Lady Scribes

What Horrid Novel Would Jane Recommend?

2012-01-28T18:13:00.005-06:00

As readers, we often research beforepurchasing a novel. Some of us readreviews on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Goodreads, and sometimes take note when a friend posts on Facebook/Twitter “I just finished reading (fill in the blank), and it was wonderful.” That is how an author and/or book gains a following.

But, social networking, as we knowit today, did not exist during the Regency period. There were reviews in the various papers, I suppose. I have heard there were, but have not had the opportunity to actually read such a review. One could also ask for a recommendation at a lending library as well, or fall back on the most common and reliable source – a friend.

And, if one wants a recommendation for what to read if one were living during the Regency period, one could start with Jane Austen. It is very simple actually. Very few readers and authors of Regency have not read Austen or at least seen the movies. What better way to delve into the world than through the works written at the time. But, Austen wasn’t the only author, though it may seem that way at times.

So, if you are a Regency author, and your heroine wants to read a novel, where do you go? Of course, this could be Googled and such “what novels were popular in1810” or whatever you are looking for. I didn't feel like doing that so I turned to a favorite, NorthangerAbbey, as an example of what Jane may or may not have read, and thus, what my current heroine may be reading.

Regardless of whether Jane Austen read these books at all, a short list was provided, and one my own heroine could rely upon for recommendation. And, it also shows, some things do not change. When looking for that perfect novel, turn to a friend:

“. . . But, my dearest Catherine,what have you been doing with yourself all this morning? Have you gone on withUdolpho?”

“Yes, I have been reading it ever since I woke; and I am got to the black veil.”

The book referenced would be The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe. It was actually published in 1794. I have this book, but have not read it yet. Though I am a bit interested in this black veil reference.

The reading suggestions do notstop with Udolpho.

“Dear creature, how much I am obliged to you; and when you have finished Udolpho,we will read The Italian together; and I have made out a list of ten or twelve more of the same kind for you.”

“Have you, indeed? How glad I am!What are they all?”

“I will read you their names direct;here they are in my pocket-book. Castle of Wolfenbach, Clermont, MysteriousWarnings, Necromancer of the Black Forest, Midnight Bell, Orphan of the Rhine,and Horrid Mysteries. Those will last use some time.”

“Yes; pretty well; but are they all horrid? Are you sure they are all horrid?”

Excerpts taken from Chapter 6 of Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen.

As an author this gives me two reference points. One, the books specifically named, and second, horrid novels were apparently the passion, or at least they were for a few young ladies.

I’ve read one horrid novel, A Sicilian Romance, by Ann Radcliff, published anonymously in 1790. Once I got used to the tempo, phrasing, etc., I became engrossed.

I suppose my heroine could read the books recommended to Catherine Moreland, but it feels a bit like cheating to me. So, I did my own research into Horrid novels and in less than a day, I had a list of 44 published between 1764 and 1820. Surely there are few in there that my heroine would enjoy. And luckily this author lives in the day of the Kindle so I’ve been able to obtain a few.

On the immediate list for my heroine are The Monk; a romance, by Matthew Gregory Lewis, The Ghost-Seer by Friedrich Schiller, and The Castle of Otranto,by Horace Walpole.. And in reading them, no doubt I will be transported in to an old Abbey or Castle; meet a Monk or a Nun, or both; encounter a Ghost; travel down dark, hidden passages; be faced with a fainting heroine; and someone is sure to have gone missing, fled, kidnapped and possibly even murdered. Those are just a few of the ingredients that make up the Horrid Novel.

Dearest creature, what horrid novels would you recommend and are they all horrid?

Ava, this is Houston. Are you there?

2012-01-27T01:00:00.005-06:00

Sometimes I am a space cadet, and not in a good way. I mean, I don’t work for NASA, nor have they ever asked me to travel to outer space for my country. No, no. I am a space cadet in the Where-am-I-going?…What-was-I-doing-again?…or…Who-am-I-today?…kind of way. Not the best thing to say about one’s self, but in addition to being a space cadet, I’m truthful to a fault, and I’m also a pragmatist. So there you are.

I don’t know about you, but I lose everything. I mean EVERYTHING. My keys. My bank card. My phone.

That’s right…

MY PHONE!

