Tomorrow's the big day!

Hello everyone!!! I'm excited to say that tomorrow is the release day for Gambling on Love, Scandalous line, Entangled Publishing, written by co-author Nancy Fraser and myself. We are very excited and it seems like the days since we were first notified by our editor Erin Molta have flown by. It's prompted a flurry of activity by both Nancy and I. We've had a blast with it though, and I hope you'll all enjoy and come along on the wild ride with us. Writing is a funny thing. You spend the majority of your time in solitary confinement (G), then come up for air when the book is done. After that you are in a panic, hoping the book will be good enough, the reviews will be great enough, and more importantly that the next book will be your masterpiece. And the cycle continues with each book you write. But I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. I'm very lucky to be able to say this is my twenty-first book that I've had published. Here's hoping to twenty-five more. Have a wonderful week everyone. Patti

Congrats!!!!!

Thank you to all who entered my contest for the Easter Bunny Blop Hop. The winner with the correct answer of 19 is Kaylyn. Hope everyone had a fabulous Easter!

HAPPY EASTER!!!!

Can you believe it's that time of year already? I can't. Seems as though winter just passed and spring is slowly creping its way forward. Of course maybe it's because I've been so busy writing that I've forgotten about everything else (very true statement). From April 6 - April 8, I'm part of the Easter Bunny Blog Hop and will be giving away a pdf copy of Offshore Seductions, my April 1st release with eXtasy Books. In order to win, can you answer this question - if so, please send an email with the correct answer and your email address to pattishenberger@comcast.net. Winner will be drawn Monday, April 9th and I'll contact the winner at that time and post their name right here on my blog! Thanks and good luck!!!! Thinking back to the Christmas song Twelve Days of Xmas (yeah, I know Xmas is over, humor me (G)) if you were to add up the calling birds, the french hens, and the drummers drumming, what is the total? Happy Easter!

A New Contract (2 actually!)

This has been one of those crazy years where nothing turns out the way I would like it to. While I do have to first and foremost be thankful for the fact I will soon hit five years of being cancer-free (October 25th), today is actually the day when I learned I had colon cancer. Talk about a real downer, but I'm still here.

My latest release, McCade's Miracle, co-authored with Nancy Fraser was digitally re-released on October 1st by eXtasy Books and I couldn't be happier. It's nice to see Miri and Matt back. If you love reading about the 1860's and the era of the paddle wheel with a sensuous love story thrown in, then this is your ebook! Check out the cover right here in the blog.

I also signed a new contract (2 contracts to be precise) with eXtasy Books and will be reprising the Zodiac Series. Twelve heroines who give a new meaning to the phrase "What's your sign?" There will be the last eight novellas with the next release to come out on January 30th. And to add to that, I will be starting a new series of six novellas entitled Unconventional Angels for Unconventional Relationships, which will premiere in February.

I am so excited to be writing steady again. I can't begin to tell you how it stabilizes my life. Earlier this year I lost my grandfather. He was my afternoon Pepsi and snack guy. I'd bring both to the nursing home where he stayed and we'd talk, laugh and eat. He died suddenly and while it wasn't expected, he was 90 years old. Then a few months later, I lost the four legged love of my life. My girl Cassie. She was a 16 year old shepherd-golden with a personality I'd never seen before in a dog and not sure I ever will again. I stayed with her to the bitter end when the vet had to give her the final shot. It ripped my heart out but I knew it was for the best.

For a time I wandered through the house, sure I could hear the sound of her collar, listening for the sounds of her breathing at night, and positive I was losing my mind when I heard all of it. Right now I'm comforting myself by taking care of one of the three dogs my daughter and son-in-law have. Miss Mugs as I fondly refer to her, a name I tagged her with the first time I saw her, though her given name is Maizee. She's the closest thing to being like my old girl Cassie. Except she's only five years old(G). She's laying at my feet as I type this, snoring quite soundly (though a proper lady does not snore!). She's the one in the middle of the photo above.

The world has once more righted itself on its axis for me and I'm back to the business of writing. I hope you will all stop more for more updates as I pen the novellas for both the Zodiac Club and Unconventional Angels. And you can find out more about my books at www.extasybooks.com and www.devinedestinies.com as well as my website.

