Little Things

While my husband's on vacation, I get lots of things done (which I’ve blogged about before) but I also get to appreciate things I am otherwise be too busy or preoccupied to enjoy.

So I decided to compile a list of things that I’m noticing and appreciating as part of my daily “ahhh” moment to help stave off the crushing loneliness:

Eating random food straight out of the fridge

Open windows and fresh air

Playing whatever music I want at full blast (nothing like jamming to Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance...)
Walking around barefoot on freshly vacuumed floors

The comforting hum of the fridge

An unoccupied bathroom

Cool bedsheets

Buying tiny amounts of random food from the bulk store I want to try

The body-shaped divots in the mattress

The way the cat snores

Stretching out fully on the couch with a bowl of cherries resting on my stomach

Singing at full karaoke volume in the shower

Find a quiet place and close your eyes. What do appreciate about your alone time? Comment below!

We went to Disneyland!

We went to Disneyland!

Do you like amusement parks?  I haven't been to one in a looong time,
until last week the Romance Writers of America had our annual
conference at a hotel in Anaheim, California.

Here's the ticket that got me into the park.  This is Bambi (the first
movie I ever saw as a child).  My roommate's ticket pictured Donald Duck.  What is your favorite Disney character?





We had a young girl with us who wanted to visit the Disney princesses. 
I was secretly pleased--now I had an excuse to pose with princesses,
too.  Here I am with Belle.  Do you have a favorite Disney princess?

We even rode a few rides.  I screamed the whole way on the roller
coaster (then found out later that it was only the baby roller coaster,
not the big one--oops).  The Pirates of the Caribbean water-ride was
fun, too.  Here's the picture of Johnny Depp that greets you as you
(finally...the lines are long) step into the gate.

On Wednesday night we participated in the Literacy Autographing.  It
was huge!  At one point I stood up, turned around, and took this photo.

 
On Friday night we went to the Harlequin party.  This is my longtime
writer friend Dani Collins (she just sold to Presents!), my
roommate Karen Foley (she writes for Blaze) and I wearing our Mickey
Mouse ears.

Here's a shot inside the Harlequin party.  Award pins (for 25 books and
up--wow!) are being given out.

On Sunday we flew home across the country.  Otis the cat was very
displeased that I left him (he slept on the suitcase the night before
my flight), but now that all is back to normal, he is happy again. 
(Or, less cranky.  He's a cat, after all.)

Now for the giveaway.  (Yay!)  Since I don't have a book out until
December, I'll be giving away a copy of Karen Foley's "Coming Up For
Air,"  her May 2012 Blaze.  Karen was my best friend in childhood
(second and third grades), until her family moved away.  We lost touch
but then met again at an RWA writer's meeting. Now she's my conference
roommate.  Here she is at the Harlequin party.  Her book cover is being
shown on the screen in the background.

Whew!  Thanks for reading.  I'll be back at 4 PM Eastern time to read
your comments.  Take care!

Superromance signing in Anaheim tonight!

"This old thing!" Even guinea pigs make
an effort at a festival in Peru.

I’ll be in Anaheim as you read this blog, attending Romance Writers of America’s national conference. It attracts some 2,000 delegates and I try and attend every three years. It’s a chance to catch up with other writers, attend some amazing workshops, meet with my editor and agent and generally get social after another year of working in PJ’s and sweats.

Given the solitary nature of a writer’s life it’s a lot of fun to suddenly care about clothes, shoes and make-up again though usually there’s a sudden, desperate foray to stores to buy something ‘good.’

I have a friend who only wears good clothes and I admire her immensely. I seem to be forever saving my good clothes for those increasingly rare occasions where I might need to look smart, only to find out that outfit either no longer fits or has gone out of fashion.

I love the idea of looking fabulous all the time but the effort to do so…not so much. And the moment the weather turns cold out come the Ugg boots, the jeans, the men’s sweaters and if need be, a woollen beanie. And then I write about romance…

But it’s out of the batcave this week. One of the highlights for me is the opportunity to stalk  play fangirl over authors who inspire me with their work.

