Herrick Memorial Library Visit
February 17th, 20007
Wellington, Ohio

When longtime friend and librarian Lynne Welch (RWA's 2004 Librarian of the Year) invited us for a visit to her hometown, we immediately took her up on the offer if only for a chance to catch up with her. We were the lucky recipients of oh so much more. Our visit was thoroughly delightful!

P2170006.jpg A shot of the Herrick Memorial Library. If you have a chance, stop and take a tour, either on-line or in person. It's exquisite.	P2170007.jpg At the library's front desk with director Janet Hollingsworth and Lynne Welch.	P2170008.jpg Tony telling his gator story...
P2170012.jpg Cindy with her daughter Lauren, a budding author, maybe?<bg>	P2170013.jpg A Tony pita! That's Margaret to the left and longtime reader Debbie to the right.	P2170014.jpg The gang's all here! From left to right: Lynne's dh Gene, moi, Lynne, Janet, Tony, Janet's dh, and Kym Lucas of the Buckeye Library in Medina.
P2170015.jpg The new Visitors Center of the Wellington Reservation was warm and wonderful.

Not pictured was our lunch with Janet and Lynne at Bread and Brew across the street from the library, where we enjoyed a fantastic meal in great environs. We very highly recommend it.
Our warm thanks to Lynne, Janet and everyone who came out!

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P2100001.jpg A shot of the table holding the Valentine's gift bags chock full of all sorts of goodies.	P2100002.jpg Tony chatting with dear friend, chapter bud and wonderfully talented Elizabeth Vaughan, whose next book Warlord in her TOR Chronicles of the Warlands series comes out in March!	P2100003.jpg Here's Barb H talking with former prez and current secretaary Rita Shake (that's Garry browsing through the book exchange title).
P2100004.jpg New member Connie Phillips' beautiful daughter Kate who is also a writer.	P2100005.jpg The MVRWA gang, from left to right: Tony, Rita Shake, Denise Lynn (Koch), Barb Nagel, Connie and Kate Phillips, Lesly Blanton, Jim Duncan and Tracy Ritts, Nicole Jonsson, Beth Vaughan, Barb Horvath and moi.	P2100006.jpg Longtime MVRWA member and friend Janet Rau didn't make it in time for the group picture, but her daughter and son Jenny and Dillon made sure she got there safely.

P2100011.jpg I love the cupid and hearts around Tony's head.

P2100012.jpg Denise Lynn signs a copy of Falcon's Heart, her latest Harlequin Historial, for a visitor.

P2100013.jpg Prez Barb Horvath welcomes return visitor Sue Cassida of Barnes & Noble to the festivities.

P2100014.jpg Mukhles Rahman saw Tony's pic and thought he could use some help in evening out the group's man-woman ratio. lol Yep, yep, yep, two peas, these guys. Of course, Tracy's husband Jim is another of the group's great guys.

P2100015.jpg A shot of Rita's chest. Check out all those buttons! (You should have seen her face when I aimed the camera at her breasts. ;>)

Writers on the River Book Fair Monroe County Library - Ellis Center Sunday, November 12th, 2006 Library Head of Collection Services Heidi McCraw is a gem, it's as simple as that. And it's not just because she supports us (which by itself, of course, more than proves she's a woman with discerning taste). She supports every local writer she can by including them in this annual fair that attracts some 30+ authors and their books, ranging from nonfiction regional titles, national fiction novels (including romance), to children's and self-help books. And the attendees! If you're nearby and haven't gone to this fair yet, mark it down on your calendar for next year. Trust us, you won't regret it. Thank you to Heidi and the gang, and to everyone who came out.

PB120003.jpg So what do you think? A looker, huh? That's our younger son Tim, who's considering starting his own promotional company. We know he'll be wildly successful in any career path he chooses. But it would be great if he could travel with us, don't you agree? PB120006.jpg Our signing neighbors and fellow romance writers Gail Gaymer Martin and Jackie Braun. PB120007.jpg Here's Heidi! PB120002.jpg Jordan, Kim, Tony and Tim. PB120004.jpg Bernie and Katie. PB120005.jpg Sharon and Sherri are what fairs like these are all about by creating a warm environment for neighbors to get to know one another. It was great to see you again, Sharon! And to meet you, Sherri. Same time next year?