Take care, and enjoy whatever you are doing today! Patti

Hitting the Five Year Mark Soon!

Welcome, I’m the Priestess of Poop. Bet that got your attention now didn’t it? I actually called myself that for a brief period of time when I was diagnosed with colon cancer back in the fall of 2006. Wasn’t exactly one of the better times in my life, let me tell you.

You see I’d just gotten a raise that was literally double my previous salary, had a new job I loved, sold two romance novels and three short stories and life was looking pretty darn good if I do say so myself. Then…wait for it…you guessed it, my streak of good luck came crashing down around me in leaps and bounds.

I knew something wasn’t right with my body but put it off to stress (the new job), fatigue (burning both ends of the candle with my writing), and not eating properly (no good excuse for that one). But after seeing something that didn’t look right in the porcelain goddess and making a quick call to my family doctor, my worse nightmare quickly became a reality. Had my first colonoscopy two days after my 46th b-day. Woke up to find the doctor, nurse and hubby all staring at me and received the news there was a tumor. Yup, the first tremors of my world coming unglued kicked in. Three weeks later, I took a leave of absence from the job, notified my editor and publisher that I would do everything possible to get my edits done for them and retreated from life for a while for surgery and chemo.

Now if you can imagine this (and gals I know you can) my first day of chemo started off with a bang. I literally got my period, had to quit caffeine (Pepsi is/was my drink of choice) and had my first treatment of chemo. I have to admit there wasn’t a suckier day on the face of this planet for me!!! (LOL) And that would be a false statement because as chemo progressed, the days did suck worse to the point of my mind going to the dark side and I couldn’t find a bright light at the end of the tunnel till about 1/3 of the way through my treatment.

Those of you that know me know I’m a fighter. I’ve never met a challenge I couldn’t nip in the bud until cancer. I’m also a Type A personality (just call me anal to a fault – literally (G)). So I was bound and determined cancer would not win. And since I’m writing this you know that it didn’t beat me, I beat it!

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer. It is also the third leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States. If caught earlier, it’s also the most treatable. I was floored when my doctor told me the tumor was probably in my body close to ten years! Can you imagine that? I had no clue. This year alone colorectal cancer is expected to claim the life of 49,830 deaths. But, more than a million people are survivors of this deadly disease as well.

While I don’t physically participate in the Relay for Life that is held in my community each year, I can say that I donate a nice chunk of change to the cause during the auction portion. June 4, 2011 at Friendship Park in Lake Orion was my local Relay for Life survival day event. I reconnected with the nurses who knew when I needed a shoulder to cry on or another bowl of soup (where I had my treatment had free lunch days a lot), and I walked the survivors lap around the park, shared lunch with family and friends, and more importantly know that I have made it through another year. And of course found a lot of great things to bid on and won for the Silent Auction and the out loud one too!

I'm closing in on my 5 year remission point in October and am very happy to say I'm still in remission. So on that happy note; I’ll leave you all for today. Thank you for stopping by and thanks for sharing my story with me. And remember, the Priestess of Poop says “Don’t forget your own colonoscopy.” Think of it this way, you get to lose a lot of water weight with the prep and get a great nap during the procedure. Best part – you know you’ve taken care of your body by scheduling the appt.

My love to all, Patti

* Statistics from The American Cancer Society – www.cancer.org

Back in the saddle again

Yup, I'm back. Thought you'd seen the last of me for awhile, didn't you? But I had you all fooled. This year life took on a few new interesting twists and it really put me behind the proverbial eight ball. I've come to terms with everything and ready to plunge ahead.

You know how it is. Everything is going along wonderfully, then all of a sudden life takes a sharp left turn and you find everything is upside down. I had that happen in February when my grandfather unexpected passed away. Once things settled down, I threw myself back into my writing and moved forward.

Good news, requested revisions from Mill and Boon Medicals on Book One. Done and sent. Better news, Book Two done and sent to Mills and Boon Medicals. Headed off to the RWA National Conference in New York at the end of June. Met old friends,made new ones and had fabulous editor appointments. Best news, by the time I came home I had five requests for my new paranormal. And more news,the rights reverted to my former writing partner and I on our historical time travel and we resold it. McCade's Miracle will come out in ebook form on October 15, 2011 from eXtasy Books.

