Being an author has allowed me to meet some pretty interesting people. Whether they've been adoring romance fans and book bloggers who've blessed me with their kind compliments and raving reviews, gracious authors who've lent me their time, talent, and advice in this fast-paced industry, or the few sweet, down-to-earth male cover models who are such good sports about being total eye-candy for many crazed romance fans, Ha! I'm blessed for each and every relationship I've made along the way (both personal, professional, and over the web.)

But a few weeks ago, I had the distinct honor of being asked to do a cover shoot for a book cover! How many authors can claim that?

Let me set the stage:
I was at Lori Foster's RAGT 2013 and Kim Killion  from Hot Damn Designs and The Killion Group Inc. approached me about doing a cover shoot. She said she needed a dark-haired, petite woman and I was her first choice. When she mentioned I was to shoot with Billy Freda, (who has become a very dear friend of mine over the past three years) I felt like I'd be stupid to pass up this opportunity. I'd be possibly on a cover (if the author approved it) of a National Best Selling author's book and I'd get to at least do it with a cover model I felt comfortable around. So, after a few moments of thinking it through (and of course making certain clothes were required) I accepted the offer.

As I said yes, I literally felt my stomach somersault a few times with excitement. Kim reassured me I'd do great but I had my doubts. I can smile with the best of them for a promotional author pic, but I've never been embraced in another man's arms for a near-kiss photo!

Kim also said we'd be photographing in her hotel room, which made me feel a little at ease about the whole thing as it would be a "private shoot" without curious eyes watching my every move. (Remember, I'm at a Reader and Author Convention where the hotel is constantly bustling with romance fans, authors, readers, bloggers, editors, publishers etc.) But once I arrived at her room for hair and make-up (courtesy of the amazing and totally awesome Jennifer Jakes) I was informed that the lighting sucked in the room and we had to go outside. UGH!

After swallowing that news, I took a swim in my over-sized corset, western skirt, and jacket, and headed outside to a somewhat remote corner of the hotel where we could shoot in relative privacy. However, we were still surrounded by the parking lot, which as I recalled in all my nervousness, started to gather curious onlookers. I tried my best to ignore them and keep my focus on the job at hand.

At this time, Kim is positioning me and Billy, hoisting my meager chest in this ridiculously huge corset to try to create "the allusion of cleavage" and coaching me to hold poses that were so unnatural they hurt - all the while trying to look Billy in the eye without smiling. That was a feat! But without the talented and creative Kim Killion and the comforting professionalism of Billy Freda, I would not have been able to do this.

It was because of them that this shoot turned out as good as it did. I will forever be grateful for their patience with me. Because of it, the outcome resulted in a host of photos I could hardly believe was little ol' me. I almost looked like a pro. *squee*

At this time I'd like to thank author Shelly Thacker for approving the shoot so that I could add this incredible experience to my list of "extraordinary things I've done" in my author career. Thank you, thank you, a million times THANK YOU!

And for Kim Killion who first put this ball into motion and produced yet another breath-taking cover. I highly encourage you to read Kim Killion's books as well. She is undoubtedly my favorite author and for great reason. She is the author who got me hooked Highlander romance and I've read everything she's ever written!

As a side note, I also believe Shelly Thacker is going to be the one who gets me hooked on westerns. July 30th cannot come soon enough as I've already pre-ordered my copy and you should too!

From Shelly Thacker's Newsletter:
I’m so excited I can hardly type! You can now buy AFTER SUNDOWN at Amazon! This book was a RITA Award Finalist for Best Historical Romance of the Year and a Romantic Times Top Pick.

Artist Kim Killion went above and beyond to create this cover: She did the photo shoot for me while attending Lori Foster's convention in Ohio a couple of weeks ago. She knew that model Billy Freda was going to be there—so they snuck outside for a few minutes and did the shoot on the lawn of the conference center! Kim took the photo herself, and the model portraying my heroine is author Renee Vincent. Thank you, Kim, Billy, and Renee for teaming up to create such an amazing cover for this very special book!

In AFTER SUNDOWN (originally published by Dell under the title Into the Sunset) U.S. Marshal Lucas McKenna is hunting Antoinette Sutton, the woman who killed his brother. Annie is running for her life—because the evidence against her is overwhelming, and no one will believe the truth about what happened. Lucas captures the dark-haired beauty in Colorado, but before he can take her back to Missouri to stand trial, the two are snowbound in a remote mining town…

I know authors aren’t supposed to pick favorites, but this book is one of my favorites. I hope you’ll purchase the ebook or paperback today, and I hope you'll love it as much as I do. I have several more books planned for this series!