No More Starving Artists Toledo Public Library November 1st, 2006 We helped wrap up a special series of workshops that the Toledo Public Library sponsored to assist local artists of all forms in finding their niche along with author/illustrator Wil Clay and author/journalist Warren Woodberry. Our thanks to Linda Koss and Andre Criner for inviting us to participate. Toledo artists ROCK!

PB010009.jpg Panel members and library personnel from left to right: Wil Clay, Linda Koss, moi, Andre Criner, Tony, and Warren Woodberry. PB010006.jpg Author/journalist Warren Woodberry speaks on his experiences while simultaneously winning the hearts of the audience. (Unfortunately he doesn't host a website, but do check out the NW Ohio Black Media Assoc's site by clicking here.) PB010007.jpg Author/illustrator Wil Clay shares his 40-year journey toward the success he now enjoys (he began when he was 12). PB010008.jpg The audience takes in Wil's sage advice. PB010010.jpg Fellow Harlequin author Denise Koch aka Denise Lynn and her marvelous son. PB010011.jpg Andre Criner.

Don's Books Harlequin Room Grand Opening Kokomo, IN Saturday, October 21, 2006 When Don's Books manager Robert Holtz invited us to help celebrate the Grand Opening of the store's Harlequin Room, we leapt at the op. Not only did it give us an excuse to visit with our Kokomo friends, we got to catch up with fellow authors we don't get a chance to see that often. If you read the piece in Romantic Times promoting the event, I have just one thing to say: you have no idea! What Robert and his staff have done in creating this special area for us Harlequin romance readers is beyond phenomenal. If you live within a few hour radius of Kokomo, you must go! Thank you, thank you, a thousand times thank you to Robert and his family and staff for a wonderful time...

PA210001.jpg The authors: Shirley Jump, Shelley Galloway, Denise Koch aka Denise Lynn, Jackie Braun and us. PA210008.jpg The authors and Don's Books staff (that's Robert's wife Katrina to his left). PA210004.jpg Shannon Driver of Shine 99 FM broadcast live from the event. PA210005.jpg Isn't Jackie lovely? She's one of eight children and two of her sisters came with her to the event. PA210006.jpg PA210003.jpg Shannon interviewing Shelley. PA210009.jpg You guys ROCK! Dawn and her daughter Vienna came out for a visit. PA210010.jpg Robert and his wife Katrina. PA210011.jpg That's participating author Brenda Coulter to the left, and rising star Janet Dean next to Tony (she's just sold her first book to Steeple Hill Historical!). PA210012.jpg That's reviewer and friend Barbara Smith of A Romance Review to the right. (It was great to see you again, sweetie!) PA210014.jpg Robert and Tony posing next to the sign posted outside the front door.

Columbus Fiction Writers Annual Conference The Radisson - Worthington, OH October 13-14, 2006 When former MVRWA member and dear friend Aleta Dodson invited us down to speak at this year's CoFW conference, we jumped at the op, if only to see her and to visit with fellow chapter members many of whom we're familiar with only through newsletters, and others we don't get a chance to see often. Little did we know that many wonderful surprises were in store for us. Have a peek...

