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Just Between Us
Superromance Authors and friends talk about books, life and chocolate.
Romance Covers I Have Known and Loved |
| Hey Gang! This is my first blog entry on the Superromance site, though I have been blogging about writing, TV, Movies and books over at http://www.drunkwritertalk.blogspot.com/.
i am an idit noob dush gay moron retard Posted by Molly O
Author of UNDERCOVER PROTECTOR
on 5/11/2007 |
Slice-of-Life books |
Kathy, I can't wait to read THE WRONG MAN FOR HER. It sounds like a wonderful book, emotional and very timely. I'm sure your background as a teacher adds lots of layers to it - just the kind of book I like to read.
I love 'slice of life' books. They're so rich and emotionally compelling. Although there's a lot to be said for fairy-tales and fantasy, too, when I want to be swept away into another world! But all in all, I think I prefer the real life books.
That's why I love writing Superromances. I like to read, and write, books about women I might know, women who could be friends of mine. What about everyone else? What do you like best about Supers? As always, I'll choose one person to receive a copy of one of my books. This time it'll be SMALL TOWN SECRETS. My book that's out this month, SMALL TOWN FAMILY, is a spin-off of that book.
MargaretPosted by Margaret Watson
Author of Small Town Family
on 5/4/2007 |
THE WRONG MAN FOR HER and reality |
Good morning! Thanks so much to all of you who've posted. It was important to me to read that you like the 'slice of life' books. I think Superromance novels do this well. Any ones in particular that you liked in this regard? (Of course, it doesn't have to be just my work ).
The subject of school safety is close to my heart. As many of you know I was a high school teacher for decades, and loved it as much as I love writing full time. It was never an easy job, even before the spate of school violence in the last years. I remember when I started teaching at 22 years old. I was only four years older than my students and they scared me to death. I was also often afraid in the halls. As I grew up and older and more accustomed to the situation, I felt more comfortable. I broke up fights (you should have seen me jumping on kids' backs), dealt with suicidal teens showing up at my door at midnight, and ran myself ragged doing extra-curricular things with kids, as reseach shows individual contact outside of the classroom reduces risks of violence.
That's the bad part. The good part was that I know, over the course of my career, that I influenced thousands of lives. I made a difference. And I'm a born teacher, craft wise, so I also loved imparting knowledge.
School violence is a thing to be reckoned with today, but we shouldn't forget how schools are families, too, and all the good things that happen. I've written other books about this--a trilogy for Harlequin, my first single title--because it's important to look at both sides.
Anyone want to share stories about their kids, their schools? Any teachers out there?
Keep posting, in any case, to win a book, to share other 'slice of life' novels you've read, to give input on other Superromance titles.
Kathy Posted by kathryn shay
Author of THE WRONG MAN FOR HER
on 5/3/2007 |
Topics of books |
Good morning!
Given what I said yesterday about the topic of my book, I'm wondering how readers feel about "slice of life" books. Do you want to read about regular women who have real jobs and relationships that are difficult to deal with? Or does that reflect your own life too much? Would you rather read about Sheiks and Greek Tycoons, or Werewolves and Vampires because that takes you out of your own life?
My preference is the former, but the story definitely has to be set within a romance. I feel it's redeeming to read about people like me and how their issues are worked out.
Tell me what you think!!
Kathy Shay Posted by Kathryn Shay
Author of THE WRONG MAN FOR HER
on 5/2/2007 |
Art Imitates Life |
Hi, Cynthia and readers.
I thought I’d share something a bit scary with you all. I’m posting this on my website, too. My upcoming Super, THE WRONG MAN FOR HER, is about Nick Logan, a former troubled kid, who has become a teen counselor. Along with Madelyn Walsh, the only woman he ever loved, and ditched three years ago, he works at the Rockford Crime Victims Center counseling kids who’ve been the victims of violent crimes. Most of the teens are suffering from PTSD after their victimization and Nick and Maddie help them through the aftermath. Along the way, the two adults also work on their own issues, and on the defunct relationship.
The spooky part concerns one of the boys who's been bullied to the point of getting his arm broken, and though Nick does help him, there’s a hostage situation and threats of school violence in the last third of the book.
Of course, the story was written long before Blacksburg, VA happened. And I’ve done other books on school violence. Still...
I’ve already received some email on the book’s timeliness and that it was very healing.
Any thoughts?
Kathy Shay
P.S. As always, I’ll give away a free book drawn from members who post here.
Posted by kathryn shay
Author of THW RONG MAN FOR HER
on 5/1/2007 |
First real crush |
| Hi Everyone. My May Superromance should hit the shelves in a few days. It's called HER SISTER'S CHILD, and deals with some serious family issues. But one theme that carries through the book concerns the heroine's reaction to meeting the man on whom she'd developed a serious crush when she was in college. Ten years have passed and Julia and Cameron meet entirely by accident (you'll have to read the book to see how). I was able to relate to her feelings because my first unrealistic fantasy concerned my American Lit professor way back when. He wasn't especially good looking, though he wouldn't have scared children or pets, but his mind... oh, my gosh, what a mind he had. And voice. The way he read poetry and delved into the minds of America's great authors of the past. My second unforgettable crush was on a golf pro, a macho guy who didn't know F. Scott Fitzgerald from Edgar Allan Poe, but I thought he was the funniest man alive.
So, for discussion's sake, I'm wondering. What great crush stands out in your past? The intellectual? The athlete? The executive? This doesn't have to be a "tell-all." Just briefly describe him. I'll choose a winner from the responses and send along a copy of HER SISTER'S CHILD. Maybe you'll feel a kinship with Julia, who, in the end, of course, had her dreams fulfilled.
Happy remembering, Cynthia Posted by Cynthia Thomason
Author of Her Sister's Child
on 5/1/2007 |
New book musings |
| I'm just starting a new book, and I've been thinking a lot about my characters. I like to have some idea who they are before I start writing, but I really learn about them as I write. One of the ways I do that is to get into their heads and find out what they're thinking - and I'm usually surprised at what I hear!
As a reader, I love books that have both the hero and the heroine's thoughts in them. How about you? Do you enjoy knowing what's going on in both of their minds, or do you like a little mystery? And whose thoughts do you enjoy reading more, the hero or the heroine?
Margaret Posted by Margaret Watson
Author of Small Town Family
on 4/17/2007 |
Anti Setting |
| I have to come clean here. I'm not much of a setting person. I'd rather focus on the characters, motivation, conflict and all that other good stuff. So when it comes to setting, I'm kind of a minimalist. Is it any wonder I get comments from my editor saying there's no sense of setting? For me, the challenge is including enough to orient the reader, but not overshadow the characters.
As a reader, I tend to get irritated with a lot of scenic detail. I want story and I want it now!! Of course, that may be why I read a lot of contemporary romantic suspense. As a teen I read historical romance and loved the detail. Somewhere along the line I guess I lost my ability to read patiently. Hm. Something to think about!
Carrie Posted by Carrie Weaver
Author of NO TIME TO LOSE ~ Harlequin NASCAR Series~May 2007
on 4/12/2007 |
Winners from 4/11 |
| Carol and Kim were the winners with my "pick the closest number to mine" game.
I put a note in the comment section, but haven't heard from either of you---so thought I should do it this way maybe. Email me with your choice of books and where you want them sent: rdfox@worldnet.att.net
Thanks for participating. Comments were great bthw.
Roz Posted by Roz Denny Fox
Author of Real Cowboys (out now)
on 4/12/2007 |
What shall we discuss today? |
| I honestly forgot that today was my day to blog until I ripped the page off my calendar. So I'm open to talk about just about anything. Or maybe that's a mistake to say that. What if you all want to know my innermost, deep, dark secrets? You're out of luck. My life is an open book. I am so up front about me and what I do in my day to day boring life. This is the time of year I get fired up go to the nursery and pick out blooming things for the yard. I planted geraniums and desert daisies. I have a tree that didn't make it through winter. I can't decide what I want to replace it. Desert plants are fragile things. I also go into a cleaning frenzy that dh hates. He has to hang on to all of his favorite clothes that should have hit the garbage a year ago. Then I also start thinking about crafts to do. For me sitting down doing things with copper, or leather, or woodworking is like a renewal of my core self. Sounds boring, right? It's what I do when I'm between books. So what do you all do to rev up the idea factory inside your heads?
Oh, at the end of the day I'll think about two numbers between 1 and 20, and if you hit them, you'll get a copy of any backlist book of mine you'd like to read. Posted by Roz Denny Fox
Author of Real Cowboys 4/07
on 4/11/2007 |
Winner of the hero drawing |
| Sorry I missed picking a winner before I left for my Easter gathering -- just too much to do when you're entertaining 11 people on a houseboat. Ack!
I've picked Teresa W, who picked Jean Brashear's Eli as her favorite hero. You gotta love a guy who is determined to do the right thing -- even if the heroine doesn't want anything to do with him, right?
Teresa, email me with your mailing addy. Thanks to Minna and Robyn for participating.
Happy reading!!!
DebPosted by Deb Salonen
Author of THE MAX FACTOR in Who Needs Cupid?
on 4/9/2007 |
Settings |
I missed my day yesterday, but here I am.
Settings: What I think is really important about setting is to work it into the book so it almost becomes another character. Right now I'm writing a book that takes place in a very small town. The town itself engulfs the heroine in its warmth, shown by the people that live there, each of the stores, the newspaper office which is critical to the story. It's easy to tell about a place, but harder to show it.
Also, I've done several firefighter books. And the setting of the firehouse and the fire scenes themselves are crucial to the plot. My stories couldn't exist without them. I guess no story should be able to exist without its setting, which will tell you if it's vital enough to the story.
Kathy ShayPosted by Kathryn Shay
Author of THE WRONG MAN FOR HER
on 4/7/2007 |
Familiar settings |
| I tend to set my books in places I’m familiar with. I would love to push the envelop and write about life in an ultra urban area, or a hospital, or a space station, but…for now I think I’ll settle for close to home. Ranches, schools, small towns—those are things I know about. I try to draw the reader into my settings by adding small details and showing character reactions to their surroundings rather than by paragraphs of description. This works well for me—probably because I have a short attention span, LOL. I want action. Now. But I also want the reader to understand why the setting is important to the characters—and me—thus, the scattered detail approach. Posted by Jeannie Watt
Author of A Difficult Woman
on 4/4/2007 |
Settings |
| This week we’re talking about setting. Small town or big city? Ranch or resort? Real places or fictional towns? Home grown American or something more exotic?
My books are mainly set in small towns with a rural environment. I think because that’s where I grew up and where I still feel most comfortable. Small towns conjure a sense of community, where people celebrate the good times as one and pull together in the bad times, where you find comfort in familiar faces and the continuity of knowing people for years. Having said that, I think you can also find a sense of community in a big city. Think the coffee shop in Friends, or the bar in Cheers. One day I’d like to do a Super with a small-town community feel in a big city.
More and more I like to set books in Australia. It’s easier to research than to dip into my memory for places I’ve lived in Canada or nearby in the US. Plus there are some gorgeous settings here – hot springs, vineyards, beaches, beautiful rolling countryside.
My feeling is that while the setting should be authentic, it’s not the most important aspect of a book. A great story can take place anywhere. What do you all think? Do you enjoy reading about exotic settings? Or do you relate better to characters set in your own country?
Posted by Joan Kilby
Author of Nanny Makes Three
on 4/2/2007 |
More on settings |
| A few more thoughts on settings.... I think settings matter when they matter to the characters. In the book I'm working on now, my hero really wants to buy back his family farm from the heroine. And she wants to sell it to him. The only problem is that doing so will take the heroine, and their daughter, away from the hero. (this is a secret baby book) What does he want more - his heritage and a place for his future business, or the daughter he's never known? Well, being a hero I'm sure you can guess what he'll choose in the end but meantime it's a dilemma. I still haven't figured out how he's going to get both! Posted by Joan Kilby
Author of Nanny Makes Three
on 4/2/2007 |
Vive le difference |
Why do I read--and love--romance novels? The heroes. I'm not looking to identify with the strong, intelligent, resourceful, sensitive heroines--they're simply the bait to hook those fantasy guys, the ones I can sigh and dream and drool over.
What do I like in my fictional heroes? A sense of humor--preferably with a naughty twinkle in the eyes. Honesty--with himself as much as with the woman he wants in his life. Patience with the heroine who's making him suffer.
What qualities do you like in your fictional heroes? If you were a fictional heroine, what kind of hero would have you sighing and dreaming and drooling?
Posted by Terry McLaughlin
Author of THE RANCHER NEEDS A WIFE
on 3/30/2007 |
WINNER! |
| Cherie, congratulations! You're the winner of the theme question. Please email me the title of the book you want and I'll drop it in the mail. Thanks everyone for participating. Linda Warren Lw1508@aol.com Posted by Linda Warren
Author of Once A Cowboy
on 3/29/2007 |
More Talk About Heroes |
| I find it interesting that there are two covers this month with men on the covers -- no women or babies in sight. What does that mean? I don't have the answer, but I'll have to read THE LAST COWBOY HERO and TEMPORARY FATHER to see if they're the "Alpha" males Linda Barrett mentioned or my usual type -- the ABC hero (alpha/beta/combined).
I've had a pure Alpha hero in a couple of books -- I think, but usually beneath that take-charge, ruthless, demanding exterior lurks a sweet guy waiting for the right woman to bring out his feminine side. Joking. Sorta. My stories all involve change, and I think Alpha males resist change the most (because they think they're right). So, even if they come into my head thinking they can boss me and my story around, I (and my heroine) whip them into shape eventually. Not literally, of course. My stories are PG-13.
So, here's your challenge: name your favorite heroes -- Alpha or otherwise -- in any Superromance you've read -- mine or some other author -- and I'll pick someone to receive a recent release of mine. I'll check back in early next week, so put your thinking caps on. I'm off to work on the printout of my November release called BETTING ON SANTA. I adore this hero. In the opening scene he gets barfed on by the heroine's nephew.
Deb Posted by Debra Salonen
Author of THE MAX FACTOR in Who Needs Cupid?
on 3/29/2007 |
Let's Talk About Heroes! |
Millions of women around the world read romance literature. Many of those million are attracted to the Alpha male. You know the type. He takes charge. He knows the answers-or thinks he does. He solves the problems without letting the heroine worry her head about it. He goes in and gets the job done - and doesn’t communicate with folks along the way to his goal.
The guy sounds so good…but frankly, I’d rather read about him than live with him. In real life, no one’s taking charge of me unless I allow it. I can figure out the answers too, or my hero and I can figure them out together. I don’t want to be left in the dark when there’s an issue. And while I admire goal setting, I like someone who talks to me! Of course, in a romance that Alpha male is so ripe for the heroine to open him up. However, I’m going to stick to my Beta man. It’s worked for almost 40 years, so I won’t tamper with success…
How about you? What kind of heroes are you drawn to? Do you separate the fantasy from real life like I do? Or are your fantasy and reality the same? Let’s get the conversation going…and this week, it’s all about heroes. Yay!
Best to all,
Linda
Posted by Linda Barrett
Author of HOUSEFUL OF STRANGERS
on 3/25/2007 |
Themes we love or hate |
| I can't think of any themes I really HATE, and of course I love quite a few. Hoever, my least favorite theme (no one throw anything)would probably be marriage in jeopardy. I don't know why, but when I start a romance and the hero/ heroine are already married I sometimes think oh,no. That doesn't mean that I haven't read any such books that I liked. I've read several that I really did like. For the most part I don't pick them up unless it's an author I've read before and I know I like that person's writing. I guess like anything else it's just something that clicks in my head to give me that first feeling of oh, I won't like it. Quite often I do like the book. So okay all you marriage in jeopardy fans, let me have it. Posted by Suzanne Cox
Author of Unexpected Daughter
on 3/23/2007 |
The Secret Baby... |
We’re discussing themes and I have to confess that my favorite is secret babies. I know, but I’m a sucker for a baby story. Back when I was only a reader a secret baby book was always an auto buy. Don’t know why they appeal to me so much. Maybe it’s that instant tension between the hero and the heroine and that eagerness in turning the pages waiting for the moment when the secret is revealed. And then breathlessly waiting to see how the revelation is dealt with by the hero and the heroine.
My very first attempt at writing a romance novel was a secret baby book. It made the rounds of rejections and went to its final resting place in my attic. After that, I decided to quit writing. It was just too hard. But that didn’t last long. I was soon working on another story and luckily it sold in 1999. The Truth About Jane Doe was a secret identity story. The heroine was left on someone’s doorstep and no one knew where she came from or who she was. So I guess I just like secrets.
My first secret baby book was in 2001, Emily’s Daughter, and I still get mail on it today. It seems there are a lot of people who like these books.
Remember that first attempt. My editor just happened to be one of the many editors who had read it and she asked me about it. She remembered the plot, but said I hadn’t found my writing voice yet. She wanted me to write another proposal on it and I did. My husband dug it out of the attic and I reread it. Let me tell you it was awful. At the time I thought it was so great. It wasn’t. But I reworked it and my editor bought it. It became my tenth book and my first Harlequin American, The Christmas Cradle. I’m not a lucky person, but I got lucky on that one. I was very happy to see that book in print.
I hope you’ll join the discussion. We’d love to hear what themes you like and what themes are an auto buy for you. I’ll draw a winner from the answers posted. The prize: one of the books mentioned above, your choice.
So what is your favorite theme?
Posted by Linda Warren
Author of Once A Cowboy
on 3/22/2007 |
My Favorite Themes |
| Ahhh, themes. Amy took my favorite by claiming the friends to lovers example first, but also on my list of favorites—secrets. I happen to love secret stories, but motivating them can be tricky. Why not simply reveal the secret from the get-go and be done with it? Why keep something that important secret? That’s the key to the story. The secret has to be deep and dark and life-altering, otherwise it may come across as a minor inconvenience and unimportant.
My first book, Montana Secrets, was a secret story, my heroine a sexually abused young woman afraid to tell the man in her life what happened because she knew he’d never look at her the same way again. And then there’s my heroine’s daughter in Montana Skies. Skylar went from blond hair and blue eyes to a Gothic nightmare because of the horrible secret she’s kept buried deep inside her in regard to her father’s death. That’s the kind of motivation needed to sustain secret stories, and one of the reasons why I love them so much. Private people hold things in and each and every one of us have a private side. We all have something, some tiny little aspect or thought or feeling, that we’ve never told anyone. That’s our secret. It motivates how we act and react, the way we speak to others, everything, and something I think we all identify with as readers.
I used to have a list of my favorite ‘secret’ stories but I couldn’t find it for this blog so that’s what I’m going to ask you. What secrets were kept in your favorite romances? Have I missed any fabulous secret stories I have to track down and read?
Posted by Kay Stockham
Author of Montana Skies, January, 2007
on 3/21/2007 |
Themes |
We're going to start a new thing here at the Superromance blog, starting, uh, now. Each week we're going to discuss a certain aspect of books, romances, Supers, etc. We're hoping this will start some conversation and give us a better idea of what readers think and want in their romance novels.
This week's focus is themes in romances. Some people call them hooks. Some people call them cliches. You know what I'm talking about...cowboys, cops, marriage of convenience, amnesia, pregnancy, etc.
I thought I’d start off the week by talking about one of my favorite themes…best friends to lovers. I love the idea of the heroine having a hot sexy guy for a good friend. There's built in tension in that, isn't there? Maybe part of me wishes I'd had a male best friend who could put his arms around me when I was upset, and oops, kiss me when we both let our guard down. It's just so...romantic. :)
My first book, Unexpected Complication, is a best friends to lovers book. (And also a pregnancy story, although it’s not a secret baby.) I’m here to tell you, until I tried to write that book, I had no idea how hard it is to pull off a friends to lovers story!
The first challenge I hadn’t anticipated is…why haven’t they gotten together before now? What has kept them apart, or prevented them from admitting it? It’s hard to pull off that they’ve been attracted for years and have never once let the attraction get the best of them. (Also hard to make believable that they didn’t have an attraction before now and they are suddenly all over each other.)
Another challenge is to figure out what will keep them apart once they do admit the attraction. They’ve already built up a great foundation for friendship, which is a big part of falling in love. Why don’t they just fall into the sack and live happily ever after?
Let’s hear from you…what are your favorite themes? Are there certain types of stories you refuse to pick up or ones you grab automatically without even reading the back cover? (I’m a sucker for a cowboy story myself. )
Posted by Amy Knupp
Author of The Boy Next Door
on 3/19/2007 |
The Pressure's On |
| Wow, lately the pressure has been on for me. I've been writing to meet a deadline (which I just did), working my very full time teaching job, and going to graduate school. WHEW! Not to mention actually trying to keep house and home together. You just get to the point where you think you might run screaming from the room when someone asks you to do another thing. Luckily for me spring has sprung in the south and a great de-stressor is for me to get outside, whether it be for a walk, to work in the yard, or just play with the dog. The fresh air and exercise really help. I know you guys have been under the steamroller of pressure and stress before. What helps you get past it? What's your de-stress activity? Posted by Suzanne Cox
Author of Unexpected Daughter
on 3/16/2007 |
Reply |
| That was fast ladies, and your notes are much appreciated. Pearl, Ellie and Alissa all need to send me their mailing addresses at my email addy and as soon as I get my hands on copies of Real Cowboys---I'll send you each a copy.
Now I have another question---Do you ever think a back blurb gives away things you'd rather discover for yourself in reading a book? I know you depend on the back blurbs to want to buy a story. Are you ever dissatisfied with a book because it doesn't match a blurb, a cover, or maybe reveals too much?
Thanks again, Roz (Maybe for this I'll give away a backlist book or two. Comment here and then email me with address and which back list book you'd like. Posted by Roz Denny Fox
Author of Real Cowboys 4/07
on 3/13/2007 |
Top O' The Mornin' To You |
| It's almost St. Paddy's Day---hence my greeting. I am half Irish, you know? Even if you didn't know it you do now. I never quite picked up my mother's lovely brogue. It really came out when she was mad at me. LOL. I hope all of you are wanting to tell me about books you've read that you liked a lot. All of us at SuperR's are chatting behind the scenes about what makes a book resonate with readers. Is it the characters, or is it the conflicts and resolutions being realistic. Are you drawn to a book because of it's setting. The cover? The back blurb? Really and truly we want to know. We know what we like in a story---grin---those are the ones we write. Also---I'd give away a copy of Real Cowboys today, but my copies haven't arrived. But the first three people who tell me what they like about a book will get a copy if they comment here then email me your mailing address at rdfox@worldnet.att.net. When my copies come I'll send you one I promise.
Have a wonderful day. Also---I have a daily serial at eharlequin.com that has a character from Real Cowboys. You don't see much of him in the book, but they gave him his own story in the serial. Roz Posted by Roz Denny Fox
Author of Real Cowboys 4/07
on 3/13/2007 |
The Winner Is... |
| The winner of an autographed copy of A DIFFICULT WOMAN and the braided bracelet is Maureen. Please email me at jeanniewrites@gmail.com with your mailing information. Congratulations! Posted by Jeannie Watt
Author of A DIFFICULT WOMAN
on 3/8/2007 |
The One |
| My husband and I met in college…but it took a long time. We shared the same course of study, took many classes together and basically ignored each other. He was nine years older than me, finishing a degree he’d started years before. It seemed we had little in common. We graduated and went our separate ways, only to both return to the same college a year later to pursue Master’s degrees. By a fluke we met for coffee, started talking and suddenly I knew…he was the one. This man I’d thought I had nothing in common with. We were married in a matter of months and will celebrate our 26th anniversary next month. He truly was the one. I was wondering, how did you know when you’d met “the one”? Were there immediate fireworks, or did the realization creep up on you? I’ll send an autographed copy of A DIFFICULT WOMAN and one of my braided horsehair bracelets to one respondent, chosen tomorrow at random. Have a great day.
Posted by Jeannie Watt
Author of A DIFFICULT WOMAN
on 3/7/2007 |
Winner of Carrie Weaver's Secrets In Texas |
| The winner of an autographed copy of Secrets In Texas is Mary Judge! Congratulations, Mary! If you will e-mail your snail mail address to me at carrieauthor@aol.com, I'll send that right out. Posted by Carrie Weaver
Author of Secrets In Texas
on 3/6/2007 |
Spring |
| Jeanie, I know what you mean about muddy dogs! We used to have an English Cocker spaniel. The amount of mud that came in on the long feathery fur of his legs and tail was maddening. And he just loved to jump up on you in greeting. Then there was the kids and boots...but don't get me started, lol. Posted by Joan Kilby
Author of Beach Baby
on 3/5/2007 |
Spring |
| Here in Australia we’re heading into autumn. The days are growing shorter and the evenings cooler. I’m starting to think about warming soups and stews. But all the talk on the blog about winter being over has me yearning for the northern spring of my childhood. I remember how excited I used to get at the first signs of the changing season. We lived in the country and at this time of year I’d get up early and roam the property searching out new life amid the old. My favorite sign of spring was the first baby crocuses springing up in the front garden, half hidden in the fresh green grass. The intense yellow and purple flowers were so beautiful after the drab browns, grays and whites of winter. What are your favorite signs of spring? Posted by Joan Kilby
Author of Beach Baby
on 3/5/2007 |
What would you like to talk about? |
| I'm getting cabin fever, too. We've had quite a bit of snow the last few days so my main outings have been to clear the driveway. Most of the roads in and out of my town have been closed since Wednesday night. It's been warm, though.
When we make a blog entry there's a line to fill out for our most recent book--this morning typing the same title yet again really brings home to me how long it's been for me between books. Life's been full so writing's gone even more slowly over the past year than it usually does. But I'd love to see a new cover to my left and hold a new book in my hands so maybe it's time to get single minded!
The other day I was thinking about the once a month chats we used to have. They could be crazy--by the time an answer to one question was typed and entered the conversation would have moved on so the answer made no sense. But I miss chatting with readers about current, past or upcoming books, about characters they hoped to see again, about the writing life. So today I'm opening this up to you. Do you have questions you'd ask if this were a chat? Any comments? They can be about anything...this month's or another month's books...a story you've read or one you wish someone would write...favourite characters...something that annoyed you when you read it, something you enjoyed and would like to see again? I'll go tap whatever authors the questions are for on the shoulder and ask them if they can come to answer.
And remember, it's only 19 days till spring! :)
PS This didn't post the first time, so I hope it won't now appear twice. Posted by Caron Todd
Author of A Different Kind of Summer
on 3/2/2007 |
Winter, sunshine and cabin fever |
| Everyone had such great ideas of winter things to do! I love eating Cajun food - although the closest I get to Louisiana is Heaven on Seven restaurant in Chicago. I love going for long walks, too. That's one of my favorite stress-relievers. The natural hot springs in Idaho sound like heaven. We took a dip in a natural hot spring when we were at Yellowstone several years ago - I'd love to do it again. And who can resist shopping? All things to dream about - but I'll definitely take more walks. Except for today - we're supposed to get another blizzard.
I drew Christy Hawks' name to win a copy of my book. Christy, if you'll send your snail mail address to mwatson1004@hotmail.com, I'll get your book in the mail.
MargaretPosted by Margaret Watson
Author of Small Town Family
on 3/1/2007 |
Winter, sunshine and cabin fever |
| I loved reading Tara's blog about the scenery out her office window. It sounds so beautiful - but I have to admit, the one thing that made me really envious was her blue, blue sky.
I don't mind winter here in the midwest. I like snow - I looove to ski - and I like being outdoors in the cold - as long as I'm bundled up. But I sure do miss the sun. It's been gray and dreary here for way too long, so I wish Tara could ship some of that blue sky to Illinois!
One of my favorite things to do in the winter is to go to Starved Rock state park. It's about an hour west of Chicago along the Illinois River. There's a lock and dam on the river, and Bald Eagles congregate there when the river ices over - they catch fish in the open water above the dam. We were there last week, and we saw over fifty eagles sitting in the trees and fishing in the river. It was an amazing, awe-inspiring sight. And to make it perfect,the day we went was one of the only blue sky days we've had in a long time.
Does anyone else have a favorite place to go during the winter that always lifts their spirits? And it doesn't even have to be outside - I know everyone doesn't love playing in the cold. By this time of the year, I'm desperate for new ideas for things to do. I'll draw one name from any suggestions and send them a copy of Small Town Secrets, my Sept. 2006 book.
Margaret Posted by Margaret Watson
Author of Small Town Family
on 2/28/2007 |
It's the Little Things |
| Why is that it takes life to get tough before we stop and smell the roses? I've been on such tight deadlines lately - in the midst of traveling to promote my October suspense, In Plain Sight - that my stress level hit the dangerous mode. You know, that time when everything registers in the red - your temper, you bank account (because you didn't take the time to deposit the checks that have arrived), passions. Everything is over the top. You cry more easily, anger more easily, need more love. You've got nowhere to go but over the top. So there I am, at the top, ready to topple over, and I look down to where I might land and see the most amazing things. Not because they haven't been there, but because I'm actually looking.
The sky is this cerulean, perfect and clear amazing blue. (Really, it is. This isn't just over the top stress talking.) And the ragged mountain peaks - opposite the one my ofice sits on - reach toward that sky with such strength and purpose. All around me are magnificent plants, saguaro cactus and prickly pear, teddy bear cholla, ocotillo. The rock formations are mind boggling in their differences. Quartz glistens in the sun, sparkling like diamonds.
And a little closer in, there's my baby girl, Taylor Marie, in her four pound princess glory. She's a toy poodle, named after her mama and her sissy and she's proud of that. Proud of herself. She's learned how to play by herself lately, but she doesn't complain. As I write this she's tipping her bed full of toys over. I know her plan. She's going to climb up on top of the bottom of the bed rather than lay inside like ordinary beings do. That's how Taylor is. Rather than following the status quo, she rearranges her world to suit her. I love that. And her.
As I focus a little closer, I find Raggedy Ann. She's just over two feet of soft, stuffed love. She's been sitting in my chair with me for the past month - ever since the day I was so involved in my October, 2007 suspense, Behind Closed Doors, that I needed to hold her to stay in my chair. She was happy to comply. And to reassure me that all was not darkness and fear. I liked that. I like her. So here she sits.
Here, if I'll only take time to look are all the small things - the tools that life gives for free, every day, readily available to bring joy and pleasure and peace to my days. My favorite song is playing on my computer. I have a diet coke in the glass next to me. It sits on a coaster that my best friend bought for me during a trip we took together.
Life is good. Life is great. It's just a matter of sharing the small things.
And speaking of small things, I just got the copies of my April Everlasting, The NIght We Met. If you'd like a chance to win a copy, share a list of your small things with us.
ttq
Posted by Tara Taylor Quinn
Author of In Plain Sight
on 2/27/2007 |
Oscar's, NASCAR and More |
| Good morning! Today is one of those days when I woke up energized and ready to go. I'm not a morning person, particularly on Mondays, so this is a real gift.
I can totally relate to Kay's cabin fever, but in Arizona, we usually experience it in August when it's 115 degrees outside. Unfortunately, I don't have any sage advice to offer. Hang in there, Kay!