Joanna Bourne, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Robyn Carr, Nalini Singh, Julie Ann Long…these and more will be selling and autographing at the Anaheim Convention Center tonight between 5pm and 8pm, all proceeds going to literacy. I’ll be signing too as will the following Superromance authors:

Kathy Altman, Beth Andrews, Rogenna Brewer, Molly O’Keefe, Cathryn Parry, Tara Taylor Quinn, Liz Talley, Kimberly Van Meter, Jeannie Watt, Abby Gaines, Stephanie Doyle, Tracey Deebs (aka Tracy Wolff) and Lenora Worth

Here’s a link with all the details

If you’re local come join the party! You don’t even have to wear something ‘good.’

The Power of Friendship

Mary Sullivan

I spent the past weekend with a couple of women I hadn't seen in seven years and with one sister who I see regularly.

I love all of them dearly and it's a shame we don't see each other more often. In her Christmas card, one of the women mentioned that we should get together sometime and that her house was available. Since we have to drive from different home towns to meet, it meant sleepovers rather than just meeting for dinner.

That 'sometime' worried me because life can get in the way of 'sometime' with a vengeance and wreak havoc with good intentions. In the spring, when the weather would finally be reliable enough for a road trip (even a short road trip can be screwed up when you live with snowy winters), I sent an email to everyone asking, "Can we make a point of doing this and arrange it for this summer? Is anyone interested in making this happen?" The immediate, overwhelming response was yes!

So...it had been seven years. It might as well have been yesterday. We picked up where we left off, the friendships and the shared memories an unbreakable bond. We laughed over old stories, but also shared plenty of new stories. In fact, we laughed more all weekend than I have in a long, long time.

All four of us are growing older and showing our ages and yet, we are all so intrinsically ourselves, that when I see these women, I don't see wrinkles and weight gain and looming health issues. I quite simply see my friends.

What is it that makes certain relationships endure while others fall by the wayside without regret? Why is it that we see some people occasionally at weddings or funerals and are glad to have seen them and touched bases, but don't make the effort to see them more often?

Why does depth of affection happen with some people but not with others?

I think, for me, it might come down to one word. Trust.

I trust these women to have my back. I trust that if I ever needed support, these women would give it. I trust them to never hurt me or talk about me behind my back. I trust them to see who I really am and not turn away because of my flaws. I note their flaws and still love them anyway.

We won't leave the next visit for so long. There were things going on for a couple of us that were huge, life-altering occurrences. We are all living stable lives now. We will make it happen at least annually now.

What is it that you appreciate about friendships that have stood the test of time and endured? Why do you think they have endured? What is it that matters to you in a lasting friendship?

Winners of last week's giveaways!

The winners of Sarah Mayberry's giveaway of "Within Reach" are:

Tammy Yenalavitch

Fedora

Eli Yanti

Please contact Sarah via the "Contact Me" link on her website: www.sarahmayberry.com

The winner of Emmie Dark's giveaway of "In His Eyes" is:

Natalija

Natalija - contact Emmie at emmie(at)emmiedark.com to provide your details.