I did *that* this week. Monday, to be exact. And losing my iPhone really means losing all of my contacts, my email, Twitter, and Facebook accounts… Needless to say I get the shakes when I can’t put my hand on my phone. (Which you would think would make me keep up with it better. But… Well, you saw the first paragraph about me being a space cadet, right…?) Everything I have is in my phone. I don’t remember anyone’s numbers, and it’s a good thing I don’t usually have to because… see paragraph one again.

Strangely enough, I can tell you every last detail about every character I’ve ever written. Not sure what that means, but I didn’t want everyone to get the impression that I’m a complete dingbat. Just about things happening in the real world in real time.

Anyway, I retraced my steps, figured out where I’d had my cell phone last and that was… the post office. Really?! The post office?! Where a million people come and go every day? That’s where I left my phone? Uh, yeah, it was. And, of course, by the time I realized I didn’t have my phone, the post office was closed for the day.

Yeah, the shakes set in. But not as bad as I had expected. Whether or not my phone was still at the post office, there was absolutely nothing I could do about it until Tuesday morning at 9am when I found out for sure. I was rather calm, actually. I went back over conversations I’ve had with various friends recently about people being inherently good or evil. I have friends in both camps, and I’m… Well, I *am* a pragmatist. I don’t think people are either inherently good or evil. I think some people are good and some people are evil. I give everyone the benefit of the doubt, until I’m proven wrong – but that’s the subject for a whole other blog.

I figured my phone would either be at the post office or it wouldn’t. It would all depend on who found it and what sort of person that person was. And no amount of worrying on my part was going to change the situation one way or the other. Whatever had happened had already happened, and I just had to wait until the next morning to find out which way it went.

I am happy to report that some honest soul turned my phone in and I had it back in my hot little hands at 9am the next morning. And so I would like to send out a big “Thank you” to the nameless person who discovered my phone. I would also like to say that I will no longer be a space cadet and I’ll keep up with my possessions better, but I *am* honest and I know myself too well to make that kind of statement, even though I would love for it to be true.

Are you like me? Do you lose things constantly? And what do you lose most? (Mine are my keys. I have to have several copies at various places so I can always get to where I need to be.) Or do you always know where everything is all the time? If so – do you have any tips for the rest of us? ... Nice tips that is. Don't tell me to get my head out of the clouds, because that's probably not going to happen.

Guest Interview with Paty Jager!

2012-01-26T00:00:00.000-06:00

I'd like to take a moment to introduce one of my favorite western author Paty Jager, whom I've been a fan of for years. She writes the Wild West and makes it real. Her characters leap off the page and right into your living room as if they were right there with you. And the best part of her stories is she isn't afraid to break the rules and write uncommon plots and uncommon characters. I love that and I hope you will, too. So c'mon ladies and give a big "Scribe's" welcome to one of my favorite authors, Paty Jager!

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

Thank you Lady Scribes for having me here today.

What genre(s) do you write?

I’ve published historical and contemporary westerns and historical paranormal. I’m currently writing a contemporary action/adventure and mystery series.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I’m a plantser. I plot a little and then fly by the seat of my pants. I start with an idea or character and stew and brew the story and/or character in my head a while. Then I start researching and writing bios on the characters and gathering information that will help with plot. Once I’ve determined the opening scene, a turning point or two and know the black moment, I start writing. I don’t make an outline or synopsis before I start writing, I just write keeping in mind the turning points and the ending.

Why do you think people should choose your books over another author?

I can’t tell you why to choose my book over someone else’s book. I can only tell you my books entertain with a smidgeon of humor, intriguing characters, and fast paced prose. And I like to have information in the book that might be enlightening whether it’s historical in nature or about a cause or lifestyle.

What do you hope readers take with them after reading one of your stories?

If they put my book down and feel they’ve been entertained, perhaps moved(not all my books are written to move the reader) and enlightened, I’ve done my job.

Is there a message in your novels that you want readers to grasp?

I tend to like to write about injustice and people finding justice or at least coming out better in the end than when the story started.

How long have you been a writer?

That depends on what you mean by a writer. I’ve written stories all my life but it wasn’t until the 80’s when I became a freelance human interest writer for the local paper that I became a “paid” writer. As for fiction, I started writing a mystery novel five years before I joined RWA(Romance Writers of America) in 1998. I’m a wordsmith not a mathematician, so you’ll have to do the math. ;)

Please tell us 5 miscellaneous facts about yourself.