Did anyone watch the Oscars last night? I tuned in during the documentary awards and quickly switched channels. I was rooting in spirit for Little Miss Sunshine . I tend to pull for the underdog anyway, but the movie was terrific. Indie films are really starting to come into their own.
Are there any NASCAR fans out there? Nancy Warren's Speed Dating has garnered quite a bit of attention in the past two weeks or so. Yay, Nancy! There was a special speed dating event at Daytona, where Nancy appeared with driver Carl Edwards (one of my personal faves). And then her book was featured before the race yesterday. Totally cool! It's great to see category romance novels get a boost. And, I admit, I have a bit of a vested interest. I have two of the Harlequin NASCAR Series books coming out in 2007: No Time To Lose in May and His Father's Son in November.
I'd love to hear thoughts, opinions, comments regarding the Oscars, NASCAR, cabin fever or anything else on your mind (barring SPAM posts regarding penile enlargement and such). I will offer an autographed copy of Secrets In Texas for one lucky poster, randomly drawn. I will do the drawing this time, since Hazel-the-cat seems to be predisposed to choosing cat lovers. LOL, need to keep it fair for the dog lovers, too. Posted by Carrie Weaver
Author of Secrets In Texas
on 2/26/2007 |
Winner of Kay Stockham's MONTANA SKIES! |
| Thanks for all of the suggestions on combatting cabin fever! I'll put them to use and see how I do. Until then, Kristen Brockmeyer will be escaping cabin fever with an autographed copy of Montana Skies. Yay, Kristen! Please email me at Kay@Kaystockham.com for shipping instructions. I hope you enjoy! :) Posted by Kay Stockham
Author of MONTANA SKIES, January 2007
on 2/22/2007 |
Cabin Fever |
| I'm getting antsy. Between the cold, the snow, the ice, more snow, and now the rain, I'm climbing the walls. A person risks breaking their neck on the water coated ice, and if you step off of it, you sink in the four inch thick mud. It's dreary, everyone's grumpy, and summer is way too far away at this point. I need sun, sand and a book I can't put down. I know, but why not dream big?
I'll choose a name from those who respond from now until midnight February 21, and the winner will receive an autographed copy of Montana Skies. The challenge? Tell me what you're doing to get through winter. Help! I need some distractions! Posted by Kay Stockham
Author of MONTANA SKIES, January 2007
on 2/20/2007 |
Smooches |
|
I've never been one who pays much attention to Valentine's Day, but several things made this year's celebration special: a new book on the bookstore shelves, a finished project in the mail (so I could relax for a few hours), and a dinner date with my husband and a group of fun friends in a beautiful setting.
While I'm in the smoochy holiday mood--and since I'm putting the final touches on a "First Kiss Scene" workshop--I'd like to ask about your favorite movie first kisses and what made them memorable. Was it the passion of the situation or the embrace? The events or building tension that led up to the big lip lock? A snappy one-liner uttered in the heat of the moment?
Posted by Terry McLaughlin
Author of The Rancher Needs a Wife, February 2007
on 2/16/2007 |
Valentines Winner |
| The winner, randomly selected by a friend of mine, is Crystal Broyles. Congrts! Send me your snail mail address at amyknupp AT amyknupp DOT com and I'll get your book on its way!
Thanks to all who entered...and Kate, of course you could pick mine! Thanks for wanting to read it! :) Posted by Amy Knupp
Author of The Boy Next Door
on 2/15/2007 |
Deb's contest winner/Happy V-DAY |
| Thanks for all your responses. I can see we're a diverse group from the long-wedded to the unwedded, but it's comforting to see we haven't lost sight of what's important -- CHOCOLATE!
Maria Duncan's name showed up when I pulled a piece of paper from the hat (well, from my mostly dry coffee mug, but you get the idea). I believe she has a date with Ben and Jerry tonight. Does that make it a menage a trois? <;-0> Enjoy! My favorite flavor is Dubliner MudSlide or something like that. It disappears too fast for me to see the label too clearly.
Cheers all! As the heroines in WHO NEEDS CUPID? come to decide, he's not the evil imp they thought he was. Happy reading!
Deb Posted by Deb Salonen
Author of THE MAX FACTOR in Who Needs Cupid?
on 2/14/2007 |
A Valentine for Yourself |
My husband refers to Valentine's Day as a Hallmark holiday and I tend to agree. (I know...I shouldn't admit to that, being a romance author and all!)
I think a lot of people agree, or don't get excited over VDay in general. My theory is if you're in a loving relationship, why wait for one special day to show it? *struggling to not sound like Scrooge's first cousin here* :)
Whether you're the type who buys chocolate and silk boxers or not, why not start a new tradition? Treating yourself...to a romance! In the form of a book, of course. *g*
Get the box of candy for the hero in your life, and throw a paperback in for yourself. Or heck, for both of you, if you get it racy enough.
I think I'll head to the bookstore today to do just this. (Oh, okay, and to admire my new book on the shelf! *g*) Anyone in?
Tell me what book you'd like to buy yourself for a Valentine's treat. I'll select one winner from all the entries that are in by noon on Thursday, the 15th, and I'll treat you to your pick. (Only stipulation is that it has to be available in mass market paperback and from Amazon.)
Happy Valentine's Day! Posted by Amy Knupp
Author of The Boy Next Door
on 2/14/2007 |
How did you meet? |
| Since Valentine's Day is just days away, I'm seeing features in magazines and newspapers about how couples met. I adore those stories, maybe because my personal story isn't all that exciting -- although it does have a twist. I met my husband while we were both reporters for the same newspaper, but I wanted to keep our relationship quiet just in case it didn't work out. You know how messy breakups can be, especially when everyone in the office knows the details. So our co-workers didn't know we were dating for a full year!
How about you? I'd love to hear about how some of you met your significant others.
Posted by Darlene Gardner
Author of A Time to Come Home
on 2/12/2007 |
WINNER OF KATHY'S BOOK |
| Good morning, everyone. I just now noticed that my announcement of the winner of my drawing on Feb. 2 wasn't on the blog. Bear with me, I'm on vacation in Florida. In any case, I did post it before I left, but it didn't show up; here's the winner: MINDY HILDEBRAND. Please contact me at kshay@rochester.rr.com. Also, check out my blog at my website: www.kathrynshay.com. Finally, my new book is on the stands now--CLOSE TO YOU.
Kathy Posted by kathryn shay
Author of CLOSE TO YOU
on 2/12/2007 |
V-Day approacheth |
| Hi, everybody!
Sorry I've been MIA from the blogs and the boards, but I had a book to finish writing. BETTING ON SANTA is done, I'm pleased and excited to say. However, before I can celebrate, my line edits for LOVE, BY GEORGE (my August book) are due to appear tomorrow. Gack!
Alas, a writer's life is feast or famine.
Speaking of feasts, who is going out for a romantic meal on Valentine's Day? My hubby is soooo V-day-challenged. He can't even remember the date, let alone make one with me. ;-0 I've solved that problem by buying two lovely steaks (have you priced beef lately?!) and a really nice bottle of wine. Add a bagged salad, the new Josh Grobin CD and we have instant romance. It's either that or sit around and pout.
So, tell me what your upcoming V-Day is going to be and I'll draw a name to send a copy of WHO NEEDS CUPID? the January anthology that includes my story "The Max Factor" and Molly O'Keefe's "A Valentine for Rebecca" and Susan Floyd's "Lucky in Love." We had such a blast writing this book!
Back soon (I hope) to check on y'all (did I mention my next book is set in Texas?)
Deb Posted by Deb Salonen
Author of THE MAX FACTOR in Who Needs Cupid?
on 2/8/2007 |
websites |
| Wow! Thanks to everyone who posted about websites and what you liked. You gave me some great ideas to pass along to my website designer. I drew one name to win a book - congratulations Carol Mintz! If you'll email me at mwatson1004@hotmail.com, I'll send you one of my books.
Margaret Posted by Margaret Watson
Author of Small Town Family
on 2/7/2007 |
websites |
| I've been thinking a lot about websites lately. I'm having mine redone after several years of struggling with a website that I designed and maintain myself - I can't seem to get it updated regularly and I'm never sure what to put on it.
How often do you all visit author websites? And what are you looking for when you visit? My designer is asking me a lot of questions, and I'm not coming up with enough answers. Any and all suggestions would be appreciated. I'll gather all the suggestions and draw one name and send a book to that person.
Margaret Posted by Margaret Watson
Author of Small Town Family
on 2/6/2007 |
E-Books, Anyone? |
|
I’ve been thinking about e-books lately because Harlequin, as well as other publishers, is developing an arm of its business to publish books in electronic format. Readers can have the option of buying the regular printed books or electronic books. I am curious! In fact, I’m so curious that I’ve posted a request on my own website asking readers for their experience and opinions about e-books. So, I’m asking it here as well. Do any of you use an e-reader? If so, how do you like it? If you don’t use one yet, are you curious to try it?
One reader wrote to say she didn’t understand what an e-book was, so for those who aren’t sure—an e-book is a regular story published electronically by an e-book publisher who makes the books available for buyers to download directly to their e-book readers through their computer. An e-book reader is a hand-held device which can hold about a hundred books at a time. In essence, the process is a transfer of data from one machine to another.
So, please post your thoughts, experience or opinions either here or at my website. I’ll let you all know a summary of what I find out. I’m giving a prize for the most interesting answer—a copy of A Man of Honor. Have a great day!
Linda B. Posted by Linda Barrett
Author of HOUSEFUL OF STRANGERS
on 2/5/2007 |
This and that |
I think this is my day to post on this site. Or it might have been yesterday. I'm getting ready to go to Florida for month and have been swamped.
On the writing front, I've just finished a spin off to my July release, called THE WRONG MAN FOR HER. It's at press as we speak. It's Nick's story, the brother of the hero in TELL ME NO LIES. I LOVED that guy first time around, and he was fun to write about. He had a lot of baggage, but learns to deal with it.
I must be into brothers lately, because I have a book on the stands right now, CLOSE TO YOU, about the brother of the heroine in SOMEONE TO BELIEVE IN. He's also a doll, and his story turned out great. I just agreed to another contract with Berkley to do yet another O'Neil's story--Liam, who was also in CLOSE TO YOU.
I've been wondering if people like books with continuing characters.
Last, I'll give away a free book of any of my work to whomever posts with me today.
Kathy Shay Posted by Kathyn Shay
Author of TELL ME NO LIES
on 2/2/2007 |
Children's Book |
| This isn't my day to blog but Maria and Jeannie's comments about children's books sent me to my bookshelves to look at some old favourites and I thought it would be interesting to hear about the books other readers here loved when they were kids.
Some of the books I still keep out are the aforementioned Blytons and Burgess's. There are also some of my brother's Biggles books (WWI flying ace, WWII commando) and a large collection of what I call my British pony books. Then there's The Secret Room, Hans Brinker's Skates, The Children Who Lived in A Barn, The Poor Little Rich Girl and newer books, like Kenneth Oppel's Silverwing series.
Do any of you still have your favourite children's books? Which did you enjoy the most? Do you ever reread them now? Posted by Caron Todd
Author of A Different Kind of Summer
on 1/30/2007 |
Mornings |
| I enjoyed reading the comments on Roz and Amy's posts. For those who said they like humour in romances I can recommend Abby Gaines' current release Whose Lie Is It, Anyway? Just finished it the other day and found it an amusing and satisfying read.
I'm a night owl and a morning lover. The night owl habit started early when I'd stay up reading the latest Enid Blyton boarding school book or mystery, or Thornton Burgess's animal stories. Any of you read those? But in spite of losing hours of sleep I'm usually quite cheerful in the morning--bleary and confused, maybe, with a tendancy (should that be tendency? It's one of those words I can never remember) to spill my hot drink, but cheerful!
The thing that surprises me now that our nest is usually empty is how soundly I sleep. After years of being the first one up, taking care of breakfasts and lunches and permission forms and clothing or homework emergencies; years of waking up during the night completely alert at the slightest sound in case someone is sick or has had a nightmare...now I hear nothing until dh's coffee spoon tinkles against the side of the mug. It's kind of embarrassing--it feels a bit lazy! Nice, though.
Hope everyone has a good day,
Caron Posted by Caron Todd
Author of A Different Kind of Summer
on 1/26/2007 |
Thanks |
| Thanks everyone for your views on what makes a book's humor work. The reason I posed this question is that recently I read two books, different authors, different publishers. Both made me smile, laugh, chuckle and yet the books were so different. So I also think that sometimes it's reader perception, or what the reader considers funny at any given time.
At any rate, you who commented have given me more to think about and a couple of new books to look for.
Roz Posted by Roz Denny Fox
Author of Real Cowboys 4/07
on 1/24/2007 |
What Type of Humor Do You Like In A Book? |
| Good Wednesday morning to you. Today I decided to ask what readers like to see in the amount of humor and type of humor in books? Do you like the humor to be situational, or come from the lives of the characters, or does dark humor suit you better?
Every time I read a book that has humor that works for me, I try to analyze it, but still am not sure.
So what are some books that you'd recommend reading that touched your funny bone? Posted by Roz Denny Fox
Author of Real Cowboys April 2007
on 1/24/2007 |
Winner! |
The winner of a signed copy of THE BOY NEXT DOOR is Aisling! Please email me at amyknupp AT amyknupp DOT com with your full name and postal address and I'll get it out to you!
Thanks for sharing your grumpy times with me. Seems like there are a lot more nightowls than morning lovers in this group. :) Posted by Amy Knupp
Author of The Boy Next Door
on 1/24/2007 |
Poetic Justice |
I am SO not a morning person. I shouldn't be allowed to come into contact with others--my kids included--until after 10am. (Noon would actually be better.)
Normally my husband handles boy duty in the mornings before school while I hide out in the office or the shower. (Dear man, he's not a morning person either, but he can still be cheerful with the kids.) Today's our day to do the preschool carpool, and the hubby volunteered to do that, so while he showered and got ready to go, I pulled boy duty.
I tried really hard to be nice. But then our 5yo spilled a cup of water that he'd left out last night. I know, I know. Not a major crime. Any other time and spills don't bug me. I'm not that much of an ogre. *g* But my eyes were barely open yet, so I reprimanded him (gently, I didn't yell, I swear!) by saying he needs to be careful and asking the rhetorical question of why we had to have a spill so early in the morning.
Well. Of course the powers that be had to teach me a lesson. I took the water from my son and carried it to the counter, but instead of reaching out and dumping it into the sink...you guessed it. I rammed it into the side of the cabinet and the cup went flying, spilling water everywhere. On me, my socks, my pajamas, the floor. And yes, I finally had to crack a grin and eat my words. I told my son we were even, and then I got busy cleaning both our messes.
Instead of anger management school, I think I need classes in morning management.
What about you? Do you manage to play nice at all hours, or is there a time of day when you just want to be left alone to get through the grumpies? A time when everyone knows to leave you alone? Let me know I'm not the only sometimes irrational, grumpy one here! *g* If you post about your least favorite time of day, I'll enter you in a drawing for a signed copy of my second book, THE BOY NEXT DOOR. Enter before noon (CST) Wednesday and I'll post a winner sometime Wed. afternoon. Posted by Amy Knupp
Author of The Boy Next Door
on 1/23/2007 |
A Fine Line |
| I'm on deadline with a book due February 15th, so pretty much everything I think about is this book. I had an epiphany a couple weeks ago -- yes, the epiphany would have been better several months ago, but I'll take what I can get. LOL. Anyway, I've been able to really strenghen the conflict. But now I'm wondering if these characters have too many obstacles. Is there such a thing? How much baggage is too much? A certain amount of internal conflict/growth is a good thing...Anyway, I'd appreciate your input. I keep reminding myself I get a little (okay, sometimes a lot) neurotic when I'm on deadline. I'd also welcome insights on what makes you guys a little neurotic at times and how you handle it. Or am I the only one? Uh-oh, something else to angst over. LOL. Posted by Carrie Weaver
Author of Secrets In Texas
on 1/22/2007 |
The Weather Outside... |
| The weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful…
Winter has arrived at my house—full blast, and that song has been running through my head for the past couple of days. And it’s not Christmas. It’s just &&&& cold. I live in Central Texas and this Texan is not used to temperatures in the twenties.
From my office, I can see the icicles hanging on the frozen ice laden trees and the grass and shrubs sparkle with a blanket of icy white crystals. The driveway is a film of ice. Every now and then I can hear the sleet tapping on my window. In the distance, I can see the highline poles and the endless stretch of electrical lines. Ice and icicles are accumulating on the lines and I’m praying the extra weight doesn’t cause them to break. The cold aside, it’s really very pretty—a winter ice land.
We have two fireplaces in our house and in all the ten years we’ve been here we’ve probably used them about four times. And that was at the holidays when we had company. With the central heat and our mild winters, we’ve never needed them. With the frigid cold, both fireplaces have been burning for past two days. I really like the fire. It’s cozy and romantic. I love sleeping with the fire going. And it really great to read by. Tonight, with my husband beside me, I’m curling up in front of the fire in the bedroom and reading one of the books I received for the Rita Contest. Can’t get any better than that.
What’s the weather like in your area? It sounds bad all over the US, so I hope you have a warm fire and a good book to read. And if you need a suggestion, there are some great supers out this month. I also have an American coming in Feb, Once A Cowboy. I’ll try to load the cover—the sexy cowboy will certainly warm you up
The weather outside…
Posted by Linda Warren
Author of Once A Cowboy
on 1/18/2007 |
The Weather Ouside... |
The last post made me dizzy so I'm posting again. Hopefully, it's more readable this time./p>
The weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful…
Winter has arrived at my house—full blast, and that song has been running through my head for the past couple of days. And it’s not Christmas. It’s just &&&& cold. I live in Central Texas and this Texan is not used to temperatures in the twenties.
From my office, I can see the icicles hanging on the frozen ice laden trees and the grass and shrubs sparkle with a blanket of icy white crystals. The driveway is a film of ice. Every now and then I can hear the sleet tapping on my window. In the distance, I can see the highline poles and the endless stretch of electrical lines. Ice and icicles are accumulating on the lines and I’m praying the extra weight doesn’t cause them to break. The cold aside, it’s really very pretty—a winter ice land.
We have two fireplaces in our house and in all the ten years we’ve been here we’ve probably used them about four times. And that was at the holidays when we had company. With the central heat and our mild winters, we’ve never needed them. With the frigid cold, both fireplaces have been burning for past two days. I really like the fire. It’s cozy and romantic. I love sleeping with the fire going. And it really great to read by. Tonight, with my husband beside me, I’m curling up in front of the fire in the bedroom and reading one of the books I received for the Rita Contest. Can’t get any better than that.
What’s the weather like in your area? It sounds bad all over the US, so I hope you have a warm fire and a good book to read. And if you need a suggestion, there are some great supers out this month. I also have an American, Once A Cowboy. I’ll try to load the cover—the sexy cowboy will certainly warm you up.
The weather outside…
Posted by Linda Warren
Author of Once A Cowboy
on 1/18/2007 |
New Year New You? |
| Okay, I'm late getting this posted. Mostly because I've been gone all day. Why? This may count as TMI, but I had my yearly exam. Yeah, I kmow. BUT, I'd like to take the time to say if you haven't been to a doctor lately--GO. Women are wonderful for urging their husbands to go to the doctor, for taking their kids to get checked out, but themselves? Not so much.
So, this is a new year. Will it be a new you? Will you do whatever it takes to treat yourself right even if it means going to the dreaded doctor?
Come on, join me. Make this a year where you take care of yourself because, honestly, if you don't, who will? Have you been to the doctor lately? What do you like most about your doctor? Posted by Kay Stockham
Author of MONTANA SKIES,JANUARY 2007
on 1/17/2007 |
Dating when you're single...with kids |
| Superromance is coming out with a new miniseries called Singles...With Kids. I’m kicking off the miniseries with my February book, Love and The Single Mom. Remember how in the movie “About a Boy,” Hugh Grant decides that a single parents group is a great place to pick up women? Well, our books aren’t like that. But we do deal with the issues of balancing romance with work and raising kids. Anyone have some real-life experiences to share about this? I'll send a backlist book to the person with the best story! Posted by C.J. Carmichael
Author of Secrets Between Them
on 1/16/2007 |
Let's hear it |
One of my Christmas gifts this year was an iPod, and I want to fill this new toy with tunes. Classics, dance numbers, stirring soundtracks, soulful vocals--you name it, I'll check it out. Seriously. I'm a woman on a mission.
Here are some of the tracks I've collected so far: the Beegie Adair trio jazzing up Duke Ellington's "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)." Gary Graffman's performance of Prokofiev's Piano Concerto #3 with the Cleveland Philharmonic. Judy Garland singing "Over the Rainbow" on the soundtrack of The Wizard of Oz. Aretha Franklin's "Think."
As you can see, I have eclectic tastes.
So tell me, please, what kind of music do you like to listen to? What are some of your favorite tunes? What numbers get your feet tapping? What songs put you in a romantic mood?
Posted by Terry McLaughlin
Author of THE RANCHER NEEDS A WIFE, February 2007
on 1/12/2007 |
What's in a Title? |
| I’m waiting to hear what the title of my new Superromance will be. My first book, A DIFFICULT WOMAN, named itself. In fact, I had the title long before Tara, the difficult woman, was fully formed in my mind. My new book started life with no name. And that’s pretty much where it is right now. I have a list of several titles I like and I’m curious to see which one flies. I know there are certain buzzwords that readers like. If I see the word “horse” in a title, I automatically pick up the book. I also like words that denote mischief or trickery, redemption and revenge. What title buzzwords make you pick up a book? Posted by Jeannie Watt
Author of A DIFFICULT WOMAN
on 1/11/2007 |
Deb's "foodie" winner |
| What great food memories! Thanks, everybody, for sharing. No wonder I'm always feeding people in my stories -- food really does make for memories that stay with us. Today, I'm working on the revisions for my August Superromance called LOVE, BY GEORGE. My heroine, Kara, just made pancakes for her five-year old twins and the hero's 15-year old son. Pancakes with chocolate chips to make the happy face. Fun, huh?
Anyway, I've picked a winner. Sharon, I loved your checkerboard cake memory. Email me with your mailing address and which book from my backlist you'd like.
Back to my revisions! Take care all and eat well!
Deb Posted by Deb Salonen
Author of Who Needs Cupid?
on 1/9/2007 |
What's in a name? |
| What's in a name?
Quite a bit, actually. I believe there's an odd science to naming characters. Not just any name will do. Take Diana Smith, the heroine of my January Superromance. She's an ordinary woman -- could there be a more ordinary surname than Smith? -- overcoming her problems with dignity. She needed a dignified first name, which I just realized she shares with the former Princess of Wales. Hmm. That does it for me.
I usually peruse baby-name books and name characters after they spring forth from my mind, already in possession of personality traits. But for my story in the November anthology Dashing Through The Mall, my son asked if he could name the hero. He came up with Patrick MacFarland, and I immediately envisioned a blue-eyed, black-haired charmer of an Irishman who immigrated to the United States with his parents when he was a boy.
I've created other characters from names I like -- Chase Fletcher, Cash "Jax" Jackson, Zach Castelli, Wade Conner, Leigh Hampton, Peyton Guerard. The list could go on and on.
What about you readers? Is there a name stuck in your head that you think would make a great name for a hero or heroine? And authors? Do you have tricks for naming characters?
Posted by Darlene Gardner
Author of A Time to Come Home
on 1/8/2007 |
Free book offer |
| Although my January 2007 Superromance A TIME TO COME HOME can stand alone, it features characters from my July 2006 book A TIME TO FORGIVE. I'll send a copy of A TIME TO FORGIVE to the third and fourth persons who email me at darlene@darlenegardner.com.
Posted by Darlene Gardner
Author of A Time to Come Home
on 1/8/2007 |
The winner is! |
| The winner of an autographed copy of Unexpected Daughter is Minna!! If you'll e-mail me at suecox27@yahoo.com and give me your mailing address I'll send it out.
Posted by Suzanne Cox
Author of unexpected daughter
on 1/7/2007 |
An Observation |
| Hi. I'm sure many of you have noticed this trend around the holidays. Advertisers cleverly targeting our weak spots. Before Christmas I saw lots of TV ads promoting lavish holiday dinners provided by chain supermarkets, wine and champagne distributors "popping their corks" in thirty second spots, and luxury food producers like Ghirardelli chocolate advertising their product as holiday gifts. /p
p Now the holidays are over, and predictably what do we see? Ads by Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig, memberships offered at LA Fitness and others, and of course major retailers like Sears offering exercise equipment at thirty percent off. Those advertisers know our weaknesses and when to speak to them. /p
p As usual just after the New Year, I'm thinking about resolutions I know I'm not going to make and knowing the biggest one concerns weight and fitness. Heck, I think I've sufficiently "pumped up" if I walk around the block. And I'm of a certain age that I know I'm not going to don a pair of spandex shorts and ride a racing bike in the bike lane of our local four-lane road. /p
p So here's what I'm wondering - what do some of you do to achieve at least the semblance of fitness? Has anyone tried that big ball thing? How about the "Ab Roller"? I tried it but couldn't work it. Do you have any tips for fitness? I'd love to hear them (especially the ones that can be achieved in fifteen minutes a day or less) And if I can read a book while I'm doing them, so much the better /p
p I'd love to know what works for you. And I'd love to know if there are any of you out there who are like me - concerned but not nearly committed. /p
p Happy New Year!
Cynthia Posted by Cynthia Thomason
Author of An Unlikely Family
on 1/5/2007 |
S'mores and other nonsense |
| Ooooh, look at the lovely hearts on our book covers! I'd only seen my copies and didn't realize they were on all the January books. Cool!
So...you all know what S'mores are, right? Toasted marshmallow smushed between graham crackers with a piece of Hershey's chocolate melting in the middle. Ummm...yummm. Although I have to admit, I ODed on the darn things when I was a kid and never ate them again until New Year's Eve when we had a bonfire, wienie roast and S'mores fest. Now, I'm a born-again S'mores lover.
So, what does that have to do with writing? Nothing and everything. Nothing because nobody really cares whether or not I like S'mores, but everything because it's a small piece of human nature that will resonate with many people and will probably find its way into one of my books. And you, my friends, heard it here first.
I'll include a chocolate bar with a copy from my backlist for some lucky person who tells me about her favorite food memory from childhood. Be warned, I might use that, too. (Wink -- I can't figure out how to use the emoticons.)
Deb Posted by Deb Salonen
Author of THE MAX FACTOR in Who Needs Cupid?
on 1/4/2007 |
A winner! |
| And we have a winner! Those pink shag rugs must be good luck, Christy Hawkes, because you're the winner of an autographed copy of MONTANA SKIES! Enjoy! Please contact me at kay@kaystockham.com for shipping information. :) Posted by Kay Stockham
Author of MONTANA SKIES, January 2007
on 1/4/2007 |
All I want for Christmas |
| Even though it's a week past Christmas, I know we all received some wonderful gifts both big and small. Was it what you asked for?? I got what I had asked for earlier this year but we'd decided to do a "small" Christmas since we had also planned a snow skiing trip for February. But my husband broke the spending limit and got what I'd mentioned this summer. AND I wondered what do our gifts, say about us? Especially if you got something you had at some point said you wanted. So what did I get? Okay, here goes and you'll know more about me than maybe you wanted to when you hear that I got a new pistol for Christmas. Yep, I have an old revovler I've had forever so I'd been wanting a new automatic and the dh got me one. Does that have redneck country girl written all over it?? Yep, guess it does. Of course I gave him a foot operated skeet thrower which we had great fun with on New Years day. So, what did you get for Christmas? Was it something you really wanted? Does it say something about who you are? Or was it just something you needed for the house. I get that alot too!! As a final celebration of Christmas, I'll check back in a day or two and draw from the names of those who post and once again send out a signed copy of my Deember book, Unexpected Daughter. Posted by Suzanne Cox
Author of unexpected daughter
on 1/3/2007 |
What's your favorite color? |
| Happy New Year! Why am I not writing about that? I am... sort of. You see, I'm stuck in a rut. Anyone else have this problem? Hairstyle, clothes... for me it's clothes. I know better than to make a resolution about changing my look though because it's one I honestly won't keep and I know it. The color? Black.
Black is *my* color. Morbid? My mother always says I look like I'm going to a funeral, but I like to think of it as classic. I try to buy other colors but I wind up taking them back. Other than red and a few dark colors, I don't wear much else, especially in winter. Black is easy and great when I'm traveling.
For me, black is a simple choice, but for my heroine's daughter in Montana Skies, black is waaaaay more. And I don't mean a black T-shirt but ALL black. Black hair, black clothes, black makeup. After a car accident killed her estranged husband and injured her teenaged daughter, Rissa's little girl went from being a blond-haired, blue-eyed cheerleader to a Gothic nightmare of anger and attitude dressed head to toe in, you guessed it, BLACK. Survivor's guilt? Or something more? Rissa is desperate to find the answer and time is running out. Skylar is getting worse, getting into trouble and dragging the sheriff's daughter with her. If Rissa doesn't do something quick, the too handsome man is going to do something about it and break her heart in the process. Jonas could very well be the man she's always wanted, but her daughter comes first and arresting Skylar won't put him on Rissa's good side.
Black is my favorite color and has been for years (if you don't believe me, check out the pics on my website). Maybe it's the Scorpio in me, but I think it reflects a bit of my personality and I wear it for the reasons I stated above. But the topic has me wondering... what's your favorite color? Does it reflect YOUR personality?
Since it's a holiday, I'll check back in a couple days and draw a name from the posts. The winner will receive an autographed copy of MONTANA SKIES so delurk and let's here it! Posted by Kay Stockham
Author of MONTANA SKIES, January, 2007
on 1/1/2007 |
New Year, New You -- 2006, One Goal Met |
| Thought I'd pop in with New Year's Eve fast approaching and see how you guys feel about setting goals and making resolutions for the new year.
My local Romance Writers of America Chapter has a program at every January meeting where we review our goals from the previous year and set new goals for the coming year. I find it a really useful tool as long as I'm not too hard on myself for goals unmet. Life happens and goals have to be at least somewhat fluid, IMO. There have been years where I've far exceeded what I'd planned and years where I haven't met a single goal.
I'm very happy to share that I've met one of my big goals for 2006 -- with barely a moment to spare. Drumroll, please! After six years of having my URL parked (there are so many Carrie Weavers out there), I now have my web site up and running. It's gorgeous! But then again I might be a bit biased. Many thanks to our own Amy Knupp and her husband, Justin who comprise Stonecreek Media. If you get a chance, please stop by and take a look: http://www.carrieweaver.com.
Most of my resolutions for 2007 involve better habits and health: More veggies/less carbs, more exercise/less TV, more sleep/less worrying, less procrastination/more being on time. My career goals are to stay the course and continue to write the best books I can. And of course, continue to persuade my editor to buy those books.
How about everyone here? Do you believe in setting New Year Resolutions? Are there any you would like to share?