The Whole Truth

My dad has a favorite saying about child-rearing: It’s not the nine months before…it’s the ninety-nine years after that kill you.  I didn’t realize how seriously my parents still take their parental responsibilities until this week.  But before I go on, let me explain that I’m a parent AND a grandparent, and my folks are in their mid-eighties.  One would think that they could relax and look back on a job well-done, right?
Well, read on.
My Harlequin SuperRomance Out of the Depths is an August release (Yay! Soon … very soon!)  One of the settings in the book is a cave, and in the Dear Author letter at the front of the book, I explain how I came up with that setting.  Last week, I received my author copies, and I took the first one to my parents to whom the book is dedicated.   They were very proud (note the use of past tense).
Two days ago, my parents came for dinner.  Dad stayed on the deck where my husband was grilling, but Mother came into the kitchen to join me and to do a little grilling of her own.  The conversation went something like this:
Me:  Hey! (gave her a hug)
Mother: When did you go cave exploring?
Me: Back in high school.
Mother: I didn’t ever know it.
Me: Yes, you did.
Mother: No, I didn’t.  You must’ve sneaked off without telling us.
Me: No, I didn’t.  You gave your permission.
Mother: We wouldn’t have given our permission for you to do something that dangerous.
Me:  Yeah, you did.
Mother: Who drove?
Now at this point, I was a little baffled we were having this conversation, and she was actually angry.
Me:  I don’t remember.  It was over forty years ago.
Mother: Well, teenagers are such bad drivers.  You had to have sneaked out and not told us.
Me: (deciding it was time to change the subject)  I’ve got to get these veggies out to the grill.  (I pick up said veggies and hustle out.  I greet my dad with a hug).
Dad: Your mom is mad at you for going cave exploring.
Reread first part substituting Dad in Mother’s role.
Anyway, you get the point.  I was telling my husband about it later, and it hit me what was going on.  My parents are afraid someone is going to think they were bad parents because I did something dangerous.  Even at eighty-five that weighs heavy on them.  So, to make peace in the family and allow them to keep their honor badge for good parenting, I’d like to set the record straight.
My parents never knew I went spelunking (I’ll put the real truth in parentheses.  It will just be between you and me.  Yes, they did and they gave their permission.)  I sneaked out (no, I didn’t).  No one drove.  We hiked to the cave and back (it was fifteen miles away, so someone drove—maybe too fast).  When I came home filthy after a day in the cave, I told them my friends and I had been planting crops to feed the homeless (oh c’mon—surely a writer could’ve come up with a better alibi than this).
And there you have it.  The truth.  The whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
If you run into my parents, please pat them on the back and assure them they’re still doing a good job.  I mean, if it’s ninety-nine years of worry, we’re only a bit past half-way.

So, how about you?  What was the most dangerous thing you did as a kid (with or without permission)?

The Sweet Things in Life

by Liz Talley

I was so crazy yesterday with writing a new chapter and hurry-up edits on my Christmas book that I nearly forgot I'm the blogger today. Whew! I made it with a minute to spare!

So there's been so much on my mind lately - my past vacation, book releases, end of summer and packing for RWA Nationals that I could have my pick of topics, but I'll ignore those for a while and talk about something that tugged on my mind after posting about pralines on the Harlequin Superromance forum - it seems some people haven't tasted this fabulous concoction.

Shocking!

You see, pralines are a traditional Southern candy, and in my family the candy is always made around Christmas. This year I'm releasing four books set in Louisiana - a state that likes food. I mean, if you've been to Louisiana, you know we like to eat good. And pralines are a particular favorite around these parts. So when the 2009 Golden Heart Finalists decided to assemble a cookbook based on recipes our characters might use, I knew immediately that Picou Dufrene's Infamous Pecan Pralines would make an appearance. Yeah, she's not real, but the recipe is real and has been passed down in my family for at least four generations. It's a timeless tradition made with a particular pot and a special wooden spoon with two people who laugh, cuss and slap down such deliciousness it will make you want to slap your mama...but I don't. Cause my mama is big and strong and doesn't take any crap off me. And she makes the best pralines ever!

We'll be making some for me to take to the RWA Literacy signing next Wednesday, so if you're there, come see me and get a treat. If not, I'm giving you my recipe so you can make your own.

Happy cooking, chere!

Picou Dufrene's Infamous Pecan Praline's (AKA the Harp family pralines)
 

Ingredients: 

3 cups of granulated sugar (separated)

2 Tbsp butter

1 tsp vanilla

½ cup of evaporated milk

¼ cup of cold water (set aside)

1 cup pecans (chopped)

 In a small sauce pan, melt 1 cup of sugar until complete syrup. In separate pot stir together 2 cups sugar and the milk. Bring to boil. Add the melted sugar and cook on medium heat until candy forms a soft ball when dropped into cold water. Once soft ball stage is reached, remove pot from heat, add butter, vanilla and nuts. Beat constantly 3-5 minutes until candy is creamy looking. Dip by spoonfuls onto wax paper.

What is one of your family favorite recipes? I'd love to hear about the food near and dear to you.

Weekend winery wanders

Me, at Tarindah Estate on the
Bellarine Peninsula this weekend

by Emmie Dark

I am very, very fond of spending a Saturday or Sunday driving around a wine region, sampling wines and gourmet foods and, towards the end of the day, sleepily listening to lovely music as we head back into town. Preferably with someone else driving.