1) I’ve driven in a powder puff derby

2) I worked in a cosmetic department and a sandwich shop before I was married.

3) I’ve owned a horse all but five years of my life.

4) I hate skiing- snow or water.

5) In high school I wanted to join the Peace Corps.

Bio:

Wife, mother, grandmother, and the one who cleans pens and delivers the hay; award winning author Paty Jager and her husband currently ranch 350 acres when not dashing around visiting their children and grandchildren. She not only writes the western lifestyle, she lives it.

She is a member of RWA, EPIC, WW, and COWG and has eleven books and a short story published. Her newest venture is self-publishing ebooks. Part of her learning curve for writing happened during the four and a half years she edited for an e-book publisher.

Her contemporary Western, Perfectly Good Nanny won the 2008 Eppie for Best Contemporary Romance and Spirit of the Mountain, a historical paranormal set among the Nez Perce, garnered 1^st place in the paranormal category of the Lories Best Published Book Contest.

You can learn more about her at her blog; www.patyjager.blogspot.com her website; http://www.patyjager.net or on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/#!/paty.jager and twitter; @patyjag.

Logger in Petticoats – Fifth book in the Halsey Brothers Series

Hank Halsey believes he’s found the perfect logging crew—complete with cooks—until he discovers Kelda Neilson would rather swing an axe than flip eggs. As he sets out to prove women belong in the kitchen, he’s the one in danger of getting burned.

Strong and stubborn, Kelda Nielsen grew up falling trees, and resents any man who believes she’s not capable, until Hank. He treats her like a lady and has her questioning what that means.

As Kelda and Hank’s attraction builds, she hires a cook so she can sneak out and work in the woods. But will her deceit ruin her chance at love or will hardheaded Hank realize it’s more than his love that puts a sparkle in Kelda’s eye?

Excerpt for Logger in Petticoats

Kelda already stood by the door, a man’s black wool coat buttoned to her neck and a wool scarf wrapped around her head. Her flushed cheeks shone in the lantern light. Her gaze met his solid and unflappable.

“If Kelda isn’t back in here in fifteen minutes you can come looking for us.” Hank said to appease Karl as he pulled on his coat,

“I don’t know what you’re worrying about. No man is going to think of Kelda in the way you’re talking.” The door hadn’t fully closed when Dag’s voice cleared the threshold.

Kelda’s shoulders drooped proving she’d heard her brother’s comment. She walked around the corner of the cookhouse to a fallen log at the backside of the building. Hank wanted to catch up to her and wrap an arm around her shoulders. She was a fine woman. Any man would be dang lucky to have her for a wife. He stood in front of her as she sat on the log, her face pointed toward the men’s logging boots on her feet.

Hank crouched in front of Kelda, tipping her face up to read her emotions. “Your brother sees you only as his sister. You’re a woman any man would be lucky to marry.”

Tears glistened in her eyes. “I’m the size and body of a man. Men want a small delicate woman.” She wiped at the tears, and her hands clutched his. “Don’t make Far keep me out of the woods. It’s all I have to make me happy.”

Pleading in her eyes and voice sucker punched Hank. “Why would you want to work alongside men in the woods? Women belong in the home.”

“I don’t care to work inside. I love the outdoors and the labor of logging. Don’t keep me out of the woods. It’s the one thing I can do well.”

The strong grip of her fingers on his proved her strength. He had no doubt she was a skilled woodsman…woman. He pried her fingers from his hands and held them between his palms. “I’m sorry, but I can’t allow you in the woods. It isn’t proper for a woman to work like that. And what if you prove too weak to handle a job and someone else gets hurt?”

“Ooooo!” Her hands ripped from his grasp and rammed him in the chest. He started tipping backwards and grabbed the first thing in reach—Kelda’s arms.

He fell back into the snow dragging Kelda on top of him.

The surprise in her eyes quickly turned to interest as she gazed down into his face. Her body sprawled across Hank, pressing him into the snow. Even with the heavy clothing, her curves were evident as her relaxed body molded over his.

