KOD’s very own DAPHNE DU MAURIER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MYSTERY/SUSPENSE is open for entries until March 15th at 11:59PM (MDT).

There are both Published and Unpublished divisions. Only a few categories are full as of this time. Visit the website at http://www.rwamysterysuspense.org/daphne for more information and to enter. For any questions, contact Daphne Contest Chairman, Brooke Wills, at daphnecontest@gmail.com

And now, please put your hands together for the following KOD-members, who have good news to share:

Nichole Christoff has recently signed a new contract with Random House Alibi for three more novels featuring that army-brat-turned-private-eye Jamie Sinclair and the hunky military cop who loves her. The fourth novel in the series, THE KILL RADIUS, will be released later this year.

Angela Evans’s debut book from Evernight Publishing, HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT, was released this week. For more info, visit Angela’s website: http://authorangelaevans.com/

Beth Caudill is happy to announce her 6 book mini story bible journals, including THE MYSTERY WRITER’S MINI STORY BIBLE FOR BEDSIDE AND TRAVEL, have been published. Visit her website to see a video of inside the book – http://bethcaudill.net/books/mini-story-bibles/

IN HOT WATER, Terry Odell‘s first book in her new Triple-D Ranch series, also released this week.

He needs a cook. She needs a place to hide.

Derek Cooper has left the violent life of an Army Ranger and a covert ops agent for Blackthorne, Inc. in favor of the more peaceful life of a cowboy, running the family cattle ranch in the Colorado mountains. However, when he rescues a stranded motorist, he has no idea this blonde pixie is going to bring violence to his doorstep—or work her way into his heart. Unable to resist helping her discover why she’s in danger ends up with him unable to resist her … period. When they discover a potential bioterrorism plot, they’ll have to put their attraction on hold while they search for a way to prevent it.

Sabrina Barton believes in second chances, and she’s running a vocational culinary school to prove it. But when her brother dies in a mysterious hit-and-run, and she’s beset by an unsettling series of accidents, she can’t believe in coincidences. She goes in search of the one man her brother told her to seek if she ever needed help. Trouble is, the letter with that advice was delivered at her brother’s funeral, more than ten years after he wrote it. Will cattle rancher Derek Cooper be able to help her? And will she be able to resist this handsome cowboy who seems to be no stranger to violence?

Read an excerpt and more at http://terryodell.com/in-hot-water

To celebrate the release, Terry is giving away a bunch of cowboy swag AND a Kobo Glo HD e-reader. You can enter at http://terryodell.com/win-a-kobo-glo-hd-and-more/

Linda Cargill just revamped her website, http://www.edwardwarethrillers.org. It has a fresh new look with a carousel of novels at the top that resembles what you find on Amazon author pages, and Linda thinks it looks smart and ready to go. In addition she’s started Cheops Books, LLC, for her publishing ventures, and has two new imprints, Edward Ware Thrillers At War and Edward Ware Thrillers YA.

On Friday, February 12th, Marsha R. West and 18 other Texas authors will be at a Night of Romance at Haltom City Public Library. Lots of Giveaways including books, gift cards, and of course chocolate. That Saturday, Marsha will be at a local book club.

And that’s it for this week. Happy Valentine’s Day, if you celebrate, and happy weekend if you don’t.

For Valentine’s Day, here’s this week’s quote for you to guess the author: “Love will find a way through the paths where wolves fear to prey.”