PA140001.jpg Margaret Crowley put together these wonderful baskets for the raffle made up of author donated books and gifts. Spectacular! PA140002.jpg Former MVRWA dynamo Aleta Dodson is making quite a name for herself in Columbus. She was this year's conference chair and generously invited us down to speak. Here she poses with former CoFW prez and author Marcia Anderson. PA140003.jpg Current Prez Stephanie Shamroski. PA140004.jpg First sale! Stephanie presents Patricia Sargeant with her CoFW gift. PA140005.jpg Eric and Paige Cuccaro chat with Rotrosen agent Christine Hogrebe. (Italians and Greeks - kissin' cousins! Visit Paige's great site by clicking here.) PA140006.jpg Thomas Dunne Books editor Diana Szu showed us the breakdown of Holtzbrinck, which also owns our Sofie publisher TDA. PA140007.jpg These guys were definitely a sight for sore eyes! It's been years since we've seen Pat Rasey and Jean Geist. Don't they look great? PA140008.jpg A shot of our conference table. PA140009.jpg Baskets are raffled off. Tony won one. Of course. He always wins. PA140010.jpg Lovely Lisa Hamilton aka J.C. Wilder with equally lovely Carolan Ivey. (Lisa intro'd us. She had everyone in stitches.) PA140011.jpg A shot of the room. PA140012.jpg More baskets! PA140013.jpg The rest of the room. PA140014.jpg What about Bob? Bob Mayer is a true writer's writer. PA140015.jpg Bob's partner-in-crime, Jennifer Crusie. PA140017.jpg The mangificent Linda Keller accepts the first CoFW Bookseller of the Year Award. Well deserved! PA140018.jpg Our lunchmates. That's Renee Pellegrino in the middle and to the right Cindy Carver, both of www.authorapprentices.com and Cindy also is involved in www.manifestinggoals.com PA140019.jpg New friend Barbara Beran and old friend Pam Baker. PA140020.jpg PA140021.jpg Never a dull moment when in the company of Jenny and Bob. Check out their joint site by clicking here. PA140022.jpg Pat Rasey! PA140023.jpg More Than Words fellow contributing author and longtime friend Karen Harper (you can see her earphones - she was listening to the Ohio State game during the signing. Go Bucks!). PA140024.jpg Pat Rasey's dh Mark. PA140025.jpg The Book Loft in German Village hosted the signing.

More Than Words - New York City Harlequin Awards Luncheon The Pierre Hotel - October 5th, 2006 We had the honor of penning a story inspired by a special woman who's made an important difference in others lives, along with four other Harlequin authors in MORE THAN WORDS, Volume 3. Our novella features the work of wonderful Kathy Silverton of Stitches From The Heart and focuses on forgiveness. Forgiveness of others' sins. Forgiveness of imagined trespasses. Forgiveness of ourselves so we all ultimately might find our own unique way to give back to our communities and to those in need. Stitches From The Heart is a California-based charity that donates handmade baby and toddler items to over 450 hospitals and charities across the country. With the help of over 10,000 volunteers -- a number that continues to grow each day -- founder Kathy Silverton has shipped over a quarter of a million items to needy and premature babies. For more info on how you can contribute to Stitches From The Heart, click here. On October 5th, Harlequin held a special awards luncheon at The Pierre to honor each of the women featured in the anthology. As fellow author Karen Harper put it, "This was a once in a lifetime event." And Kathy and her fellow honorees are more than deserving of it. Proceeds from the sale of this book will be reinvested in Harlequin's philanthropic MORE THAN WORDS program. Do you have a magnificent someone you'd like to nominate for next year's grants? Do it now. For more info, click here.

