Guest Bloggers: Authors Anne Elizabeth, Tara Nina, and C.H. Admirand

(pictured left to right: authors Tara Nina, Anne Elizabeth, and C.H. Admirand from Operation: L.O.V.E.)

Hi all,

Three authors from OPERATION: L.O.V.E. here: Anne Elizabeth, Tara Nina and C.H. Admirand. We're delighted to be here, guest blogging at RT Book Reviews!

We had a fabulous time last Monday night at Lady Jane's Salon on Houston Street in New York City. LJS's gracious hosts, Leanne Renee Hieber, Maya Rodale, Hope Tarr and Ron Hogan were friendly, welcomed us with open arms and treated us to cocktail of our choice...we all had lemon water. We needed clear heads to read coherently and to make the long drive down to Ft. Meade, Maryland, to attend the Officer's Wives's Club Luncheon the following day.

We weren't sure what to expect as far as the locale, but what a beautiful building and great decor. The upstairs of Madame X is sumptuously decorated, with red velvet sofas and oriental carpets, dimly lit with a bar across from the entrance and a raised stage at one end of the room.

Of course the stage had us a bit worried....it had a spotlight and microphone waiting by three stools. We were scheduled to read snippets from each of our stories, but had NO idea there would be a stage, spotlight or mic! As the creator of the idea for Highland Press's Special Ops Romance Anthology, it was decided that Anne Elizabeth would read first; her story, "Funny Bone," is about a Navy SEAL. Tara Nina read second; her story, "Mission: Devil Dog," is about a Marine sniper. C.H. Admirand read last; her story, "So Others Might Live," is about a USCG Rescue Swimmer.

Also in the anthology: DC DeVane's story, "B&B Bivouac," is about the Air Force and Lindsay Downs's story, "Angel from Above," is about the Army.


(OPERATION: L.O.V.E. book covers - commercial version and military version)

Anne's fiance is a retired Navy SEAL and the inspiration behind her idea for the collection. The purpose of this short story collection is to support our outstanding servicemen and women, increase education about the military and its special branches, and to promote the field romance.

But educating readers about the special branches of the military and the dedication of its members is only half of Anne's creation. Finding a charity to donate a portion of the proceeds is the other. She contacted the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, www.specialops.org, who is delighted to have us working with them to enlighten to our romance readers to SOWF's mission statement and dedication to those who have served in Spec Ops.

Here's their mission statement: "...to provide full scholarship grants and educational and family counseling to the surviving children of special operations people who die in operational or training missions and immediate financial assistance to severely wounded special operations people and their families."

All of the authors - there are five of us - and Highland Press's owner Leanne Burroughs agreed wholeheartedly to support this wonderful charity.

The stories are sweet...here's the back cover blurb:

The memorable twists in "Funny Bone," "B&B Bivouac" and "Angel from Above" will tug at your heartstrings, while the action and adventure of "Mission: Devil Dog" and "So Others Might Live" will get your heart pumping. OPERATION: L.O.V.E. - Locate, Observe, Vector, and Encounter ­ may it share optimal methods for securing the sweetheart of your dreams. Websites: www.OperationLove.us and www.HighlandPress.org

While we're in Washington, D.C. at RWA, we're scheduled to visit the Wounded Warriors in Transition at Walter Reed Hospital and the Wounded Warriors at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. We are totally committed to this project and working to raise awareness about the Special Operations Warrior Foundation and the Spec Ops branches of the Military as well as educating non-romance readers about the benefits of the uplifting HEA in all romance books.

Thanks for letting us stop by and visit with you today...and a special thanks to Leanna, Maya, Hope and Ron! Lady Jane's Salon ROCKS!!!

TTYS,

Anne Elizabeth ~ www.anneelizabeth.net

Tara Nina ~ www.taranina.com

DC DeVane ~ www.dcdevane.com

Lindsay Downs ~ www.lindsaydowns.com

C.H. Admirand ~ www.chadmirand.com

(Note: Guest blog posts reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of RT Book Reviews.)