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year!
~Carrie Posted by Carrie Weaver
Author of Secrets In Texas (on sale now!)
on 12/29/2006 |
THE QUIET CHILD winner (and a recipe for Carrie) |
| I've picked Ellie to win THE QUIET CHILD. I LOVE potato latkas. Had them in San Francisco with smoked salmon, sour cream and chives. So yummy. Can you tell I'm a foody? The cornish game hen tradition sounds yummy, too, And we love egg nog, although my son got us hooked on Silk nog (a soy product), which isn't quite as rich or caloric. We like it, but I'm sure others would find it a bit wimpy.
Carrie (I think the question was posed by Carrie, apologies if I got it wrong), here's our family recipe for lefsa. Part of the trick in making this comes from experience -- too wet and the dough won't roll out, too dry and it won't rise in the pan. Since we only do this once a year, we usually screw up a few before we hit it right.
Lefsa
3 Cups mashed potatoes, 3 TBL softened butter, 2 TBL oil, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp sugar, 3 TBL milk, 1 Cup flour
directions: cook potatoes in salted water, drain and chill (We usually make them the day before so they're cold when you're ready to start). Mix ingredients in order, you may need to add more flour for most desired consistency. (If you can't roll them without the dough sticking to the roller, you need more flour.) Take a palm-sized glob (technical term) and roll into ball. Flatten on flour-dusted rolling surface (I use a cloth covered cutting board) and roll out into very thin, tortilla-like patties. This you will transfer to a griddle. No oil of any kind is used to cook these. We let our iron griddle heat up and usually cook the lefsa on medium high to medium, depending on the stove. Now, the tricky part is flipping the lefsa. I have a long, flat wooden lefsa stick that my husband made me ten years ago. I think if you made your lefsa smaller, you could do the flipping with a regular spatula. So, you transfer the lefsa to the griddle, watch carefully so it doesn't burn and flip it to achieve a nice, even browning. These generally cook fast and can scorch if you're not paying attention. Again, think tortilla.
I also made tamales this year. We won't go there.
Cheers all and happy New Year! Posted by Deb Salonen
Author of A BABY ON THE WAY
on 12/26/2006 |
85-hours and counting |
| I saw this countdown clock on the news this morning. Sounds worse than four days, doesn't it? I'm done with my gift buying, but still have to venture forth into the grocery store and Costco for the necessary items for the various meals that will coming. Potatoes are important because part of our Scandinavian tradition includes "lefsa." For those of you who are unfamiliar with this -- it's a potato version of a crepe or tortilla. We can't make enough of them.
What are some of your traditions? I'd like to pick one from those who respond and send a copy of my latest holiday book, which happens to be a Harlequin American Romance title called THE QUIET CHILD. I loved that story since it took place around Christmas with a big, boysterous Gypsy family. There's even an appearance by Santa Claude and his Reinponies.
My current Superromance -- after four books outside the line -- is my first marriage-in-jeopardy story. My hero's name is Nathan, but when I first proposed the story he was called Alexander. Definitely needed to be changed since the heroine of THE QUIET CHILD is also an Alex. Very confusing genderbending as you might imagine.
Enough silliness. You are busy people with only 80-odd hours til Christmas, if that's your holiday of choice. If not, I'd still like to wish you joy, peace and a moment or two of escape into a good book. Thanks for reading Superromance. See you in the new year.
Deb Posted by Deb Salonen
Author of A BABY ON THE WAY
on 12/21/2006 |
A Winner from Cynthia! |
| Congratulations Christy Hawkes! My husband loved your idea of the battery operated slippers that make you look like Frankenstein. Now he wants a pair for Christmas! Send me your snail mail address at cynthoma@aol.com and I'll send you a copy of my January release, AN UNLIKELY FAMILY. Don't expect it until after Christmas though. The lines at the post office are scary!
Cynthia Posted by Cynthia Thomason
Author of An Unlikely Father
on 12/21/2006 |
Christmas traditions |
| Preparations for Christmas-wow, when do I start? It’s Dec 19 and I only just sent out Christmas cards today. I haven’t even begun shopping for presents. We don’t have a tree yet. My excuse is that I have a Dec 31 book deadline. Today I finished the second draft. What a relief! For the rest of the week I’ll work on Christmas and get caught up on other business stuff. Then the week after Christmas I’ll blitz through my book again before I send it off.
Caron, I remember making those red and green paper chains to go on the tree. Alas, my kids are too old for that. When I was a kid we used to sing carols around the tree on Christmas Eve. I tried to get my family to do it but even when they were little they just looked at me as if I was crazy. Sigh. Just because we all have terrible voices doesn’t mean we shouldn’t sing, right? We do enjoy decorating the tree as a family.
After 12 years in Australia this transplanted Canadian still finds it hard to get the Christmas feeling in the middle of summer. We’ve developed our own traditions for Christmas Day. Cold roast chicken, seafood, salad and champagne, a swim in the pool, a walk on the beach later in the day. I have to say, I don’t miss the cold and snow, or in the case of Vancouver, rain and more rain. We’ve got 15 adults and 9 children coming. Help! Everyone brings food and wine so it really is a case of the more the merrier.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Posted by Joan Kilby
Author of Beach Baby
on 12/19/2006 |
We Have A Winner! |
| We have a winner! An autographed copy of HOME FOR CHRISTMAS will go to Estella Kissell! Please e-mail your snail mail address to me at CarrieAuthor@aol.com and I'll mail it right out. Congratulations, Estella!
And on an interesting note, the winner was selected by Hazel the Tortie cat. Estella wrote that she has eight cats. Hm. I think maybe Hazel is hinting that a) cats DO read, or b) they have telepathic abilities. LOL. Never underestimate a feline!
Wishing everyone a safe, happy holiday!!!
Posted by Carrie Weaver
Author of SECRETS IN TEXAS
on 12/18/2006 |
Paper Chains |
| Interesting to read everyone's comments about Christmas preparations. I can't imagine 10 overnight guests and two holiday dinners for that many people--the grocery shopping alone would finish me! Maybe not the shopping itself, but the putting away, finding cupboard and fridge space for all those extras. What a thing to complain about, though! Plenty. A while ago a friend told me I take my good fortune for granted, that although I think I'm aware of how lucky I am, I'm not really. She had a point. Which reminds me, I haven't donated to the Christmas Cheer Board yet.
I don't work outside the home and at the moment I don't have a deadline, so things aren't hectic here. Over the past few years I've noticed that Christmas was becoming a list of chores rather than a time to enjoy--that didn't seem right. This year I'm looking at it differently, doing the cleaning, shopping, decorating and cooking with an eye to the fun of it. Who ever said we should run ourselves ragged and arrive at Christmas Day stressed and frazzled? I'm opting for a little dust and fewer cookies, and although I've tried to be thoughtful with gifts, those packages aren't going to make anyone's dreams come true. The tree isn't perfect, either, but it's pretty.
We're putting it up tonight. The 15th was always the day for it when I was a kid and it still feels like the best day--all the others are too early or too late. I've been making a paper chain for it--small loops of red and green tissue paper so it'll look delicate--it's taking hours. I might as well be making a quilt! But it's a peaceful activity and it's bringing back happy memories of my mom keeping us busy cutting, looping, pasting to make long, long chains. My brother and I made the cards we sent--using glitter which I'm sure must have got all over the recipients' clothes and furniture! We made floating candles, too, melting stubs of crayons for the colour, and using holly-shaped tartlet pans for moulds. It seemed magical that the flame could burn when the candle was surrounded by water--I never was scientifically inclined! Have any of you read Lucy and Tom's Christmas by Shirley Hughes? I love it--it's a British children's book about a non-commercial, imperfect, comfy Christmas.
Do the demands of the season take away your enjoyment of Christmas? Do you have traditions that make you feel peaceful and nostalgic? Or do traditions keep you in a rut you'd like to get out of? Or do you wish the whole season would just go away and let life get back to normal?? Posted by Caron Todd
Author of A Different Kind of Summer
on 12/15/2006 |
Something I forgot to say |
| I forgot to mention that I'm giving away two copies of On Angel Wings here on this blog today. To the first two people who email me at rdfox@worldnet.att.net. If you aren't in the first two, a lot of Harlequin authors will be chatting on www.eharlequin.com today. You can sign up for a lot of great books by going early to the site and looking for the information on the holiday chat. Hope everyone gets books in their Santa socks this year.
Roz Posted by Roz Denny Fox
Author of On Angel Wings
on 12/13/2006 |
Managing to Write and Get Through the Holidays |
| Just checking in during one of the busiest times of the year. I thought I'd ask if anyone coming on the blog has the secret to organizing shopping, wrapping, mailing, cooking and Writing! Every year it seems like I feel more stressed at a time I want to be able to enjoy the season, my family, and an occupation I love. It's difficult to shop early, because you miss the new things out that the family might want. Yet if you mail too late packages get bogged down in the system. I'm not good at cooking ahead and freezing things. I can never decide what I want to serve (ham or turkey) until the week before Christmas. And I'm trying to keep my normal writing schedule. So--what do I need to do? All ideas welcome. Roz Posted by Roz Denny Fox
Author of On Angel Wings
on 12/13/2006 |
Frazzled in Phoenix |
| Count me among the holiday frazzled. I think it may be the result of trying to be all things to all people and wanting to make the holidays special for the people I love. The result is a frazzled me who is so stressed I start doing silly things that make my life more difficult.
Case in point, I left my debit card in the slot of a self-service photocopier on Friday. In a kinder, gentler time, someone would have turned in my card at the cashier. Instead, one or more folks thought they hit the photocopy lottery and had free copies on my dime, er, dollars. I beat myself up about having been so distracted that I left my card. Silly, silly thing to do. After I forgave myself, I started thinking bad things about the people who took advantage of my mistake. Enter guilt. I was NOT having any of those good-will-toward-my-fellow-man fuzzy feelings.
I really want to get back to humming Christmas carols and being excited about the season. I'd love any suggestions for how folks here manage to keep the stress of the season to a minimum. Or tips on making the holiday season simple and enjoyable. Or even suggestions on how to keep my debit card in my possession at all times...
I'm offering an autographed copy of Home For Christmas to one lucky responder here on the blog. I'll be using the scraps of paper system, with one of my cats selecting the winner. They can't read, so it's got to be a fair drawing! LOL, I guess that's a rash assumption. I'll be glad to accept opinions on whether cats can read, too.
~Carrie
Posted by Carrie Weaver
Author of SECRETS IN TEXAS
on 12/11/2006 |
Movies, the First Time |
| This is actually my first time blogging here, so hi everyone!
I wanted to talk movies because I love them, every kind. Suspense, adventure, drama, romantic comedy, you name it. I especially love movies that keep me guessing until the end. You know, the kind with twists and turns making it difficult, if not impossible, to tell how the story’s going to play out.
My son and I love guessing what’s going to happen next in movies. Why a certain turning point either works or doesn’t work. I think he’s a writer in the making. It drives my husband and daughter crazy. But to me, letting myself get carried away with the characters and story, with the surprises in the plot, is part of the fun. That’s why I hardly ever watch movies twice.
Oh, there are a few that I can watch over and over again. Either because I find the dialogue so interesting, or the story/acting so engaging that I find new ways to enjoy the movie for the second, third, even fourth time. Movies like THE PRINCESS BRIDE, or WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING. But for the most part, once I’ve seen a movie I never can enjoy it as much the second time around. The surprise is gone. Movies like THE STING, THE CRYING GAME, THE USUAL SUSPECTS, and THE SIXTH SENSE.
Then there are movies that don’t really have plot twists as much as they totally blow my mind with regard to new, never before seen story concepts or production innovations. Movies like TOY STORY, JURASSIC PARK, or THE MATRIX.
Remember seeing TOY STORY for the first time and marveling at the incredible animation? Or JURASSIC PARK? I kept thinking, “How did they do that?” I was on the edge of my seat that entire movie. People were dying left and right, so everyone was fair game. I really wasn’t sure who was going to make it off that island alive.
So whether you’re like me and don’t normally watch movies more than once, or you’re the type of person that watches favorite movies over and over, there must be a movie you’d love to see again for the first time.
I’m curious. What type of movie watcher are you? The one-timer, or the over and over againer? And what movie/movies do you wish you could see again for the first time?
Posted by Helen Brenna
Author of Treasure
on 12/8/2006 |
A Different World |
| Hi Everyone, I'm finally warm again. After living in Florida for nearly thirty years, I was transported back to the cold winter days of my past in Ohio. My husband, son and I just got back from a four day mini vacation in our nation's capitol. A beatiful city to be sure, but the temperatures were twenty degrees below normal for this time of year. One night it was forecast to be between 18 and 22 degrees. Highs in the daytime of only the low thirties. There we were - no long johns, no earmuffs, our $1.49 K-Mart gloves, and six tubes of Chapstick!
But what a great trip nevertheless. Although the last time I was in Washington, fifteen years ago, I went in every government building without being "wanded" and without putting all my worldly goods through a scanner. Now visitors are searched at every, and I mean EVERY building. Okay, it's necessary, but it's also sad. And we couldn't get in on a White House tour - we hadn't made prior arrangements to be security-checked. Another notable detail of our trip, we ate in a 1750 tavern in Annapolis where George Washington ate. But in his day he didn't watch a plasma TV showing the weekend football highlights. Hmmm... somehow took away from the ambiance.
So, I'm curious. What do you do to keep warm? I'll let my hubby pick the most original idea submitted, and that person gets a copy of my January book, the third and last of my Heron Point, Florida series, AN UNLIKELY FAMILY. So, think about it - what's the last creative thing you did to warm your tootsies?
Keep warm, everyone!
Cynthia Posted by Cynthia Thomason
Author of An Unlikey Father
on 12/7/2006 |
Just a little bit sappy |
| As I write this, the white lights on my Christmas tree are twinkling. My husband and I are sipping wine in front of a blazing fireplace. The house smells like baked cookies. And today I teared up over a romantic holiday movie I taped from the Lifetime channel.
I am definitely getting into the spirit of the holiday.
I even had a good time on Sunday at the mall, traditionally not one of my favorite places. I did a multi-author booksigning for an anthology I currently have out -- it's called, believe it or not, Dashing through the Mall. My favorite customer was a handsome twenty-two year old, shopping with his mother no less, who bought books for his romance-loving girlfriend. Sigh.
Love really is all around us -- especially during the holidays. Call me a sap, but I'm too busy humming carols to hear you.
How about you? Are you catching holiday fever? (Did I mention I'm in that post-deadline, pre-revision slice of time otherwise known as nirvana? Hmmm. Maybe that has something to do with it)
Posted by Darlene Gardner
Author of Assignment Humbug in the anthology Dashing through the Mall
on 12/4/2006 |
Creatures of habit |
Human beings are so fascinating, don't you think? We're packed with idiosyncrasies and contradictions. I wonder how many of our personal quirks are present at birth, just waiting to bloom into full-blown eccentricities, and how many are learned.
I tend to get insights into my story projects while I'm in the shower, which makes me wonder if my muse lives in the tile grout. Although it's nice to be so clean all the time, I wonder if there's a shortcut, if I could train myself, like Pavlov's dog, to come up with ideas without having to strip down and get all wet. Maybe I could keep a tiny bottle of my shampoo on my work desk and take a sniff when I get stuck? Run my hand under some water when I need some quick inspiration? Hmmm.
How about you? Do you have any rituals that get your ideas flowing or your juices pumping? How do you kick start your day or get yourself in the mood for certain activities?
Posted by Terry McLaughlin
Author of The Rancher Needs a Wife, February 2007
on 12/1/2006 |
We Have a Winner: Kim W! |
By random drawing from ten little pieces of paper on the floor, KIM W has won a signed copy of A MAN OF HONOR. Congratulations. I hope you enjoy the story as much as I did writing it.
Kim, please send me your address through my email: linda@linda-barrett.com I'll mail it on Monday.
I've entered comments in the comments section. You guys made me laugh or nod in recognition.
Best to all,
Linda Posted by Linda Barrett
Author of HOUSEFUL OF STRANGERS, 3/07
on 12/1/2006 |
Parenting |
| Once upon a time, when my kids were little, I was pushing them through a store in the shopping cart when I heard a woman complaining to another about how her kids were driving her crazy. She looked frazzled, so I smiled in sympathy and told her I knew what she meant. She looked at my two preschoolers and shook her head. “No,” she replied gently, “my kids are in their twenties
Well…now my kids are in their twenties and the lady was right. Parenting hasn’t changed. It has just gotten more phone-oriented. No doubt about it, the twenties are a golden age, but there are so many decisions to be made with so little life experience. I remember once commenting to my husband that I would have enjoyed my twenties a lot more if someone would have just told me everything was going to work out all right.
So, when the kids call, I give them the benefit of my own experience, tell them everything will work out all right, tell myself that they have to make their own decisions…and then I call my Mom.
Posted by Jeannie Watt
Author of A Difficult Woman
on 11/30/2006 |
snow fun, s'no fun |
| Hi everyone. My subject heading alludes to the fact that I've been snowed in my northwest cabin since Monday when the snow started falling and I'm going CRAZY!!!!! When I lived in California, I used to fantasize about situations like this. Plenty of food, warmth, work to do--I'm on deadline for a book that's due in January--and deep snow all around. Watch what you fantasize about. It's incredibly beautiful, if I could figure out how to get a picture on this site, I'd post one. Tall pine trees, laden with snow, deep drifts outside the window. This morning though when I venture outside to attempt a walk into town, I had to turn back. Far too slippery and cold. So, that's my topic du jour. Anyone else ever been snowed in? Alone? Hmm, I need one of my fictional hero's to rescue me. Which one would I choose?
Posted by janice macdonald
Author of Out of Control, Novemeber, 2006
on 11/29/2006 |
Football...A New Game |
Hi everyone...
Linda Warren mentioned a Texas football game in her post and I thought, wham! I’ve got to share my latest crazy thing on this blog. I’ve become addicted to the game. Me…a grandma, who, until a couple of weeks ago, never even looked at the game on television. When you don’t know anything about it, the players looks like a bunch of guys trying to kill each other. But I began learning, and yesterday, I subscribed to Sports Illustrated! Have I gone over the edge or what?
It all started with a story I dreamed up. And, let’s face it, if the hero’s been an NFL pro, an author can’t fake the writing. So, here I am “sacrificing” for my art and loving it! Last weekend I actually watched a whole game by myself and was yelling from my chair. Green Bay was playing Seattle in the snow, no less. My husband ran to another room. He says I ask too many questions.
So, what’s the bigger lesson here? I’ve learned that it’s NEVER too late to take on something new. The experience not only keeps the brain sharp, but keeps the spirit young. I was like a kid watching that game. It was great. Anyway, that’s my take on it…just don’t ask me to actually play the game. I’m not that brave.
Have any of you indulged in some new activity or learning? Share with us. I’ll pick a name at random for a copy of A MAN OF HONOR.
Happy Second Childhood to Everyone,
Linda B.
Posted by Linda Barrett
Author of HOUSEFUL OF STRANGERS, 3/07
on 11/29/2006 |
WINNER!!!! |
| Hi all,
The WINNER of a copy of The Bad Son is…….(drawing)….. Karen. Please send me an address.
Thanks, ladies. We all have something in common—we love to read. Reading has filled many lonely hours for me and it’s a joy to meet so many ladies who enjoy the same thing. Keep reading. Super Romance, of course.
Today I discovered one of my least favorite things to do—Christmas shopping. I used to enjoy the hustle and bustle of Christmas. The older I get, the less enjoyment I’m finding. I’m really not Scrooge. It’s just waiting in line and looking and looking and not finding what I want. And when I do, they just sold the last one. Oh yeah, made my day.
Wishing you all a happy holiday season. And may you find exactly what you’re looking for. And it’s on sale.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Posted by Linda Warren
Author of The Bad Son
on 11/28/2006 |
What's your passion? |
| Through a turkey and stuffing overload, I finally remembered my blog day, which was Friday. I’m a little late.
Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We had a lot of company, a lot of food and a lot to be thankful for. I’m especially thankful for the people who buy our books. Thank you.
Friday was the big football game here in Texas—the Texas showdown between the University of Texas and Texas A&M. Texas has dominated this game forever, but this year A&M won. There was a lot of celebrating going on here in College Station. My husband even came home from deer hunting to watch the game. And in case you didn’t know, deer hunting in Texas is a national holiday to some guys, my husband included. But he’s very enthusiastic about football. I guess in the same sense that I am about writing.
We all have different passions, different things that make us happy, draw our interest and spark our enthusiasm. What’s yours? What makes you feel good? What makes you happy and puts a smile on your face?
Recently I received my American February cover, Once A Cowboy, and there’s a sexy cowboy on the cover. I was really excited about that. Put a big smile on my face. You can check it out on my Web site or on Amazon.
I’ll draw a winner of a copy of The Bad Son from the posts.
Take care and enjoy the rest of the holiday.
Posted by Linda Warren
Author of THE BAD SON
on 11/26/2006 |
And the winner is |
And the winner is Crystal. Crystal if you'll e-mail me your snail mail address at suecox27@yahoo.com, I'll send you your book. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Suzanne CoxPosted by Suzanne Cox
Author of unexpected daughter
on 11/23/2006 |
Yum Yum |
Since tomorrow's the day we all get to eat WAY too much, at least I will, I've got food on the brain. Of course that's nothing new. Have you made your "what I'm going to cook list"? Or maybe you've already started cooking. I'm procrastinating to the last minute. The dh will smoke turkeys injected with some kind of creole garlic butter. (couldn't serve healthy turkey meat, now could I?) We won't be having any of the Thanksgiving meals at my house, so we'll be packing our food out!! I'm making my favorite mexican corn casserole so I'll post the recipe below. What are your favorite Thanksgiving foods. I LOVE dressing with a little of that canned crannberry jelly stuff. YUM! I was thinking about making corn and crab bisque but so far haven't bought the stuff to make it, hmmm. I don't know. In honor of Thanksgiving I'm giving thanks for wonderful readers who buy our books. Today I'll be drawing from the names of everyone who posts and giving away a signed copy of my Dec. 06 book Unexpected Daughter which will be availabe soon. (that's right Dec. is actually just a few days away.) Happy Thanksgiving and have fun cooking and eating of course.
Here's the recipe!
1 large can cream corn and one large can whole kernel corn drained/ 1 box jiffy corn bread mix/ 1 egg/ one stick butter melted/ (1) 8 oz. sour cream/1 cup cheddar cheese grated/ 1 small can mild green chiles/ 1 small onion finely chopped.
mix all ingredients together and bake 30-45 minutes at 350 or until lightly browned and not jiggly when shaken (didn't know how else to say that,LOL)
ENJOY
hugs
Suzanne Cox
P.S. Be sure to check my web site I'll be adding a recipe page later this week for our favorite creole/ southern cooking. Posted by Suzanne Cox
Author of unexpected daughter
on 11/22/2006 |
Traveling on the Holidays |
| I don't know how many of you guys are traveling this holiday season but we're heading out on Wednesday to hook up with relatives. I'm dreading the airport lines---I just got back from two trips, one to Colorado to see the fall colors (incredible...I was so impressed) and another one to London. The lines in all the airports moved fairly quickly but I kept thinking about how much time I was wasting, just standing there. Then I started looking at the people around me and I realized I was missing out on some fantastic people-watching.
Is it just me or do you guys people watch, too? Posted by Kay David
Author of NOT WITHOUT CAUSE
on 11/20/2006 |
Blogging Everywhere |
| I blogged once, and I'm afraid it'll show up later, but I'm in a coffee shop, and at home, I only have dial-up. You wouldn't believe how slow dial-up is, if you're live in a place that has better access!
Anyway, I said that as Brenda and Melinda and I are blogging on eHarlequin.com this month about writing ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS--and whatever else takes our or the readers' fancy, I feel as if I'm just yakking everywhere. So maybe you all could talk?
If you'll tell us your favorite holiday traditions, I'll collect the names of people who post and draw one for a copy of the anthology that we've all signed.
My favorite tradition--chatting with my family in the silence and glow of the holiday lights. It's way early, but I love that so much I'm tempted to put them up now!
I hope this entry sticks! Posted by Anna Adams
Author of Once Upon a Christmas; All the Christmases to Come
on 11/15/2006 |
Blogging Everywhere |
| I blogged once, and I'm afraid it'll show up later, but I'm in a coffee shop, and at home, I only have dial-up. You wouldn't believe how slow dial-up is, if you're live in a place that has better access!
Anyway, I said that as Brenda and Melinda and I are blogging on eHarlequin.com this month about writing ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS--and whatever else takes our or the readers' fancy, I feel as if I'm just yakking everywhere. So maybe you all could talk?
If you'll tell us your favorite holiday traditions, I'll collect the names of people who post and draw one for a copy of the anthology that we've all signed.
My favorite tradition--chatting with my family in the silence and glow of the holiday lights. It's way early, but I love that so much I'm tempted to put them up now!
I hope this entry sticks! Posted by Anna Adams
Author of Once Upon a Christmas; All the Christmases to Come
on 11/15/2006 |
TV Junkie Wanna-Be |
While I'm in the midst of starting to think about what to buy everyone for Christmas this year, my mother has asked me what I want. Which is just as big of a mystery as what everyone else wants, quite frankly. There isn't a lot I want. Clothes are good but her taste and mine don't alway coincide, if you know what I mean. Books are good but my husband has suggested that I need to whittle away at my TBR pile before adding to it. (He's so not any fun!)
I don't watch any TV besides sports, mostly because TV times don't mesh with my schedule. The time I have to sit and watch for an hour is at the end of the evening, close to midnight, when all my work is done for the day and I need a little transition before sleeping. My husband and I used to watch West Wing on DVD at this time, one episode each night. It was a show we both loved and totally got into. Since we finished all those DVDs, we've stopped our nightly hour of TV together, and honestly, that's the only "us" time we really get. (Never mind that we work together in the same office on the same business seven days a week. We need something to do together that doesn't concern the company.)
So I'm thinking I'll ask for the DVD of the first season of...a different show. Only problem is I don't know enough about the shows available to pick one. I thought Friends, but DH doesn't care for it. (grrr.) Then I thought surely someone here would have some good suggestions. :)
So what show would you recommend? I've thought about M.A.S.H. and we also thought about Sex in the City. Not totally sold on either. Beyond that? Clueless. Any suggestions? I'd prefer something with more than one or two seasons because when I get addicted, I get Addicted. *g* Posted by Amy Knupp
Author of The Boy Next Door
on 11/15/2006 |
books |
| I'm afraid I'm more like Estella - I usually just start another pile. That's how I got into this situation! But I like Tammy's idea of the sticker on the spine. What a great way of seeing at a glance what I haven't read. And you could even prioritize with different color stickers. Although then I might spend my time putting stickers on the books rather than actually reading them!
Margaret Posted by Margaret Watson
Author of Small Town Secrets
on 11/15/2006 |
books |
| Hey, everyone, what do you do when your 'to be read' pile gets so tall that you're afraid it's going to do some serious damage if it topples over? I spent some time cleaning my office last weekend, but I didn't tackle the books sitting on the file cabinets next to my desk. Does anyone have any suggestions about what do do when the pile gets out of hand - besides adding a few more hours to the day?
Margaret Posted by Margaret Watson
Author of Small Town Secrets
on 11/14/2006 |
Deb's drawing winner |
| Again, I'm a day late. Re-reading my post I see I was going to pick my winner on Monday, but as you can guess, the first day back from a trip is often hectic. The laundry, the unpacking, the email!!!
Thanks for all the good wishes. They worked! I had a fabulous birthday weekend. We saw the play "Little Foxes" on Friday night. Excellent! Did everything on my list, except the dim sum (we ate at a Thai restaurant the night before and weren't in the mood the next morning). Oh, well, next time! We walked so much my feet still feel tender. Shopped, played and laughed a lot. Can't ask for more than that, right?
I asked my sister to pick a number and she chose lucky #7. That means Christy Hawkes gets to choose from my backlist and if I have a copy available, I'll put it in the mail.
If you want to see a few shots from my trip and read more about SF, come over to my blog. blog
Cheers, Deb Posted by Deb Salonen
Author of A BABY ON THE WAY
on 11/14/2006 |
Research and Joe and Winner |
Good morning, readers. I was so glad to see your comments about research. Apparently there was some problem with approving comments, that's why some didn't show up right away.
Joe, thanks for posting. I read in Saturday's paper here that a firefighter had been injured on Friday and as always, was praying it wasn't you. Remember how when I came to the firehouse, we'd wait for calls forever? Readers, Joe meant it that you can email him. He's a generous man with his time. A real sweetheart.
Winner of the book is Carol Mintz. Carol please email me at kshayweb@rochester.rr.com. Send your address and the book you'd like.
Last, I invite all of you to come visit my blog and my website in general. I run a contest continually on my site, and this month, in honor of the reissue of THE LIPSTICK CHRONICLES, an anthology that I'm in and was originally released in 2003, I'm running a special contest on my personal blog. Hey, Joe, remember that book? As I recall you were reading the excerpt at one of our signings.
Till next time...Happy reading.
Kathy Posted by Kathryn Shay
Author of TELL ME NO LIES
on 11/13/2006 |
Night posting |
This will be my last posting today. Not a lot of action on the site today, but I'll draw name for the winner of a book from readers who post by midnight. Thanks to those of you who did weigh in research.
Keep reading all of those wonderful Superromances out there. My next book is out in May, THE WRONG MAN FOR HER, and it's Nick's story (the brother from TELL ME NO LIES.) He turned out to be a great guy, and a wonderful hero, after he groveled a bit to heroine . Till next time.
Kathy Posted by Kathryn Shay
Author of TELL ME NO LIES
on 11/10/2006 |
Research, etc. |
Afternoon post:
I see Joe hasn't posted yet. He's probably out fighting a fire or saving someone's life.
As a reader, I like to see the details of the characters' professions in books. Too often an author writes about a doctor or teacher and you never see them in action. Or, if you do, and you know anything about the profession, you can tell if the writer doesn't. I'm highly critical of teacher books. Most people don't have a clue what it's like to be in the classroom. Maybe you can't if you haven't been there.
I'm a JAG groupie, and watch all the reruns. One thing I like about the show is that you get to see what being a lawyer for the navy is like. Though I do doubt real JAG lawyers get to do so many dangerous things as Harm and Mac do. But, of course, there's the added benefit of seeing David James Eliot in cool casual clothes . Man, I think he's a doll.
Kathy Posted by Kathryn Shay
Author of TELL ME NO LIES
on 11/10/2006 |
Good morning and research and a guest |
Good morning Super readers. Today's my blog day and I intend to post throughout the day. Like last time, I'll choose a name from all who post to win a free book--one of my Harlequins, if it's available.
One thing I'd like to talk about today is research. How do readers feel about books that are well researched? Do you get tired of too much detail? Does it lend realism? Are you interested in hearing about careers and different settings?
