HOT NEWS!

Nancy Cohen has some book news to share!

Don't miss these PARANORMAL ROMANCES BY NANCY J. COHEN

SILVER SERENADE: New Futuristic Romance!
Available in print and digital formats July 16, 2010 from The Wild Rose Press: http://www.thewildrosepress.com

A beautiful assassin and a desperate fugitive join forces to prevent an interstellar war.

CIRCLE OF LIGHT: Book One in The Light-Years Series. Digital edition available from Belgrave House: http://www.belgravehouse.com/bookstore/

Attorney Sarina Bretton is kidnapped from Earth by Captain Teir Reylock to become the legendary Great Healer.

MOONLIGHT RHAPSODY: Book two in the Light-Years series. Digital edition available from Belgrave House http://www.belgravehouse.com/bookstore

When Lord Rolf Cam'brii's ship crashes on the planet Souk, he's taken prisoner and thrown into a slave labor camp. Here he catches the eye of the beautiful female overseer, Ilyssa. As he learns her secrets, he finds himself falling under her spell

Ellen Byerrum’s SHOT THROUGH VELVET, the next book in Ellen Byerrum's Crime of Fashion Mysteries is coming in February 2011. Here's a preview of the beautiful cover by Craig White! Visit Ellen's website at: http://ellenbyerrum.com.

Susan McBride has signed with HarperCollins to write two more women's fiction books to follow THE COUGAR CLUB (which was a Target Bookmarked Breakout Title, a Midwest Connections Pick, and on MORE Magazine's list of "February Books We're Buzzing About"). LITTLE BLACK DRESS, about three women and a magical black dress that sets their lives on fateful paths, will be out sometime in late 2011. For more info on Susan and her books, visit Susan's website at: http://SusanMcBride.com.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations go to Jennifer Rayment, the winner of the Book Belles Summer Vacation Contest!

BOOK BELLES' Words of Wisdom...

SUSAN’S FIVE FABULOUS RULES FOR FORTY-SOMETHINGS by Susan McBride

1. Be your best self.
If you love who you are, inside and out, great! If you look hard in the mirror and see the possibility of change for the better, take a chance and do it. Whether that means eating healthier, trying out a Pilates or yoga class, or meeting with a clothing stylist to pinpoint a fashion sense for this new era in your life, go for it! To paraphrase Suzy Gorman, it’s worth it to make your outer self as cool as your inner self.

2. Open your eyes to possibilities
My mom likes to tease me about a really wonderful high school boyfriend I dumped because I didn’t like his shoes. I had such a strict check-list for guys I dated, and those criteria didn’t change much until I turned 40. Once I told myself to discard the list and open my eyes to all the possibilities, I met Ed. He’s everything I ever wanted and more. I’m not telling you to settle. Far from it! I think that once successful, confident women reach a certain age, they deserve BETTER. But be willing to date outside your typical box and get to know men before you shoot them down.

3. Have fun all on your lonesome
I know women who are terrified of being alone, even for a moment. Their worst fear is spending a Saturday night home with a good book. My grandmother used to say that “boring people get bored,” and I think she has a point. If your life is full and happy while you’re single, you’ll attract men whose lives are also full and happy. The kind of relationship that comes of two fully-realized people uniting is like the tastiest cream cheese icing on the cake! If you feel like your life has holes that need to be filled, figure out ways YOU can fill them instead of expecting someone else to do it for you.

4. Stop being a people pleaser
Okay, this is actually a rule I’m stealing from my mother. When I turned 40, she specifically advised that I quit trying to please the world because I’d never succeed. At book signings, if I made 40 people in the room laugh and one scowled throughout my presentation, I’d fixate on that one person. What had I said wrong? What could I have done differently? I nearly drove myself crazy worrying about the handful of people whom I would never please instead of enjoying my time with all the wonderful folks who enjoyed being with me. It’s easier said than done, I know; but start small. Begin to weed toxic friends and acquaintances from your life. Who is there for you when you’re up and when you’re down? Those are the friends to keep. Avoid the ones who suck the life out of you. I learned the hard way when I was diagnosed with breast cancer who my true friends are (and even what family members I can count on), and I value that lesson. Although I hope no one else has to go through a health crisis to figure that out! In a nutshell: do what gives you joy and hang around people who energize you. Period.

5. Never stop being curious
I read a study that said remaining curious throughout our lives keeps our brains young, and I believe it! I think the moment we stop exploring the world around us, we turn into sticks-in-the-mud. Read books in genres you don’t typically read, visit somewhere in your city you’ve never been, take a painting class, learn how to cook, see a foreign film, or learn to salsa. There are so many interesting people, places, and things out there that we do ourselves a disservice when we shut ourselves off from something new. If your life feels stuck at 40, decide to take a new path for Act Two. Now is the time to do all those things you always said you wanted to do. As Kat Maguire puts it in THE COUGAR CLUB:

Aging gracefully isn’t about aging gratefully. It’s about living life with your engine on overdrive, making love with all the lights on, trashing your diet books, and diving into the chocolate cake.

Amen to that!