And as my August SuperRomance “In His Eyes” reveals, I’m reasonably familiar with weekends spent in just that way. I had to do a lot of “research” to make sure my hero, Hugh, and my heroine, Zoe, faced realistic challenges as they each worked on their respective wineries and fought over who made the best shiraz.

In fact, I’m lucky enough to have been to most of the wine regions in Australia, some of them multiple times. It’s not that I’m problematically fond of alcohol (I do love a nice glass of wine, but I also believe in “everything in moderation”, as a lady should). There’s so much more to a wine region day trip than just drinking wine.

1. The scenery. Seriously, is there anything better than rows of vines stretching out into the distance? I’m sure people who have studied art will be able to explain why those lines are so appealing to the eye. Then there’s the rose bushes (there are usually at least a few around for technical wine-growing reasons), and the sloping hills, and the sunshine (hopefully).

In fact, even without sunshine, it can be a gorgeous sight. This is my photo from Domain Chandon in the Yarra Valley just outside of Melbourne on a recent, pretty miserable winter’s day (it’s winter down here in Oz right now), and isn’t it still just gorgeous?

Looking across the Yarra Valley from Domain Chandon.

2. The people. People who grow wine are an amazing lot. They’re passionate about what they do and, if you’re lucky enough to get the actual person who owns or is responsible for the grapes and/or the wine making, you’ll see a light in their eye that only comes when people talk about something they truly, truly love.

It certainly isn’t an easy passion to take up. I remember visiting a winery in New Zealand that had suffered severe frosts the previous night and the winemaker had lost his whole vintage. (It’s a typical hazard in the area and the bigger wineries bring in helicopters to hover over the vines and keep the air moving so the grapes don’t ice over. Seriously.) A whole year of work, gone in one night. And even though, at that moment, he was devastated, when we went to taste his wines, as soon as he was talking about them, that light was back.

There’s nothing quite like being around people who absolutely committed to their work and I love their energy – I think it’s contagious.

3. The food. Once an area has a few wineries up and running it doesn’t seem to be long before the gourmet produce and special cafes and restaurants follow. What better accompaniment to a beautifully balanced chardonnay, or a rich and rewarding shiraz, than a plate of cheese, or bowl of olives, or fresh pasta with hand-crafted pesto? Am I making you hungry yet? If not, don’t forget dessert: the lemon tart combined with a decadently sweet sticky dessert wine. Yum!

4. The wine. Obviously. Being able to sample a range of well-crafted wine is a hedonist’s true pleasure. And while you’re tasting, you get to talk more with the passionate wine maker about their craft. 

I know just enough to be dangerous. Just enough to make a fool out of myself by asking questions about malolactic fermentation that instantly reveal my ignorance to a true expert. But it’s still a lot of fun. And when you do pick the right flavour (a hint of pepper?) and see the vindication from the person pouring, it’s like a little private victory. You think to yourself: Maybe I do know what I’m talking about after all.

Let me know your favourite wine experience. Have you been to visit any wineries -- and if so, do you have a favourite? Do you prefer your wine served at home? Or is wine not your thing at all?

One lucky commenter will receive a copy of my brand new book, “In His Eyes”. This is the first preview copy I’m giving away, so it’s quite the honor! :) I’ll choose someone at random and announce the winner early next week.

Memory Lapse Winner

The winner of a copy of UNRAVELING THE PAST is:

Jane!

Please send your snail mail info to me at: beth@bethandrews.net and I'll get the book out to right away.

Thanks and congrats :-)

Bedposts and Cucumber Seeds

by Mary Brady

(Or does your idea lose it's flavor on the bedpost overnight?)

The real question asked was actually: How do you come up with all those ideas? Many writers get this question and we all have a different answer and the same.

After the blog about which bedroom you would chose, a friend of mine asked me that question. My quick answer was "desperation." At five p.m. of blog eve, my phone's calendar alarms to prod me in case I haven't written the blog material (translation--gave even one thought to writing the blog).

The longer answer: It is now Tuesday, the morning after the bed blog and gasp I am actually thinking about the next one already. At 5 pm on (Sheesh! Where's my phone--it's supposed to be in my pocket--I'll be back in a moment.) July 15th I'll be looking at this bit of prose and have to judge: wit? or holy crabcakes what were you thinking?