Case in point: I did a trilogy for Harlequin (actually four books) about firefighters. I wanted them to be real so I worked with my hometown city fire department. I met a great firefighter--Joe Giorgione--who became my go-to-guy
about setting fires and fighting them, and medical runs. I actually got to ride the trucks (imagine my suruprise when the first call I went on was a stabbing), go in the medical rigs, attend their training, eat in the fire halls and have long conversations into the night with firefighters. It was absolutely wonderful. Have any of you read those books? What did you think of the research base?
And guess what? I had lunch with Joe this week and he agreed to come here and post about this experience. I think he's going to say a few words after I post and then he can answer any questions you might have. Oh, and if you'd like to see him, or any of the pictures I took while doing this, go to my website, under photos, and the firefighter ones should be there.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Kathy Shay
Posted by kathryn shay
Author of TELL ME NO LIES
on 11/10/2006 |
A day late |
| Yesterday was my day to blog. Ack! What is it with me and calendars lately? Does anyone else have a love/hate relationship with time? I actually stopped wearing a watch a few years ago because I felt it was controlling my life. Silly, I know, but when I lost my watch on a hike in Yosemite, I took that as a sign. <:-)>
I'm loving those holiday covers to our left. My November American (THE QUIET CHILD) is one of my absolute favorites. I "know" what the little boy is looking at as he peeks out the window...Santa Claude and his reinponies.
I have to make this short and sweet because I'm not only a day late, I'm getting ready to take off for a trip to the city (San Francisco) tomorrow. Should be so much fun, even if it might rain. I plan to walk the labarynth at Grace Cathedral and see the MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) and eat dim sum on Sunday morning. I'll try to check back here on Monday, and will draw a name from any who respond to this blog. The winner can pick a book from my back list and I'll include a little momento from my SF journey.
See you soon.
Deb Posted by Deb Salonen
Author of A BABY ON THE WAY
on 11/9/2006 |
Quirky movies... |
| Okay, I need help so I thought I'd come to the place where we can talk books, life and movies. :) I'm searching for quirky movies that are a little off the wall, not everyone's cup of tea and yet they have a following. An example of that would be Monty Python's Holy Grail or even the old black and whites for certain aspects. A group of movies that are different, but have a uniqueness in common. Any suggestions? I'm posting this question here and on a few other loops so no need to respond twice. And thank you!!! I need all the help I can get with this one... Posted by Kay Stockham
Author of Montana Skies, Coming January 2007
on 11/4/2006 |
Romance Heroes We Like |
| Oh, I see the Christmas stories are here--it's a perfect time for them. We had snow the other day and I've been making lists of what for who and what to bake. The Christmas covers always draw me in. Lovely.
I'm so groggy from a cold this morning--in spite of coffee my thoughts are in a sort of blanked-out jumble. I hope they'll clear up as I type!
Roz's and Kay's questions about what kind of book keeps you up late reading and what is it about Superromances that you like (the answers were really interesting to read) tie in to something I've been wondering about lately: romance heroes.
When I started reading romances years and years ago (some by Sara Seale were in our class library in grade seven--loved them!--and the woman I babysat for had a stack of Presents--I never minded how late she and her husband got home.) Anyway, the heroes in those romances were always the strong, silent type. Really silent. Basically, they never spoke to the heroine.
In real life that would be kind of annoying. And yet I liked them. It just occurred to me this morning it might be because they were blank slates--a reader could see anything she wanted in them.
Most books now include scenes from the hero's point of view and we know more about them than we used to. The same kind of heroes still seem to be popular, though: cowboys, for example, and tycoons, firemen, police, soldiers, doctors, sheiks. Scientists are a favourite of mine--three of the four heroes in my books so far (if you count mathemetician/computer guys) have been scientists. I've wondered why I like them so much. It might be because they can figure things out, understand things that are a mystery to me. Maybe it comes down to the idea of power and protection. If a guy can figure out the mysteries of the world he might be a good protector, mightn't he?
I'd be curious to hear what kind of romance heroes you like and why, and whether any particular hero has stayed in your mind. I'm going to go steam and rest (lazy, I know--it's only a cold!) and will come back in a bit to hit the 'approve' button so any messages will show up in the blog.
Hope you're all having a sniffle-free day,
Caron
PS You have no idea how many corrections were needed to make all that come out in any sensible order! Do surgeons operate when they have colds? Do pilots fly? I sure hope not! ;)
PPS Hi, Suzanne. What an awful thing to happen with your nursing licence! Hope you get it all straightened out. Posted by Caron Todd
Author of A Different Kind of Summer
on 11/3/2006 |
Drop by posting |
I think I sent a mistaken post by hitting save too early. I was trying to upload a kitty picture which I will do later. I've had a great time reading all the recent posts. And wanted to post hugs to Sherry here since I'm only just now finding her post about her family.
Do you ever have too much "drama"? And I don't mean the real kind, like Sherry and her family are dealing with. That puts stuff like what I've dealt with into a very real perspective. For example, I did let my nursing license lapse (get out of date). I didn't realize it had happened (long story why) but I haven't worked in the hospital since well before it lapsed and all I do is teach high school and I don't have to turn in an updated license. WELL when I tried to get it renewed they were really tough on me and I finally asked her was I going to have to go to jail!! LOL, of course I wasn't! They just WANT MONEY!! I have to pay a fine. Don't know how much yet. So I ran around yesterday (while I wasn't working with students) and tried to get that settled. So much drama. I could have understood if I'd been working with patients. Oh well. I'm off to work and see what more drama will occur today. Posted by Suzanne Cox
Author of unexpected daughter
on 11/3/2006 |
Thanks to all who blogged 11/1 |
| Thanks to everyone who came on and talked about what keeps them reading a book past lights out. I loved that Laurie stayed home to read a book even if she does feel guilty. Danny and Carol will be receiving copies of Angels Of The Big Sky. Have a good blog day today.
Roz Posted by Roz Denny Fox
Author of On Angel Wings 12/06
on 11/2/2006 |
Winner! |
| Just wanted to pop in and pick a winner from the fantastic responses received on why you all like Superromances. The winner is Maureen! Maureen, please email me for shipping instructions. Congrats! Kay Posted by Kay Stockham
Author of Montana Skies, Coming January 2007
on 11/1/2006 |
Let's Talk Writing Today |
| I'm up early this morning and was trying to think of something to blog about. I thought we should talk about some faction of writing. For instance, it's a rare book that keeps me up reading all night any more. There used to be a lot of them that I couldn't put down. So I ask why the change? Is it me? After writing does a person become a different type of reader? Mostly the books that keep me up now have some kind of suspense in them. So I guess I'm asking the same question of blog readers. What in a story will keep you up and lights on past the time you should be in bed sleeping?
This is the first blog I've done where I don't have my current book in hand to give away copies. If anyone would like a copy of my Sept. book still, Angels Of The Big Sky---email me at rdfox@worldnet.att.net and give me your snail mail address. Have a good day. I hope November is starting great for you all.
Roz Posted by Roz Denny Fox
Author of On Angel Wings 12/06
on 11/1/2006 |
The Great Pumpkin |
Happy Halloween! It's hard to believe it's October. One year ago this month my first book, Montana Secrets, hit the shelves, and what a year it's been since! For over five years I wrote in hopes of getting that elusive pumpkin,
uh---contract, and four sales later that hope is still there. To sell another book, to get another contract. Not a lot has changed, and yet everything has.
In celebration of the one year anniversary of Montana Secrets, Halloween, and the upcoming release of Montana Skies this January, I'll choose a winner from those who answer the following questions: What do you like BEST about Superromances? Why are Supers the category romance line you read when there are so many others out there?
Let us know what you think and why. The winner will receive a small surprise just in time for the upcoming holiday season.
Can't wait to read your responses! Posted by Kay Stockham
Author of Montana Skies, Coming Soon!
on 10/31/2006 |
Unexpected Nice Surprises |
| Hi all,
I had an unexpected surprise this weekend and I wanted to share it with you. Look to the left of your screen. Do you see the little girl on the cover of The Bad Son? Isn’t she adorable? The little girls name is Corey Mae and she lives in Oakville, Ontario. Her grandmother wrote to let me know that Corey had posed for the cover. And she wanted to buy a signed book to keep for Corey when she’s older. Well, needless to say, I’m sending her a book free of charge.
I’ve loved that cover from the first moment I saw it and I’ve had a lot of people asking me about the little girl. Up until now I’ve had to say that I had no idea who she was. Now I can say her name is Corey and she lives in Canada. And she has a grandmother who is just as proud as she can be.
I often wonder about the people on my covers. Sometimes the models look like the characters I have in my head. Sometimes they don’t. The Bad Son cover was right on target. The little girl looked just like the one in my head and she’s even more real to me now. Those unexpected surprises are just the best. Her grandmother sent me a recent photo and I will try to upload it. If you don’t see a photo, you will know I’m technically challenged.
I will give a free copy of one of the McCain series books, your choice, to the first person who can tell me the name of the little girl in The Bad Son.
And thanks to Carrie Weaver for letting me take her blog spot. Have a great day.
Posted by Linda Warren
Author of The Bad Son
on 10/30/2006 |
Some fall color |
| Just slipping in for a quick hello. I've been off on some travels -- a research trip to San Antonio, Texas, for next year's Superromance continuity and yesterday I went to Yosemite National Park to absorb some fall color. I know many of you live in areas where fall color is something you take for granted, but in the part of California where I live, you have to go looking for it. I posted some shots in my blog, if you'd like to have a look.
I thought I'd try to post a photo from my Texas trip here. These are the famous North Star Mall boots. Ostrich, of course.
Cheers, all!
Deb
Posted by Deb Salonen
Author of THE LAWS OF LOVE at eHarlequin.com
on 10/29/2006 |
Unexpected Nice Surprises |
| Hi all,
I had an unexpected surprise this weekend and I wanted to share it with you. Look to the left of your screen. Do you see the little girl on the cover of The Bad Son? Isn’t she adorable? The little girls name is Corey Mae and she lives in Oakville, Ontario. Her grandmother wrote to let me know that Corey had posed for the cover. And she wanted to buy a signed book to keep for Corey when she’s older. Well, needless to say, I’m sending her a book free of charge.
I’ve loved that cover from the first moment I saw it and I’ve had a lot of people asking me about the little girl. Up until now I’ve had to say that I had no idea who she was. Now I can say her name is Corey Mae and she lives in Canada. And she has a grandmother who is just as proud as she can be.
I often wonder about the people on my covers. Sometimes the models look like the characters I have in my head. Sometimes they don’t. The Bad Son cover was right on target. The little girl looked just like the one in my head and she’s even more real to me now. Those unexpected surprises are just the best. Her grandmother sent me a recent photo and I will try to upload it. If you don’t see a photo, you will know I’m technically challenged.
I will give a free copy of one of the McCain series books, your choice, to the first person who can tell me the name of the little girl in The Bad Son.
And thanks to Carrie Weaver for letting me take her blog spot. Have a great day.
Posted by Linda Warren
Author of The Bad Son
on 10/29/2006 |
You know what John Lennon said . . . |
. . . Life is what happens when you're making other plans.
I've been away from the internet for most of the past month because it's been an emotional roller-coaster around my house. My daughter went into labor with my first grandchild 13 1/2 weeks early. While we were unsuccessfully trying to convince the baby not to come, a cousin passed away as the result of a massive heart attack. Three days after his funeral, my dad fell and shattered his ankle. Four days after the surgery to repair his ankle, Dad suddenly became ill and passed away. The day after his funeral, my tiny little granddaughter, who weighed less than 3 pounds, was diagnosed with an e.coli based form of meningitis, sepsis, and pneumonia.
It may be hard to believe, but in between all the valleys, we also had some peaks. The minute my granddaughter was born was a high, and so was the first time I felt those incredibly tiny fingers try to close around my gloved finger in the incubator. Learning that the e.coli had left her system, and then that the meningitis was gone carried us to peaks of joy, and the day my daughter got to hold her baby for the first (and only) time so far was another great day for the entire family. Yesterday when I visited, Abigail was awake and alert for more than an hour. She's just barely passed the 3 pound mark, but this tiny and determined little baby struggled to hold her head up and look at her mother and me as we sat beside her bed.
I also learned that the doctors encourage us to read to the baby as part of her healing process. Like I need to be asked!!! My daughter didn't bother to tell them that I already have books packed in my bag, ready to read the minute Abigail is ready for stories. So tomorrow, when I load up my bag of books and set off for the hospital to spend an hour reading to my tiny baby granddaughter, is going to be another great day. Not only is this something I can do that's more productive than gazing into the incubator, but my love of reading is something I've been wanting to share with my granddaughter since the minute I learned she was on her way to join us! In another few months, I'll be able to hold her in my arms and read, but for now, I'll gleefully read to her through the open door of the incubator.
The amazing thing to me is that the doctors say it doesn't matter what we read to her. We don't have to read just children's books, we can read this month's book club selection, books we're judging for contests, books we're reading just for fun. We just need to read aloud. If that isn't a testament to the power of reading, I don't know what is!
Posted by Sherry Lewis
Author of Her Secret Family
on 10/26/2006 |
Daydreaming of destinations |
I renewed my passport this week. I took a few moments, before I tucked the old one in the envelope, to flip through the pages and remember the trips responsible for those official-looking marks and bits of paper. It was difficult saying good-bye to one of my favorite souvenirs, but I'm looking forward to starting my next collection of bureaucratic ink stamps.
Where should I go, do you think? Where have you been that you'd recommend? Keep in mind I don't do the tough spots, so a base camp on Everest or a trading post up the Amazon are not going to hold much appeal.
I'd like to see more of my own country, too. So far I've traveled through much of the southwestern United States. What's out there in the Midwest, or the South, or along the Atlantic seaboard that I shouldn't miss? What treasures are tucked into small towns or state parks off the beaten path?
There's a wonderful world waiting for me out there, I'm sure of it. What parts have you enjoyed?
Posted by Terry McLaughlin
Author of Make-Believe Cowboy
on 10/20/2006 |
Keeping busy |
| Well, here it is. My very first blog. I thought I’d start by posting a picture of my new baby—which I will hopefully do, even though computers always fight me tooth and nail. My new baby is fun because I’ve been going out to play with him instead of doing what I should be doing, which is meeting all my deadlines. I am one of those people who, if there is just enough on my plate for me to comfortably accomplish…I immediately add one more thing. I sign up for lessons. I agree to help with an event. I decide it’s time to learn to knit. And the crazy thing is, I enjoy the chaos of trying to do all this stuff. Is there anyone else out there who does this? Please tell me I’m not alone. Posted by Jeannie Watt
Author of A Difficult Woman
on 10/19/2006 |
Computers Hate |
| You can see how successful I was uploading my photo. Trust me. My baby pony is very cute. I might try one more time...and if you see another box with an annoying X in it, I apologize. I've never had much trouble with cars, but computers... Posted by Jeannie Watt
Author of A Difficult Woman
on 10/19/2006 |
Are you a morning person? |
| Here in the northwest, it's not quite light yet and I'm sitting at the window, just made coffee and the aroma fills my tiny cabin. I realize how much I love the early morning and thought I'd throw the question out. So. Any night people out there? I can see the appeal of that; I've tried to be a night person, but I'm hopeless. I fall asleep around ten. Posted by Janice Macdonald
Author of Out of Control
on 10/18/2006 |
Reaching "The End" |
Torrential rains fell in Houston yesterday. If you watched the weather reports, I'm sure you saw cars submerged to their hoods. Well, I tried to go to work--conscientious person that I am (idiot would be a better word)--and didn't get further than my own neighborhood before I pulled to the side of the road. Shortly afterwards, I made a U-Turn, followed another driver across the median, and drove right back home. Yay! I made it. And went directly to my computer.
An extra day of writing for an author who also works a day job is a wonderful gift. Yesterday was extra special because I typed, The End, on the manuscript I was working on. I brought the baby home, and it felt so good, I just continued to sit there and stare at the screen. I felt complete. And satisfied. Then it struck me that I often have the same feeling when I finish reading a good story. It's a happy feeling. I don't want to move. I just want to hold the book and bask in the afterglow of good story, good characters, good triumphs, and a good ending.
Do you feel that way when you close a book for the last time? Are those the ones on your Keeper Shelf? How do you choose which books go on that shelf?
Best to all,
Linda, who's happy that the sun shone today in Houston
Posted by Linda Barrett
Author of A MAN OF HONOR
on 10/17/2006 |
FREE online read |
| Hi, all,
This is not my regular day to blog, but I wanted to let you know that my free online Superromance THE LAWS OF LOVE is now live at eHarlequin.com. Here's a direct link. link
Hope this works. If not, I have a link from my blog.
This is a quick read and there will be a new chapter every Monday for the next seven weeks. Come on over and meet Cuddles the Pig.
Deb Posted by Deb Salonen
Author of THE LAWS OF LOVE at eHarlequin.com
on 10/13/2006 |
Sometimes I should just stay home |
| Do you ever have those days when you really should just get back in bed. I had one of those recently. I'd gotten up early to go to Wal-Mart (gotta beat the crowd you know) I'm talking like 6:30am. when I got back home I realized I had on two completely different tennis shoes, one was white and one was blue. But I pressed on and headed to do some shopping and managed to lock my keys in my car. That required an hour and a half wait for my husband to arrive with a spare set. Then just as I unlocked the door and reached to pull it open my cell phone slipped from my hand and dropped to the ground breaking into three or four pieces. Luckily it's an indestructable dinosaur and I put it back together and the crazy thing actually worked. I realized that I really should have given up when I noticed the different color shoes and saved my errands for another day that didn't start off with a bang. Of course I wondered why everyone at Wal-mart was smiling and friendly. Was it simply southern charm or were they afraid the crazy lady in the mixed up shoes might go ballistic at any moment. Guess I'll never know. I check my shoes before I go out the door now.
Posted by Suzanne Cox
Author of Unexpected Daughter December 2006
on 10/11/2006 |
Travel |
| My April 07 release is about an artist who creates shadowboxes. She lost her mother at an early age and is close to only a small circle of friends. As I began to research the book, I realized a lot of writers express their creativity in ways other than writing. They paint, they do needlepoint, they scrapbook... It seems once you start expressing yourself, it's hard to stop!
The thought set my brain going in a different direction (as usual) and I began to wonder what our readers do, creatively-speaking. What's your favorite creative endeavor? My mother was an incredible quilter and her legacy of quilts, wall-hangings, etc. is something my sister and I so enjoy. For years, I loved doing ceramics. I even had a little business when I was in high school. I sold soap dishes, vases, Christmas trees made from clay, you name it. My favorite commission came from a guy who was giving his wife a diamond ring for Easter and he had me make an Easter egg he could hide the ring in! Do you have a favorite way to express your cretivity?
Posted by Kay David
Author of SAFE IN HIS ARMS
on 10/9/2006 |
Keepers |
First, an off-topic "Keeper." We adopted a kitten from the Humane Society since I last blogged, and I wanted to show her off. Her name is Luna, short for Lunatic, and she tends to live up to it. *g*
Anyway...we all talk about our Keeper Shelf, referring to the books we've read that were SO GOOD we want to hang on to them forever and reread them at will. I do it too, although with all the books I have on my to-be-read pile, I don't have a lot of room, so I tend to be extra picky on what I won't lend out or give away.
The thing is, I think I'm in a tiny minority. I never reread books. Never. Even books I absolutely loved. I keep them...they're still on my shelf. But I have SO many other books to read for the first time, I just can't bring myself to pull down one where I already know what's going to happen. I've tried a couple times in the past to reread something. Can't do it.
What about you? How often do you reread your favorites? Do you have a keeper shelf and is it dusty or well-used? Am I the only one who can't seem to reread because I'm too distracted by fresh reads? Posted by Amy Knupp
Author of The Boy Next Door
on 10/5/2006 |
Fall TV Shows |
| I spent last night torn between a couple of television shows and the book I'm currently reading. This is a new experience for me, because for years we didn't watch television during the week. With three girls in high school and all their activities and homework, we just didn't have time. Now that all my kids are in college, my husband and I are watching television regularly for the first time in a long time.
I've become a big fan of Prison Break - I know, an odd choice for a woman who loves romance - because of the terrific storytelling and compelling characters. But my favorite shows are the ones that intertwine a relationship with the story line. I started watching Standoff because I was interested in the two main characters and their relationship/job conflicts. And I perked up when my daughter told me that one of the main characters on Law and Order:SVU was going to be involved in a relationship this year.
What are some of the other television shows out there that do a good job of combining relationships with another story line? Any suggestions? Any favorites?
Margaret Posted by Margaret Watson
Author of Small Town Secrets
on 10/4/2006 |
I forgot to pick a winner -- ACK! |
| I just picked the winner at my blog and was reminded that I'd neglected to post a winner on the Superromance blog. Mia culpa. I came down with a really miserable cold and have been out of action for almost two weeks. It's one of those low-grade fever with a really horrible cough kind of colds. I even went to the doctor, convinced I had pnuemonia, but he said, "It's a virus. I can't help you." Ack!
Anyway, I did pick a winner. Tammy Garcia
Thanks for being so patient. Email me and we'll figure out which book you'd most like to see coming your way.
Deb Posted by Deb Salonen
Author of BRINGING BABY HOME, Har 8/06
on 10/1/2006 |
AND THE WINNER IS |
| And the winner is
I'm drawing
Maureen
Congratulations! Please send me your address and the name of the book you want.
And Kim, since I deleted your post, I'll give you a book, too.
Thanks so much for sharing. It was fun
Posted by Linda Warren
Author of The Bad Son
on 9/30/2006 |
What type of heroine are you? |
| About three months ago I finished working on my WIP and went to bed about ten. I watched the news for about five minutes, too depressing. I started flipping the channels. I stopped on Sex And The City. (I know I’m behind on my TV viewing) I’d never watched this show, but I’d heard plenty about it. I know my mouth was open in shock most of the show because I had to close it several times. Three thoughts kept running through my head, “Can they do that on TV.” “Can they say that on TV?” And “OhmyGod!!!” I came to the conclusion that these four women were tramps. But you know what? The next night I was watching it again. I wanted to see if there were any boundaries for them.
The more I watched the reruns, the more I realized they were all searching for love and Mr. Right. The central romance of Carrie and Mr. Big is carried throughout the story and it wraps up with a true Harlequin ending. Of course, a Harlequin heroine doesn’t go through that many men to find Mr. Right. But these women were very vulnerable and I guess that’s what kept me watching.
Some friends and I meet for lunch every now and then. We met last week and I brought up the show. Of course they all had watched it when it was in prime time. The talk got around to which of the four characters fit our own personalities; Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte or Miranda. We had two Miranda’s, opinionated, independent career women, three Charlotte’s, believing in love and a happy ever after. I was dubbed a Charlotte right off the bat. I’ve never met a Samantha, an in-your-face-no-moral-boundary attitude and uncaring of what other people think. I’ve known a few Carrie’s, looking for love with all the wrong men.
My Oct heroine from The Bad Son is a cross between Miranda and Charlotte. She’s very independent making it on her own—until an abandoned baby is left in her care. She then begins to think about family, home and a certain handsome neighbor, Beau McCain. She's strong but still has an underlying vulnerablity.
So what type of heroine are you?
I’ll draw a winner on Sep 30 from the answers posted. The winner will have her choice from the McCain brother’s stories. A Baby By Christmas, Forgotten Son or Son of Texas.
I hope you’ll look for the new book.
I have to stop watching TV. Posted by Linda Warren
Author of The Bad Son
on 9/27/2006 |
Checking back |
| Okay---I finished revisions, but with the new SuperR word count I'm now going back over the book to slice and dice. Cut and slash. I've always known I'm too wordy. Write tighter I tell myself. But do I listen---apparently not.
I hope you all had a great day. Know I'll be hard at it tomorrow and the next day, and the next. Busy hands are happy hands. Didn't we learn that in kindergarten?
See you next blog date. And I'll try to be better about checking in.
Roz Posted by Roz Denny Fox
Author of Angels Of The Big Sky
on 9/21/2006 |
Popping in to talk today |
| Hi everyone.
This is my day to come out and play at Noveltalk. I've had my nose in revisions for about a week now. Last night I took off to go up to Phoenix with another author to Barbara White-Daille's autographing. It is her very first book out for Harlequin American. We all had a great time. The Barnes & Noble where she signed was wonderful. They gave out small cups of fraps to everyone. A group of us went out to dinner to celebrate her first book "The Sheriff's Son" afterward. That put me back in Tucson around 11:30 p.m. So if I'm fuzzy sounding today, that's why. I wanted to talk today about the joy of seeing your first book on the bookshelf and in the hands of readers. Watching Barbara's joy took me back to when I had my first signing (many moons ago). At dinner we started discussing the fact there is no other book that gives a writer so many highs. It's that, I did it, I finally did it feeling. Although we write more stories and certainly grow as a writer with each one, nothing is ever quite so sweet as getting that first call. I still after a lot of books love to write the original proposal, and love getting the call that it's accepted. And the other highlight is seeing a first glimpse of my cover. My September Super is out in stores right now. But, I just received a copy of the cover for the sequel out in December. It's called: On Angel Wings, and I realized today how excited I get just seeing what the next Roz Denny Fox book is going to look like. I wonder, will it appeal to readers who have tons of books to browse through in a bookstore. I'll be checking back later today to see if anyone has stories about first sales, thoughts on what your highlights are in writing, and if you're drawn to books in the store by their cover art. It's a beautiful cool day in Tucson. Wishing you all a fabulous upcoming weekend. I'm heading back to my revisions. Oh, I'll give away a couple of books---the first three readers to email me at rdfox@worldnet.att.net will win copies of Angels Of The Big Sky. Roz Posted by Roz Denny Fox
Author of Angels Of The Big Sky
on 9/21/2006 |
What's your favorite season? |
| It's here. I'm staring out the window of my office and what I see are fields of corn and soy beans ready to be harvested, the tops of trees daring to show the first hint of color.
I LOVE fall. I love the colorful mums, the pumpkin patches with big green leaves and orange balls spilling out from beneath their fences. The fodder (or feeder) shocks tied with twine, the scarecrows and gourds and apples gracing yards and displays.
The picture I've hopefully managed to attach is a stock photo I found on the net, but it very much represents the quiet farming areas around me, and the beauty of the simplest things. These are things I enjoy and too often in the past week I've found myself staring outside at nature's slow change and sighing at the sight.
Do you love fall as much as I do? I'll choose from responses posted from now until twelve noon tomorrow, and the winner will receive a book I picked up at RWA's National Conference entitled Sofie Metropolis by fellow chaptermates and husband and wife writing duo Tori Carrington. What's your favorite season?
Posted by Kay Stockham
Author of Man With A Past
on 9/19/2006 |
God Has a Sense of Humor |
Due to multiple deadlines and family stuff, I haven't been here in a while. I scanned the recent messages only to find, lo and behold, you guys have been discussing the very subject on my mind. Time.
I've pretty much figured all along God had a sense of humor. I've learned to be careful of what I say, because it might come back to haunt me. Things like, "My children will NEVER act that way!" LOL, that one has come back to bite me on the butt more than once. I can almost hear God chuckling.
His sense of humor has never been more apparent than when I approached middle age. Hormonal fluctuations of different generations should never be expected to coexist peacefully in one household. It's a recipe for disaster! The whole empty nest thing is especially poignant after years of dreaming of having a phone conversation without being interrupted. Though I still have one child at home, I'm finding the house pretty darn quiet when he's off having a social life. And the prospect of dating again after twenty years definitely has its comical moments, especially when juxtaposed against the inevitable challenges of elderly parents in declining health.
Anyway, that's the meanderings of my mind today. Along with printing off my WIP and sending it to Toronto. I've loved seeing everyone's pictures and I'll see if I can post one, too. If it comes out, this is a picture of me with my German Shepherd.
Posted by Carrie Weaver
Author of FOUR LITTLE PROBLEMS
on 9/18/2006 |
Guilty Pleasures |
| I don't have time to watch a lot of tv these days what with my writing and still devoting some attention to the day job, but I must admit that when fall rolls around, I give the old TV Guide a good look-through. It's been a long summer with reruns and celebritites doing things like dancing and singing duets. I'm ready for the new line-up, and I'm wondering what new shows, or returning ones interest the readers of this blog.
As for returning shows, I can't wait for Boston Legal and, yes, Desperate Housewives and Lost. I'll miss Invastion. Wonder why that wasn't picked up again. Comedies? I'll be in front of the tube for My Name is Earl and The Office. What new comedy series look good to some of you? I'd like to find something to fill the void left by Seinfeld.
For dramas or comedy/dramas, I watched Men in Trees the other night. That looks promising with good-looking and quirky Alaskan guys. I still miss Northern Exposure and this show looks a lot like that one. I might give Studio 6 a chance and the one with Sally Field (can't think of the name). I've never watched Grey's Anatomy and I'm afraid to start. I know it's good, but I don't need another "must see" added to my list.
Anyway, what other shows are you guys looking forward to, new or returning? Or, like me, are any of you still bemoaning the final episode of The West Wing?
Watching when I shouldn't be, and still finding time to read,
Cynthia Posted by Cynthia Thomason
Author of An Unlikely Father
on 9/15/2006 |
Random Thoughts About Time |
| I’m reading all of these blog entries talking about how quickly time passes and how fast kids grow up and leave home. Strangely enough, that’s the topic most often on my mind these days. My youngest daughter got married in June to a terrific guy – which is great. I just can’t figure out how she went from a baby one day to blushing bride the next. It seems like I blinked once or twice, and twenty years were gone. I don’t know how that happens.
I really love my new son-in-law, but he’s in the military, which is a good thing and not-so-good, depending on your point of view. I’m proud of him for volunteering to serve the country, but we recently learned that the base here will be closing his division (hope I’m using the right term. I’m still new at all this Air Force stuff) which means that he’ll be leaving here and going somewhere else soon. And that means he’ll be taking my daughter along with him. (For some reason she’s not interested in staying home with Mom while hubby moves away. Go figure!)
Since my daughter is expecting my very first grandchild, it’s a double whammy, and suddenly, I find myself clinging to time and cherishing every minute I get to have their new little family around. I don’t want the baby to arrive too soon, but I also want time to spend with her (at least we think she’s a girl at this point) before she’s whisked away to a new life somewhere far away. And I’m trying very hard not to think about how quickly the next few months are going to pass by.
On the plus side, there’s plenty going on in my world to keep me occupied, and that’s great. Having books under contract and deadlines to meet will help keep me from turning into the crazy cat lady -- although in my case, since my daughter left her dog with me when she moved out, I think I’m in greater danger of becoming the crazy dog lady. Or maybe it’s the lady with the crazy dog.
I’ve been doing a lot of crocheting lately. It’s therapeutic, gives me something to do in the evenings if I decide to watch TV or a movie, and the repetitive action of the stitches helps me think through plot points when I get stuck. Usually, I crochet a lot in the winter and not at all in the summer, but I’ve crocheted straight through the summer this year -- probably because I found a block pattern that doesn’t bore me, so I’m not crocheting with an entire blanket on my lap. Since I want to try uploading a picture, I’m going to try getting one of my dog, Angel, with the afghan she thinks I made for her.