Hank pushed the scarf back from her face and stared into amazing eyes that glistened from the moonlight bouncing off the snow. Her gaze searched his. The rise and fall of her chest quickened. She licked her lips…

He held her head in his hands. Inch by inch, Hank drew her lips closer, wondering if the heat and passion he’d witnessed in her eyes would be in her kiss.

“Kelda!”

The male voice broke through the insanity of his actions. Hank rolled, rose to his feet, and pulled Kelda up with him.

Buy Links:

Kindle http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006YTKT2U

Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/123943

Nook http://tinyurl.com/7henkx3

The Most Important Line of Your Life

2012-01-25T08:37:00.001-06:00

The first line of a book is arguably the most important line. Most readers today give a novelist fewer than seven minutes to spark their interest. Most browsers in book stores and on the internet read the back cover /blurb of the book then read anywhere from the first page up to the first three pages. They rarely read beyond the first three pages to see if the book captures them, so if you have ever had the argument that your book really starts to get interesting on page ten, you better take up a new line of thinking. In today’s impatient world, the reader, agent, or editor may not spare you beyond that first line – so make it count. The reader wants to know immediately they will enjoy your book, and if the first sentence is dull or confusing what is that telling the reader?

Sol Stein, author of Stein On Writing suggest there are questions you can ask yourself about your own first sentence to see if it engages the reader’s curiosity.

Does it convey an interesting personality or an action that we want to know more about?
Can you make your first sentence more intriguing by introducing something unusual, something shocking perhaps, or something that will surprise the reader.

I think the most important thing Stein conveys that a writer should remember about first sentences is that, “Your entire story or novel may depend on that first sentence arresting the reader’s attention. A terrific sentence on page two won’t help if the reader NEVER gets there.”

Obviously, I’m a believer in the importance of first sentences. In fact, I blogged last year about first sentences that have stuck with me for many years from some of my favorite books. Would the novels have been some of my favorites if they had not started off with a bang? I venture to say no.

I’ve asked members of my critique group to share some of their favorite first sentences so I could quickly analyze them here, and see if the sentences stand up to the Stein test. The first sentence I’ll share is one of my all time favorites.

“There was a scream, and the loud roar of fire enveloping silken hangings, then a mounting crescendo of shouts of panic that spread and spread from one tent to another as the flames ran too, leaping from one silk standard to another, running up guy ropes and bursting through muslin doors.” Author – Phillippa Gregory – The Constant Princess

What can I say about this opening sentence besides the fact that it is fabulously visual, conveys something shocking, unusual and an action that we want to know more about. Who started this fire, where is this fire, what is the deadly outcome of this spreading fire?

“I’d never given much thought to how I would die – though I’d had reason enough in the last few months – but even if I had, I would not have imagined it like this.” Author Stephanie Myers – Twilight *Sentence contributed by Jerrica Knight-Cantania

Talk about introducing an unusual and shocking situation! How could you not read on? – And boy did we! Millions of us.

3. "In every life there is a turning point. Author - Julia Quinn – When He Was Wicked *Sentence contributed by Olivia Kelly

Every person has experienced a turning point, therefore they can relate to how momentous it can be. This relation makes people want to read on to see what this characters turning point is.

4. “The day I died started out bad and got worse in a hurry.” Author – Mary Janice Davidson – Unwed and Undead * Sentence contributed by Louisa Cornell

This sentence is funny and intriguing, a bonus! The reader has to read on to see how someone who is dead can think it could get any worse. The sentence introduces a shocking situation.

5. "Scarlet O'hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were." Author – Margaret Mitchell - Gone with the Wind

* Sentence contributed by Lauren Smith

Now this is an unusual situation and person being introduced. The reader wants to know what’s so special about Scarlet’s charm that has men overlooking her beauty.

6. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only." Author – Charles Dickens – A Tale of Two Cities * Sentence contributed by Marie Higgins.

This is an oldie but goodie. This sentence introduces a sweeping feeling of change and lets the reader know right from the start there is major upheaval going on. Humans thrive on problems, especially other peoples problems. Of course we will read on to see how the hope and despair, heaven and hell, and darkness and light play out.

I wish I had time to share all the wonderful sentences that my friend’s shared with me, but that would take up to much space, and I’m only allowed so much!

I’m about to embark on writing a new novel, and I’ve been playing with my own first sentence. I came up with three then asked myself which sentence lives up to the Stein test. Which one do you think I picked and why?

