcomes Carrie Lofty!

IMHO would like to welcome our final guest for 2009 (and for the duration, as the guest author segments are taking an indefinite break for a while; but no worries--we'll be back with the occasional special event). Carrie Lofty has visited with us before, and we're delighted to have her back again to close out the year.

Born in California and raised in the Midwest, Carrie found the love of her life in England. Since earning her Master’s in history, she’s been devoted to raising her family and writing romance. Her January release, Scoundrel’s Kiss, featuring a Spanish warrior monk and the troubled woman he’s sworn to protect, is the sequel to her Robin Hood-themed debut, What a Scoundrel Wants. Kathe Robin of Romantic Times says, "Lofty writes adventure romance like a born bard of old." With Ann Aguirre, she also co-writes apocalyptic romance under the name Ellen Connor.

Carrie will put a copy of Scoundrel's Kiss in the Christmas tote for our lucky winner to take home. In the sequel to WHAT A SCOUNDREL WANTS, Meg of Keyworth's troubled sister Ada travels to the Kingdom of Castile. Here's the story synopsis:

When it comes to temptation...

Turning his back on his old life as a rogue, Gavriel de Marqueda has joined a monastic order in Spain and taken a vow of chastity. Before he becomes a monk, he must pass one final test: help a woman who has lost her way. But when he lays eyes on Ada of Keyworth, he is tempted beyond measure by her sultry beauty and dangerous curves...

Rules are meant to be broken...

Far from her home in England, Ada has been battling inner demons for more than a year. When she discovers that her only friend has abandoned her, she has no choice but to grudgingly accept Gavriel's help. But Ada is not fooled. Though Gavriel wears the robes of a monk, Ada sees that he is a virile man who looks at her with a hunger that matches her own--one that begs to be satisfied again and again....

IMHO: Welcome back, Carrie. Tell our readers: What is something you want for Christmas this year?

CL: Well, TJ, all I want for Christmas is…a few days of relaxation and health with my family. Last year was great but not without problems. As we do every other year, we went to England to spend time with my husband's family. We visited Windsor Castle, enjoyed a great family reunion, and took our daughters' to their first panto performance--mine too!

But in the days leading up to The Big Day, my younger daughter needed to go to the emergency room because of dehydration. A bad cold had taken a turn for the worse. At least another dozen families were there in the emergency pediatrics ward, too. I was in pretty sad company: sick kids, anxious parents, harried doctors, and Christmas videos playing on the waiting room television.

Our daughter recovered in time to open her presents with some degree of energy, but it put me in mind of all those other families we'd waited with. That was just one hospital. Around the world, there must be millions of people who spend part of the season in hospitals—the sick or wounded, their loved ones, and their medical professionals. I admire their strength and dedication beyond words. I would be a wreck.

Thus this year, I want a quiet season of health and smiles. My family lives in Northern Indiana and it's "their year," so we'll head that way for at least a few days during the holiday season. I want to watch all of my favorite films: It's a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, and Scrooged. My mom always makes us grilled ham and Swiss on rye after the initial glazed ham dinner, which I anticipate almost as much as opening presents. I'm going to take over the responsibility of baking the decorated sugar cookies that used to give me such a thrill as a child. So beautiful and colorful! And my brother and his family will probably bring over Rock Band. I have a love-hate thing for karaoke…

All of this will be so much more wonderful if we're healthy! I have the "happy" part of "healthy and happy" down pat. It's been a good year for me. I love my family, I have a wonderful array of the most supportive friends, and I've been fortunate enough to make a go of this business. No matter what you celebrate during this festive time of year, I wish the same health and happiness to all of you.

IMHO: You know, Carrie, I can get behind that "healthy Christmas" thing this year. Let's keep our fingers crossed that we'll all be there in a couple of days, right? In the meantime, IMHO readers, tell Carrie what your Christmas wish is this year. Not for something material, but something intangible. Peace in the Middle East? Peace in the kids' room? A far away family member to come home for Christmas? What would it be?

Leave a comment for Carrie for a chance to win signed books by Emily Bryan, Jennifer Ashley, Christie Craig, Carrie Lofty, TJ Bennett, and a $20 gift certificate from Amazon.com. Don't forget--to be eligible to win, you must comment on at least one other guest author's post this month as well (the more, the merrier). On December 28, 2009, I'll pick the winner of my Christmas-themed tote. For contest rules, go here.

Good luck!

TJB