So with the toes of my socks wet and cold from setting up the sprinkler to ward off the effects of three weeks without rain and after planting a few more green beans in the "I plant 'em, they eat 'em game" I play with bunnies and beetles, I start to sit down at my computer with my newly constructed breakfast and a cup of hot coffee and realize I'm cold all over. (Yes, run on, but that's how it works inside my head.) Two days ago it was 90 degrees and today it's 60. I know, I'm a cry baby, but I'm cold. I grab my garden shirt (the closest theoretically warm thing) but it's dampish and the sleeves are wet from playing garden gnome.

But I'm going to write chapter two now so I put the stained old men's extra large white shirt on anyway.

As I don the shirt, I hear this tiny little rattling noise--it sort of sounded like the scuttling of insects in a horror movie. I'm not frightened as I'm not that bad of a housekeeper. No, not bugs, it's the seeds from the Burpee Pickling Cucumber Seeds packet that have escaped into my pocket and jostling them as I put the shirt on makes the sound of chitinous dorsi bumping in a mob.

Warmer now. So it's time to get to work.

Hmmm. Commercial garden seeds in my pocket. Hmmm. Commercial anti-fungal and pesticide coatings on most commercial garden seeds. Hmmm. (Sorry, I was lazy and these were convenient that day in April when I did the first planting and organic ones were not.) 

The breakfast I had brought into my office is scrambled eggs with mushrooms, onions, and avocado in them and I did mention the coffee was hot. Yum! Hmmm. If I rescue the seeds from the damp shirt pocket, anti-fungals and pesticides will get on my hands. Compromise--dig out the seeds and wash your hands. Hmmm. The eggs will get cold. Just how fast can I dig cucumber seed--probably now ruined from being exposed to the damp for so long--out of my pocket and get them back into their envelop and stored in the container in the garage, wash my hands and sit back down at my desk and to my eggs?

Fasts enough, the eggs are neither cold nor hot, and gone in less time than they should have been. But my coffee is cold, sacrificed in lieu of the warm eggs and the cucumber seeds that will languish until next April when I have to decide to plant what I have on that nice warm day or dash out for more.

Now for a few pages of fiction.

Doh! You caught me. I left my desk again to pour over a new cup of coffee. But you also caught me when an idea was meshing from gobbledygook to some kind of form.

Sheesh my toes are still freezing. Gotta get dry socks. (Back in a moment.)

Now I'll write. Wow!!

Was that something shiny over there???

I guess the long answer as to how I come up with the ideas is truly a short one. I just listen to the voices in my head--they yammer all the time, and if not, they holler--and then I let my fingers make some sense of the ideas.

Does your head talk from the inside out? Do you listen?

To one commenter, I'll give one of my books or a--no your wrong, not a TossOn™ bracelet set. I'll give a just picked--on 6-12 see one of the things I was doing on blog day--and dried by now, a small organic, lavender swag.

As always, thanks and keep smiling.

PS BTW the second planting of cucumber seeds are currently plants 12-19  inches long.

Memory lapse

Looks like we're three for three in the memory sucking department *g* Okay, I didn't really forget it was my blog day Tuesday. You see, we went on a road trip down to Pittsburgh from Sunday to Tuesday and I knew I wouldn't have a chance to post/respond to my blog, but I was so crazed getting everything ready, I forgot to change my blog date. Sorry!

We had a great trip down to the Steel City, though. We caught a Pirates game, checked out the Console Center (where my daughter's beloved Penguins play) toured Heinz Field, rode the Duquesne Incline (very steep and very cool) and went to the zoo/aquarium. We walked a lot, ate a lot and had a great time. My favorite part? Going to the Barnes and Noble across the street from our hotel and browsing to my heart's content :-) So many books, so little time!

Next time we're going to check out the museums and some live entertainment. We'll also be sure to stop at Pamela's Diner, a local hot spot known for it's crepe style pancakes - delicious! And as some of you know, I love nothing more than a good breakfast *g*


When was your last road trip? What did you do/see? To make up for my memory lapse, I'll give away a copy of UNRAVELING THE PAST to one commenter!

Renovations and renewal

by Sarah Mayberry

Hello everyone. Long time no speak! I have been taking a break from blogging for a little while, locking myself in my writing cave so I could meet some pretty hefty deadlines. So far, so good. Sort of. But we won't get into that.

