Happy Birthday to Us!

This week marks the 6th anniversary of Risky Regencies, the original, riskiest, and forever the friskiest Regency Romance Blog. (Actually, our first blog was August 11, 2005, but we reserve the right - like the Queen - to celebrate our birthday whenever we wish)

All this week we'll be celebrating.....Us! And we'll be giving away prizes! Today I'm giving away a signed copy of Regency Improprieties, a UK rerelease of Innocence and Impropriety and The Vanishing Viscountess. Comment for a chance to win.

Throughout Risky Regencies, we haven't always remained the same. Things have changed and evolved over the years. When Risky Regencies began all the Riskies were writing traditional regencies. Now look at us! That love of Regency remains, but our lives have all evolved into many other areas.

I joined the Riskies April 12, 2006, (You can read that first interview here) and lots has changed for me, certainly!

In 2006, I was introduced as Diane Perkins, who also wrote as Diane Gaston for Harlequin Historical. I had just become a Rita finalist (as Diane Gaston) for A Reputable Rake, the book with my favorite cover ever. My first blog posting was April 17, 2006, called My First Time, about why I love the Regency. I've revisited this topic many times over the years, in various ways.

At the time I had also written two books for Warner Forever (as Diane Perkins), The Improper Wife and The Marriage Bargain, and was working on a third. Shortly after that, my Warner life ended and Diane Perkins retired.

Diane Gaston is still going strong, though, with 9 books, 2 novellas, and one short story. Valiant Soldier, Beautiful Enemy will be released at the end of the month and is available right now from eHarlequin.

Last week I challenged everyone to come up with five things that makes them happy. Five things that make me happy about Risky Regencies are:

1. My fellow Riskies. I think our Riskies are brilliant, clever, witty, impassioned, and completely individualistic.

2. Our Risky community. I love our frequent commenters who feel like friends to me. And I love it when someone new finds us.

3. Our Risky guests. We have had an incredible array of guests, from a cover model to an author of gay historical fiction. But our emphasis on new authors especially makes me happy.

4. Our diversity. I love that each of us has our own style, our own particular interests, and our own particular bent on the Regency.

5. The information! I learn so many things at Risky Regencies. All about fashion from Amanda, for instance, and the definition of "Steampunk" from Megan (I'd never heard of it before). Not to mention all the information about the Regency that I learn here.

What about Risky Regencies makes YOU happy?

Don't forget to comment for a chance to win a signed copy of Regency Improprieties!