PA040001.jpg Our room at The Pierre. In a word, wow! PA040003.jpg The entire hotel was incredible. PA040005.jpg The magnificent Kathy Silverton of Stitches from the Heart, who deserved the five-star treatment. PA040006.jpg Our table at Wednesday night's dinner in a penthouse room at The Regency. From left to right: TASK founder Deb Fruend and her dh, Barry and Kathy Silverton, Tony and me, and authors Susan Wiggs and Karen Harper. PA040007.jpg Seedlings Braille Books for Children founder Debra Bonde, her dh, Harlequin editor Marsha Zinberg, and Katherine Orr. PA040008.jpg Marsha, Katherine, and two of Gloria Gilbert Stoga's friends and associates of Puppies Behind Bars. PA040009.jpg Founder of Cottage Dreams Seana O'Neill, Harlequin publicist Megan Lorius and author Cathy Mann. PA040010.jpg PA040011.jpg A shot of the buffet table and the server who kept us all in smiles. PA040012.jpg Harlequin's Megan Lorius giving us the rundown on the following day's events. PA040013.jpg There are those with whom you immediately click, and author Kasey Michaels and her daughter Anna definitely fell into that cat for us. We love you guys! PA050001.jpg The awesome room at The Pierre where the awards luncheon was held on Thursday. PA050004.jpg Pal Cathy Mann takes the podium. PA050005.jpg Kathy Silverton accepting her much deserved Tiffany heart. PA050007.jpg Kathy brought along samples of Stitches from the Heart's knitted items. I don't think any of us had seen anything so tiny! PA050009.jpg Our table at the luncheon included four of Stitches over 10,000 volunteers nationwide. PA050010.jpg We thoroughly enjoyed signing copies of the book with Kathy. PA050011.jpg Lovely Julia of Harlequin's Kimani Press. PA050012.jpg We love this woman! PA050014.jpg Harlequin's Megan Lorius and Donna Hayes. PA050016.jpg Kasey Michael's daughter Anna joins me for a pose with Harlequin's Sam along with Kathy. PA050017.jpg Harlequin CEO Donna Hayes discovers what it's like to be an author as she signs a copy of Words for a reader.   PA070017.jpg Seaburn Books on Broadway in Astoria is always an auto-stop. Here I chat with Jerry Monaco, a fellow writer. PA060016.jpg No visit to NY would be complete without stopping in to see our TDA family. That's our editor Melissa Ann Singer in the middle and Jozelle Dyer to the left, and Alexis Saarela to the right. Periyali is a fantastic Greek restaurant at 35 W. 20th. PA070018.jpg An early dinner at Opa! restaurant on 31st in Astoria. PA070022.jpg NY's Time Square is ceaselessly entertaining, as this dancing gentleman proves. Priceless!

Please visit these sites and donate today:
http://www.stitchesfromtheheart.org
http://www.cottagedreams.org/
http://www.puppiesbehindbars.com/
http://tasksports.org/
http://www.seedlings.org/

Order your copy of More Than Words, Vol 3 by clicking here.

Ottawa Romance Writers' Inaugural Sweet or Spicy? Conference September 22-24, 2006 This was our first time to Canada's amazing capital city. And we're so very glad we went. On the drive in, we passed Dolmades, a Greek restaurant on Bronson, delighted to discover that they delivered. Everything was fresh and delicious, setting the tone for the entire weekend. Because ORW members -- and the conference as a whole -- were fresh and delicious. Our warm thanks to conference co-chairs Teresa Wilde and Christine Enta, to ORA pres Annette McCleave and the entire board, and to our magnificent editor Brenda Chin for making this a weekend to remember. And to everyone we met and with whom we chatted, here's to our paths crossing again very soon.

P9220001.jpg Brenda and Tony chat during Friday night's pizza party. P9220002.jpg Kate Austin to the right kept us in smiles. P9220005.jpg Our tablemates Brenda, conference co-chair Christine Enta, Madeline, and conference co-chair Teresa Wilde. P9220007.jpg Tony sneaks a pic of Brenda while she's not looking. Isn't she beautiful? That applies inside as well as out. P9220006.jpg Tony chatting with Debbie. P9220010.jpg Sharon Page held a Penthouse Party to celebrate the launch of her first book SIN. That's here in the middle between Brenda and Tony. Joanne Rock is to Tony's left. P9220008.jpg Tony finds a male cohort in Reece Butler's dh Jeff! P9220011.jpg You can't make up characters like Keppel Disney. You wouldn't believe me if I told you... P9230001.jpg President Annette McCleave officially opens the conference Saturday morning. P9230002.jpg Brenda's mom enjoyed lunch with us all. Speaker and current RWA prez Gayle Wilson had us all in tears. P9230003.jpg Gorgeous fellow TrailBlazer Joanne Rock accepts wine from Annette, ORW's wonderful gift to all speakers. P9230004.jpg Dinner out with Brenda and fellow Harlequin authors and friends. (Sorry about the poor quality. Battery must have been running low.)

