All right, so that header is not entirely true. It is a dirty job, but Heidi Betts most certainly did not do it.  She only watched from afar while it was done.

As much as I love everything about Gage & Jenna’s story, there’s a part of me that worries LOVES ME, LOVES ME KNOT will become forever known as my “alpaca book.”  In no small part because I call it that myself, I’m sure.

But how could I write a trilogy of knitting books & not include the furry little critters in some way?  After all, alpacas play a very big part in knitting these days…  Alpaca farms are popping up across the country, the animals’ fur (also known as fiber) makes some of the softest yarn in existence, & I had this great character written into the “Chicks with Sticks” series whom I knew would make the perfect alpaca mama.

Yep, I’m talking about your favorite matchmaker & mine—Charlotte.  In the trilogy, Charlotte lives in an old farmhouse & has a barn full of alpacas she absolutely adores.  She also shears them each season, then cleans & dyes the fiber to both sell & use for her own very special knitting projects.

Of course, I don’t have a herd of alpacas in my back yard, so when I decided to make LOVES ME, LOVES ME KNOT the “alpaca book,” I knew there was going to be a bit of research in my future.

While I didn’t visit an actual alpaca farm during the writing of Jenna & Gage’s story, I had been to one before, so I at least had a clue of how the creatures looked & felt & acted.  But refresher courses never hurt, & why get dirty when I can send someone else out to do it for me?

To that end, I give you one of my favorite research tools:  Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe—“Alpaca Shearing”:

I just love it when research turns out to be as fun as it is educational.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to use nearly as many alpaca scenes in the story as I’d hoped or planned because they would have slowed the book’s pace & taken the focus away from the hero & heroine, which—as those readers faithful to my books know—is something I never do if I can possibly help it.

What might I have done with the alpacas if I’d had the time & space, though?

Well, I would have loved to include a scene where Gage had to help Jenna shear the alpacas for her Aunt Charlotte. I wanted to show him getting sweaty & dirty & having his usual steadfast control tested by a couple of kicking, spitting bundles of fur.

I would have liked to show Charlotte cleaning & brushing & dying the sheared fiber, then turning it into some of her beautiful, homespun yarns.

And, animal lover that I am, I would have loved to introduce you more fully to each & every one of Charlotte’s four-legged babies—Snowball, Domino, Pumpkin, Sprinkles, Daisy, & Rascal.

But even though I didn’t get around to any of that, I still think you’ll find LOVES ME, LOVES ME KNOT highly entertaining. And if you find yourself feeling a little lonesome or in need of a dose of alpaca humor…well, you can always spend the next several weeks visiting Must Love Yarn for “Alpaca Wednesdays,” as well as sticking around here (& Must Love Yarn, too, for that matter), where I’ll be sharing some very amusing “Friday Funny” alpaca videos throughout the rest of the month.

Kinda like this, only better:

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If you haven’t already, mark your calendars, because LOVES ME, LOVES ME KNOT goes on sale TUESDAY, AUGUST 4TH!!! You don’t want to miss this installment of the “Chicks with Sticks” trilogy, believe me!

I…I mean, Heidi …will also be giving away an autographed copy of TANGLED UP IN LOVE—the first book in the “Chicks with Sticks” trilogy—after today’s chat.

(U.S. residents only for the prize, please, but if you already have a copy of TANGLED, you’re welcome to substitute with another title from my…I mean, her…backlist.)

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(P.S.  In what I think is a truly unique, fun twist on the usual, Laura J. is guest blogging for me today at Moonlight, Lace & Mayhem.  She’ll be talking about how very much she LOVES ME —& doesn’t love me knot —as well as giving away another autographed copy of TANGLED UP IN LOVE.

So if you want to hear someone else singing my praises for a change be sure to hop on over & check it out! )

Please join me in welcoming back the ever effervescent & mega-talented Heidi Betts to The Dungeon.

In an effort to shake things up a bit & be different from her last guest blog visit, Mistress Heidi has—in her infinite wisdom—decided to replace The Dungeon’s usual set of interview questions with some you’ve never seen before.  Well, outside of Inside the Actor’s Studio, at any rate.  Yes, we stole them.  So tie us up &…oh, wait, we like that.