Spoiled dog? No! Why do you ask?????
Sherry, who categorically denies being the one who spoiled the dog, but for some reason nobody believes me.
Posted by Sherry Lewis
Author of Her Secret Family
on 9/14/2006 |
A Delightful Visitor |
We've been talking about time passing in an instant. Well, today I really did feel like a child again because a beautiful butterfly had lunch with me. Literally. I couldn't believe it.
My co-worker and I were sitting at a table on the large tree-shaded patio of one of our favorite dives. (We never go fancy). We were chatting, minding our own business, when this lovely orange printed butterfly alighted on my shoulder. He fluttered awhile then flew to my friend, Craig, where he fluttered near his chest. It then flew away and returned with some force right to us. I said, "I think he's hungry." Craig voted for thirsty.
So, we took a small plastic cap with ketchup and water and held it out. The butterfly hovered and followed it down to the table. I watched its antenna probe around, and lo and behold, he sat there and drank for awhile, the wings slowly moving. He didn't seem in a hurry to leave, not did it seem ill or anything. This was simply a close encounter of a beautiful kind.
I've often kvetched that I live in a place with a lot of "critters." In fact, last night while my dh and I took our usual two mile walk, an opposum crossed our path. In Texas, I've had a snake in my garage, deer in the backyard, coyotes howling near the bayou next to my house, not to mention the killer snakes in the bayou. Oh, yeah, we had skunks in the garage in MA. BUT I've never been so up close to a butterfly before. I really was a kid again.
I hope we never lose the wonderment of childhood. If you've got nature stories to share, please do. I'd look forward to reading them.
Best,
Linda Posted by Linda Barrett
Author of A Man of Honor
on 9/13/2006 |
Memphis on my Mind |
| I've been spending a lot of time in Memphis. I can see the stunning views of the Mississippi River, feel the sultry air washing over me and hear the live blues drifting out of the bars on Beale Street. The taste of Big Ass Beer -- they really do sell this on Beale Street -- is in my mouth. Have I mentioned I haven't left my office?
One of the cool things about being a writer is the ability to revisit favorite places without leaving home. All you have to do is set a book there. My Superromance in progress, which is titled The Other Woman's Daughter and will be out sometime next year, is set in Memphis.
I visited the city for real last summer while my son played in an 84-team, week-long national basketball tournament that his team actually won! His coach rented a 16-passenger van to cart the boys around in. So the moms who went along on the trip were free to sightsee between games.
Graceland, surprisingly, wasn't my favorite place. That distinction went to Beale Street. It's similar to New Orlean's Bourbon Street, but on a smaller scale. I uploaded a photo of two of the other moms and me in front of the Big Ass Beer sign. That's me in the middle. I loved the name so much, it saddened me that I'm not a beer drinker.
Is that a Billie Holiday song I hear? Gotta go back to Memphis for the day.
Posted by Darlene Gardner
Author of A Time to Forgive
on 9/13/2006 |
I'm late, I'm late for a very important date |
| Sept. 9th. That was my scheduled blog date.
Sept. 11th. Today. Guess that means I blew it.
I have a good excuse. My fellow Superromance authors Terry McLaughlin, Brenda Novak, Barbara McMahon, Melinda Curtis and Susan Floyd can vouch for me. We were all at a Reader Appreciation luncheon in Sacramento where Debbie Macomber was the guest speaker. What a lovely lady! She made us laugh and tear up and sigh. She truly is a great storyteller, whether it's romance or poking fun at herself. I can't wait to read her new hardcover release. It's down by my bed or I could tell you the title.
The luncheon is not my real excuse though. Today is my daughter's birthday and I've spent most of the day trying to figure out how I could possibly have a daughter who is 29. Susan, you're not going to get any sympathy from me. Fifteen is still a baby. :-) If I can figure out the photo thing, I'll try to upload her image. She's celebrating at a Raider's game in Oakland. It wasn't being televised in our area so if she got on camera, I'll never know. (I have a feeling that's probably better.)
I have one "reader" gift left so if anyone wants to commisserate with me on children who keep gettin older while I remain ageless, I will pick a name next week.
Deb Posted by Debra Salonen
Author of BRINGING BABY HOME, Har 8/06
on 9/12/2006 |
this week |
No neurotic pets in our house, Terry; in fact, no pets at all. That surprises me because I grew up with dogs, cats and horses and thought they’d always be part of my life. I guess with a small house and a busy family I was worried that pets wouldn’t get the attention and space they needed. But one of our dogs when I was a girl used to ‘herd’ thunder...he was a border collie and whenever thunder rumbled, he got to work. ;)
Susan, that’s such a glamorous photo! At first I thought it was of an actress from a show like Fame, or something. A child’s milestones can really make you sit back and take notice, can’t they? Last week we had dinner with our kids and the people they’re going out with...it was a very odd feeling to see them so grown up, to realise that at some point two more people (whether it’s these two or someone else) will join our family. Our role as parents keeps changing, and we’re not always sure what it will be next.
I mentioned a while ago that we were getting ready for a visit from our son. It’s just ended--we had a wonderful time. Lots of visiting with relatives: great food, conversation, laughter. We had a beautiful walk along the shore of Clear Lake–it was a windy day, so waves kept rolling in, splashing us–very refreshing! (I’ll try to attach a picture of the lake.) Another day we canoed at West Blue Lake–we were the only people there and the water was so clear we could see to the bottom. Next visit: Christmas.
So now it’s back to work–three stories have been simmering at the back of my mind and I’m eager to look at them more closely. Right now DH is taking up the floor in our entry way. Somehow moisture got under the door and mould has developed somewhere. There was lots of broken tile and grit between me and my computer–from the banging and crashing sounds I think I’ll have to do some pretty impressive jumping to get back out of my office! ;) Posted by Caron Todd
Author of A Different Kind of Summer
on 9/8/2006 |
Fear is a fur-letter word |
A few days ago one of our dogs began barking at something outside--that snarling, foam-flying, serious kind of barking that means a trash-can-marauder or rose-bush-nibbler is sneaking into the yard. When we let him out, he raced into the driveway and attacked a stray piece of white paper.
We all slept much easier that night, knowing we were safe from litter.
I've lived with a few furry neurotics. They certainly make life more interesting. Another dog is afraid of our stairs. He rarely ventures to the second floor, thank goodness, because when he does, he's afraid to climb back down. He used to cower far from the top step all day, whining and howling and driving us all a bit insane. I finally discovered that if I take the chairs from all the bedrooms I can use them to gradually herd him toward that terrifying edge. And then I lift the ironing board above him and open and close it over his head until he makes his escape--because he's more afraid of the ironing board than the stairs.
How about you? Any furry neurotics at your house?
Posted by Terry McLaughlin
Author of MAKE-BELIEVE COWBOY, September 2006
on 9/6/2006 |
Time zips by! |
| Theme song for this blog entry:
Seasons of Love , from Rent
My baby went off to high school last week. He turned 15 over the weekend.
How is this possible? Where did 15 years go? Last I checked, he was a baby. Okay, at least, he was going into second grade when I started writing. Now he’s in ninth grade. Where did this time go when I don’t feel any older?
Okay, that’s not completely true. Just the other day, I got up twice from my desk to go do something, and pretty much as soon as I stood up, I couldn’t remember where I was headed, or what I’d intended to do when I got there. Wherever “there” was. (Probably it should have been to the kitchen to take some ginko!)
My husband sent me a photo yesterday that was taken during my own high school days – senior year, in fact. (I've uploaded it here. Check out that hair, too! lol.) Gosh, I was a lot thinner then. There are pounds around my middle now that weren’t even there after I gave birth to my son. Time does have a way of sneaking up on you.
My mother often told me that the older you get, the faster time goes. Well, somebody needs to slow it down a smidge, or there’s no way I’m going to be able to keep up!
As writers, I think time passes even faster because everything in the industry moves so slowly. A couple months to hear back on a proposal. More months to write the book. More to wait for the release, meanwhile, the cycle (hopefully) continues with other books. You sell a book, and you won’t see the culmination of that for at least year, possibly more.
Life is what happens when you’re not paying attention. Those years that have gone by so quickly – I know they were filled with hugs and arguments, laughter and tears, writing checks to pay bills, planning, so many things. One of the recurring themes in my work is that life is short, and we should make the most of every moment we have. My last heroine’s motto was, “Life’s short, eat dessert first.” She probably wouldn’t have fretted over the fact that her waist is a bit thicker now than it was when she was in high school. No, she would just enjoy the ice cream.
Take a moment to stop and savor whatever it is you’re doing. Stop and taste the chocolate. Hug your kid, your mate. Smile at the harried clerk in the grocery store. Enjoy the rosy hues of a sunset, the beautiful clouds in the sky, the rain against your window.
Because time not only sneaks up on you, it sneaks away from you.
What do you think? Does it actually go faster the older we get? And what is it that you most want to savor?
(I'm giving away a signed copy of the book featuring my "eat dessert first" heroine to a person drawn randomly from comments left here on the blog in response to this post over the next two days. I'll draw a winner Wed. night my time.) The WINNER of the book was Carol! Congratulations, Carol! Thanks to all of you for leaving your comments! Posted by Susan Gable
Author of The Pregnancy Test
on 9/5/2006 |
Chat on Wednesday Night |
Hi everyone,
Just a short note inviting you all to join me tomorrow night right here at NovelTalk for a chat at 9:00 ET, 8:00 CT. I have to say that NovelTalk has the easiest chat room to enter. Just go to the home page and scroll down to NovelChats, then click on chat and log in. That's it. Even I can do it :)
I'm celebrating the release of A MAN OF HONOR this month and will be giving away a copy to the winner of a drawing. I'll also be giving one book from my backlist-reader's choice. So, those are the prizes, but I'd also love to talk about your reactions to the story, if you've already read it. There were some comments about a scene from the book on another website. So, now I'm curious to see how Super readers feel. If you haven't read the book yet, don't worry. There's always plenty of conversation going around.
BTW, this is the second time today that I've tried to post. I hope this goes through.
Hope to see you later,
Linda Posted by Linda Barrett
Author of A MAN OF HONOR
on 8/29/2006 |
Past, present, future |
| All this talk about sending kids back to college makes me think of my past. My mom was a working mom and I spent the summers and after school hours with my grandmother, who lived in the house right behind us. I loved staying with her because she would devote all her attention to me, me, me! We played dolls (she made them for me out of coke bottles) and cards and "I pick." That was my favorite game. We'd sit down with the Sears catalog and turn the pages and each one of us could pick something off the page that we wanted. I guess we know where my love of shopping came from!!
Which brings me to my point...I was shopping the other day in a department store and a woman walked by. She left a hint of Avon's Oh So Soft in the air and it instantly made me feel like a kid again. My grandmother's favorite lotion! I came home and ordered a bottle.
It made me wonder what sends other people back into their past? Is it a smell, a taste, a touch? What makes you feel like a kid again? And is that good or bad? Just curious.... Posted by Kay David
Author of NOT WITHOUT CAUSE
on 8/29/2006 |
Bittersweet |
| We took the younger of my two daughters to college in Virginia this past weekend. It's her second year, so you'd think I'd be accustomed to saying goodbye. These days, with cell phones and instant messaging, we can be more in touch with our friends and loved ones than at any time in history, no matter how far apart we live.
And yet...I miss her, and I'll miss her sister in a couple of weeks when she starts graduate school at Harvard, a long, long way from North Carolina. This is their life task, I know: growing up, getting an education, establishing their independence.
But I've been a full-time Mom for twenty-four years. Last year, when my daughter left for her freshman term, I was very involved with my own mom, who passed away in December. The months since have been a process of mourning and acceptance.
So at last the time has come when I get to (have to?) decide what to be now that I'm grown up. A writer, definitely. I can put new time and energy into my books. I've taken over the full-time care of my three horses, which can be a day's worth of work all on its own.
Still...I miss the sound of kids in the house. I'm used to accomplishing everything–books, housework, crafts, sleep and personal time–against a backdrop of children's voices, needs, and schedules. Redefining my own life is quite a challenge. I'm not sure I'm ready, but I think that's my only choice. Wish me luck!
Lynnette Posted by Lynnette Kent
Author of The Prodigal Texan
on 8/28/2006 |
Book winner |
| I'm declaring Maureen the winner, mostly because she touched a chord with me. Until my daughters all went off to college, my husband and I rarely had time to ourselves. I adore my girls and love to spend time with them, but it's nice to have some time alone with my husband. Maureen, I hope you enjoy the book amidst all the family activities!
If you send me your snail mail address at mwatson1004@hotmail.com, I'll put a copy of Family First in the mail for you. Or, if you've ready Family First, I'll send you one of my other Superromances.
Margaret Posted by Margaret Watson
Author of Small Town Secrets
on 8/25/2006 |
Back to School?? |
| I see people mentioning their kids going back to school. Hey you should be in our system we're finishing our third FULL week this week. We started on August third and it's sooo hot down south. Don't know how the kids stand it on the bus but I guess I'll find out in a couple of weeks when I start driving them to some of our out of class activities. A number of our superauthors either are or used to be teachers. It's amazing how many "hats" some of us have. I'm a registered nurse as well as a teacher and now a writer. Who else out there is into multi careering? Anyone?? And if not who all is glad they're getting to send their kids back to school while some of the rest of us welcome them with open arms (and maybe a grimace or three LOL)
hugs
suzanne Posted by Suzanne Cox
Author of Unexpected Daughter December 2006
on 8/24/2006 |
Back to Chaos |
Aaah, the kids are going back to school and writers and others who work at home are sighing in relief everywhere. (Or is it only me and Kay?)
It also means back to chaos. There’s a list of activities we could join that’s longer than my arm. Anyone else feel overwhelmed by this? We make a point of limiting our kids’ activities, not because they can’t handle it, but because I can’t! We first said they could have one activity at a time.
They’re both in soccer. But my older son is interested in piano. How do you choose a sport versus music? They both have value. So, okay, we’ll do both.
So my younger son can have one more to make it fair. He chose gymnastics. (Ouch on the bank account!) He’s always been hesitant to try classes without me though, so when he expressed an interest, we said, Sure!
Okay…two activities each. But then we hear about a bunch of other stuff that sounds so good. Cub scouts…ah, responsibility, a chance to be with the guys in a non-sports environment. Karate or Tai kwon do…maybe that would help with self-discipline and focus…which our son desperately needs. Basketball, art classes, foreign language lessons…oh my!
I swear there weren’t half as many choices when we were young, were there? Or did my parents just have their heads buried in the sand? In some ways it’s nice to have so many great opportunities…unless you’re like me and can argue the benefits of any activity the kids might want to join.
I’m working on being stronger, saying no. In a month or so, when the novelty of back to school is over, I’ll be pulling my hair out and swearing we’re never joining any activities again. But right now I need to hide my checkbook.
Anyone else out there overwhelmed and boggled by kid activity choices? Or are you the wiser type who can set limits and stick to your guns? If you are, could you send some tips my way?
(By the way, we're having a big party at my other blog, Writeminded. Head over there and sign up for some great giveaways! http://www.writemindedblog.com)Posted by Amy Knupp
Author of The Boy Next Door
on 8/24/2006 |
Back to School?? |
This may show up twice if so please forgive
I see people mentioning their kids going back to school. Hey you should be in our system we're finishing our third FULL week this week. We started on August third and it's sooo hot down south. Don't know how the kids stand it on the bus but I guess I'll find out in a couple of weeks when I start driving them to some of our out of class activities. A number of our superauthors either are or used to be teachers. It's amazing how many "hats" some of us have. I'm a registered nurse as well as a teacher and now a writer. Who else out there is into multi careering? Anyone?? And if not who all is glad they're getting to send their kids back to school while some of the rest of us welcome them with open arms (and maybe a grimace or three LOL)
hugs
suzanne
Posted by Suzanne Cox
Author of Unexpected Daughter December 2006
on 8/24/2006 |
More time |
| I've been so busy these last couple of weeks that I haven't had a chance to post anything on the blog. My oldest daughter just moved out of state - her first job after college - and I've been busy running around, helping her get her 'stuff' together. And my other two just left for college. So now my husband and I are alone in the house again.
It's awfully quiet here! After a summer of kids coming and going all day and late into the night, the house feels so empty. I feel as if I have a lot more time on my hands, even though I really don't - I have a book due at the end of September.
With the time I won't spend making dinner for five people with different schedules, I plan on doing a lot more reading! I might work in the garden a bit, too, although that's my husband's domain. I'll spend more time with my friends - and I'll spend a lot of time on the phone with my daughters.
What would you do if you suddenly had a lot fewer responsibilities? Something fun, I hope! I'll send a copy of my March book, Family First, to the person whose plans sound like the most fun.
Margaret Posted by Margaret Watson
Author of Small Town Secrets
on 8/23/2006 |
My babies |
| I just realized we can add pictures so I couldn't resist uploading this photo. Hope I manage to do it right... This is a photo of Jake and Elwood, my two year old Bengals. They are a hoot! They love to follow me around, play fetch and take showers. Posted by Kay David
Author of NOT WITHOUT CAUSE
on 8/23/2006 |
A hectic life |
Thanks for everyone's replies.
Tammie, I'm picking your entry for several reasons. I like that you're at a stage in your life that you've got the busy-ness thing under control. I like that your emphasis is on your family--daughters--and that you value your husband as a keeper. Email me privately to give your address to send TELL ME NO LIES to. BTW, if you've already read it, you can request another Superromance of mine.
Kathy Shay
Posted by Kathryn Shay
Author of TELL ME NO LIES
on 8/23/2006 |
Heroes with more "oomph" than "oooh" |
A few weeks ago I read an article that asked why movie star heroes with "character" have nearly disappeared. Many current stars (Ben Affleck, Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom, for instance), while certainly good-looking, seem somewhat interchangeable to the author of this piece. She wondered if an actor like Humphrey Bogart or Jimmy Stewart would have a chance at star status today.
What do you think? Do you have a favorite film hero who has more "character" than "looks"? Who is your favorite film hero from the "black & white" days? Your current favorite?
Posted by Terry McLaughlin
Author of MAKE-BELIEVE COWBOY, September 2006
on 8/22/2006 |
A hectic life |
I missed my blog day yesterday. So, belatedly, hello all Super fans! If I'm intruding on another author's day, I'll just post this once. If not, I'll be back later to answer any posts. The reason I missed yesterday is because, as usual, life is hectic. I'm not sure how this happens, especially when I decided after I retired from teaching that my life would be simpler. But things just keep popping up: a son who's about to go back to school, so I scramble to spend more time with him, a high school class reunion, church responsibilities, an impending trip to Greece for an anniversary.
Writing, too, has taken up more time. I'm finishing a book due September 1st—a spin off to TELL ME NO LIES. I've got proposals to hand in, promo information to send to my agent, and of course, email and blogs. I'm keeping up with my own (come visit me!) and will try to be better at this one.
How do you simplify your life? I'd like to hear responses. I'll give away another copy of TELL ME NO LIES to the person I think has the best suggestion. Please post on this site.
Kathy Shay
Posted by kathryn shay
Author of TELL ME NO LIES
on 8/22/2006 |
This and That |
| Goodness, a whole week without a blog entry! Everyone must be on holiday. My son will be here in a few days to spend his holidays with us. His girlfriend is coming, too--a great incentive for all kinds of little jobs to get done. I even put tiles around the bathroom sink, and grouted and caulked--it feels like the biggest accomplishment of my year. ;)
This evening I'll have to take a break from cleaning, though. Canadian Idol is on--they're down to the final five. One of my favourites went home last week--Ashley Coulter--I thought she was wonderful singing "Crying" (if that's the title--it was a Roy Orbison song) and couldn't believe she had the least votes. Prison Break starts its new season, too--I really enjoyed the tension and mystery of that show last year. Love Wentworth Miller.
Yesterday Manitoba had a couple of tornados again (there were a couple on the August long weekend.) I heard a house was actually lifted and the woman inside injured. With the previous ones a woman out walking with her husband was torn away from him, and killed. Tornadoes aren't unheard of here, not at all, but they don't usually happen so often and people aren't usually hurt. My parents were out driving and saw one of the funnels clouds--very dark, they said, and going up and down, up and down. One man said, "Like a yo-yo, as if it couldn't make up its mind."
I hope all of you are well, and enjoying these last weeks of summer. :)
Caron Posted by Caron Todd
Author of A Different Kind of Summer
on 8/21/2006 |
Online reads |
| HI, all!
I have the day off. I emailed my print-out corrections this morning and now I'm playing catch-up, reading a backlog of posts here and at our thread on eHarlequin.com. What fun to see what all my friends are up to!
Roz, I'm so glad to know your family got there safely. I wouldn't want to be flying right now. You pretty much have to plan on a whole day of travel, don't you? And I HATE not having water with me since I get so dehydrated on long flights. And LIP GLOSS? Oh, dear, what a sad state of affairs.
Sherry, I love how you turned your maternity shopping into a "back-to-school" memory. I smiled reading that. We so often forget to cherish the moment. Thanks for reminding me. I had a similar thought this morning when I was helping bathe my 93-yr old mother. To some, this might seem a chore, but it crossed my mind that I was actually very lucky to be able to do this for her.
I just posted a note on my blog about the online read I'm writing for eHarlequin serials. It's called THE LAWS OF LOVE, and the heroine is a character (a not particularly likeable character) from my Dec. Superromance. What a blast that was to write! And a challenge to tell this story in 10,000 words. I had fun trying, though, and have already heard from readers on my blog about the popularity of these reads. Has anyone here read them, then gone on to order a book because you liked what you read?
I'm off to splash in the lake for a bit. Will try to get back here sooner than later, this time. BTW, I included a couple of shots from my beach trip on my blog, if anyone is interested.
Deb
Posted by Debra Salonen
Author of BRINGING BABY HOME, Har 8/06, girls in green.jpg, center, 100, girlsingreen.jpg, center, 100, girlsingreen.jpg, center, 100
on 8/11/2006 |
Book winner |
| The actual number I had written down for today was 11. Kathleen guessed 12, Maureen E. guessed 10. You both get a book. email me where you want them mailed. rdfox@worldnet.att.net
PS--Daughter and grand-twins arrived late, but safely this afternoon.
Roz Posted by Roz Denny Fox
Author of Angels Of The Big Sky
on 8/11/2006 |
Follow-up |
| I'm checking back and keeping track of the numbers.
My daughter and kids got tied up in the airport delays---missed her plane. They're trying to get her out on a later flight. Is there ever a time a mom doesn't panic over things like this? I know I have no control, but I want to fix this madness.
Roz Posted by Roz Denny Fox
Author of Angels Of The Big Sky
on 8/10/2006 |
Morning talk |
| Happy Thursday to all.
We're in lovely monsoon season here in AZ. Much needed rain, but can do without the T-storms and lightning. Although it's beautiful. Like everyone before me this month in the blog, I had a great time at conference. I always come home with my head full of new writing information. There is always something new. I have a SuperR out in September. AT conference I found out my Everlasting, now named, A Secret To Tell You, will have an August 07 release date. The covers for the launch books are fabulous.
My daughter and grand-twins arrive for a visit today. AZ students are back in school, but our grands don't go back in Washington state until after Labor Day. I'm excited to see them. It's been a year. Time whips past too fast.
I'm thinking of a number between 1 and 20. The person who comes closest today wins a sneak preview copy of Angeld Of The Big Sky.
Roz Posted by Roz Denny Fox
Author of Angels Of The Big Sky
on 8/10/2006 |
Back to school blues.... NOT! |
| Am I a bad mom? Are there really mom's out there who dread the thought of sending their kids to school at this late stage of summer? Do YOU identify with the newest Staples commercial where the parents walk down the aisle, their kids glaring at them, while they hum "It's the most wonderful time of the year..." ?
I love my kids. I'd die for them. But there are times, like now, when the thought of them climbing those school bus steps puts a smile on my face bigger than Texas. The bickering has gotten to me, crawled beneath my skin and severed the last I'm-a-mom/I-can-handle-this nerve and sent me right over the edge.
"I let him borrow my CD and he won't give me the game."
"You said I could listen to it."
"Did not."
"Did, too!"
"Did--"
Well, you get the picture. I've taken away their favorite things. They argue. I've limited access to friends. They argue. Nothing works. Oh, I get that they're not going to get along all the time, my brother and I certainly didn't. But something's gotta give before I pack myself off to the loony bin.
Then I had a brainstorm. They argue? They CLEAN. Hey, it worked for my brother and me growing up, gave my mom blessed peace, and now the keep-them-busy-so-they-can't-argue tactic is working for me. Last night they cleaned the bathrooms and, believe it or not, I heard laughter. LAUGHTER. Can you imagine? I don't remember laughing the last time I cleaned the soap scum. But there they were, cleaning, laughing, and GETTING ALONG. Miracles do happen. So, at Wal-Mart today I happily purchased school supplies... and a couple pair of rubber gloves. Posters of Captain Jack. And floor wax. Hey, they keep it up and I might actually have a clean house. But if they catch on to the bickering = more chores, well, can't say my mama raised a fool. I'll take it while it lasts... and get some more writing done.
What do YOU do to keep from yanking out your hair at this time of year?
Posted by Kay Stockham
Author of Man With A Past, May 2006
on 8/8/2006 |
Beating the heat |
| Hi All,
I spent several days last week in Atlanta at the RWA conference with so many of my Superromance sisters. It was a great time and I enjoyed meeting both new and old friends. I wonder how many attendees took the chance to escape the summer heat either before or after the conference. My husband and I went into the North Carolina mountains before he dropped me off at the Atlanta hotel. And I did what I love to do - visited waterfalls. North Carolina is a paradise of watery spectacles, and I can't think of a better way to cool off than to sit beside a magnificent falls. This trip was especially important to me since my current WIP for Superromance is set at the side of a waterfall in the mountains. I now have an up-close and personal experience of what it feels like to hear the thunder of the water and feel that cold spray on my face. This experience made me wonder what others do to beat the heat. Certainly the people in the midwest and eastern states have been looking for ingenious ways to cool off this last week. I'd love to hear some of your ideas. And I hope that you all are finally chilling out. It has been a roaster for many of you.
Autumn can't come soon enough for me!
Cynthia Posted by Cynthia Thomason
Author of An Unlikely Father
on 8/4/2006 |
A Mother |
  I spent all day yesterday shopping for maternity clothes with my daughter. This isn’t the daughter who walks into the store, holds something up, checks the size, checks the price, and walks to the cash register. No, this is the daughter who always picks out so many things to try on that she has to leave 3/4 of them with the store clerk because she’s not allowed to take that many things into the dressing room. She also tries on everything at least once and has been known to spend an entire day to buy just one pair of jeans.
When she was younger, shopping with this child was both fun and frustrating. I’ll confess to a moment of relief when she turned 18 and graduated from high school, and I saw years stretching away ahead of me that did not contain back-to-school shopping in any form. Since my two daughters are 12 years apart in age, I’d been back-to-school shopping for a full 26 years by the time my youngest graduated, so I was more than ready to give the activity up for good.
But my relief only lasted a few short months. Now she’s married and expecting a baby of her own, and yesterday I found shopping – even the unplanned but lengthy try-everything-on variety – a bittersweet experience thanks to a son-in-law in the Air Force and the looming certainty that their new little family will be moving away within the next year. Instead of wishing away the time and regretting the hours spent away from the keyboard, I enjoyed every minute of the time together. I guess it’s a good thing that life shakes us out of our comfort zones now and then, isn’t it? It keeps us from growing complacent.
Posted by Sherry Lewis
Author of HER SECRET FAMILY
on 8/3/2006 |
Setting the Scene |
| The mind can be a very crowded place.
That's how I felt a few weeks ago while taking a guided tour of the Kennedy Center with my sister and her family. For those of you who haven't been there, that's the very impressive performing arts center in Washington, D.C.
When we stepped from the concert hall into the grand foyer, I realized that characters in one of my books had walked the same path. I stopped dead, trying to figure out which book of mine contained scenes at the Kennedy Center. When I saw the three-ton bust of JFK, it came to me: A TIME TO FORGIVE, the current book! In my defense, publishing moves very slowly. Even though my book is on the shelves now, I've written another book and started yet another since I finished it.
I'd been to the Kennedy Center numerous times before, but never on a tour. When I wrote the scenes, I refreshed my memory by taking the virtual tour available on the center's website. Never did I dream that a Kennedy Center tour guide, who'd overheard me remark to my sister that I'd set scenes in my book there, would ask for the book title so she could read it. Sure hope I got the details right!
Posted by Darlene Gardner
Author of A Time to Forgive
on 8/2/2006 |
Hotlanta |
Question: What do you get when 500 authors are seated in a room surrounded by more than 1500 devoted readers?
Answer: A huge fundraiser for literacy.
Hi everyone -- I just got back from the Romance Writers of America annual conference, this year held in steamy Atlanta, GA. (I live in Houston, so Atlanta's humidity was a piece of cake for me). Each year the organization sponsors a huge booksigning where all proceeds go to the Pro-Literacy chapter of the host city. I'm proud to say that this year, romance writers and readers broke all previous records. We raised over $62,000 in three hours! How's that for efficiency?
Everyone reading this blog loves to read. (Hopefully, Supers are on top of your list!) Reading is part of who we are, part of our identity. I remember as a kid loving stories so much that I felt sorry for people who couldn't or didn't like to read. How much they were missing! And didn't even know it. I remember blinking away tears at the emptiness they'd have in their lives without reading.
Of course today we're aware of learning disabilities and situational issues that make reading a chore instead of a joy for some people. Literacy organizations try to address these problems and give non-readers hope for the first time. I know this personally because I taught in a literacy program for years. I helped folks prepare for their GED exam while other teachers helped people learn to read from the get-go. These students came to us totally illiterate. In a safe environment, where they were treated as adults, they learned to read.
So, if you were in Atlanta, GA this year, thank you, thank you. If you are a contributor to literacy in your own town, be it through volunteering time or donating money, thank you. And most important, if you read to your children, they'll thank you.
My best to all,
Linda, who now has a huge TBR pile! Again. Posted by Linda Barrett
Author of A MAN OF HONOR
on 8/1/2006 |
guilty pleasures and ducks |
I adore guilty pleasures! Being home alone is definitely one of them though I can’t say I feel guilty about it. As much as I love my dh and kids I also love my “alone time.” Other guilty pleasures include – reading during the day, a glass (or two) of wine before dinner, long scented baths, sleeping in and home-made chocolate chip cookies.
I’ve been reading the posts about combating the heat and trying to remember what that feels like. It’s winter Down Under and it poured rain all day. The ducks love to flock to our swimming pool. LOL, they must think it’s their own private resort. They’re sweet but they sure make a mess of the tiles. Toby the Wonder Dog regards them as potential playmates but they just ignore him. DH has a basket of tennis balls which he chucks at them but he’s not a very good shot. The ducks flap lazily off, fly around the gum trees once or twice then swoop back down into the pool. Poor DH! He’s having fits. Does anyone know how to discourage ducks from taking over your back yard?