One of the things I wrote while in my writing cave was a saucy little romance called Her Best Worst Mistake, which I self published in early May. Since it's not a Super Romance, I won't go into a lot of detail about it here, but you can read more about it over at my website. So far, it's been a big hit with readers and I am working on other ideas to explore in this new format.

But! I also have a Super Romance out in August, and it's available now over at Harlequin if you're one of those people who has to sneak under the Christmas tree to squeeze the presents before Christmas Day. Within Reach is the story of Michael and Angie. Michael is facing the toughest time of his life - his beloved wife, Billie, died suddenly and tragically, leaving him to raise their two small children. Angie is also grieving, because Billie was her best friend. Although Michael and Angie have always liked and respected each other, their relationship was always about Billie. But now Billie is gone, and as Angie does all she can to help Michael cope in the aftermath of her death, these two good-hearted people begin to notice little things about each other. Like how blue Angie's eyes are, and what a great laugh she has. And how sweet Michael is with his kids, and how great he looks in running shorts.

Both are appalled to realise that they are attracted to someone they've always considered out of bounds. But sometimes love doesn't respect those kinds of boundaries, and pretty soon they find themselves in the midst of a passionate affair. Angie tells herself that she understands that Michael's heart will always belong to Billie - and she wouldn't want it any other way. But then she goes and falls in love with him.

I won't give away any more, but I do want to say that while this story sounds sad - and parts of it definitely are - it's also about renewal and courage and finding love again. It's about understanding that life is for the living and that it's not a betrayal of our absent loved ones to laugh and feel joy again. It was a very emotional book to write, and I hope that comes across in the reading. I'm really looking forward to hearing what readers thing of this one!

Before I sign off and go back to my writing cave, I wanted to share with you all that we are finally about to start renovations on our house! I shared my ideas for my dream kitchen with you all a long, long time ago, and while things have shifted a little in terms of layout and whatnot, soon I will be having a version of that dream kitchen. And nice new bathrooms. Goodbye avocado green bath and basin! Goodbye horrible tiles in the front hall! Hello open fireplace and butler's pantry!

It's going to be hectic and crazy and stressful, but once it's done it will be lovely and we can sit back and enjoy. I'm keeping my eye on that part and hoping the bit in the middle passes quickly and as painlessly as possible.

I'd love to hear about what's been happening with you. Any plans around the house? Holiday's planned? Something you've been meaning to do that you're finally going to get happening?

I'm giving away 3 copies of Within Reach to posters, so come chat with me and tell me what's up with you.

Hey, My Memory Sucks, Too

By Jeannie "Really, it's the 9th?" Watt

The reason I live on a generator--peace and quiet.

It must be something going around. Unlike Kay, I'm going to grab onto my excuse and squeeze it for all it's worth. I spent the day worrying about losing power because my generator started making "the noise". The noise is a nasty thing to hear because it means no power, followed shortly by no water. No water means thirsty horses. The noise is a bad thing.

After living on a generator for eighteen years, I know most of the noises and what they mean. The out-of-fuel noise is my favorite because it's the most easily fixed. It rarely happens, but when it does, a phone call fixes the problem quickly and efficiently. Most other noises are not so easily fixed. My generator is an Isuzu and hard to get parts for. My long-time mechanic, whom I love so much that I dedicated Maddie Inherits a Cowboy to him, quit the generator business and went to work for  a mine, so now I also have to find a new mobile diesel mechanic. This is like finding a new doctor. It's not easy. Today when I heard the noise, I called a guy, who called a guy, who called a guy and I think I have someone who can help me and my power source.

However, in case you think I'm complaining, I'm not really, because there are trade offs in life. This is the price I pay for living where I do, and frankly, it's worth it. In case you read on past Beth's blog, which will probably load about ten minutes after I load mine, I'm offering a $10 Amazon gift card to a randomly selected poster who tells me about a trade off in their life. The winner will be announced on Saturday.

Thanks for tuning in!
Jeannie

Because My Memory Sucks

I forgot to write a blog. I could blame it on only recently getting my power back after the storms tore through quite a few states, including Ohio. I could blame it on the roof damage, house damage, tree damage and ultimately the power outage that led to us losing our frozen foods. Or, that in the midst of the storm and the unbearable heat, we're in the middle of updating our kitchen and my house looked like a disaster zone BEFORE the power went out.