And then life hits you upside the head with a two by four when you aren't looking. Three weeks ago I had to put my best furry four-legged friend of sixteen and a half years to sleep. Cassie had been by my side through thick and thin. Literally. She was my stalwart companion when I was diagnosed with colon cancer. She never left my side when I would arrive home chemo appointments, staying with me like velcro. She took care of me whenever my hubby left the house and even when he was home.

I think that is one of the hardest things I'll ever do in my life is to stand there, cradling my big girl while the life drains out of her eyes and her body. I told my hubby I wasn't going to leave her, I would be there for her til the end and I was. No the house is alittle too quiet, alittle too furless and alittle too empty, even though we have a six year old cat (otherwise known as Annoying Rodent) to keep me company. But it isn't the same.

In time, I'll be open to getting another dog. Or puppy, or dog, not sure what. At this exact moment, I can't fathom the idea of wandering out back at 2:00 a.m. in my pj's with a winter coat thrown over it extoling the virtues of "Hurry up and go potty" in twenty degree weather with snow flying. (I'm sure you all get the picture and are nodding your head at this point)

So instead I've thrown myself back into my writing (and protecting the keyboard from errant kitty paws and undistinguishable symbols on the screen). Be right back, Annoying Rodent has decided it's more important that I hold him rather than chat with you all....

Ok, I'm here again. Cat is content for a minute. Back to writing, that's where we left off. I'm working on a light paranormal (requested at conference) and am diligently heading toward the proverbial finish line (Sept 1st). Then it will go out on submission. After that, I'll start something fresh and new and enjoy the process of creation all over again.

It's a vicious cycle you know. You write, you submit, you either get accepted or rejected. Then do it all over again and again and again. Torture at its best (and worse).

I don't write because it's easy (cause it's not), I don't write because I have to (because I don't), I write because I love what I do. I love to create a heroine and hero that I (and readers) will fall in love with. That's what it's all about. Writing a book that you can't put down, no matter what. One that holds you spellbound, way past your bedtime, or forgetting that you needed to do laundry, start dinner, go to the store. That's my goal.

My other goal is hitting the five year in remission mark come this October 25th. So far I've lost a few more body parts than normal due to complications after surgery along the way. But I'd like to keep the ones I have left. I need them (G). Ok,not the extra pounds that are somehow glued to my hips. Those could go any time and I'd be very happy.

I guess what I'm saying is tough times will knock you down. It's up to you to get back up and get back on that horse. If need be, super glue yourself to it. Tie a rope around your middle and wrap it around the saddle horn. Just don't give up.

Till next time and yes I promise there will be one. Keep on dreaming and keep on believing.

Life Is Good

Hey everyone, I'm back and ready to share some wonderful news with all of you. Last week Thursday I signed with my verey first agent, Jill Marsal of the Marsal Lyon Agency. I am thrilled beyond belief to be working with Jill.

And we are less than two weeks away from heading to sunny, HOT Florida for the RWA National Conference. I must admit I am a tad more (ok alot more) excited about this years conference than I have been in a long time. Does it have something to do with signing with an agent? Probably. Reconnecting with writer friends I haven't seen in over a year? Definitely. Dinner with a writer friend I haven't seen in 3 years? Absolutely!!

I also have an appt with my first choice editor pick as well, and will be pitching my category novel to her. I have plans to see friends on Tues and Wed, the Literacy Signing on Wed p.m. as well as the Greater Detroit Booksellers Best Award Reception(I'm co chair), dinner with a writer friend on Thurs, workshops on Thursday and Friday, then leaving for home early Friday afternoon in order to be back here for my daughter's wedding bright and early Saturday a.m.

Sunday will be a day of rest (hahaha) and then on Monday we are heading to Cedar Point to meet up with friends who came up from Florida for their vacation and the wedding and spending the day with them. After that I can rest. Or crash land, whichever comes first.

I hope whatever you are all doing this summer, you are having a blast with it. Till next time, Patti