Posted by Joan Kilby
Author of Beach Baby
on 7/31/2006 |
Home Alone, Guilty Pleasure |
I'm home alone in a couple of ways tonight. My daughter is having dinner with a friend. My husband golfed with some friends out of town, and he has a bit of a drive home. These days, somehow, most of my friends are romance writers, and they're all in Atlanta at the Romance Writers of America conference.
I should be lonely. I love my family so much I can't begin to talk about it without sounding sappy. I've now missed two national conferences in a row, and gosh--I'm craving the joy of being with other writers talking about great books and writing. But my husband recently retired, and my sweet girl is home from college. I've spent most of the past year on my own because my husband's job required a lot of travel. I'm not used to people 24/7.
I had two nectarines instead of a sensible square meal. I walked down to the park. I've read a book, and I haven't said another word to another human being all evening long. I would absolutely not want to do this often at all, but one night home alone is a guilty pleasure!
So why do I keep checking the clock? :-)
Now that I've confessed, what's your most recent guilty pleasure? Posted by Anna Adams
Author of Marriage in Jeopardy
on 7/28/2006 |
where have all the authors gone? ;) and summer heat |
| This is the first day of the RWA conference (I think) so lots of Supers authors are in Atlanta meeting with editors, readers and each other. I stayed home to stain my fence. ;) What was I thinking?
It really needed to be done, though, after two summers with writing deadlines (The Winter Road and Different Kind of Summer). Inside and out, the house is begging for attention. Mostly I go out first thing in the morning to work, then try to stay in during the hottest part of the day.
Someone on the Supers thread at eHarlequin.com mentioned swamp coolers, which I'd never heard of before. And my mil remembers her mother having a 'summer kitchen', really just an outdoor stove, I think, so cooking wouldn't heat the house. Does anyone else know of traditional ways to keep cool--what people did before air conditioning? Posted by Caron Todd
Author of A Different Kind of Summer
on 7/26/2006 |
Blame it on the heat |
| Caron, I apologize straight out for crowding you. What a lovely post! It feels like summer should be. I'm in the middle of what summer shouldn't be -- too hot for too long. Which is my excuse for missing my blog date yesterday.
We had a 2.5 hour cessation of power yesterday afternoon. The temps were hovering around the 105 mark, and there was no breeze, although a few leftover clouds from some storm in Baja managed to send the humidity upward, too. My granddaughter's wading pool suddenly looked very inviting.
Somehow my brain stayed online long enough to complete a proposal that I was able to email once the power came back on. Then I just crashed. I watched Nanny McFee and sipped ice water. I DIDN'T venture upstairs to write my blog (which would have been witty and charming instead of grouchy and whiny).
But it could be worse. I could be painting a fence in this heat.
Deb, who will be on the beach tomorrow where the high of the day is 68 Posted by Deb Salonen
Author of Bringing Baby Home
on 7/26/2006 |
I admit I'm addicted |
I guess in some ways we're all addicted to something. I have a few of my own vices. Diet coke is one but the internet is a killer for me. I'm afraid I can wile away the day surfing the most inane stuff. I spent an hour or more searching out dog breeders. AND I'M NOT EVEN PLANNING TO GET A NEW DOG! But I found out where I should go IF I ever want to. But one recent addiction I'll fess up here even though some may throw rocks at me for bringing up such a thing.
Here it is. I'm addicted to the show So You Think You Can Dance. So I do have a dancing fetish as some of my co-authors here know.(Not that I'm any good mind you) But I've gotten hooked on this show and my poor husband runs for cover most of the time it's on. Because, well, I do have lots of comments actually it's more like a running commentary on what's happening and who I think will get the boot. It's the music the dancing of every different type that pulls me in and of course what in the world will Dimitri do next??(If you watch the show you'll know what I mean.) Even if he's not the BEST dancer can we just keep him on for general eye candy???? And if you haven't been hooked on ballroom dancing, you will be if you watch the show, or at least I am.
Okay, now. Be honest. Are you watching this show?? Or has some other reality type show got you hooked. I'm off now to go line up that ballroom dancing class I've said all year I was going to take and haven't done it yet. Let's see... 1-2-3/ 1-2-3Posted by Suzanne Cox
Author of A Different Kind of Man
on 7/20/2006 |
Book Winner |
| I closed my eyes and moved my mouse and came up with Estella's name for a free copy of NOT WITHOUT CAUSE. If you'd like a copy of the book, Estella, email me at kay@kay-david.com and I'll get it right to you.
Thanks for all the great "conversation" yesterday and for all the good wishes re my niece. I talked to her at length in the afternoon and she's doing great but asks everyone's prayers for her friends in the area. Posted by Kay David
Author of NOT WITHOUT CAUSE
on 7/19/2006 |
Adventures |
| My faithful readers know my speciality at Super is "exotic suspense." I like to write about foreign locales and tend to place my characters in countries other than the United States. I do this because I've lived overseas and find different cultures fascinating. Unfortunately, last week, I found out this fascination runs in the family and it can be dangerous!
One of my nieces (We'll call her Lucy to protect her privacy)is an independent film maker and she went to northern Israel last week to film. She's got a project going about the rights of women in the Middle East. Heading out for northern Israel, she and her crew set up in a small village north of Haifa. Need I say more?
They were supposed to be there until the end of the month but she left on Sunday and came home. Lucy's mother and I are very glad she decided to come back to the States early.
I'm incredibly proud of her and her work is absolutely amazing but I'm ready to get back to work and stop worrying about her! Do any of you guys have kids that have "inherited" a trait you might have preferred they didn't? I love her, love her, love her, but if she'd liked a little more boring life that would be fine with me!
Speaking of which, my next release will be THE SHADOWBOX, the story of an artist who finds herself in the middle of danger as well. It won't be out until the spring, but I'd love to send a copy of NOT WITHOUT CAUSE, my previous Super, to one of today's bloggers. It's an exciting suspense that criss-crosses South America, has a heroine who's an assassin and has a burned out CIA agent for a hero! Posted by Kay David
Author of NOT WITHOUT CAUSE
on 7/18/2006 |
Adventures |
| My faithful readers know my speciality at Super is "exotic suspense." I like to write about foreign locales and tend to place my characters in countries other than the United States. I do this because I've lived overseas and find different cultures fascinating. Unfortunately, last week, I found out this fascination runs in the family and it can be dangerous
One of my nieces (We'll call her Lucy to protect her privacy)is an independent film maker and she went to northern Israel last week to film. She's got a project going about the rights of women in the Middle East. Heading out for northern Israel, she and her crew set up in a small village north of Haifa. Need I say more?
They were supposed to be there until the end of the month but she left on Sunday and came home. Lucy's mother and I are very glad she decided to come back to the States early.
I'm incredibly proud of her and her work is absolutely amazing but I'm ready to get back to work and stop worrying about her! Do any of you guys have kids that have "inherited" a trait you might have preferred they didn't? I love her, love her, love her, but if she'd liked a little more boring life that would be fine with me
Speaking of which, my next release will be THE SHADOWBOX, the story of an artist who finds herself in the middle of danger as well. It won't be out until the spring, but I'd love to send a copy of NOT WITHOUT CAUSE, my previous Super, to one of today's bloggers. It's an exciting suspense that criss-crosses South America, has a heroine who's an assassin and has a burned out CIA agent for a hero! Posted by Kay David
Author of NOT WITHOUT CAUSE
on 7/18/2006 |
less exotic travels |
| Kay, I just replied to your entry and couldn't resist adding a link to my blog where readers can see a few shots from my recent travels (hiking amongst the giant sequoias).
Peaceful, silent, green, a fairyland of buzzing bees and butterflies. So far removed from wars and voilence, I hated to turn on the TV when I came home.
Deb
(Just click on my name, which will take you to my website, then click on blog.) Posted by Deb Salonen
Author of BRINGING BABY HOME
on 7/18/2006 |
Birthday wishes |
| Happy birthday in advance to Zara and Kim! I hope you have a wonderful day.
You all reminded me of some other wonderful indulgences - like the fresh fruits in the summer, chocolate-covered caramels (one of my favorites, too, Kathleen) and ice cream. I was just at my local farmer's market and picked up some tomatoes - I love fresh tomatoes in the summer.
I'm so glad I stocked up on the new Superromances - it's so hot already here in Chicago! It's a weekend of indulgence for me. Posted by Margaret Watson
Author of FAMILY FIRST
on 7/15/2006 |
Winner! |
| The winner of the drawing for a copy of Family First is Kim W. Congratulations, Kim! If you'll send me your snail mail address at mwatson1004@hotmail.com, I'll get a book in the mail right away. Posted by Margaret Watson
Author of FAMILY FIRST
on 7/15/2006 |
Birthday presents |
| I was tickled that today is my day to blog, because it's my birthday. That got me thinking about birthdays and celebrations - what do you do to celebrate special times in your lives? One of my friends buys herself a piece of jewelry to celebrate a special event. I love jewelry, but my passions run more to leather - I adore purses. I have way too many of them in my closet - my husband calls it the dead cow museum - but they are so hard to resist. And my daughters encourage my bad habits because they know all about the trickle down effect.
And speaking of indulging yourself, it's going to be hot in Chicago this weekend, so I'm planning on spending some quality time with a tall glass of lemonade and some wonderful books. I just picked up this month's Superromances and I can't wait to dive in.
What are your favorite indulgences? What do you do when you have a little spare time? And how do you reward yourself for a job well done or a significant accomplishment?
I'd love to reward someone with a copy of my most recent Superromance, Family First. I'll draw one name from the people who post today and send them a copy. Posted by Margaret Watson
Author of FAMILY FIRST
on 7/14/2006 |
Mindy--Winner |
| Mindy,
I'm sorry I didn't get your email with your address. My email addy is Lw1508@aol.com. When I get your address I'll mail the book.
I apologize to everyone else. I didn't know how else to do this. I just want Mindy to get her book. Posted by Linda Warren
Author of Son Of Texas
on 7/13/2006 |
Time in a bottle |
Every once in a while my husband buys a lottery ticket, and we enjoy sharing daydreams about what we'd do or how our lives would change if we won that cash windfall.
Today I'm thinking how much I'd enjoy a different kind of windfall: time. What if I won all the time I needed whenever I think to myself, "if only I had more time"? What would I do, how would my life change if I could somehow win, say, another twenty years?
How about you? What would you do if you won the magic of more time? What changes would you make in your life?
Posted by Terry McLaughlin
Author of Learning Curve, May 2006
on 7/13/2006 |
Technical Difficulties and Winner |
| Good morning. I'm sorry about the confusion yesterday. It didn't get straightened out, so I posted under COMMENTS. Go to the bottom of the first post I did and see my response to your comments. My short note about the problems did go in, though. Go figure! And I do see now how to paragraph!
I put all your names in box and picked Kathleen's. So if you'll email me, Kathleen, with the info, I'll send you a copy of TELL ME NO LIES. You've got to let me know what you thought of it.
I was going to post about TV last night. I watched Stephen King's new series on TNT based on his short stories. I did not like it at all. Actually, we fell asleep. And I taped another of my favorite shows, "Criminal Minds" because it was a rerun and I hadn't seen it. Does anyone watch that?
Well, I'm off to work on Nick's story in WORTH THE RISK. Don't forget to come visit me on my website blog. And I'll be back here posting, too.
Thanks for the chat yesterday, though it was somewhat disjointed.
Kathy Posted by Kathryn Shay
Author of TELL ME NO LIES
on 7/13/2006 |
Been trying to post all day |
| I've been trying to post all day long, and nothing will come up. I just wanted my readers to know I hadn't abandoned them on my blog day. I don't really know what to do about this. Hang in there. We'll get it figured out.
Kathy Posted by kathryn shay
Author of TELL ME NO LIES
on 7/12/2006 |
Blog Day for Me! |
| Good morning! Today is my day to blog on the Super site, so I'm here and ready to go. I went back and reread some of the entries and topics are all over the place. It was fun to read.
A bit of self-promotion, first. As you can see, I have a new book out from Super, TELL ME NO LIES. It's the story of a happily married woman with a past she isn't telling her husband about. Of course, in the book, he discovers it and their lives are thrown into a tailspin. BTW, another character in the book just jumped off the pages for both me and my editor, the hero's brother, and I'm currently writing his story. WORTH THE RISK, will be out next summer.
I'LL GIVE AWAY A COPY OF TELL ME NO LIES TO SOMEONE WHO POSTS ON THIS SITE TODAY. I'LL CHOOSE THE WINNER JUST FROM THE POSTS.
Also out now for me from The Berkley Press is TIES THAT BIND, the story of a divorced couple who have to spend time together when their careers are threatened. Guess what happens personally.
During the day we can talk about my work or anyone else's. Or something we might have in common. For example, I'm going to Yoga class today at noon. I love the practice and take a session a few times a week. It's soothing for me, centers me, and is more strenous exercise than it appears to be. I also love going to Broadway plays (anyone seen WICKED?) and have a long time interest in art. Paul Cezanne is my favorite painter. For years, I was a high school English teacher and had a wonderful career.
I also have my own blog which can be accessed through my website.
I'll be back.
Kathy Shay
Posted by kathrynshay
Author of TELL ME NO LIES
on 7/12/2006 |
To Trilogy or Not To Trilogy |
...that is my question. I’m wondering if readers like dipping into one of the books of a trilogy.... Or do you avoid them because you’re worried you won’t be able to find the other two books?
As a writer, I just love writing them. I’ve written two for Super: The Shannon Sisters a few years ago, and now Return to Summer Island. I like the ability to explore the setting and the characters in more depth. Of course it means keeping track of a myriad of details, including the ages of all the characters as time progresses with each book!
We have lots of great trilogies at Super. I’m really loving Barbara McMahon’s ‘The House at Poppin Hill’ this summer. Does anyone else have favorites? Tell me the name of your favorite Super trilogy and I’ll enter your name in a random draw for a copy of “Trade Secrets” at the end of this month. (I recently ran a contest on my website where readers voted for their favorite book cover. This book was the winner.)
Posted by CJ Carmichael
Author of A Baby Between Them
on 7/10/2006 |
WINNER! |
| The winner of a copy of Forgotten Son is Mindy Hildebrand. Congratulations!
Mindy, please email me your address. And thanks for all the great answers. A good blurb seems to be the selling point.
CJ--I love trilogies or continuing stories. I started out writing about one McCain brother and I'm still writing about them. I think a lot of readers enjoy stories that connect. Posted by Linda Warren
Author of Son of Texas
on 7/10/2006 |
Books, Covers and Freebies |
| A while back we were talking about our TBR stack. We all have them. I'm sad to say that I buy books and never get a chance to read them. But someday I will. I have enough to keep me busy for a couple of years and I keep buying. Usually I buy a book because I know or have heard of the author and want to read the book, but sometimes a cover or title will capture my attention. I then read the back blurb to see what the book is about, if I might like it. I'm curious as to what makes others buy books, besides the authors's name. Is it a sexy hunk on the cover, or a baby? We all love babies. What makes you buy a book? I'll draw a winner from the responses-an autographed copy of my book Forgotten Son.
Have a great weekend. Posted by Linda Warren
Author of Son Of Texas
on 7/8/2006 |
wild flowers; summer visitors |
Janice’s mention of lupins in Nova Scotia caught my eye because I just saw my parents’ photos of a recent trip to Prince Edward Island–the blue lupins were growing everywhere there, too. Beautiful! They also visited the Magdalen Islands, a little archipelago in the Gulf of St. Lawrence settled by Acadians expelled from Nova Scotia–I’m embarrassed to say I hadn’t heard of the islands before, but after seeing the photos I want to go–partly for the food–fresh caught lobster, and cheese and chocolate made right there.
In the area near Winnipeg where I spent about half my childhood there’s a field where pink and white lady’s slippers grow–they’re a rare prairie orchid, gorgeous. To protect them anyone who knows where the field is won’t tell. On the one hand I appreciate their caution; on the other, I’d sure like to see those orchids in bloom!
This summer we’ll be having lots of company–we’ve already had three sets of visitors, all relatives. I’m having a great time–too much tea and coffee; too much good food, long, long talks into the night. It’s a great change, because writing’s such a solitary thing to do. I’m thinking about several stories, though, and it’ll be good to get back to writing in the fall.
Is anyone else having out of town company this summer? Posted by Caron Todd
Author of A Different Kind Of Summer
on 7/7/2006 |
And the winner is.... |
| Wanda Hogan!!!
Thanks everyone for sharing their keeper shelves with me! Sorry I was late getting back in here. We just returned from vacation and the exhaustion caught up with me. But, I've made note of a few of your favorites and plan on checking them out. In the meantime, Wanda, please send me an email at kay@kaystockham.com so that I can get the details and send your prize. Congrats! Posted by Kay Stockham
Author of Man With A Past, May 2006
on 7/6/2006 |
Winner! |
| The winner of an autographed copy of HOME FOR CHRISTMAS is Maureen Emmons! Maureen, if you'll e-mail your snail mail address to me, I'll send it right out. Congratulations! Posted by Carrie Weaver
Author of FOUR LITTLE PROBLEMS
on 7/5/2006 |
Titles, views and tummies |
| I hope everyone had a great Fourth of July and Canada Day!
Looking back on some of the recent blogs... Roz, your Everlasting sounds wonderful and some of the title suggestions are great. I wish I'd thought of asking for help! I racked my brains and in the end my editor came up with the title for my Everlasting - When Love Is True. I like it a lot but it's always nice to come up with your own.
Janice, I enjoyed hearing about you riding your bike with the view of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Once upon a time I lived in Victoria, BC and used to love looking across to the Olympic Mountains. Wish I was there right now. It's winter Down Under and co-o-old.
I've been getting serious about exercise lately, too. I joined the gym and found out how unfit I really am! Now I have a "program" of weights and exercises to do 3 or 4 times a week. Can I stick to it? I'm going to try. I lost a bunch of weight a few years ago but it's gradually crept back on. So far I've taken my belt in two notches. Now my dh is tempting me to a glass of red wine and weakling that I am, I'm going to have it. :)
I'm starting a new book about a lady and a pig farmer. It's a comedy and the hero looks like Gregory Peck. What do you think folks, can a pig farmer be romantic and sexy? Does it help if he's also a lawyer and the pigs are a rare breed? Posted by Joan Kilby
Author of Party of Three
on 7/5/2006 |
pigs |
| Pigs are in? That's so cool. I've always been fascinated by them. Charlottes Web was one of my favorite books as a kid. LOL on the racing pigs! No animals inside the house in my book though (remember the one in Green Acres?) - these are Wessex Saddlebacks, big mommas. Mindy, your husband was a pig farmer? maybe you can give me some ideas . I have to confess I don't actually have the green light on this project but I'm going ahead for the moment because I love the story so much. The heroine is Melissa, the sister of my Party of Three heroine so it's set in the fictional town of Tipperary Springs, Australia.
Deb, I was walking my dog every day and still not losing weight. Maybe I wasn't walking fast enough. Or maybe I was just eating too much! Anyway, the extra exercise seems to be working.
Posted by Joan Kilby
Author of Party of Three
on 7/5/2006 |
Winner!! |
| Hi Estella! Hope you read this blog entry. Your name was selected at random to receive a free copy of my latest release, AN UNLIKELY FATHER. Please e-mail me with your mailing address so I can send you the book. Congratulations!
Cynthia cynthoma@aol.com Posted by Cynthia Thomason
Author of An Unlikely Father
on 7/4/2006 |
first posting |
| Good evening, readers and sister authors. I haven't posted before so I hope this goes through. The Super blog is great and I wish I had come sooner. I enjoyed the comments on the TBR (Nora Roberts, Linda Howard, Judith McNaught and Susan E. Phillips for me) and the empty nest comment from Sherry (I have a son home from college now. Yikes!!) I hope your daughter heals. I'm excited about being part of this blog. My day is July 12, for anyone interested, but I'll be posting here now. I'm doing my own blog this week for the first time and will let you know when it's up. Happy reading! Posted by kathryn shay
Author of TELL ME NO LIES
on 7/3/2006 |
Thanks Everyone |
| Thanks to everyone who made comments and suggested titles. I finished my revisions today---hooray! I'll send them after the holiday along with more title ideas. I didn't realize I was supposed to go on and approve comments to keep spam out, so that's why no one's comments appeared until our hostess, Amy, bless her heart, went on today and put the comments through. This is a learning process for all of us. I'm going shopping today. For nothing special, but Kohls is a favorite haunt of mine and it's not far away. I love to browse through and see what they have that I can't resist. Roz Posted by Roz Denny Fox
Author of Angels Of The Big Sky---September
on 7/1/2006 |
Same--What Are you Doing On July 4th |
| Okay, I did something wrong and lost half of my earlier post. Grrr. I think I put in hard returns which I guess is wrong. It's hard to retrain your writing practices to blog. Teaching old dogs new tricks or something. This is my day to blog. I loved catching up with everyone's messages. Later today I'll be giving away some of my back-list books. I need to come up with a good way for winners to tell me what book they'd like. I also need help with coming up with a name for my first Everlasting. It's a book that has two love stories. My hero's grandmother's story/a lost love from WWII, and her grandson's romance with a woman who found his grandmother's love letters in the wall when she was remodling an historic Virginia farmhouse. I've sent in a host of names, but nothing has felt just right to anyone else. So help. Roz Posted by Roz Denny Fox
Author of Angels Of The Big Sky---September
on 6/30/2006 |
What's Everyone Doing for July 4th? |
| This is the end of the month. Don't know where the month of June has gone. If we have readers here from the East, I hope you're all avoiding the flood waters. We in Arizona are burning up. We have had rain the last couple of days---well, not rain by PA and OH and NY standards, but drizzle. We've also had humidity which isn't normal for us. Maybe it's getting me acclimated for National in Atlanta. Posted by Roz Denny Fox
Author of Angels Of The Big Sky--September
on 6/30/2006 |
last post for the day |
| Okay, I'm thinking everyone has dashed off for a wonderful long weekend to enjoy their fourth of July. In case anyone is lurking, I'll give away two back list books to the first two people who email me at rdfox@worldnet.att.net and say they saw my give-away on the blog. I finished my Everlasting revisions but still have no new name ideas. If anyone comes up with earth shattering possibilities even after my blog day goes by, email me, okay? Have a fantastic happy fourth. Roz Posted by Roz Denny Fox
Author of Angels Of The Big Sky---September
on 6/30/2006 |
Catching Up . . . Again |
| It seems as though I’ve been running to catch up with myself for the better part of two years now. I know it’s naive, but I keep thinking that something’s going to happen to make the world slow down ... at least long enough to give me a chance. First I told myself that as soon as my youngest daughter was feeling better ... Then it was as soon as I feel better. Then it was as soon as the wedding’s over ....
Today, I’m acknowledging that life just isn’t going to slow down -- ever.
Monday morning was supposed to be the official start of my Empty Nest Experience -- that phase of life where I get to focus on myself. That morning the phone rang before the sun was even all the way up. My oldest daughter was in the middle of a personal crisis, which means that I spent all of that day helping her move out of her apartment and into the Not-Yet-Empty bedroom her sister’s still moving out of.
I’m not complaining. I've learned that watching an adult child go through a bad situation is even harder than going through a bad situation yourself, and this daughter has been in a bad situation for at least six years now. I'm delighted that she is out of there, and happy to spend time with her while she gets on her feet again.
Thankfully, her dog (Sammie) and my dog (Angel) get along, but the cats are another story. Angel’s favorite game is to pick my cat, Vincent, up by the neck and run around the house with him in her mouth. You’d think Vincent might object, but when they’re through playing, Vincent lies down next to Angel and licks her head. Apparently dangling from the dog's mouth isn't nearly as frightening as a human might think.
Unfortunately my daughter's cats, Pandora and Bobby, don’t think Cat By The Head sounds fun at all, so there’s been lots of barking and hissing and growling going on since Monday afternoon, but I’m sure they’ll eventually work things out for themselves.
And then life will slow down .... right?
Yeah. Of course it will!
Posted by Sherry Lewis
Author of Her Secret Family
on 6/29/2006 |
The Battle of the Bulge |
| As I was blending cantaloupe and yogurt this morning, I was also thinking about my blogging topic. Since losing weight is always on my mind, and just as much an obsession with most of my friends, I decided I'd weigh in--pun intended--on dropping those stubborn ten pounds, or more. True to life, mine at least, almost all of my heroines fight this battle. I think I had one skinny heroine, but I sent her to Ireland where she pigged out on sticky toffee pudding and barm brak and couldn't get into her jeans by the time she left.
Right now I'm enjoying all the summer fruit in the market and drinking lots of smoothies and I've started riding a bike. My son, who works in a bike shop, brought one over for me--an old lady version with a big wide seat (kind of like mine) and a little basket in front. I love it. Sunday morning, I got up early and rode down to the water front. It was beautiful, the Straits of Juan de Fuca and, across that expanse of water, the coastline of Victoria, BC. I rode home quite inspired to start my day of spinach salads and smoothies. Okay, I had a scoop of ice cream too. Oh well.
Posted by janice macdonald
Author of Out of Control, October 2006
on 6/29/2006 |
Teens, Cats & Other Aggravations |
Thanks, Deb, for picking up a copy of FLP! The summer TV line up is definitely conducive to more reading. I have to admit, So You Think You Can Dance is one of my faves. AI never really hooked me for some reason...
School has been out in our area for five weeks and, boy, am I feeling it! My youngest son is now a teen and I’ve noticed a new trend. He complains about EVERYTHING! LOL, maybe I’m just noticing because we have so much more quality time together. What is it about the teen condition that requires constant cynicism and global discontent?
I was going to tell you about my latest pet aggravations (I have two dogs and three cats, so there are many) when I realized I was reverting to my teen's MO. I'm complaining almost as much as my son does these days.
So, I'm trying a more balanced approach. My thoughts on summer: While it's hotter than Hades outside (108 degrees expected today), the snowbirds have gone home and traffic is easier to navigate. My son may ask me not to speak when we're in public because every word out of my mouth is sooo embarrassing, but he no longer requires diapers. Maybe the trade off is worth it! The kids are out of school, but so are many of my friends in the educational field --yay!! That means lots of lunches and gab sessions. The pace in summer is also more relaxed. The feel of cool grass beneath my feet after a scorching day. Going to see movies in air conditioned theaters. Eating a slice of cold, sweet watermelon and spitting seeds like a kid.
I'd love to hear some of the positives in your summer. Complaints are okay, too. As long as you're over the age of, say, twenty.;-) I'll employ Anna Adams pencil can/scraps of paper name-drawing technique to give away an autographed copy of HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. The ice skating scene is bound to be refreshing this time of year.
~Carrie Posted by Carrie Weaver
Author of FOUR LITTLE PROBLEMS
on 6/26/2006 |
Why I read.... |
| My satellite TV is on the fritz. Normally this isn't a big deal because by the time I'm done with my work and am ready for some escapism, my hubby is already in front of the tube watching Pimp My Ride or Pinks (or something that involves engines). That's okay with me. I just pick up a book and disappear into another place, but last night it was too late to start a new book and I was restless from finishing my line edits for my December Super, so I got hold of the remote first.
But alas, no National Geographic Channel, no Animal Planet. No. There was So You Think You Can Dance? on one channel and something featuring David Hasselhoff, Brandi and some Brit I've never heard of doing some kind of talent search on the other. I bounced back and forth between the two for a good half an hour. What's crumping/krumping? And I'll admit the ventriloquist was freakish good, but jugglers? Really bad jugglers?! Have all the television writers gone on vacation?
I will send someone a copy of my latest release, ONE DADDY TOO MANY, which is part of the Sisters of the Silver Dollar miniseries from Harlequin American Romance, if you can explain to me this television addiction to wannabe shows. But if there's money in it, maybe we should create our own. "So You Think You Can Write"?!?
I can hear my fellow authors laughing their butts off. Talk about boring...people sitting around with lap tops. Yeah, that would work. :-) No wonder I read. Speaking of reading, I'm about to retire with Carrie Weaver's FOUR LITTLE PROBLEMS. I can't wait. I need a really good escape.
Deb, no doubt suffering from heat stroke from the 108-degree dayPosted by Debra Salonen
Author of ONE DADDY TOO MANY (HAR May)
on 6/24/2006 |
Good ol' Summertime |
| Well, yesterday was the first day of summer and “the longest day of the year” when the sun shines longer than any other day. I always feel like I should be doing something special with the longest day of the year, just like I do on December 21st when we experience “the shortest day,” with the least amount of sunshine. On that day, I feel obligated to cram a lot into the hours I have. So what did I do yesterday? It’s very warm here in Florida so I must admit I didn’t do much, but I contemplated my summer and how this one might be different from others. For one thing, we all have to contend with the high gasoline prices. That means I won’t be getting a motor home again this summer. But, since summer means vacations, I allowed myself to fantasize about where I would like to go. Always the mountains. I love greenery, cool air, and country crafts. And then AOL did a spotlight on the 10 best beaches in the U.S. I’ve been to two of them, Duck, North Carolina, and St. Augustine, Florida. I really want to go to a third one they listed, Nantucket on Cape Cod.
So what’s the point of this rambling? I’m wondering where those who read this would choose to spend some of the long days of summer if gasoline prices and summer chores didn’t influence our dreams. Maybe Gulf Shores, Alabama, also on the AOL “most wanted beach” list.
Or maybe Heron Point, Florida, the setting of my most recent Superromance series. (It’s really Cedar Key on Florida’s west coast and it’s a great place to visit.)
On July 4, I’ll draw a name from those who respond and send along a copy of AN UNLIKELY FATHER, my May, 2006 release. At any rate, smooth sailing, happy backpacking, or worry-free road tripping to everyone!
Cynthia Posted by Cynthia Thomason
Author of An Unlikely Father
on 6/22/2006 |
Keepers |
| Amy brought up a good point about TBR piles staggering and about to topple, but what about 'keeper' shelves? I have a 'keeper' bookcase layered with my favorite authors. They're my comfort reads, and presently each shelf is stacked two deep and two high, the highest, deepest they can go. I'm out of room! But they're all there. Johanna Lindsey, Lisa Kleypas and Julie Garwood's historicals, Christine Feehan's 'Dark' series and Lori Foster's first Temptation to her current releases. Add in Karen Marie Monings Highlanders, a row of my all-time favorite Superromances and odds and ends of books I simply can't part with---including the first romance I bought with my allowance way back when---and my keeper shelves are heaving beneath the weight.
Which means.... a) I get rid of some books or b) buy another bookcase.
I think I'll choose b). :0) But how many more bookcases do I need? Do I have ALL the keepers out there? I know there's got to be more! Any names above you don't see mentioned that are must reads?
Let me know what is on your keeper shelves by July 4, and I'll draw a name from those who respond and give the winner a copy of one of my favorite keepers and a really cute, trendy bookmark by Simply Chic . Come on, tell me... what's on your keeper shelf? Posted by Kay Stockham
Author of Man With A Past, May 2006
on 6/21/2006 |
In the Mood |
| Although I love to write, I adore that rare down time between books when time is free flowing and anything seems possible. Including having the time to watch romantic movies that will put me in the mood -- for writing my next book.