P9230005.jpg Another shot of the whole group. We had a delightful time meeting and chatting and sharing a glass of Shiraz with everyone. P9230006.jpg C.J. Carmichael, Kate Austen, Joyce Sullivan, and Molly O'Keefe. (Also, check out Molly's drunk writer talk blogspot. Hilarious!) P9230007.jpg Brenda's mom, Sharon Page, Joanne Rock, Brenda and Tony and me. P9240008.jpg Brenda had everyone scribbling furiously in their notebooks Sunday morning. P9240009.jpg Christine and Teresa and Annette hold the raffle drawing. P9240010.jpg A winner! (Darn, I wanted that basket.) P9240011.jpg Another winner! P9240015.jpg Ottawa Romance Writers president, Annette McCleave. P9240012.jpg A close-up of Christine Enta. P9240013.jpg Author helper Lillian and her daughter, her own personal slave. P9240014.jpg Tony strikes a pose with author Ann O'Bannon. P9240016.jpg One last shot before the long drive home. What a great group! Good luck, ladies.

Holy Trinity Greek Festival 2006 We religiously attend this annual Toledo fest, but this is the first that we've done so in any official capacity. We set up shop outside the Culture Booth to sign copies of our latest titles, including DIRTY LAUNDRY, featuring our girl Sofie Metropolis, PI, with a portion of the proceeds going to the church. Need I say that we had an unqualified blast? We enjoyed visiting with old friends and new, the sound of Greek music and the saliva-inducing scent of Greek food permeating the scene. And having our son Tim there Saturday night was a special treat. Our heartfelt gratitude to Joyce Anagnos and Maria Papps (and Joyce's mom Dawn), for inviting us and for making us feel like a part of the fam. Thanks to everyone who came out! Same time next year?

P9090010.jpg Four members of the Saturday Morning Club, Tony, Chris Kamilaris, Tim and George Kamilaris, along with Chris and George's wonderful mother, and George's wife Lori and their two gorgeous daughters. Click here to visit the site for Chris and George's restaurant Georgio's Cafe International. (Not pictured is sister Athena. She won't get off so easy next time!) P9090006.jpg Our son Tim poses with Dad and George. Greek-American George Sarantou is a Toledo City Councilman running for County Commissioner this November. He served as the fest's publicity chair. P9080020.jpg Gus! We catch up with longtime friend Gus and his wife Cindy along with Father Aristotle Damaskos. P9090003.jpg You have to snap pics of Tim when he's not looking. Doesn't he look like a Greek god? That's because he is! P9080013.jpg We love these guys! To Tony's left is Culture Booth co-chairs Joyce Anagnos and Maria Papps. To the far right is Carol and to the far left is Joyce's mom Dawn, who also teaches Greek at the church. Click here for more info. P9090009.jpg Another Gus? Yep. Here Gus Tsapranis, Tony, Tim and Pete Theodorou take in some of the great Greek dancing. P9080019.jpg Dear friend and author publicist Pat Rouse drove up from Cinci to bring her nephew up to visit with family and enjoyed a gyro dinner with us Friday night. P9080015.jpg Here Dawn and Tony explain the benefits of learning Greek to Alexi. P9090005.jpg Tim's cousin Sara and aunt Lynn came out Saturday night. Look for more info soon on Sara and her sister Laurie's new, hot catering company. P9080002.jpg Opa! The Asteria dancers delight us all. P9080001.jpg The Ellinopeda dancers take a break after wowing the crowd. Aren't they adorable? P9080004.jpg A shot of the Culture Booth inside the Community Center. P9080006.jpg A shot of the Greek Agora set up in the Community Center. P9080007.jpg P9080010.jpg

