CJ's Desk Diary

Contest Winner Announced

CJ — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:50:30 +0000

Thanks to all the readers who participated in my Scavenger Hunt contest. It’s always fun to see responses from all across North America, and even, this time, from Australia. A random winner has been selected–check my contest page to see if it was you.

I had so much fun reading your responses. Most everyone identified the correct clue words “joy,” “mountain,” “little bundle” and “chocolate.” And about fifty percent unscrambled the words to reveal my Christmas wish for you: “Mountains of Joy and a Little Bundle of Chocolate.”

But what I hadn’t counted on when I set up the contest was that there was another, equally logical, way to unscramble the clue words. Imagine how I chuckled when I saw that some readers thought I was wishing them: “Mountains of Chocolate and a Little Bundle of Joy.”

Not that I’m going to argue about the mountains of chocolate part…

The Lure of the Scavenger Hunt

CJ — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:01:10 +0000

When we have family reunions with my sisters and their young children, I love to set up a scavenger hunt for the kids. I send them on a merry chase all over the property–which this year happened to be at a couple of cabins at Good Spirit Lake in Saskatchewan. The clues were planted with diabolical care: one in grandpa’s pocket, another hidden in the trunk of a car, one tucked inside the microwave, the next buried in the sand by the playground…

I think it’s fair to say that these scavenger hunts have become a favorite event of our reunions, and I’m not sure who has more fun–me or the kids.

I wanted to bring the same sense of adventure and fun to my readers when I set up my newest contest. I’ve scattered clues everywhere: on my Facebook Page, on my Twitter Feed, and also on the C.J. Carmichael and Banit Creek Books websites. I hope you have time for a little silly fun, gather the clues and enter my contest for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate from Amazon.

You’ll find all the details on my Contest page. Ready, set…go!

What Would You Read…

CJ — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 20:16:06 +0000

…if you had one week to laze around on a beach in Mexico?

My smart guy found a terrific, extraordinary, amazing deal on a week holiday to Manzanillo, and we couldn’t resist. Besides bathing suits and flip flops, I’m packing my next book in Louise Penny’s Three Pine series, The Cruellest Month, and also Jodi Picoult’s Sing You Home, which I started and am anxious to finish.

Of course I’ll be reading the next book in the Bandit Creek series, as well. Any other recommendations on a good beach read? How about cocktails? (Warning, I’m partial to coconut and rum!)

Bandit Creek Contest

CJ — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:13:52 +0000

Did you know that everything happens in Bandit Creek, Montana? This is the amazing fictional world created by the talented members of my local writing chapter. Two times a month a Bandit Creek Story is e-published. The stories cover every genre you can think of: historical, contemporary romance, mystery, paranormal, horror, romantic comedy, and so on. I’d love to introduce you to the first two books of the series. Of course, once you start, you may find yourself hooked!

To enter this contest, all you need to do is “like” my new fanpage on Facebook. The link is right there, on my home page. Then submit your name and email in one of three ways:

Send an e-mail to: cjcontest@cjcarmichael.com
Leave a comment to this blog entry
Via Twitter to @cj_carmichael: please introduce me to Bandit Creek

Do all three and you’ll be entered 3 times! On Nov 28 I will select a winner and send them Lost by Vivi Anna and Siren’s Song by DL Snow. I know you’ll love these stories–I did!

Cheers from CJ

Larches are the New Gold

CJ — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:43:39 +0000

Welcome to Kananaskis Country (and you thought Banff was nice)

Have you ever seen larch trees in the autumn?

Okay, it’s September, my favorite time to go hiking in the Rocky Mountains and if you look at the above picture you’ll know why. Deciduous trees usually steal the show at this time of year, but the larch tree–which grows naturally only at high alpine altitudes–is the only coniferous tree whose needles change color and are shed for the winter season. If beauty like this doesn’t inspire you–what does?

Welcome to Bandit Creek

CJ — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:35:57 +0000

A group from our local writing chapter, the Calgary Romance Writers of America, is launching a new series today. The idea was to write and self-publish a series of connected stories. Some are contemporary, some historical. All genres are included, too, from mystery to romance to paranormal. The first story, Lost, by Viva Anna, Carla Roma, is available at Amazon right now!

Lost

Visit the website for more details about this innovative project. By the way, my book for the series will be available on December 15, 2011.

Montana

CJ — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:50:36 +0000

I’m very excited to announce that the next books I write are going to be for Harlequin American and set in the beautiful state of Montana. So I’m on the hunt for inspiring photos of central Montana. Here’s some of what I’ve found, so far… The good news is you can buy this ranch! (It’s for sale for a mere 3.5 million.)

Montana Ranch Prairie

Overview of Montana Ranch

Here are the cows!

Trees at Montana Ranch

Writing With Bears

CJ — Thu, 26 May 2011 18:25:15 +0000

Just back from a five day writing retreat with authors Jane Porter and Barbara Dunlop. We’ve traveled to Banff, Kelowna and Saltspring in the past for our retreats. This time we headed to Whistler and indeed there were bears! Jane was out for a walk when she came almost nose to nose with a black bear munching on spring greenery. She then had the fastest sprint ever back to our townhouse! Barb tried to send her back to get a photo, but she wouldn’t do it. So I had to publish this photo of us at the Fairmont instead:

After ourTea

So what gets accomplished on a writer’s retreat? Well, for the three of us, there was sharing of pages and ideas, brainstorming plots and careers, and, amazingly, not as much consuming of wine and chocolate as usual. (But yes, there was some of that!)

I brought along a writer’s retreat “kit” with ideas for making the most of the occasion. Mostly we giggled through ideas such as: “create an altar,” ”ring meditation bells,” “consult an oracle.” We decided that for us, success as writers comes from not giving up, from putting in the sweat and the hard work, from acknowledging that good writing and good storytelling is never easy–no matter how many books you have under your belt.

And speaking of books under the belt…we were amazed to realize that between us we have almost 100 books published…this in the span of the twelve years since we first met as unpublished writers at a Singletree Conference in Victoria.

So, now it’s back to real life and planning the next retreat…

Back from RT Conference

CJ — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 20:57:06 +0000

Nobody promised me that Los Angeles was going to be warmer than Calgary, but I had my expectations. California versus Alberta? Should have been a slam dunk, right?

Unfortunately, L.A. greeted us with cold, wind and clouds. The bad weather, however, was offset by good times and interesting workshops.

I’m always intrigued by the opportunity to meet a bestselling author and hear him or her speak about their writing process. Dean Koontz was no exception. The man has a wonderful sense of humor and a true dedication to his craft. I had no choice but to power up my Kindle and order a book. I chose: The Husband and am finding it a fast-paced and high-stakes read.

Over breakfast Superromance author Debra Salonen and I had a nice chance to chat and I was able to congratulate her on her RT Award for Best Superromance of 2010. Make sure you check out Deb’s wonderful hero Rufus in: Until He Met Rachel . And don’t you just love that title, too?

Deb Salonen and me at RT 2011

Now, back to sunny Alberta and my writing desk…

A Happy Surprise!

CJ — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:58:17 +0000

When the phone rang on Friday and I saw an unfamilar area code, I almost didn’t answer. Am I ever glad that I did! Jeanne Pickering Adams was calling on behalf of RWA to let me know Perfect Partners had finalled for a RITA® Award in the Contemporary Series Romance: Adventure/Suspense category!

A Rita Finalist!

Well, I was walking on sunshine all day and now I want to continue to celebrate by giving away a copy of this book to a random winner this Friday. To enter this contest, all you need to do is send me your name and mailing address: CJ@cjcarmichael.com

Hope you’ll be as lucky as I feel right now!