1. When it came to concealing her feelings, Lady Audrey Cringlewood was much like a chameleon matching the color of a leaf to outwit its enemies.

2. Lady Audrey Cringlewood had not driven the carriage that killed her father, but nevertheless, she was the reason he was dead.

3. "What I'm about to tell you," Lady Audrey Cringlewood's mother whispered, "must never be forgotten."

I’d love for you to tell my your favorite first sentence from a book near and dear to you and then tell me what it is you love about it.

Go make your first sentences shine!

Have a great day!

Julie Johnstone

The Marchioness of Mayhem

A few minutes with ... Jess Dee

2012-01-24T02:41:00.003-06:00

Today I am pleased to welcome Aussie author, Jess Dee, to the Lady Scribes Blog. Jess is a multi-published author of scorching hot erotic contemporary romance. She's an amazing storyteller and I'm so proud to have her with us today.

1. Jess, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your work?

I’m a wife and mother and friend. I have a mad dog I absolutely adore, and a house with a (distant) view of the ocean. I grew up in South Africa, but Sydney has been my home for the last nine years. I guess you’d describe me as your average girl next door. Except for one teeny, tiny little detail. The books I write are not the kind of books you’d expect the girl next door to write. ;)

2. What should new readers know before stepping into your world?

Hmmm, I guess a new reader should probably know that those books I write are in fact red-hot and steamy adult romances.Yep, I’m a romance author, but my stories are all no-holds-barred erotic. I write classic M/F erotic romance, not-so classic M/F/M ménage romance, and not-at-all classic M/M/F romance.

3. Describe your typical writing day

Ah, a typical day always begins with a mad scramble to get the kids to school on time (no easy feat, believe me), continues with a very large mug of tea and usually veers straight into procrastination time. Yep, that’s my time for sitting down at my computer and doing everything humanly possible to avoid working. Sometimes I’ll be lucky and the procrastination won’t last too long. Other times it can go on for days. But eventually I’ll find a rhythm and start writing. Usually around the time I’m really getting going and have just found a good pace…I’ll have to break it to fetch the kids and start the regular troop through afternoon extra-mural activities.

4. What is your writing space like? What tools, apps, or programs can't you live without?

In a word? My writing space is a mess. I wish I was one of those people who tidied up all the time and had neat piles and papers stacked away in appropriate places, but I’m not. The truth is, I’m just too busy procrastinating to find time to straighten out my office. However…the room isn’t so bad that I can’t find my Mac. It takes pride and joy in the centre of the desk. I would be lost without it. I don’t use any fancy apps. Just Word, the net and me. (Okay, and email, Facebook and Twitter too.)

5. What is the strangest thing you've ever done in the name of research?

Well, one time at Band camp…
;)

Nope, the strangest thing? Hmm, that would be when I was visiting Sexpo (Sex Expo) with a couple of erotic romance author friends, and we stopped at one of the stores and asked the vendor to explain how we could use some of his toys in a ménage setting. His expression was priceless – and he never really did stop stuttering long enough to give us an adequate answer. The fun bit was hypothetically working it out amongst ourselves while he stood there, gaping.

6. Describe your latest release for us

My next book releases on the 31st of Jan at Samhain Publishing. It’s called Hidden Fire, and releases as part of the Red Hot Weekend Anthology, along with books by Lexxie Couper and Delilah Devlin.Hidden Fire is the sequel to Winter Fire, and is a contemporary, erotic, M/F romance set in Brisbane. I love the blurb for this one.

Dirty desires, dark secrets…deepest love

Fire, Book 2

Well, this is an unexpected twist. Jenna Brooks is all set to spend the weekend wallowing in misery, repairing the cracks in the façade she’s maintained for twelve years. Instead she’s…tied to a chair. Kidnapped by her own twin brother and her so-called best friend.

It’s for her own good, they say. She’ll thank them later, they say. But when they reveal her partner in captivity, she shores up her emotional barriers. It’s Garreth Halt. The one man for whom she let her guard down. What a fool she was.

For one electrifying moment, Garreth had Jenna naked in his arms, on the edge of losing her legendary control. Could have kept her there forever, too, if he hadn’t felt honor-bound to tell her the truth. Before she’d heard the whole truth, though, she’d retreated behind the fortress around her heart.