I rented Bridge Jones: The Edge of Reason the other day and enjoyed it immensely. It's not a classic by any means, but the movie left me with that uplifting feeling that reaffirmed why I enjoy romantic stories.
What movie (or movies) give you that in-love-with-love feeling? I'll select a random winner from readers who post comments before Wednesday, July 21. The prize: a copy of my July 2006 release A TIME TO FORGIVE.
Posted by Darlene Gardner
Author of A Time to Forgive
on 6/19/2006 |
Passion: Now or Never |
| Passion: Now or Never
Sorry, I’m not speaking about THAT kind of passion, but about other passions that make us happy. Passion in our work or hobby or avocation. In the way we spend our time. One of the magazines I read, More, usually has stories about women who choose to change careers based on a passion for a certain endeavor that has always lurked inside them, but didn’t have the chance to bloom. The reason? We always put business first—our responsibilities to pay the bills, keep a clean house and care for our families. Iow, the responsibilities of living.
But then we come to a “certain” age – and this is how my writing career was born – when we realize that if we don’t dig in and try it now, we’ll never get to doing it. The articles I’ve read in this magazine and others are about women who have finally jumped in and: sculpted works of art, played the bagpipes, started a landscape gardening business, or walked the Appalachian trail. My friend, Margo, after waiting years, finally paints in oils and sells her pieces one at a time. My neighbor does all her own landscaping because she loves it. She’s always out there fiddling with her plants, and she just won the yard-of-the-month in our community.
Whether for full-time income or part-time satisfaction, these women reached the point in their lives where they’d said to themselves: Now or Never.
For me, it was always the writing—I did bits and pieces along the way. But I could never commit to the passion without feeling guilty. For that I needed to reach my Now or Never moment. I’m happy to say that I’ve never looked back, and the rewards have been wonderful.
The biggest reward is being surrounded by this fabulous group of Superromance writers and readers. You guys are the best. You’re my home in cyberspace. So, to celebrate our friendship, I’ll pick a name for a drawing from those who leave comments about their secret passions. The prize: an autographed copy of THE DAUGHTER HE NEVER KNEW, which just won the Holt Medallion award (which made me very glad I'd indulged this writing passion of mine).
Best to you all,
Linda
Posted by Linda Barrett
Author of The Daughter He Never Knew
on 6/15/2006 |
Surprises! |
Did you ever stumble across a book you didn’t know you'd love, and then you couldn’t put it down? As I told Julie Kenner, when I gushed a fan email her way, I’m about as Chick Lit as a clearance bin at the Five and Dime (if they even have those any more). For instance, most of my shoes are made of rubber and and you have to part your toes to wear them. And I don't even have flip flops in all the right colors.
I digress.
I stumbled into THE GIVENCHY CODE and could not put it down. The puzzles, the scavenger hunt search for the clues, the atmosphere of Manhattan--I fell in love with the characters, and it all ended too soon. Recently, I was reading a writer’s magazine and paged into an excerpt of Jennifer Weiner’s GOODNIGHT NOBODY. Again--from that sample page, I didn’t want to put it down. I had to go buy the book, and if I weren’t under a deadline, I’d have read it all in one sitting, too. (Don’t you hate having to put down an excellent book that literally tugs at your heart and also makes you laugh out loud--and annoy your sleeping husband?)
So, I have a question. Tell us about a book that took you hostage! I’ll pop the names of anyone who answers into my pencil cup and draw a winner for one of my books.
Until later. I’ll be behind this screen working on my book, wishing I could read the rest of GOODNIGHT NOBODY! Posted by Anna Adams
Author of Marriage in Jeopardy
on 6/14/2006 |
It's a shoe thing and a book |
Ha, Amy, my to be read pile is only eclipsed by my to be worn pile. As in shoes to be worn some day with the right outfit as soon as I find it.Since Amy got us rolling yesterday with a great book drawing I'll follow up today, since it's Friday with a free book too. I'll draw from the names of everyone who posts here until six p.m. central time and the winner will get a signed copy of A Different Kind of Man and a pair of shoes! Naw, just kidding that would be too hard. But I will send a neat metal bookmark.
So, men go on and on about women and their shoes and I really didn't use to have a shoe fetish, but somehow in the last year or two I've developed one. Maybe it was when I decided to STOP wearing navy and black and actually try to wear some colors. But it was really easy to match shoes with navy and black and now I have to have white, pink, blue, some cool boots thrown in there too. And what's up with the flip flops? Do they have to put all the rhinestones and colors and baubles on them so I HAVE to have a pair even though I don't have anything to wear with them. Then there's those really pointy toe kind. Okay, I know they're going to hurt my feet, but they'll look so good with the right pair of pants, now if I can just find those pants. My husband asks, "Don't you already have a pair of black shoes?" Well, duh, yes I do. But the heels are too high or too low for this outfit or they are slides and I need pumps with this.
I've tried to get rid of some of the shoes sometimes and occasionally I'm successful, but others call my name when I stick them in the throw away pile. They say how I'm going to need them really soon, just wait and see. And I eventually stick them back in the closet. They might be right, who am I to argue the good sense of those shoes.
This might be the most inane topic that's ever appeared on this blog site. But if you get it and you completely KNOW how it is when shoes speak to you, let me hear about your shoe pile. Or at least tell me how to get my husband to understand why I need 25 pair of shoes when he needs only 5. Come on do I really have to explain this to him. Isn't it obvious!!! Posted by Suzanne Cox
Author of A Different Kind of Man Dec. 05
on 6/9/2006 |
Win a book! |
I should be embarrassed.
My to-be-read pile is huge. Towering. Okay, it technically isn't a pile, it's two tall bookcases full (which will prove an issue when we move next month. Think I'll hear about that from the husband much?)
I just counted. 210 books I need to read. Want to read. Can't WAIT to read!
I love my TBR pile. It gives me comfort. I know I'll always have something good to read, as it's looking less and less like I'll EVER catch up. I'm a slow reader...have to read Every. Single. Word. It takes me a week to finish a book, and that's when I have time to read each night (which isn't happening lately.)
One of my critique partners is the opposite. She'll order 15 books from eHarlequin and burn through them in three days. She has no TBR pile because she reads faster than she can buy. The poor soul.
Which kind of reader are you? Do you buy faster than you can read or vice versa? How many books are on your TBR pile/shelf?
Post here and tell me. I'll draw randomly from anyone who posts a comment before midnight tomorrow (Wednesday the 7th, CDT.) The winner will receive a copy of Unexpected Complication, my April release from Superromance.
(Note: If you post and you can't immediately see your comment, never fear. One of us has to approve it...trying to avoid Spam, you know. It shouldn't take long.) Posted by Amy Knupp
Author of Unexpected Complication
on 6/6/2006 |
Can it possibly be June 1 already? |
| I can't believe it's already June 1! Although I should - we've been spending a lot of time working in our garden. I've won the annual battle with my husband about planting tomatoes - he wants flowers, and I want my favorite vegetable. I can get a lot of my other favorites at the farmer's market and at our local farm stand, but there's nothing like a tomato right off the vine.
What has everyone else been planting in their gardens? We have a lot of perennials, but we just found a beautiful annual called parrot's beak. It's in the lotus family - silvery, delicate foliage and dark red flowers that look like, well, parrot's beaks. It's in a hanging basket on our deck, where we can enjoy it whenever we stick our head out the door.
Anyone else find something new this year? We're always looking for ideas! Posted by Margaret Watson
Author of FAMILY FIRST
on 6/1/2006 |
A Rosie by any other name |
A few weeks ago we were discussing possible names for future furry additions to our family. We don't have an unlimited amount of choices--we have a new family tradition to uphold. Our dog is named Hogan (as in Ben), and our son's dog is Palmer (as in Arnold). Are you seeing a pattern here?
We've named some pets for their appearances--a black and white rabbit was Pepper. And we've chosen some names because they were Irish--Duffy the goat, Molly and Martin the geese, Riley the cat, Bailey the dog. One of my favorite pet names belonged to a neighbor's sheep: McGregor.
How have you chosen your pets' names? What are some of your favorites?
Posted by Terry McLaughlin
Author of LEARNING CURVE
on 6/1/2006 |
What are you doing this summer? |
| I should be writing. I know I should be writing. But as I sit here ready to head out the door to attend my son's last field trip, I can't help but think of all those years I spent in school playing those last few days. Ahh, to be young again. Wait--I wouldn't go back and do it over again for anything! LOL
So, what are you doing this summer? How are you spending those long summer days when your kids or grandkids are screaming, "But we're bored!"? I've got a stack of books to read, and a lot of writing to do. but what I'm wondering is how to best entertain the people in my life who can't entertain themselves. The husband, the in-laws, the family. Did I mention I'm a reader/writer in a family of non-readers/writers? Can you imagine?
So to join in on Linda's fabulous giveaway idea, I want G-rated suggestions on projects, ideas, crafts, whatever and lots of them. I'll pick the most creative and least expensive idea, and the winner will receive an autographed copy of Montana Secrets to read over the summer. Sound like a fair trade? So, let's have it! What are you doing this summer? Posted by Kay Stockham
Author of Man With A Past - AVAILABLE NOW
on 5/26/2006 |
Thank You |
| Thank you for your kind words, Starr.
As long as I've been in this business, everyone has always been supportive. The process of writing is such an amazing experience, we all recognize the efforts of our fellow writers and understand the price paid to get that novel out there. Posted by Becky Burton
Author of MEANT TO BE MARRIAGE
on 5/25/2006 |
Free for readers |
| I have a June release, Son of Texas. If you're reading the blog and the first reader to post here, I'll give you a choice of my backlist. And a Texas beaded book thong.
Be careful what you write--I learned that lesson in Forgotten Son (Jan 2005).
Belle Doe was a minor character in that book. She was found wandering the streets of Austin, without a name, without a memory. I got a lot of mail asking who is Belle Doe?
In Son of Texas I answer that question and it wasn't easy. I had no idea who had shot Belle when I wrote Forgotten Son. It was a mystery to me like it was to everyone else. The villian changed several times. Luckily my editor was very understanding. So pick up a copy of Son of Texas and find out who shot Belle Doe.
Posted by Linda Warren
Author of Son of Texas
on 5/25/2006 |
Exciting News |
| I finally got an answer to my question about who won the RT Award for the Best Superromance.
Congratulations to Lori Handeland for A SOLDIER'S QUEST. Way to go! Posted by Rebecca Burton
Author of MEANT TO BE MARRIAGE
on 5/25/2006 |
How much reality do you like in your romance? |
| Monday was a holiday here, and I’m still going at a relaxed pace, just looking at a long list of things to do and being completely unmotivated to get at it. Trees and shade and lounge chairs are foremost in my mind. ;)
Did we ever say why we decided to blog instead of chat? I’m not sure we did. For me, it was that breathless, going in circles confusion, finally getting my answer to a question typed three pages after it was asked. A blog seemed like a way to slow down the conversation and make room for more people to visit. If you want to comment on a post, don’t worry when it doesn’t appear right away–that’s because of the spam filter. And the filter works–I don’t know how many spam messages I’ve deleted when checking for comments to approve. We reluctantly shut down our Guest Book because it was getting clogged with the stuff.
What I’m wondering lately is how much reality people like to find in the romance novels they read. Supers are meant to be more realistic than other lines, but my upcoming book (in June) deals with a single mother who’s trying to reassure her son about climate change after he sees “The Day After Tomorrow.” That’s how she meets the hero, but it’s also how she gets scared stiff about what might be happening to the world her son will grow up in. I don’t think love stories need to be fantasies–but what do you think? What are you looking for when you curl up to read? Posted by Caron Todd
Author of A Different Kind of Summer
on 5/24/2006 |
Test |
| This a test run to see if I can actually blog. It's always nice to do new things. Then aagin I could be technically challenged. Here goes... Posted by Linda Warren
Author of Son Of Texas
on 5/24/2006 |
Achieving Balance in Life |
| It’s Tuesday morning and I’ve just come back from playing doubles badminton in a woman’s league. My team won five games out of six - yay! Some weeks we lose more than we win but we always, always have fun.
When I called the recreation center a couple of years ago I never intended to join, I was inquiring on behalf of my teenage daughter who wanted to play after school. But the woman who coached the juniors said, “Why don’t you come along on Tuesday morning?”
I hesitated because I write full time and it’s hard enough meeting my weekly word count without taking time out during prime writing time when the kids are at school and my husband’s at work. But the coach was persistent and finally I said okay.
It was one of the best things I’ve ever done.
Being a writer can be a lonely job. Most of the time that’s okay - in fact I need my ‘alone time.’ But humans are social beings and I also need to interact with real live people, not just the characters who populate my books. I didn’t know anyone at badminton when I first joined but before long I’d made new friends. Often we go for coffee or lunch afterward and just chat.
As a writer I need to keep my body healthy and active to survive sitting at the computer for hours on end, day after day. Despite what you might think, badminton is not a sissy sport. It’s good aerobic exercise. I figure I burn more than enough calories to justify the slice of cake with my coffee afterward. (That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.)
Besides the benefits of social interaction and keeping fit, taking time out to play helps me maintain a sense of balance in my life. In these hectic days of juggling kids, parents who need help and our own heavy workloads, too often our play time gets lost by the wayside. I think that’s a shame. We need to carve out time for ourselves to stay healthy and sane. As writers often we’re so concerned with creating well-rounded characters that we forget that we need to be multi-dimensional, too.
And here’s something else I never expected – I learned a new skill. Okay, so badminton isn’t going to help me survive the next ice age but I get a lot of satisfaction as my game improves and I go up from one level to the next. Or win against a good player I’ve never been able to beat before. And when my team was runner up in the grand final last season I was as proud as any seven year old over the little trophy I won.
My question for the day: what do you do to maintain a balance in your life?
Whether it’s sports or arts and crafts, walking the dog or meeting girlfriends for lunch, there must be something that you love that’s just for you, that allows you to get through the rough bits of your week.
So write in. I’d love to hear all about it.
Posted by Joan Kilby
Author of Party of Three
on 5/23/2006 |
Follow-up |
| Linda,
It would be my luck to phone you the one night you were able to sleep. I'm sorry to hear you suffer, too. I don't think it is bladder with most women. I think women just have more sleep related problems. My sister in law is up and down all night long. She said she's really been checked out. Me, too. It's just one of those mystery things.
I forgot to list my email in the last post in case someone wanted to win copies of my last two linked books. rdfox@worldnet.att.net. I still have the same email addy I started with when the internet came into being. As an aside, how many writers have kept the same one? How many have changed?
For a nice review of my last book go to Vicki Lewis Thompson's site. She's doing this cool thing where she and her web hostess are each picking a favorite book of the month---I probably should buy her dinner, or wine, or both.
Becky---I haven't seen any winners of the RT. If you're up, good luck. It's well deserved.
Do more people blog on weekends, or during the week???
Roz Posted by Roz Denny Fox
Author of Hot Chocolate On A Cold Day
on 5/20/2006 |
RTAwards |
| Does a little fairy know who won the RT reviewers award for Supers today? I couldn't go to the convention. When that happens, I'm always the last one to know. I've seen congratulations on the different loops for other lines. Just wondering. Posted by Becky Burton
Author of MEANT TO BE MARRIAGE
on 5/19/2006 |
Hooray it's Friday |
| Good morning from Tucson, AZ. The sun is coming up and most people are still sleeping. If I were to try and tell you things about me that you may not know--number one would be that I have been a life long insomniac. It's good when I'm on deadline, but not fun for my husband and family, who all are late sleepers. I'm trying to get off diet coke without a lot of success. That would be another secret about me. Reading is my big passion. That's no secret. I like to do crafts. Never the same kind, but I'm always trying something new. What I'm not good at is quilting. I've taken classes and I love quilts so I'd love to be able to make one. I'm a total bust at it. Linda Barrett talked here about American Idol. I'm not much of a TV fan. I rarely go to movies, but do buy videos when someone recommends a good movie. I really dislike commedians. But I like stage plays. Love going to little theatre. I'm currently working on a Superromance that is untitled and will be out in 2007. Titles--another thing. My early books were all my titles. Now I can't seem to come up with titles that marketing likes for anything. Maybe I should run title contests on my web site. You can probably already tell I'm not good at blogging. Is that significant? Usually I'm not at a loss for words. But I like a topic to discuss. What you have here is Roz's ramblings. I'll check back later in the day. Hope you all have a good Friday. Do we have avid readers out in this blogland? The first reader to email me and say they read my rambling blog, and if they give me a snail mail address I'll send copies of Coffee In The Morning and Hot Chocolate On A Cold Day, plus a mystery gift. Actually I just want to see if I'm the only silly person up at four a.m. Well, four a.m. Arizona time. More later---Roz Posted by Roz Denny Fox
Author of Hot Chocolate On A Cold Day
on 5/19/2006 |
American Idol |
Okay. I want a show of hands. How many of you posters and lurkers have been following American Idol this season? I've been hooked. This is my first year of watching it...I was simply curious about what all the hoopla was about. And now I know. It's the American dream come true. Or should I say, the POSSIBILITY of the dream coming true. It could happen to anyone if they work hard and keep their eye on the ball. Of course, it helps to have a great voice! A great personality doesn't hurt either. :)
So, what do you think? Does it take a great voice or a so-so one attached to a great personality to become the American Idol? Should Elliot have been eliminated last night?
Come on, let's talk!
Posted by Linda Barrett
Author of A MAN OF HONOR, 8/06
on 5/18/2006 |
A little bit of this, a little bit of that.... |
| Ahhh, the bittersweet words “The End”. I don’t write them at the end of a story. Never have. Simply because I guess I don’t see the stories ending. In my head, the end of the story is only the beginning of my hero and heroine’s life together. At least that’s the way I look at it.
Today I finished revisions for my January, 2007, release amid month-long drama which included the fear of serious illness in my son, my husband’s unwarranted and unexpected job loss, seeing an elderly parent through surgery and the post-op visits, problems with a bookstore signing and dieting. Now I’m very happy to report that my son is fine and ornery as ever, my husband not only employed but snatched up by a competitor within mere hours of being let go, the surgery fine, the signing postponed but still on, and the diet—well, we won’t go there. But as of this very second my printer finished printing the revised story of Montana Skies and I’ve learned that, despite adversity and a lot of it, I can write under pressure. I don’t like it, but I can do it. Thank God.
The fan letters helped. Oh, boy did they help! I received the sweetest letter today from an aspiring writer who’d just finished reading Man With A Past, surfed my website and read it page by page. In this letter, she told me a particular article I’d written about an author I greatly admire is what had her writing to tell me she admired my writing to the same degree. Wow. Did she know how bad a month it’s been? How much I needed to hear those words? No. But it just reaffirmed how a few kind words can impact some unsuspecting soul’s life. I so appreciated that letter, and if you’ve never written to an author you admire or because you’ve been impacted by a particular story, what are you waiting for? Tell them! Trust me, they’ll appreciate it.
Sherry, I loved your “Six weird things about me” so I’m going to post mine. I don’t know if they make me weird or not ;) but here they are:
1) My shoes, purse and clothes *must* match. I can’t go out of the house if they don’t (sad but true).
2) I’m addicted to Mt. Dew. I’ve kicked the habit more times than I can count, but like an addict, I always go back. I’m hooked again (thanks to my hubby) and am fighting the lure.
3) I see my characters in my head, like a movie screen, and hear them as well. (Please don’t call me crazy.)
4) I’m obsessed with JR Ward books. Must. Have. MORE. The brotherhood rocks.
5) I can’t sing, dance or paint—but I sing in the car, dance when nobody is looking and have painted every room in my house a color. No white walls here, thank you.
6) My kids think I’m funny. (I’m so not.)
7) I’m passionate about bargain shopping, can’t pay full price, and will return an item if I find it elsewhere cheaper.
8) Oh, wait, I was supposed to stop at six. (Sigh)
9) I’m horrible in math.
Have a good night! Posted by Kay Stockham
Author of Man With A Past, AVAILABLE NOW
on 5/16/2006 |
This and That |
I'm a bit intimidated by the blog, so I figured I'd allow my scattered imagination to take whichever path suits at the time. I'm on deadline and my brain feels like I've got a hundred hummingbirds zipping around inside.
Great news, Deb, on the brand new grandbaby! I had to laugh at your subject entry -- Life Imitates Title. I've noticed a phenomena in my own writing. Shortly after I finish writing a book, a similar situation usually arises around me. I wonder if there's something magnetic, drawing like situations. I picked up the newspaper last week and noted an article that somewhat resembled the subplot in FOUR LITTLE PROBLEMS. If a character in my book has the flu, I get the flu shortly after finishing the book. If a child's in trouble in my book, I get a call from the school. LOL, I'm glad I'm not writing any secret babies...
~Carrie Posted by Carrie Weaver
Author of FOUR LITTLE PROBLEMS
on 5/15/2006 |
When life imitates titles |
| The title of my December Superromance is: A BABY ON THE WAY.
I was amused when my editor suggested it because at the time, I actually had a baby on the way -- a grandbaby, thank God.
But that changed yesterday at 12:15 p.m. My new little granddaughter was born. A healthy, perfect 8 pounds, 8 ounces. They haven't settled on a name.
This is my second grandchild and I was present at that birth, too, two and a half years ago. But what was different about this birth was my perception of it. I'd just finished reading a wonderful book called THE RED TENT. The heroine was a midwife in biblical times, and the author did an amazing job of letting the reader experience the heroine's life -- the good and the bad. I loved the way women supported each other during this process of ushering new life into the world. Yesterday's delivery was at my son's home with a midwife present. All the necessary precautions were in place if something went wrong, but everything went very right, and my daughter-in-law was surrounded by women she loves and trusts. It was a breathtaking experience that brought us all very close.
Now, to squeeze a little writing in between chasing a toddler and cuddling the new little one...
All the best, Deb
Posted by Debra Salonen
Author of ONE DADDY TOO MANY (HAR May)
on 5/12/2006 |
RT Booklovers Convention |
| Hi Everyone. I just got back from a research trip into the Texas Hill Country. Wow, you Texans have a beautiful state. Also visited San Antonio which was very much fun. Now, back to thinking about next week and the RT Booklovers Convention at the Hilton Resort in Daytona Beach. Who's going? I hope I meet tons of readers and writers there. I've never been to an RT convention before, but I've heard rumors that both tantalize and scare me. Five costumes! For those attendees who want to "dress out" for each nightly party, that means coming up with outfits to be fairies, wenches, Hawaiian ladies, rock 'n rollers, and an added madcap night for the truly wild. You can go to the parties without dressing up, but what's the fun in that? I'm driving from South Flordia to Daytona which means I can pack my mini van with lots of stuff. Can't even imagine flying with those loaded suitcases.
I'll be in Club RT on Thursday, May 18 at 4:00 and Friday, May 19 at 11:30. Club RT is the perfect opportunity for writers and readers to get together. I hope folks stop by to say hello and pick up a free lighthouse bookmark.
Please post here if you're planning to attend the convention next week. I really want to do some name card surfing on the elevators!
Hoping the Florida fires don't shut down I-95 and force us onto a detour,
Cynthia Posted by Cynthia Thomason
Author of An Unlikely Father
on 5/11/2006 |
Six Weird Things About Me |
| Six Weird Things About Me
I was blog-hopping the other day and saw that someone else had done this on their blog. Thought it sounded like a fun idea. Now to see if I can come up with six weird things . . . Oh, who am I kidding? Let’s see if I can narrow it down to only six!
1. If it ever became necessary, I could sew my own clothes, make my own quilts, and preserve my own fruits and vegetables. I learned all these useful skills as a teenager. So far, they’ve never been necessary, but you never know -- right?
2. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve worked best with background noise of some kind. I did all of my homework to reruns of “Perry Mason” when I was in high school. It sure made practicing lines and lines of shorthand symbols more interesting! My older sister, on the other hand, had to do her homework in complete silence and when I had to do homework with her, the sound of her pencil scratching on the paper drove me nuts! These days, I often work with the Food Network playing softly in the background. It works for me because there’s no plot to follow, so I don’t get distracted by the story.
3. I can’t sleep without something covering me, even in the hottest part of the summer. And I need to be able to see the door from my bed or I can’t sleep. Must come from all the years I’ve been a single mom. I have to sleep facing the door so I can see what’s out there.
4. Confession time: I have a thing for watches. I can go out wearing shoes that don’t go with what I’m wearing more easily than I can wearing a watch that doesn’t match. I’ve had watches with pink bands and blue bands, silver faces and gold. I’ve had white bands, black bands, and bands in various shades of brown, to name just a few. For Christmas, Santa brought me a watch with interchangeable rings for the face and interchangeable, matching watch bands. It’s still my favorite toy :)
5. One of my life goals is to visit all of the National Parks in the United States. One of my favorite places on earth (if not my very favorite) is Yellowstone National Park. When I was a girl, my family went there every summer. When I took my own kids there a few years ago, I realized that there was hardly a space anywhere in the Park that didn’t have some memory attached. I always wanted to spend a summer living and working in the Park, but I never did it -- not yet anyway. There’s always time, right?
6. I embarrass my youngest daughter by singing songs to our animals. She thinks I’m weird. I maintain that the animals love my songs. Our cat Baby loved it when I sang “Baby Face” to him, and Mao had her own special tunes that I sang to her. I don’t sing so much to Vincent. He’s far too serious for nonsense songs, but our dog, Angel, loves it when I sing one of my own versions of “Popular” from Wicked (Poopular or Pupular, depending on what she’s doing at the time) or Puppy Doodle with the Goo-Goo-Googly Eyes.
So yeah. I’m weird. Was there ever any doubt?
 And while I'm at it, Happy Mother's Day to everyone who's celebrating on Sunday!
Posted by Sherry Lewis
Author of HER SECRET FAMILY
on 5/10/2006 |
I see dead people |
| I see dead people. Okay, not really. But I saw dead people this past weekend --on the movie theater screen. Not people who'd been shot up by Tom Cruise. (Don't want to see Mission Impossible. Can't get past the coach-jumping incident.) But the creepy, other-worldly dead people who float from scene to scene.
Yes, I saw a horror movie. More accurately, I let my teenage daughter talk me into seeing the dreadful American Haunting when we were out of town for the weekend. Thus becoming the oldest person in the theater, most of whom were teenage girls. What's up with that? Why weren't these young women watching a romantic comedy? Or, better yet, reading a romance?
This was not an uplifting movie, even though there were unintentionally funny moments. Like when the dead girl and the live girl splashed each other with pond water. Don't ask. But I am so not seeing a horror movie the next time I go to the movie theater with my daughter. Unless the ghosts fall in love. Posted by Darlene Gardner
Author of Million to One
on 5/8/2006 |
The End is the Beginning |
Three days ago, I typed “the end” on a story that will be published next year. I love getting to the end and wrapping it up. All the problems are solved, the characters are happy, and life is good. Except…it’s not really the end for my story people. I leave them as they start a new beginning in their happily-ever-after lives, hopefully a little wiser, a little stronger. At the same time, I start a new beginning, too, usually at my computer.
A new story excites me. I love getting to know my new characters and figuring out how to help them help themselves. I also relish new beginnings in my personal life. If I make a new friend, visit a new place or meet new readers, my life is richer.
Beginnings, endings and beginnings again. We all experience them, whether with books, hobbies, or with life itself. What can beat childbirth for a new beginning? This blog is a new adventure for the Superromance authors and a new activity for me. Today’s entry is my first. It won’t be my last.
What new activities have you begun lately? What have you ended? Are you happier for your decisions? One last question: what secret idea/activity do you want to try but are afraid to? Of course, it won't be a secret anymore..:)
Posted by Linda Barrett
Author of A MAN OF HONOR, 8/06
on 5/4/2006 |
What are Your Favorites? |
Let me digress for a moment. I love my little MAC that filled in all the lines I had to complete to start this blog entry!
Speaking of love, does anyone else ever binge on movies they love? There are some movies I love--right now. I'm binging on THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER. That's a right-now movie for me. Great action scenes, so many lovely men, so hard to keep them all in view--even on the wide screen version. I have kind of a hard time with this movie, because of Sam Neill's not so happily ever after. Fortunately, we do have JURASSIC PARK around here somewhere.
There are some movies I love all the time. KEY LARGO, BRINGING UP BABY, THE WOMEN, UNDERCURRENT, THE LION IN WINTER (what dialogue!) But I notice I don't have a lot of really new all-the-time favorites. LOVE, ACTUALLY may be one of those. The more I watch it, the more I find to like.
Some books appeal to me like that, too. I love GREEN DARKNESS, by Anya Seton, and I've just bought a new copy because my old one is literally falling apart so I couldn't read it any more. I'm treating myself with pages of GREEN DARKNESS, wallowing in story and history and the sheer, sensual beauty of Anya Seton's writing and imagination. I also have several Anne Mather Harlequin Presents from the 70s that I couldn't part with for any reason. The texture and passion of those stories! They made me believe in inevitable true love between one woman and one man who were simply born to be together.
And I've been dipping into Hemingway's Nick Adams short stories lately. I suggested them to a friend who wanted some good short stories, and those are the best for me. Oh--I should have told her about P.G. Wodehouse's Mulliner stories. I'm laughing as I think about them. I've read "The Smile that Wins" literally hundreds of times, but I laugh out loud on every new visit.
But, since I've clearly been thinking about the comfort of old friends, I come to the blog with a question. If anyone's lurking out there, I'd love to hear about your favorites--movies, books, songs. Favorite places to visit. (I have yet to visit Biltmore House in Asheville, NC, without feeling there's an Edwardian story scrambling to get out of me!) What makes you dream?
Just in case you don't have time to write, I hope we're all reading, watching, or simply seeing something that makes us content today. Posted by Anna Adams
Author of Marriage in Jeopardy
on 5/3/2006 |
Do it yourself'er |
| I was wondering if anybody else out there likes to take on projects around the house rather than hiring them done? I don't know if I love it so much as I had to learn to do things myself in the past and now I just refuse to PAY somebody to do something I can do myself (house work excluded of course!!!LOL!) My top do it yourself job is painting. I love to do faux finishes. Some are easier than others but my last two bathrooms nearly killed me, though they look very good or at least that's what other people say. Sometimes when you work that hard on something it takes it a really long time to look good to you RIGHT?! Of course part of the problem could have been that I had to remove wallpaper before I started. This is a job that will make you want to just rip the entire sheetrock off the wall and start from scratch. If you've never tried it before and have some painting to do you should give it a go. You just have to remember that it's only paint and you can always paint over it. And kind of like writing, it's not going to look right until you're completely done. It's a matter of layering and layering to get the right finish!! (See how I pulled writing into the topic. And you thought this was just about painting your bathroom!!) Posted by Suzanne Cox
Author of A Different Kind of Man
on 4/28/2006 |
Atlanta Conference |
| It's never too early to start thinking about a good time, right? With that in mind, I'm wondering how many folks out there will be heading to the RWA Conference, which will be held in Atlanta this year. If you're not familiar with the conference it presents a great chance to meet your favorite author or if you're a writer to meet your favorite editor (!). We have a huge book signing and you can either bring your own copies or buy them there. I'll be signing all the books from The Operatives, my latest series, the last of which is out this month for Super. The autographing proceeds benefit a literacy foundation so you can enjoy your book AND help someone learn to read. Posted by Kay David
Author of NOT WITHOUT CAUSE
on 4/27/2006 |
I Believe |
| I saw Lynette's entry about romance, and I have to admit that I share your worries about all the negative pressures on kids these days. Sometimes, romance seems like an endangered species.