P9090004.jpg Tim and Tony catch up with longtime pal Pete Theodorou. P9090008.jpg Maria and her dh Andreas own Petros Foods at 5086 Douglas Road. We get all our Greek goodies from them. Visit them on the web by clicking here! P9080008.jpg P9080017.jpg The Olympians dance! P9080018.jpg P9080016.jpg P9080012.jpg Okay, we're going to officially adopt Dawn. P9080021.jpg Pat and I enjoying our gyros. (Note the coke bottle and water bottle closer to us. Those aren't our beer bottles. I promise. Hiccup.) P9090001.jpg Cooking demonstration with Yanula Stathulis. P9090002.jpg Karen and Jean came out to chat. Karen writes, as well, so look for her on bookstore shelves soon! P9080014.jpg Portrait of a young Greek-American. Yiasou, Alexi! P9080011.jpg P9080003.jpg We thoroughly enjoyed visiting with Sophia's father Tassos throughout the event. He's from a town near Tripoli in the Peloponnese, which in Greek speak makes him family. ;> P9080009.jpg Frixos Stylianides helped out with the cooking. Apropos since he not owns the Coney Island Restaurant at 430 Superior, he's the cook of the Saturday Morning Club's meals at the same. P9090007.jpg What are the chances of running into other Karayiannis? Okay, so they don't spell it the same, but we thoroughly enjoyed talking about how small the world really is. And the fact that we're all Greek in some way or another. Opa! Not pictured but loved nonetheless are Aleca Kamilaris and her and Chris's three sons, Costas Christides and his beautiful wife and two daughters, Pete Theodorou's wife Liz and their two gorgeous sons, Pat Rouse's handsome nephew Nicholas and his wonderful Greek relatives the Petas and Doukides, Father Christos, and a whole host of others. Next time y'all won't get off so lucky.

HOTlanta...

Romance Writers of America's Annual Conference in Atlanta, July 26th-July 30th, 2006. Too many pictures to even contemplate uploading to this page. Click here to view the full photo album!

W-TLK in Cincinnati... Wednesday, June 23, 2006 The "w" stands for "with," and the TLK = Tony & Lori Karayianni. Sorry, but I just couldn't resist borrowing from the title of one of our favorite sitcoms, WKRP in Cincinnati. While we've spent time on the outskirts of the city, and have certainly driven through it countless times, this is the first time we've had the pleasure of staying downtown and getting a chance to inhale the entire atmosphere. Nice... At nine a.m. Wednesday, we were off and running with the help of author escort Kathy Tirschek, who picked us up, took us to a live TV appearance with ICN6's Northern Kentucky Magazine, then a radio interview with Mark Dewitt of WRRS-FM's Cover to Cover, and to a series of stock signing at various Cinci bookstores before finally arriving at Joseph-Beth on Madison for our official talk and booksigning. What a day! Capped off perfectly with a late dinner with author publicist Pat Rouse and Sheila at the Bronte Cafe. Our warms thanks to Pat Rouse for arranging the signing, Kathy and Vicki for getting us to the signing(s), Barb at Jo-Beth's for her warmth and hospitality, and to all the booksellers for the generosity. Here's to our next visit!

P6210001.jpg Two of ICN-6 Insight Communications Northern Kentucky Magazine's team. That's Sandy to the left. P6210002.jpg ICN6 Northern Kentucky Magazine host and producer. (I lost my notes! I'll post update with names as soon as I find 'em.) P6210003.jpg Author escort Kathy Terschek took great care of us during our time in C-town. P6210004.jpg Mark Dewitt of WRRS-FM's Cover to Cover. P6210005.jpg P6210006.jpg Maria of Barnes & Noble West Chester. P6210007.jpg That's Vicki to left, Tim of the Tri-County Borders, and Kathy. P6210008.jpg David McGrath of Watersone Barnes & Noble. (Love his Irish brogue!) P6210009.jpg Beth of the Montgomery Barnes & Noble. P6210010.jpg Our signing at Joseph-Beth's on Madison. P6210011.jpg Barb of Joseph-Beth's, Sheila and Pat Rouse. P6210012.jpg One final pose with Kathy Tirschek.

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