Now they’re knee to knee, with no escape. While he’s irritated he let his alleged best friend get the drop on him, a small part of him is thrilled. With one final chance to show her his love is real, Garreth methodically, wickedly, sets out to dismantle her defenses.

One dirty word at a time.

Product WarningsGarreth may have charmed you in Winter Fire, but this time around, his blatantly sexy demands, even sexier actions and heartwarming love for his heroine are gonna make you fall head over heels.

7. What's next for Jess Dee?

I have some exciting projects coming up this year. In May, a book called Office Affair releasing. I’m busy working on edits for that story now. And in July, the second book in my Speed series, Colors Of Love, releases. It’s the sequel to See You In My Dreams. There are two other books on the cards, but it’s too early for me to be chatting about those yet. (Although I am dying to tell you about them!!!)

Thanks for visiting with us, Jess. If you’re interested in more information about Jess or her books, just click on these links:

Hidden Fire excerpt

Pre-order Hidden Fire: It’s available now for pre-order now at Samhain, at a 30% discount.

Jess’s website
Jess’s blog
Down Under Divas blog
International Heat blog
Jess on Twitter
Jess on Facebook

Confessions of a Pre-Teen Book Junkie

2012-01-21T10:12:00.010-06:00

When I was growing up, my mother bought a bookstore. It was a tiny little shop, appropriately called a nook, which was situated just off our town's historic square, with its Victorian courthouse and Belle Epoque mercantile buildings. Our building was neither historic nor particularly beautiful, but that was fine by me. All I cared about were the books inside.

My sister and I were avid readers, and this new source of material only whetted our appetites for more. During the long, lazy, scorching Texas summers, I would dust the shelves with one hand, while propping a new book open with the other. In those days, it was not unusual for me to devour two books a day. We could read all the stock we wanted, as long as we took care not to break the spines. I learned a special way of holding the book open one-handed, so that the book stayed in mint condition while I cannibalized the insides. To this day, I still hold books open in this manner--so while I am an avid reader, all my books remain straight and unbroken.

(Willowy size 6 figures and all.)

I was in junior high, and that meant I discovered Young Adult series fiction. The Babysitters' Club and the Sweet Valley Twins' ghostwriters could not write fast enough to keep up with my demand. I started Sweet Valley High but never got as into it--the characters' problems were way over my head. What would I do if rich boy Bruce Patman got fresh with me? I shuddered to think. Instead, I turned to the Anne of Green Gables series and could not get enough of LM Montgomery. I read every book, every anthology, every scrap of paper that crossed her desk. I spent dreamy hours planning my trip to Prince Edward Island, and even sent away for a travel guide. In those pre-Internet days, that meant a handwritten letter and a series of stamps, my friends.

(Sigh.)

But even LM Montgomery wasn't enough. My sister and I were fast depleting Mother's stock. So, when Grace Livingston Hill's books were reissued in the 1980s, we devoured them as well. I had one particular favorite, The Enchanted Barn, wherein a poor family moves out of their tenement flat into the country, fixing up an old barn so that it becomes a beautiful, cozy home. My sister never read this book and for several years insisted it didn't exist--"The Enchanted Barn" entered our vernacular as something vividly imagined but not real. "Must be an Enchanted Barn kind of thing," we'd say when, for example, we remembered a restaurant but not its name or location. Twenty years later, when Grace Livingston Hill's works were reissued yet again, I was able to track down a copy in a dusty thrift store, and waved it under my sister's nose in triumph.

(See--it really exists!)

As a history nerd even then, I turned instinctively to books by authors who long since passed. Then I discovered the Sunfire series. Each book followed a similar format--set in the past, usually during a momentous event in American history, the plucky heroine must decide between a wealthy suitor or a dashing but poor young man. Usually, she went for the poor guy. If I close my eyes, I can still see the covers--the heroine in the foreground, her name in blazing script across the top, and her suitors in the background, one on either side of our beautiful heroine. My favorite was Darcy, because her story was set during the devastating hurricane that hit Galveston in 1900--at last, a story about Texas that was elegant and refined, and not about stomping around in boots with the cattle!

(I bought this book from the store with my own money. That's how much I loved it.)