But then I think about what we do, and the letters we get. We're spreading the word. We're telling the world that love exists, right alongside respect and loyalty and faith and hope and justice. And people respond, some of them very young, and they, in turn, pass it on. I think there's a hunger, even in the hearts of the most jaded of kids, for the very thing we believe in so strongly, we romance writers and readers. We have to keep telling the story and filling the well, for them and for us.
My husband is always telling me how proud he is of me and of how I get a chance, by what I do--what all of us do--to make a difference. To help make a new sort of balance, where men and women celebrate the differences between them and come together to form a stronger whole by their union. Where those values get passed along to their children.
We can't go back to the Sinatra world, but I do believe we can help make a brighter future by writing stories, as we do, that are both real and romantic. The two aren't incompatible, not in the hands of this talented group. I'm proud to be one of you.
Jean Posted by Jean Brashear
Author of Sweet Mercy
on 4/27/2006 |
The Best Is Yet To Come |
| Last week, while browsing through one of my favorite stores, I got to hear Frank Sinatra singing "The Best Is Yet To Come." A terrific song – frankly sexual and yet wildly romantic. I'm gonna teach you to fly, he says. You think you've flown before but you ain't left the ground. Not yet – you're not ready. But that's okay, you're worth waiting for. And the best is yet to come, come the day you're mine.
Isn't that thrilling – to know you're worth waiting for?
And yet…I worry about those who are coming of age in this fast food/instant gratification world we live in. A young woman I know says the guy she's been dating for 3 weeks wants to…how shall I say this?...get to second base with her. He thinks they should be past the stage of simple good night kisses. This, despite being aware she's still recovering from a long-term relationship that broke her heart.
What's happened to Romance? What's happened to hitting the ball before running the bases? What about earning trust and respect, exploring her mind before he explores her body?
As a romance writer and reader, I enjoy stories with instant attraction and mutual, irresistible lust. I believe love can strike quickly – in a day or a week, and I like those books, too. But in books – and in real life - I crave a love that builds over time, with increasing tension and trust, awareness and anticipation, until the lovers simply can't resist each other one second longer. The best is yet to come, come the day you're mine!
As ever,
Lynnette
Posted by Lynnette Kent
Author of The Prodigal Texan
on 4/25/2006 |
Expected Complications |
This past weekend, I had my first-ever book signing for Unexpected Complication. It went really well, and I loved talking to readers, both those I knew and those I didn’t. I had several people ask me the same question, so I thought I’d answer it here.
The question: How did you come up with Carey and Devin’s story?
Answer: A hammer, some good critique partners, and a whole lot of sweat.
A lot of writers are idea people. They come up with a story plot nearly in tact from beginning to end. Then they create a couple of characters that will fit in the plot and work it from there.
Me, not so much.
Instead of ideas, I come up with characters. In fact, Carey and Devin were secondary characters in the first manuscript I wrote (which shall remain hidden away on my computer forevermore.) They had chemistry even in the first story, when they were supposed to shut up and stay in the background. Their dialogue just appeared in my head. So I decided for my second story to pluck them out and give them their own book.
So I had these two characters I loved and…absolutely no idea what their story was. It was a dear friend and critique partner who first suggested, “What if you made Carey pregnant?”
My response? “No way!” But the more I thought about it, the more I liked it. And so...Carey became pregnant. *g*
Four or five versions later, the hammer and the sweat have done their jobs, and Carey and Devin have a love story, complete with conflict, emotion and hopefully a few laughs along the way.
I’ve moved on to my next set of characters, and my hammer is getting another workout trying to pound a story out of them. Hopefully by February next year, (or actually May of this year, when the story deadlines) these two will also have a smooth, engaging story to tell. Because God knows, they sure didn’t start out that way!
Posted by Amy Knupp
Author of Unexpected Complication
on 4/24/2006 |
Gas is a pain... |
| Talk about pump shock (what kind of gas did you think I meant?)...I just filled up my tank for my 3-hour drive to my RWA chapter meeting tomorrow. If the cost of gas continues to rise, I'm thinking we may need to make these meetings a streaming video on the Net. Although I would really miss hanging out with my fellow writer-types. And they give chocolate kisses for good news -- I qualify since 1.) I finished my line edits and 2.) I was invited to join a Superromance continuity series that will be out in late 2007.
Off topic -- the price of gas -- the topic of our meeting tomorrow is "An Inside Look At Harlequin" with Susan Crosby, Brenda Novak and me. We divied up the lines and contacted editors and authors to find out the most current "stuff." I happened to contact Malle Vallik, who is the head of Harlequin's New Product Development and eHarlequin.com. Here's my scoop: Next Tuesday, Harlequin is going mobile.
HARLEQUIN ON THE GO launches next week (if all the stars align and the technology complies). For $2.49/month from Verizon, you can get daily content sent to your cell phone. The menu will include: daily reads (from existing online stories at eHarlequin), an interactive trivia question, weekly writing lessons, something called Six-Degrees of Kissing, and promotional plugs for new releases. There should be a link to a demo and free-trial up at eHarlequin.com next week.
Deb, wearing her old and very tattered reporter's hat
Posted by Deb Salonen
Author of ONE DADDY TOO MANY (HAR May)
on 4/21/2006 |
Stay Tuned |
Just a note to say improvements are on their way to this blog. We’re a large group and are still getting organized, but soon we should have daily posts and a lot more order.
We hope you’ll hang with us in the meantime! We also hope to drag our readers out of lurkdom and make this an interactive place to stop by. We'd love to hear what's on your mind!
Thanks for your patience!
Posted by Amy Knupp
Author of Unexpected Complication
on 4/20/2006 |
I was born and raised in the boondocks |
| HI All,
I've been hit by culture shock. My culture and I'm shocked that everybody doesn't do it this way. Just kidding. On revisions of my upcoming book my editor questioned why my pre-teen character kept calling people Mr. or Mrs. "so and so". Well, ummm... What the heck else do you call people?? I polled my good buddies, Kay Stockham and Amy Knupp and sure enough (see that's also probably a southern expression.) They don't call people Mr. and Mrs. "so and so". Well ya'll, in my neck of the woods you better be callin' people you know well, but who are older than you or in a position of respect Mr. or Mrs. then their first name, or your mama's gonna tan your hide!!!!! LOL
Okay, enough of that. Folks, I never knew I was sooo country!!! Alright, that's not true. I'm as country as they come and I've always known it. I started to e-mail my editor and tell her just in case there was any question about where I was from, that I'd just finished stemmin' a mess of greens for dinner. Now you guys figure that one out!!!!
Posted by Suzanne Cox
Author of A Different Kind of Man Dec. 05
on 4/20/2006 |
Testing, Testing, 1 2 3 |
| I'm killing time this afternoon and decided to play for a minute to see if I can add a picture to the blog. I'm trying a new recipe for dinner tonight--ravioli with rosemary and lemon. Hope it turns out as good as it sounds. My book club meets tonight and I haven't finished reading the book yet.
We're reading "Tisha", the story of a young women who went into the Alaskan wilderness in the 1920s as a teacher. It's actually quite a good book so I'm disappointed that I haven't finished it yet, but with only 3 hours to go and 200 pages or so left to read, I'm ready to admit I probably won't make it. 
Posted by Sherry Lewis
Author of HER SECRET FAMILY
on 4/20/2006 |
Crystal/rock thingie |
| Kay, where did you buy your rock thing? Posted by Cynthia Thomason
Author of An Unlikely Father
on 4/20/2006 |
Too much glorious sun |
| Responding to Kay's trip to the dermatologist and her good advice - so true! When I was in college, we baked any day we could by lying on concrete and covering ourselves in baby oil. Talk about basting - human sacrifice is more like it. I'm fair-skinned like Kay, probably a little older, and my trips to the dermatologist always have an unpleasant result. I've had three surgeries for skin cancer, the last one requiring 23 stitches to remove all the bad stuff. But the doc got it all thank goodness. Now I'm just on "watch" for the next time. We don't realize that sun exposure from years ago can and does cause serious problems later on. Now, when I go to the dermatologist, he asks where my hat is. If I say I don't need it because I'm not in the sun, he says, "So how did you get from your car to my office?" Now, he's serious about preventing skin cancer!
So cover up your kids' heads and slather on the 30-plus proof.
And while we're on the subject, has anyone heard about the new alternative to anit-perspirant/deodorant that is supposed to help prevent breast cancer? Hmmm... didn't know deodorant was a problem. the alternative is some kind of rock, or crystal that women are supposed to use under their arms.
Sheesh, if a lot of guys are reading this, I'm sorry!
Cynthia Posted by Cynthia Thomason
Author of An Unlikely Father
on 4/19/2006 |
Times, How They Change |
I had to buy something to wear for a luncheon at my husband's office this week. I'm at that in-between age. If I have a personal style, it veers toward natural frumpiness, and suddenly, I don't know if I'm dressing too much like my teenaged daughter. (My teenaged daughter tries to cull the frump from my shopping bags when she's home from school, mind you.) However, I had to shop on my own this week, and I don't know if I ended up a mess or--okay.
But it made me think of a night this past February. I was in Tennessee with my brothers whom I don't see often enough because they live far away. We all live in hot climates, so when the snow began to fly, we ran outside for a snowball fight. I was in jeans, a T-shirt and socks. They sensibly added coats and footwear.
Mid-battle, I suddenly thought of other nights when our parents and our aunts and uncles had been the ages we are now. They never joined us for snowball fights. They didn't own jeans, and they'd never have run outside in snow without shoes. (Caveat: This could be my time-soaked perception.)
But then I realized, two of my aunts--hereafter known as my heroes--began to change their lives at my age. They'd never learned to drive, never had jobs--or even money to call their own or spend as they liked. At the age I am now, they both persuaded their teenaged children to teach them to drive. They went back to school. They found useful jobs they enjoyed, and they learned to play in the snow--or hike in the woods (distances that frankly I think I'd need to train for before I could join them ). And best of all, they learned to laugh the laugh my husband calls our family cackle--in front of people--not just in family kitchens while we did the dishes after a holiday meal. Last month my cousin Debbie and I began tallying the restaurants we're not allowed to dine in any more because of that cackle.
My aunts--my heroes--learned to be the women they had always been--only they learned to show the funny, touching secret selves we'd never known. Who has that kind of courage?
And I need my daughter's okay to find something to wear. Posted by Anna Adams
Author of Marriage in Jeopardy
on 4/19/2006 |
Spring Maintenance.... on me? |
| Spring has finally sprung. It was beautiful today! Seventy degrees, sunshine. Wow. I took a break from writing and... made a trip to the dermatologist. If you don't want to read on, I understand, but don't worry. I won't go into detail. ;) I'm fair skinned and burn easily. I do tan... eventually, but when I was young I was really, really stupid when it came to sunscreen and now I'm beginning to see the results. The good news? No skin cancer---yet. But I've been warned. With my history, it's coming and I have to pay attention. Which brings me to my spring maintenance question---have you been checked out lately? When was the last time you had a physical? Women are notorious for taking care of everyone else and neglecting themselves. Don't do it! Think of it this way, if you're sick, who'll take care of them then?
And that's my mommy/woman/girlfriend lecture for the day. If you won't do it for your loved ones, do it for yourself. :)Posted by Kay Stockham
Author of Man With A Past, May 2006
on 4/18/2006 |
Fighting the Never-Ending Battle |
| This is my second attempt at posting a blog entry today. The first one got lost in cyberspace somewhere. No great loss. It was all stream of consciousness stuff about TV and guilty pleasures. Since I can't remember what I said, and the loss of my blog entry just might be a sign from the universe that it wasn't worth the bandwidth it would take to post it, I'm going to run off in an entirely different direction for my second try.
It's 2:00 in the afternoon at my house, and that means the clock is creeping ever closer to that time of the day when I have to start dinner. Is it just me, or does everyone get sick of their own cooking after a while? It's not that I don't like what I cook, it's just that after a while it all starts tasting the same. It all gets boring, and I think that if I have to make that casserole or baked chicken one more time . . .
Last week, I spent several hours looking through my recipe files, looking for something new to fix. After passing it up three times because my daughter doesn't especially like green peppers, I finally decided to make a Hungarian dish called Lecso (prounounced "Lecho"). I got the recipe from my sister years ago, shortly after she married my Hungarian-born brother-in-law, but I rarely make it because my kids had pepper issues. Sure enough, when my youngest (the one who still lives with me) came home from work, she took one look at the pan filled with onions, peppers, sausage and rice, and curled her lip.
Lip curling over meals happens to be one of my pet peeves, so I squared up, ready for a fight. Luckily, my daughter is getting smarter all the time, and she ate without argument. Three bites in, she realized peppers were not evil, and told me I should find more recipes like that one. She even asked me to make Lecso again this week.
I know it's not much, but sometimes you've just gotta take your victories where you find 'em, y'know? Posted by Sherry Lewis
Author of HER SECRET FAMILY
on 4/12/2006 |
Just popping in to say hi |
| Hi. This is my first time blogging - no, really, it is. I've been reading the other posts and finding them very interesting, especially the one by Anna about her daughter being home for spring break. I remember those wonderful occasions when my son came home. Guess what? He graduated from college last May and he came home for good! I know a lot of college grads do that these days while they find a job and establish themselves, but let me tell you, having another person in the house after all these years changes things. Heaven knows I love this kid to bits, but where did he get all those CD's and all those DVD's and all that other stuff? He used to take up one room. Now he takes up three. But I went away this weekend, and he actually cleaned the bathroom!/p
/pYes, love the new Superromance covers. I really like my May one for the second of my Heron Point series./p
That's all for now. I have to see if this worked.
Cynthia Thomason Posted by Cynthia Thomason
Author of An Unlikely Father
on 4/11/2006 |
The fun part of writing.... |
| The fun stuff... I recently received an email from the wife of the cover model on my May release saying she can't wait to read Man With A Past with her hunky model husband, Jerald Bezener, on the cover. Anyway, we began chatting and she's sent me links to photos and websites where her husband appears. She even promised to email a pic of him reading MWAP when she gets her copies. This is definitely the fun stuff. It makes up for the back pain, the long hours, the frustration of not getting a scene just right the first time around. It even makes up for the snide comments people sometimes make when they learn I write romance. Yeah, this is definitely the fun stuff.
So, if you're interested in learning more about my hero, "Joe", check out www.myspace.com/macgraham In the video, Jerald is the other man and a hunky one at that! When I receive the picture of him with MWAP, I'll post it to my website along with all the links I've been sent. There are some great pics.
Kay Posted by Kay Stockham
Author of Man With A Past Coming May 2006
on 4/11/2006 |
The thrill of the first one |
| Amy, I never cease to be thrilled to see my books on the stands, even after 15, but I can sure relate to how excited you are on your first. I burst into tears the first time I saw mine in a bookstore. This sweet little old man, a customer standing nearby, came up and wanted to help me, and I'm pointing while trying to find my voice to say, "That's me...that's my book." Then I blubber some more.;)/p
So run around everywhere and look, if you want. I still can't resist the urge myself!/p
Jean Posted by Jean Brashear
Author of SWEET MERCY
on 4/9/2006 |
okay...did I get it right this time? |
| Um...okay, so I made my earlier comments to Roz without going to the right spot as a Super author! Can you tell reading directions isn't my thing?? Thanks to Caron Todd for leading me through the right door./p
Becky, how cool that your vision is so crisp now! Congrats!/p
I'm toddling off now...an early riser who needs to get back to work on her next Super! Hope this entry turns out right! Posted by Jean Brashear
Author of SWEET MERCY, April
on 4/6/2006 |
Late Arrival |
I was one of the people all for starting this blog and yet here I am, just now rolling in. Hate it when life (and deadlines) get in the way!
I received an email from a reader today who found my book on the shelves at her Wal-Mart. As a first-time author, this is SO EXCITING! (Come to think of it, I think I'll be thrilled whenever any of my future books hit the shelves as well!) The actual shelf-date for April Supers isn't until Tuesday, so it's out there early. Yay! (We won't talk about my urge to immediately cruise through all the local bookstores, grocery stores, and discount stores to see if we can find it locally. *g*)
I'm looking forward to the other Supers this month too. Just as soon as I get through promoting my own book, writing my next book (which deadlines in May) and packing up my house to put on the market. I'm thinking my reading time may be a bit short for a while. *panic*
Happy reading to all! Posted by Amy Knupp
Author of Unexpected Complication
on 4/6/2006 |
Popping in! |
| I've just had cataracts removed on both eyes and now I can see again. It's so wonderful I've been playing on the computer all afternoon and decided to pop in here and say hello. This is a great blog and I'm thoroughly enjoyin the posts. Posted by Rebecca Winters
Author of Meant To Be Marriage
on 4/6/2006 |
The End |
| I just finished printing my Dec. Superromance, A BABY ON THE WAY. I'd hoped to get it all wrapped up before I left for the NINC conference, which was marvelous, by the way, but a bout of flu put me behind schedule. Life intrudes, you know? But somehow the magic happens and the story comes together. I love that feeling. It's not really one of relief, but one of gratitude.
I had a bit insight I thought I'd share. While at the writing conference in New Orleans, I heard a lot of talk about "plungers" versus "plotters." Some of you will remember when they called this non-linear process "flying by the seat of your pants." I've always known that I'm about 80% plunge/20% plot, but what I came to understand is that this is also how I live my life. I had the point driven home recently when I talked to a life insurance guy and he asked about my retirement plan. Huh? Yep, I definitely could have plotted certain things better.
Plunging back into my crazy life...Deb Posted by Deb Salonen
Author of ONE DADDY TOO MANY (HAR May)
on 4/6/2006 |
Popping in here |
| I love the covers on all of the Supers this time. Can't wait to get my hands on them to read. Our titles and covers have been so good of late. I hope more readers are drawn to the bookstore racks because of them.
I haven't seen my April Signature Select out around here yet. I did see the March release. They aren't as prevalent as the series books, at least not in Tucson.
Roz Posted by Roz Fox
Author of Hot Chocolate On A Cold Day--Signature
on 4/6/2006 |
One of Those Days (The Best Ones) |
This is one of those great days--the kind I love to write about in our books. My daughter is home from school, and we've been catching up. I get to hear about "the guy," who makes me nervous--cause he seems like such a nice person, but will he really treat my wonderful child as she deserves? Could any human being on earth treat her as well as I think she deserves? I'm all envious when I see all her photos cause I want to be carefree in school again. She's thrilled to have a home-cooked meal. Eating out used to be her favorite thing.
I am, as usual, stunned but relieved to find she still feels she lives with us. We go shopping, and I worry that she's too thin. She's grateful that water aerobics and the monolithic hill at her school are toning her. I feel lucky to pay the bills cause it's one of the few things I can do for her any more since she's kind of independent. She feels just as lucky not to have to dip into her account!
We've come home and we're watching a family favorite movie and the kitty is curled in her lap. Since I can't manage to do only one thing at a time, I've been working on my latest book between movie and chat time.
So--this is heaven. Posted by Anna Adams
Author of Marriage in Jeopardy
on 4/4/2006 |
Totally Missed the Launch, But I'm So Excited to be Here!!! |
Deb, I'm trying to log in for the first time, so we'll see. Susan, you're a goddess for getting this up and running so soon. Karen, ditto to you, our NovelTalk doer of all that needs to be done. I've been time-challened of late, so that makes me doubly-grateful for how smoothly things have gone getting this up and running.
I can't wait to see how things progress! Can't wait for my trip to LA at the end of the week, too. It's been ding-dang cold in GA. Way too cold for this time of year. Here's hoping the West Coast dries out and shows the Celebrate Romance Conference ladies a good time.
Glad to be aboard. Will add the link to my site as I do my end-of-the-month updates!!
Anna D. Posted by Anna DeStefano
Author of The Prodigal's Return
on 3/27/2006 |
This is looking good! |
| Wow, ladies! This is great. I've enjoyed each of your blogs and even tested out one reply, which I'm happy to see is now up and running. I'm looking forward to hearing from our readers.
I was told (thank you, Susan Gable) that there's a way to add emoticons and stuff. This falls under the heading "old dog/new trick", but I'm willing to try -- even if fall flat on my smiley face. :-)
Bear with us as we reach our stride, but I hope you'll pass along this link to other readers and aspiring Superromance authors. We're here. We're happy to talk about our books and what it took to write that book (in some cases, the flu) and, of course, chocolate. I'm taking a bag of the most lucious dark chocolate-covered raisins (organic, of course) to a conference next week. Almost makes up for air travel.
DebPosted by Deb Salonen
Author of ONE DADDY TOO MANY (HAR May)
on 3/26/2006 |
Covers |
| Hey guys-- Just wanted to say I adore the covers out this month. Every one of them looks so interesting but I have to say, Anna, yours really caught my eye. I think Supers are looking pretty special lately. Even my husband, who normally doesn't notice things like that, picked up my April book and commented on how much he liked it.
Kay Posted by Kay David
Author of NOT WITHOUT CAUSE - APRIL 06
on 3/26/2006 |
Spring Chocolate and Books |
As I sit here eating my breakfast of oreo cookies and coffee (which by the way will not get me in a swimsuit this summer) I'm just waiting for the sun to warm up a bit so I can head outside to work on another book. I LOVE to lie in the sun and read, but lately, like alot of people, writers or not I'm having to squeeze my reading time in. But I do try to find time even if it's just a few minutes when I get to soak in the tub, or waiting at the doctor or dentist office. I'm enjoying the Mommy Quest at present with the rest of this months titles calling my name. I did recently get to finish Vanish by Tess Gerritsen and enjoyed it. Just wanted to drop in and make a start here. I hope Super readers will find us here and enjoy getting to know their favorite authors.
hugs,
Suzanne Cox Posted by Suzanne Cox
Author of A Different Kind of Man
on 3/26/2006 |
With this pen.... |
| Out of the mouths of babes... My children never fail to amaze me. Some of the realizations have been good, some not so good. But the other day I saw my daughter very intently writing in her Lisa Frank journal, a little smile on her face, and the conversation that followed went something like this:
"What are you doing?"
"Writing."
"What are you writing?"
Her smile turned sheepish. "Stuff. Good things. With this pen I can only write good things. See?"
The page was filled with who and what she loved, that she was happy and the sun was shining. Smiley faces and bunnies and curly letters.
(Picture mom getting increasingly curious.) "Where are the bad things written? What do you write them with?"
She shrugged. "It doesn't matter what I use to write them, but my special pen only writes good stuff."
That bit of wisdom has stuck with me for several days now, mostly because I realize it's true, at least for me. When I'm in between books and wondering how best to begin that all-important opening chapter, I often find myself foregoing the computer keyboard and grabbing paper and pen.
My pen isn't magical by any means (wishful thinking here), but now that my daughter has a 'special' pen, I think I need to get one. Especially if it "can only write good things."
Every person, especially writers, deserves a special pen. Do you have one? Something you use to write good things?
Posted by Kay Stockham
Author of Man With A Past, May 2006
on 3/26/2006 |
Reality vs. Fiction |
| Great topic, Darlene. Fiction is a lovely mix of events from my imagination and the emotions of my characters. I may not have experienced the event my character experiences, but I try to draw on my emotions and history and apply them to the character. And, oftentimes, I don't need to draw on my own history at all. The characters are pretty good about leading the way.
The funny and slightly eerie thing I've noticed is that after I write a book, something similar from the book usually happens. No, not murder or bigamy. The more run of the mill stuff. In my December Superromance, I found myself wondering if I'd portrayed the upper respirator flu-type stuff correctly -- I'd managed to dodge that viral bullet myself for many flu seasons. Well, at revision time, wouldn't you know I came down with the flu. At one point in my misery, I thought, "Yep. Got it right." And while writing my upcoming book, I received several phone calls from my boys' schools. Phone calls from the school never bode well for my kids. One of the heroine's sons in FOUR LITTLE PROBLEMS got into lots of scrapes in school.
The book I just turned in involves polygamy and suspense and I'm really, really hoping there are no post-book coincidences there. Posted by Carrie Weaver
Author of FOUR LITTLE PROBLEMS~May 2006
on 3/24/2006 |
First-Timer |
| Morning, all! This blog-thing seemed like a cinch till I started thinking, "What to write?"
So, I'll just go by the title for my first time. Books: I'm reading a few: THE WINTER ROAD (great Superromance!) by Caron Todd; WOMAN AND ARMS by Reginald Hill, a mystery which has started with one of the female characters talking about her writing goals. I'm identifying! And, finally, I can't remember the title, but a biography of Catherine De Medici that kept me up till about 4 a.m. yesterday. All excellent books, and all planted in the different places where I spend time. Do you all plant books, too?
Life: Actually, I haven't been talking about it, but it's been hard lately; moving toward that dullness Kay was talking about below. I'm a big fan of dull. Also, there's some life flourishing (pansies and some other stuff, whose names I can't remember) in the flowerpots outside my door. Normally, I have the thumb o' death, so I stop at the end of the driveway to admire every time I leave. You must appreciate, in case it all disappears!
Chocolate: I'm one of the only women on earth who doesn't really appreciate chocolate, but I have a brother who thinks it's the best thing about life. (Tying two blog subjects together.)
Welcome to all who visit us. I'm planning to think up a really clever entry for next time. No--really! :-)
Posted by Anna Adams
Author of Marriage in Jeopardy
on 3/22/2006 |
another blog virgin |
| Well, I'm joining the other blog virgins by trying this for the first time. Although I do have some login anxiety, I managed to get here. I'm excited about our new blog and I know it's going to be great fun.
I missed the first couple of days of posting because I just got back from a visit to Starved Rock. That's a state park in Illinois with canyons, bluffs and hiking trails (yes, I said Illinois!) My husband and daughter and I had a great time and evn saw a bald eagle. I'm refreshed and ready to get back to work.
I'm looking forward to reading all the posts by my fellow Super authors - our blog will be one of my daily internet stops. I know they're going to be interesting because this is such a great group. Happy blogging, everyone!
Margaret
Posted by Margaret Watson
Author of Family First
on 3/21/2006 |
Hello |
| I'll join Janice as another blog virgin. Do you think there will be a movie? "The 40 Year Old Blog Virgin." I refuse to say whether the age in that title would be accurate for me, though. LOL.
Carrie W. Posted by Carrie Weaver
Author of FOUR LITTLE PROBLEMS~May 2006
on 3/20/2006 |
Making Sure I Can Do This! |
| I do have a March release, but not a SuperR. It's the first of 2 Signature Selects out March and April.
However, I popped in to see if I can master this blogging thing. I do like new challenges, but some are more difficult than others.
I hope we have a lot of readers who find us here. It seems a good way to have a meaningful dialogue about our books, our characters, our writing styles, etc.
Chocolate: Hm. I like dark chocolate, but unfortunately I like bread, salty things, and all pastas better. Heck, I just like food.
Have a great day everyone. Posted by Roz Denny Fox
Author of Coffee In The Morning/Signature Select
on 3/20/2006 |
Realistic? Really??? |
| I get asked about writing such "realistic" stories all the time. As in, "You must have lived through something similar. Is your real life anything like your books?"
Heck no.
My real life is stunningly dull. Why else would I be blogging on a Sunday night? And speaking of blogging, am I doing this right? Are we supposed to be writing top-of-the-head, stream-of-consciousness here, or are we supposed to sound all erudite and authorial?
Well, at this hour, it's going to be top-of-the-head stuff. I really don't strain to make my stories all that realistic. I just let the story rip. I mean, how often do you find a dead body in your back yard? How often have you fallen into a frozen river and nearly drowned? Has a hunky firefighter ever delivered your baby? Hmm??? All of these things have happened, much to my surprise, in my Superromances. I think when readers comment that the stories seem realistic, they mean, "This is wild, this is crazy, but it feels like something that could actually happen to me."
Oh. I just looked up at the top and saw that we're supposed to talk about chocolate. Okay. Chocolate. I like it. I really like it. In fact, I think I'm going to go have a little before I go to bed! Night-night. -- Darlene Graham
Posted by Darlene Graham
Author of LONE STAR RISING
on 3/20/2006 |
Greetings to the bloggers and readers |
| Hey, everybody!
I'm really excited about this new experiment. I hope we'll see lots of positive feedback. Contests, websites, chats...it's really frustrating to know whether or not your efforts are reaching the people who might be interested. But this should be fun, if nothing else. I've been involved with the Superromance authors website since 2000 when my first Super was released; I know what a great group this is. I'm headed over to my personal blog right after this to post a link. My next Superromance doesn't come out until December, but I don't want any of my loyal readers to miss out on these great titles. ;-)
Question: is anyone else log-in challenged? Good grief, it took me eight tries to do it right. This is a very simple process, but my brain juxataposed every possible log-in combination possible. Jeesch. I'm blaming it on deadline brain. (Warning: I blame a lot of things on deadline brain.)
Happy reading. Is it chocolate time yet?
Deb
Posted by Deb Salonen
Author of Betting On Grace
on 3/19/2006 |
Saying hello |
| Wellll, we have new digs, huh? I'm just stopping by to say hello, and read the posts so far. I'm very excited about blogging here and hope it'll be a success. Today's been a lazy kind of day... church, couch, movies and snuggling up with my dog. Boring, right? LOL I *like* boring. Boring means no drama, trauma or hospital visits.
Until next time...
Kay Posted by Kay Stockham
Author of Man With A Past
on 3/19/2006 |
just dropping by |
| I'm a blog virgin, so I have no idea what to write now I'm here. I could talk about revisions, which I'm in the midst of, but I'm not sure whether profanity is allowed. Posted by janice macdonald
Author of Out of Control, October 2006
on 3/19/2006 |
Is it Spring yet? |
| I was going to comment on Deb's blog post, but I can't see a way to comment yet so I'll just have to create my own post :) I'm sitting in my office this morning watching the snow fall again, knowing we have at least 3 more stormy days ahead of us, and wondering if it's spring anywhere else in the world.
Actually, somewhere beneath the snow, there are crocus and tulips and daffodils starting to sprout, and the lilies in my back garden have broken ground -- but I can't see them anymore. Not that I mind the moisture. We've been living through a six-year drought here in the Rocky Mountain west, so every drop of water that falls from the sky is precious. But I am ready to see green again.
Anyway, welcome to our blog :) I'm looking forward to this! Posted by Sherry Lewis
Author of Her Secret Family
on 3/19/2006 |
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