But I won't. ;)

Because all of those excuses doesn't hold a candle to the fact that I just forgot to write the blog. And I'm sorry. So to make up for the late posting here I'm going to offer up a prize to one lucky commenter who will tell me about the weather/mood in their neck of the woods. How hot is it? (OMG) Or better yet--Do you have power??? 

The prize is winner's choice of 3 of my backlist books (if available), or if you already have them, something I can come up with as a surprise gift LOL. 

To take a gander at the choices, visit my website at www.kaystockham.com. 

Kay

Kay Stockham

www.kaystockham.com

North Star, MT series Sep 2011-Jan 2012

THE CRASH BEFORE CHRISTMAS, DEC 2011

RETURN TO EDEN, Apr 2012

BLIND MAN'S BLUFF, Oct 2012

@KayStockham - Twitter

Kay Stockham Fan Page - Facebook

Fourth of July

Fourth of July Fun Facts:

~ On July 2, 1776 the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution declaring the United States independent from Great Britain.

~ The Declaration of Independence was a statement explaining that decision.

~ Thomas Jefferson was its principal author.

~ Congress debated and revised the wording until finally approving it on July 4.

~ John Hancock was the only person to actually sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

~ The other 55 signers did not sign until August 2nd or later.

~ The youngest to sign the Declaration of Independence was 26-year-old Edward Rutledge.

~ The oldest was Benjamin Franklin. He was 70.

~ The first 4th of July party held at the White House was in 1801.

~ The 4th of July was not declared a national holiday until 1941.

~ Calvin Coolidge is the only U.S. president born on the 4th of July. He was born in 1872.

~ Three U.S. presidents have died on July 4th. Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the singing of the Declaration of Independence. Five years later, James Monroe died on July 4, 1831.

~ Bristol, Rhode Island has the oldest, continuous 4th of July celebration dating back to 1785.

~ Roughly 87% of US homes have an outdoor grill.

~ More than 150 million hotdogs will be consumed in the US today.

First Lady Bess Truman’s Mac and Cheese 

8 oz. Mac.
½ # grated cheddar cheese
2 cups milk
1 egg
¼ cup oleo

Cook mac. Drain & cool. Place layer of mac. in baking dish. then add layer of cheese. Repeat layers. Combine milk & egg & Pour over mac. & cheese. Dot [with] butter. This can be done day before & refrigerate.

Harry S Truman National Historic Site, HSTR 8962-2

Happy Birthday USA!  Share your favorite BBQ and picnic recipes today.  

Going deeper

Mary Sullivan

This week, I'm in the middle of revisions on my February, 2013 release IN FROM THE COLD and am dealing with an issue that is a constant in writing, especially when writing romance—going as deeply into a character's emotions as possible. Readers react to emotion. The problem comes in making sure the emotion exists without hitting the reader over the head with it.

An author has to dig deeply into a character and then, when it seems that enough has been done, go back and delve further. It requires that a writer call on imagination and memory and constant observation of the human race.

How would I feel if...? This one is hard. When I'm dealing with something new to me, it takes all of my powers of imagination to conjure up...not the right response, so much as the best one for a particular character. So, I have to try to make the emotion universal so the reader can empathize, but also specific to this character, so the reader can learn more about this person and identify.

Remember when that person you thought was a good friend betrayed you? Delve into that. Boy, is that ever hard—reaching into old memories, especially bad ones that I more often than not would rather forget or leave buried. Writers are called on to dig them up and examine them, remember how they felt to live through, and then bleed those experiences onto the page as though cutting into an artery.

What on earth is that girl feeling right now? People watching is a treasure trove of fodder for the writer. Whether on the street or in a coffee shop or in the neighbourhood, the faces of the people around us can convey so much. A fraction of an animated conversation overheard can set off all kinds of ideas in the writer.

Two of my favourite authors who never cease to engage my emotions are LaVyrle Spencer and Deborah Smith.

Which authors do you read who know how to elicit an emotional response from you, who know how to delve deeply into a character's soul, but never make you feel manipulated? Who do you learn from?