These series not only entertained and beguiled me during my youth; they also set the foundation for the kind of fiction I wanted to write when I grew up. When I decided to try my hand at writing fiction, my heart immediately chose historical romance. What about you? What did you read when you were a child? Were you an RL Stine nut? Or did you prefer the Saddle Club? 'Fess up!

In It To Win It, Dawg!

2012-01-20T00:01:00.000-06:00

When I was growing up, in the 1980s, I can only recall having watched four “reality” shows.

Sadly, we had no American Idol, but had to make do with The Gong Show (I freaking loved that gong) and Star Search (put me out of my misery). I got a kick out Totally Hidden Camera, which was pretty much the forerunner for Ashton Kutcher's show Punked.

And we all remember Cops.

*Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?*

But nowadays, it seems like you can’t turn on the TV without hitting a reality show every other channel. We’ve got ones about cupcakes and motorcycles, singing and sister wives, lonely millionaires and spoiled toddlers clawing for first place in beauty pageants. There are shows about fat people, hoarders, plastic surgeons, housewives and billionaire CEOs who go undercover at their own companies...and somehow don't have a heart attack at seeing how the company is really run.

Why are we so fascinated by other people’s lives? Do we love reality TV because it gives us a chance to live out our dreams through others, or because it’s horribly entertaining to watch people de-rail their own lives for fame and money? Have we become a nation of voyeurs or is it all in good fun?

I don’t watch much reality TV myself- not because I’m so morally superior, but because it tends to bore me, or like a horror movie, I spend most of the show covering my eyes and squealing “No, no! Oh, you are making a fool out of yourself!”...which my husband just adores.

I love American Idol, I love the singing and the back-stories, and now that Simon is gone, I love the FUN they all look like they are having. I even love Steven Tyler's creepy leering at the girls young enough to be his granddaughters. (A living lesson about staying away from drugs. That man's brain is scrambled like Saturday morning eggs.)

I hadn't seen the show until last season, but between JLo and Mr. Good-Lord-What-Did-He-Say?, I found myself sucked in almost immediately. I watched obsessively (Scotty lives the next town over, I HAD to.) and I even voted, for the first time ever. I cried when James Durbin broke down when singing, I laughed out loud when Jack Black and Casey Abrams did a funny, silly performance in the finale and I yelled "He's in to win it, dawg!" right along with Randy every week.

And I enjoyed every minute of it…well, okay, not the minutes that Jacob was singing, but all the OTHER minutes.

But other than AI, I can’t think of a single reality show that grabs me. Certainly, I don’t have any others on my DVR list.

What reality TV do YOU watch? What do you love about it and why should I add it to my growing list of DVRed shows that I barely have time to watch now?

If you don’t watch reality TV, why not? What turns you off about it? (And I’m not just talking about the Kardashians.)

Want to win a Lady Scribes book of your choice? Caption these photos from The Next Iron Chef, America's Next Top Model and The Bachelor, and I’ll randomly draw a winner from the comments! Have fun…

Floating Away

2012-01-19T00:01:00.000-06:00

I don't think it will come as a surprise to anyone who knows much about me to hear that I've been a wee bit stressed lately. The holidays are always a rough time of the year for me, and this year was exceptionally difficult with several family illnesses and the like.

To add insult to injury however, I have...well...an injury. A hilariously pathetic injury, to be sure, but there you have it.

You see, my entire life, I've had this really bad habit of sleeping on my stomach, with my arm stretched out above me and under my pillow, not to mention under my head. I can't tell you how many times I have awoken in the morning with pain in my shoulder because the weight of my head had kept my arm in a bad position for hours on end.

That happened a little over a month ago, only worse than normal. I figured I'd slept on it really poorly all night, and after a day or two the achy soreness would go away and I'd be back to normal.

I was wrong.

The pain didn't go away, and in fact it kept getting worse. On top of it all, even though my arm and shoulder hurt like the blazes, I couldn't prevent myself from sleeping in that really bad, not good position. I'd fall asleep one way, and wake up with that same, hurting arm stretched out beneath me, throbbing and screaming for relief.

Well, after a few weeks of this happening, I finally decided I'd better go to the doctor, because it didn't seem like I had just slept on it funny any more.

Guess what? I've torn my rotator cuff. From sleeping wrong. Seriously.

Like I said. Pathetic. Hilarious, perhaps, but pathetic nonetheless.

