Archives for “Karen Hawkins”

I don’t write many dukes. As a matter of fact, I’ve written only three in my entire 35-novel career (43 works, if you count the short stories and novellas). I’m not even sure why. I just haven’t. But I notice that there are writers who write lots and lots of dukes. I assume it’s because they [...]


I’ll admit it. There’s nothing sexier than a man who loves children. So today, I’ve prepared a small gallery of sexy men being even sexier. Sit back, sip your coffee, and enjoy . . . A firefighter (a special salute to those fighting the blazes in Colorado!): Sport icon David Beckham: Model Gabriel Aubrey: And [...]


So, I got snookered. My Son1, who appreciated my love for all things Lord of the Rings, three seasons ago got me into Game of Thrones on HBO. I went happily, feeling flattered that he thought of what I might like, and because it gave us a special connection. (Note: even though we own DVDs [...]


The most dreaded question in the English language! After so long making meals, I am tapped out.  And some days I have so much going on that I totally forget that supper is required.  Other days, everyone says they will be somewhere else.  I am still singing hallelujah when they all turn up and ask: What’s [...]


Years ago I wrote a series about four guys who had a zest for living, and parlayed that into the Thrillseekers Anonymous, a business that caters to the rich and powerful.  An A-list wedding causes havoc in All I Need is You (Wedding Survivor). Stunt training reveals some old dangers in One More Night (Extreme [...]


Okay, so I don’t play with them, but I HAVE them. Is that weird? I like having little fake people around me. My former assistant used to be creeped out by dolls, however, and I know that a lot of people are. I must confess that  for me it really depends on the doll (Chuckie [...]


Factually speaking, science-type people think that the legend of dragons came from our ancestors seeing dinosaur skeletons and figuring they were very recent. Like the legend of the cyclops came from mammoth skulls (where the nose socket looks like a big, central eye socket). Wherever the dragon myth came from, I love it. I love [...]


My son just spent the last week with me. A very ‘puter savvy young man, he showed me all of his favorite youtube videos. Since then, I’ve watched a few (ahem) more. Here were my favorites. (Feel free to skip the ads asap, if there are any.) This made me laugh: This made me laugh, [...]


Today is release day for Lori Austin aka ME.  AN OUTLAW IN WONDERLAND, the follow up to BEAUTY AND THE BOUNTY HUNTER is available today.  This book was named one of Publishers Weekly’s Favorite Summer Romance Reads. If you’d like to read an excerpt take a visit to: http://www.loriaustin.net/wonderland_excerpt.php This is my favorite follow up [...]


There’s a mission to Mars in the planning stages. The deal is this: you apply to go, it’s a 6 month trip, and it’s one way. Thousands of people have already applied for this opportunity to travel to and die on the Red Planet. The participants will be on camera the entire time since this [...]


The Boy is out of college and has been visiting me this past week, so I’ve been going to an unusual number of movies. There are several previews that caught my eye (Wolverine – SQUEEEE!), but this one surprised me. And made me want to see more. A lot more. Every time I saw the [...]


I went to my nephew’s elementary school talent show last night. He played The Pink Panther theme on his electric guitar, and in my opinion, he was awesome. There were other cute acts: comic karate, a boy who solved a Rubik’s Cube in less than two minutes, a third-grader who played the Jurassic Park theme [...]


I am not a big jigsaw kind of person.  There are just so many other things to do, and a puzzle takes awhile and it’s sort of irritating to bend over the table and…well, I just don’t really like them. Except, one day I was browsing in Barnes and Noble and spied this one, Doors [...]


Everyone loves a sale, or so I’ve heard.  I didn’t realize that Memorial Day in the U.S. was a big sale weekend until I went to the mall.  I went because I needed special shoes and inserts because apparently my feet spread, grew, changed.  But that’s another blog. And there was a SALE at The [...]


Here’s a deep, dark author secret: sometimes after I’ve written a certain book, I’ll have a lot (and I mean a LOT) of trouble beginning the next book. It’s not that the new book doesn’t appeal to me, or that I’m not excited about writing the new characters and their story – I am. I’m [...]


Okay, you won’t understand my blog title unless you’re a Neil Diamond fan, but it fits my subject. Because, you see, I WAS a Neil Diamond fan in my youth. And then I wasn’t for years and years, and then a few years back I became one again. Why? I. Don’t. Know. I’m hoping to [...]


I was going to write a funny blog about my book release today, but then the tornado hit Oklahoma and I saw the rubble of two elementary schools and all of my happy juice drained right out of my heart and into my feet. I don’t have big feet, so it hurts when that happens. [...]


I’ve had a lot of sick days in my life. I’m what used to be called “sickly.” If I’d been born in any other century I would have been one of those “died in childhood” statistics one hears so much about regarding bygone population rates. I missed so many days in high school that my [...]


Yes, I know I’m behind the curve on this. Yes, I know every author and their mother (maybe even their father) has a street team. But I thought it would be fun, so I’m doing it, too. For those of you who are even more behind than I am, a street team, according to Karin [...]


AHHHH! Spring has sprung and the goddesses are in the mood to scrub Mt. Oly from tip to toe! I know, I know. If we’d just lie down an hour or two, the feeling would go away, but you can’t get a decent nap with Suzie playing with those light sabers while Rachel runs the [...]


We all need good thinking places. Maybe you’re having a problem at work. Maybe you’re trying to come up with a good birthday present for your mother-in-law. Need some great advice to write in a graduation card? You need the right place to cogitate before taking pen to paper! Driving the car often helps me [...]


Like all of you, I have read so many books in my life I have forgotten more than I remember.  I have read some great books and some really bad books (at least until I finally decided life is too short and I wasn’t going to spend any more time finishing books that did not [...]


A pictorial on How To Wear a Suit, starring MATT BOMER of WHITE COLLAR. 1. It’s all about the attitude. 2. If you’ve got the look, use it. 3. Even something as mundane as taking a call can look classy when done correctly. 4. Of course, what’s under the suit is important, too. 5. Very [...]


 I just got back from RT, where I met lots and lots of readers (and booksellers and other authors, but mostly readers). It was so much fun! And here’s why I love it: They talk about characters as if they’re real. They notice things about my books that I don’t notice. They remind me that [...]


Once upon a time this phrase was popular due to a commercial.  Alka Selzer.  I had to look that up.  I remembered the phrase but not the product.  A common complaint for me with commercials. There have been several things that I have resisted trying, thinking I would NOT like them and been pleasantly surprised [...]