I'm just home from an amazing trip through the American Northwest. This photo of the Sawtooth Mountains in Stanley, Idaho is an example of some of the gorgeous country we got to see.But, for all the unbelievable scenary, what I really wanted to write about were three special things that happened during our three thousand mile journey. The first was meeting a group of readers at Powell's Books in Portland, Oregon. I had an absolute blast just sitting and gabbing with the terrific ladies who took time out of their busy lives to come and see me. Some I've corresponded with for years and it was like meeting old friends. Others have been quiet members of my newsletter and I only got to meet them for the first time on our trip, but everybody was absolutely wonderful and really made me feel welcome. I'm still hoping that someone will send me some photos of the afternoon, because like a total dufus, I forgot my camera!

The second cool thing about our trip was actually seeing the part of Montana where I've always pictured Anton Cheval and his Montana pack live--I found the rugged mountains and thick forest that I've had in my mind for the past three years, and it was an absolute thrill to get to see it in real life...and it was especially wonderful to discover that it looks exactly as I've imagined it! Even the airport at Kalispell where my Chanku occasionally need to catch a flight or charter a private jet looked the way it was supposed to. (You can only imagine my relief! What if I'd described it all wrong...?)

Now, the third special thing had nothing to do with writing or research...it was a phone call from our son on the morning of September 22, during one of the very brief moments where we actually had a connection, telling us that our newest grandchild had just been born! His son, Owen Paul, made his debut in Honolulu, HI weighing in at nine pounds and 21 inches long! I've got pictures of the trip and our new grandson posted on my trip diary. You can see it at www.katedouglas.com/northwest2008

This trip was a reminder of what an amazing country we live in. Every single place has its own beauty, from mountains to rivers to high desert and desolate plains. Adding a new grandson to the trip was an even more important reminder of how many things I have to be thankful for.

Well? Does it look okay?
 

This is the fourth annual fund raising auction that Brenda Novak has sponsored to raise funds for diabetes research. The goal this year is to reach--and hopefully surpass--$300,000. I would love for my donation to help, so thought I'd let you all know exactly what it is I've got in her auction.

The winner of this auction will receive a tote bag to carry a bottle of wine from the Guenoc Winery's Lillie Langtry vineyards in Lake Co. California, a really cute little stuffed wolf and the first ten books and novellas from  my Wolf Tales series:

Wolf Tales
Sexy Beast—Chanku Rising
Wolf Tales II
Wild Nights—Camille's Dawn
Wolf Tales III
Sexy Beast II—Chanku Fallen
Wolf Tales IV
Sexy Beast III—Chanku Journey
Wolf Tales V
Sexy Beast IV—Chanku Destiny

AND, if you are the winner of the auction and saw this post on MySpace (and leave a comment so I know you're the bidder) I will also send you a signed copy of Wolf Tales VI when it releases in July. Just write to me at the end of the auction at kate@katedouglas.com or send me a "MySpace" message so I know who you are.

I really want to see Brenda's auction go a whole lot higher than she is hoping for. It's such a worthy cause--one all of us can get behind.

         

I'm writing my next book, Wolf Tales VII, and it made me think about the brief history of this series and Kensington's Aphrodisia imprint. The very first Aphrodisia title for the new imprint, Wolf Tales, started shipping from Barnes and Noble online about this time in 2005—hard to believe it was two years ago. I remember, because my husband and I were on our first ever trip to Hawaii to see our son and his wife, and I got an email from a friend who had placed an advance order at B&N and already received her copy. Within a couple months, my book moved to the top ten in erotica at B&N online. It's still there, two years later, along with Noelle Mack's "Three," which released shortly after WT. Last I heard, my first WT was in its seventh print run. Not sure about Mack's, but it's obviously doing well, too.

I'm not even sure how many Aphrodisia titles have released since then, but there are a lot of them, and a lot of new authors turning out even more. (I'm proud to say that eight of the current titles are mine, if I include the anthologies) The line appears to be doing really well. We get a lot of shelf space in the bookstores and terrific positioning on front tables and special displays. It's not often that a new imprint takes off like this one has, but it's thanks to our publisher, our editors and the hard work of every author in the line. We owe an even bigger thanks to the fans who buy our books, who talk about them in a positive manner on other lists, and keep our names and our titles out there in front of potential buyers. That "viral marketing" online is constantly bringing new readers to the genre, and from what my fan mail tells me, we're crossing all demographics in our sales.

We have a supportive publisher and editors who give us the freedom to push boundaries and write stories unlike anything else out there on the market today. Our covers are hot and sexy and absolutely perfect for the line. Reviews for our stories are consistently good and the reader buzz makes certain that anyone who loves a good, sexy romance knows about Aphrodisia. All of the Aphrodisia authors have worked really hard and it's paying off. When I can pick up an RT and see some of our books listed as "Top Picks" (congrats, ladies!) in a magazine that at one time wouldn't even review erotic romances, it shows me most graphically how far we have come. Two years is not a very long time in the scheme of things. It's a lifetime for those of us who have found our personal niche writing for this imprint.

Enough rambling. I  have truly indulged myself with this post, but when I think of all the years I spent writing and collecting rejection letters from various publishers, and then look at the bookcase in my office filled with my own titles, it feels surrealistic at best. After so many years of hoping to one day be able to call myself a published author, it still feels strange to realize I've reached that point. I know I didn't do it alone. So, to my fellow writers, thank you for your encouragement and advice. To my editor, Audrey LaFehr, thank you for having the courage to run with a series like mine. To my agent, Jessica Faust, a huge thank you for everything! And to my fantastic cadre of readers, thank you for giving Wolf Tales a chance. I appreciate each and every one of you.

Starting to post some photos...not many and I'll do better later!

http://www.katedouglas.com/