As regular MSW readers know, I left my long-time publisher (17 books!) for St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur earlier this year. My last Ballantine book, IF I SHOULD DIE, was released two weeks ago and is still available (or should be!) wherever books are sold. DIE is the third Lucy Kincaid book, but not the last as SMP has picked up the series. And on Monday, I turned in the final revised version of SILENCED, on sale 4.24.12. Whew! Though I sweated bullets on every page (literally and figuratively) in the end, I’m happy with the story. And that’s all you, the readers will hopefully see!

Recently, I was invited to join the SMP Romance Writers loop. I hesitated for a day or two because I was on a similar loop when I first sold, it was inactive, then went away. But I’m glad I joined, because these are an amazing group of writers (almost as amazing as the writers I share this blog with!) I decided that today, while I recuperate from a marathon writing session and decorate for Christmas, to introduce you all to some of the SMP authors (new and old) and play a fun game while we’re at it. These aren’t all the authors at SMP or even on the loop, but I only gave them two days to get me their statements. I hope the missing gals will stop by and introduce themselves!

Here’s how we play:

Below are fun facts about the authors that they provided. Except … Santa’s elves came in and changed FIVE of the facts to fiction. It’s up to you to guess which FIVE statements are FALSE. Post your answers in the comments section and the person who correctly identifies the most false statements wins. (In the event of a tie, I’ll use Random.org to generate the winner.) BUT if you don’t like games, that’s OKAY! Because ALL commenters will be entered in a random drawing for a second prize. Just tell me a fun fact about YOU that most people don’t know 🙂 It’s okay, we’re all friends here. We won’t tell!

And what are the prizes? Each winner gets a $25 gift card to the on-line book store of their choice to buy themselves an early Christmas present. 🙂

Now, in the order from current releases to future releases …

CELESTE BRADLEY paid her way through art school by taking off her clothes!
A Courtesan’s Guide to Getting Your Man w/Susan Donovan, out now!

ALLISON BRENNAN was handcuffed and held at gunpoint last summer.
If I Should Die, out now!

LOUISA EDWARDS is a direct descendent of Lyndon B. Johnson
Some Like It Hot out this week!

Before turning to writing, ELIZABETH ESSEX used to be an underwater archaeologist.
The Danger of Desire, out now!

ELLIE JAMES broke the law while researching the second book in the Midnight Dragonfly series….
Shattered Dreams, out this week!

KIERAN KRAMER has been on two games shows–and lost both times.
If You Give a Girl a Viscount Out now!

CJ LYONS has been face to face with a serial killer.

Face to Face (Hart and Drake Book #3) Out now!

In her younger days when they were both single and looking, JULIANNE MacLEAN went sailing one sunny, breezy afternoon with Prince Edward.
Seduced by the Highlander, out now!

FRANCIS RAY delivered the winter commencement address at my alma mater, Texas Woman’s University.
The Wish – ebook only, out now!

GINA ROBINSON once saw a Bigfoot footprint at her family’s homestead property in Idaho.
The Spy Who Left Me, out now!

CARIS ROANE was a Smithsonian tour guide one summer.
Born of Ashes, January 2012

A coastal resident descended from a long line of seafarers, MANDA COLLINS is deeply resistant to living inland and thinks that weather forecasts without tide forecasts are “weird” and “unsettling.”
How to Dance with a Duke, February 2012

DONNA GRANT had an encounter with a ghost in a Scottish castle.
Darkest Highlander, February, 2012

DARYNDA JONES is fifth cousins with Abraham Lincoln.
Third Grave Dead Ahead, February 2012

A.C. ARTHUR loves sky-diving and mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Temptation Rising, March 2012

ANGIE FOX has ridden with Harley biker gangs.
Immortally Yours, August 2012

BETH CIOTTA once sang backup with two other vocalists (known as “The Knockouts”) for boxing legend Smokin’ Joe Frazier.
Fool for Love (A Cupcake Lovers Novel) September 2012

VALERIE BOWMAN was once a forensic pathologist.
Debut Novel! Secrets of a Wedding Night, a Regency Romp, October 2012

For the first six years of her life, LEIGH EVANS spoke with a thick Bostonian accent, which was odd, because Leigh was born in Quebec, Canada.
The MYSTWALKER series debuts January 2013!

Now remember, which FIVE STATEMENTS are NOT TRUE … answers (and winners!) will be posted this weekend 🙂 … Or tell us one little known fact about you.

And check out some of their scrumptious websites, too.