July 2012

Under the Autumn Sky
by Liz Talley

Harlequin Superromance
Jul 2012
ISBN: 9780373717880 (#1788)

College football coach Abram Dufrene won't risk destroying his career for anything. He's sacrificed too much to see his hard work and integrity go down in flames. So when an innocent but passionate encounter with a sexy stranger forces him to choose between business and pleasure, the decision should be simple.

Too bad nothing about Louise "Lou" Boyd is simple. She's had him hooked since the second he met her. But she's the guardian of the athlete he's recruiting, which puts her off-limits. With all eyes on them, it's only right to keep his distance from Lou. Yet, for the first time, doing the "right" thing feels too wrong….

Island Haven 

by Amy Knupp

Harlequin Superromance
Jul 2012
ISBN: 9780373717897 (#1789)

Mercedes Stone has no time for men. Between caring for her sick grandmother, running her own business and volunteering at her family's women's shelter she barely has time for herself. So dating a man as complicated as Scott Pataki is definitely out of the question.

That doesn't mean she'll turn her back on Scott's pregnant teenage sister. Even if helping her does put Mercedes dangerously close to the temptation that is Scott. It's not just the killer abs and dimples that make him so irresistible. It's the man she sees when his guard is down. If only she could help him realize the importance of family. And remind herself that his family doesn't include her.

The Other Soldier
by Kathy Altman

Harlequin Superromance
Jul 2012
ISBN: 9780373717903 (#1790)

Corporal Reid Macfarland has one mission: to make amends for the mistake he lives with every day. That friendly-fire incident in Afghanistan that killed a fellow soldier haunts him. Maybe if he can help the widow, he'll find some peace.

Amends are easier said than done. Just one meeting with the independent and engaging Parker Dean makes it clear that forgiveness is a little more complicated than money or "I'm sorry." If he really wants to help, Reid will need to stick around for a while. The more their daily lives intertwine, the more he realizes her forgiveness isn't the only thing he needs—he needs her.

Hidden Agenda
by Kara Lennox

Harlequin Superromance
Jul 2012
ISBN: 9780373717910 (#1791)

Work undercover, catch the bad guy, become a full-time Project Justice investigator. Simple enough plan, until Jillian Baxter recognizes the man she's investigating. Her new "boss" is none other than Conner Blake—her childhood crush. Luckily, he has no idea who she is, since Jillian is no longer Jillybean, the short, overweight teenager he publicly humiliated.

Despite their past, Jillian knows Conner isn't a murderer. Nor is he that same cruel boy. In fact, there's much to admire about the man he is. Still, this is an ongoing case and whatever is happening between them will have to wait. As she gets closer to finding the killer, she must decide if she can trust Conner with the truth. And that could be her toughest decision yet.

The Company You Keep
by Tracy Kelleher

Harlequin Superromance
Jul 2012
ISBN: 9780373717927 (#1792)

Running slam-dunk into Vic Golinski at her college reunion leaves Mimi Lodge with a lot of questions. Back in the day, they were Grantham University's star athletes and polar opposites. If she said left, he said right. If he said hot, she said cold. All of that opposition had an unexpected consequence: a heated attraction….

So will she and Vic still clash like the fiercely competitive jocks they once were? Life might have softened their beliefs, but clearly that incredible chemistry is still there. As the reunion unfolds, every meeting is a study in grown-up lust—and restraint—as they decide where these exhilarating feelings are taking them.

A Son's Tale
by Tara Taylor Quinn

Harlequin Superromance
Jul 2012
ISBN: 9780373717934 (#1793)

Twenty-five years ago…a mysterious crime was committed in Comfort Cove, Massachusetts. Frank Whittier was accused—but never charged. And it ruined his life.

Now…Cal Whittier, Frank's son, is determined to protect him, to safeguard his father's identity. After years on the run, they finally have their lives on an even keel, with Cal teaching at a college in Tennessee. Two things could change all that.

First, a cop in Comfort Cove starts looking into the case again. And second, Cal gets involved with single mother Morgan Lowen. He has plenty of reasons to avoid her—not the least of which is that she's an adult student in one of his classes. And in Cal's situation, any relationship is risky. Still…it could be the best risk he's ever taken!