Well, anyway, here is a fresh, new interview with Heidi that we know you’re going to enjoy…

What is your favorite word? Floccinaucinihilipilification. The longest word in the English language (not counting medical terms and such), it means to judge something as worthless or valueless. You can slip it into everyday conversation almost never, but I learned it when I was very young because my mother was a junior high librarian and used to tell students that if she caught them using their F-word, they could either take five hours of detention or write her F-word—including definition—a hundred times. So of course I used to go around regaling all of my friends with my use of a better F-word than they knew about.

What is your least favorite word? No. I do not like to be told that I can’t have or do something. It’s like waving a red flag in front of a bull. My nostrils flare, my eyes narrow, and I start to think, “Oh, yeah?” Then watch out, because chances are you’re going to get run over.

What turns you on creatively, spiritually, or emotionally? Creatively, things I can get excited about. Unique ideas or unique spins on the tried-and-true. Things that make me think or make me laugh at someone else’s creativity—usually another writer’s, be it in a book, movie, or on TV. I’m thinking of the frighteningly creative minds of Joss Whedon or Laurell K. Hamilton, here; people and ideas that make me sit back and go, “Wow.” Just…wow.  Spiritually, seeing God’s blessings in everyday events and remembering to be grateful on a regular basis. (There are time when I forget, but as soon as I realize it, I try to get back on track and remember all the things I have to be thankful for.) Emotionally, loyalty means a lot to me. One of my favorite lines from Buffy the Vampire Slayer was when Willow told Buffy (about Riley’s new wife), “Just so you know, I’m prepared to hate this woman any way you want.” So, you know, nothing major—just abject devotion from my closest friends. And you should know that you’ll get the same loyalty in return. Unless you piss me off or betray me. Then, all bets are off, and you’d better watch your back.

What turns you off creatively, spiritually, or emotionally? Creatively, bad grammar and bad writing. It just really, really bugs me. Spiritually, people who are a little too godly. You know what I mean—the ones who lecture you about religion or try to convince you to join their church/beliefs or feel the need to slip God into every conversation. I’m as spiritual as the next person, maybe even more so, but I have my own beliefs, thankyouverymuch, and do not need advice or lectures or handouts from you. (End of lecture, I promise. ) Emotionally, disloyalty. I am loyal to a fault. If you’re my friend, then I’m in your corner almost no matter what, and I expect the same from you. Friends of Heidi, you have been warned.

What sound or noise do you love? A cat’s purr. Ohmigosh, it melts my heart and I can’t resist snuggling up to them and putting my ear to their chests to listen and feel. Love, love, love it!

What sound or noise do you hate? Would nails on a chalkboard be too obvious? But it really is awful. Or how about the sound of an emery board accidentally scraping against something metal? *shudder*

What is your favorite curse word? Funky butt-lovin’. Totally stole it from Rookie of the Year, but it’s fun to say (especially when you stub your toe or some such) and is just this close to being a really nasty curse, so you can use it without getting the stink-eye.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? I’d love to be a vet and help animals…though there are a lot of down sides to the job I know I wouldn’t like. Is Princess or Queen a profession? Because I’d totally rock at either of those. There’s nothing I love more than having people around to do my bidding.

What profession would you not like to do? Anything Mike Rowe has had to do on Dirty Jobs. Ick, gack, yuck, phooey, no thank you.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Some days, I just hope I get to the Pearly Gates. And there is a question mark there. (See: The Dungeon & all of Mistress Heidi’s dubious antics. ) But if I get there, I guess I’d like to hear God say, “Welcome.” Then I’d like Him to tell me that my dad and my babies are waiting for me, and to have Him point me in their direction.

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Thank you, Heidi, that was very enlightening.  (Perhaps a bit too enlightening. )

But anyway, remember, everyone, that the second book in Heidi’s sexy, funny “Chicks with Sticks” trilogy—LOVES ME, LOVES ME KNOT—will be out in only a week & a half!  (We are all very excited to finally find out what happens with Jenna & Gage! )

Remember, too, that after today’s visit, Heidi will be giving away another adorable “loves me, loves me not” heart tin filled with assorted chocolates.

And then next week, after her visit on Thursday, July 30th, she will be giving away an autographed copy of TANGLED UP IN LOVE, the first book in the “Chicks with Sticks” trilogy.  (If you already have a copy of TANGLED, you’re welcome to substitute with another title from her backlist.)

So if you’re a U.S. resident & you want a chance to win one of these great prizes, be sure to drop in & chat while the chatting’s good!