Anyway, to help rehabilitate the injury I've been getting regular massages since I discovered the problem. Yay for massage! They feel great. They're helping with the rest of the stress, too.

I've also bought some wedge-shaped pillows to put under my legs and my head, to keep me sleeping on my back at night so that I don't do more damage than I've already done. They're helping. It's all helping.

But there are still some days where I wake up and I'm in pain and I can't concentrate and oh my gravy it hurts, and there's no massage on the schedule. I had one of those days recently, and it happened on a day when I'd just recently seen someone tweet about a place in the area where they'd gone "floating."

Now, I'm as skeptical as they come, so I didn't know what this meant, but I did a little research. Because, owie of all owies, I hurt and I needed to do SOMETHING. Anything. I didn't care, I just wanted it to stop hurting.

After a little research, I decided to give this floating thing a try. I made an appointment and I went...and it was the best thing ever. Seriously.

They have these tanks filled with an epsom salt solution that is heated to the temperature of your skin. There's so much epsom salt in the water that it is impossible to keep your body from floating. Once you get in and put your legs out, you float. Period. Anyway, you go in and start floating, and within minutes you can't even feel where the water is touching your skin any more, and you relax and stop thinking...and it is the most peaceful thing I have ever experienced in my life.

I spent an hour in my floatation tank, and thought about nothing at all. No stress. No worries. No pain. The epsom salt soak helped to pull the soreness out of my shoulder and arm.

When I left, I still felt like I was floating for a few hours. But even better, my pain was diminished for several days...and I was able to start working again.

I can't say I've ever experienced anything like it before in my life--something so relaxing and refreshing and stress-free. I'm sure I'll be doing it again.

When you get stressed, what is your favorite way to unwind? How do you find a place where you can clear your mind?

Are You Living Passionately?

2012-01-18T00:00:00.001-06:00

Did you see the recent articles about the woman in the UK who loves Charlotte Bronte and Jane Eyre so much that she goes about in her everyday life dressed as her? In long skirts and a soft chignon she broadcasts her admiration for her favorite author and the resourceful character she created.

I saw the article, and it began to show up in links on social media, along with titters and exclamations of shock and amusement.

About the same time, I caught the premier of a new show on TLC. Called Geek Love, it profiled the lives of a few attendees at NYC ComicCon, emphasizing their loneliness and often awkward social skills along with their love of sci-fi, fantasy and comic book lore. It followed as they did a round of speed dating with other attendees. I saw a smaller reaction to this show online, but the premise seemed designed to elicit a sense of condescension, or even superiority.

Screw that, I say.

No, I've never dressed as Jane Austen or been to a sci-fi fan convention. (Yet!) But I send a big, fat huzzah to the people out there who summon the courage to embrace their passions. I don't see a Geek. I see someone who has conquered shyness, maybe even feelings of displacement, and embraced the passions in their hearts. Put it out there on display. And has taken steps to seek out others who share their interests.

I might be alone, but I find this courageous and incredibly interesting.

I know people who live solid, ordinary, everyday lives. Some are happy. Some worry a lot about what others think or say about them. Some can't understand why-when they've done everything they should--they still feel restless or unfulfilled. I'm impatient with them. I don't want to talk to them at parties, meet for coffee or invite them into my home. I like people with passion. And I don't just mean sci-fi enthusiasts. Give me a conversation with a civil-war re-enactor or an avid hunter or a weekend motocross rider. Do you love history? Art? Books? Are you a quilter, a traveler, an amateur theater buff ? Come sit by me. I want to hear about your pirate alter ego, and share in your enthusiasm and joy.

I may be biased, as I took my chance when it came, left a mainstream career behind and followed my love of history, books and romance. I'm married to a guy who loves his job and enjoys multiple hobbies, mother to kids who have followed their interests into unusual and exciting places.

And I think we should all live passionately. We should listen to Luke Wilson in The Family Stone and fly our freak flags proudly. In this season of reflection and resolution, find what speaks to your soul, embrace it, find others who share it--and then come sit down and tell me all about it. :-)

A big Thank You to the Lady Scribes--who have clearly followed their passions and found each other. I'm thrilled to become a part of your community. Now--what about you, our friends and readers? What are your interests? Are you flying your freak flag? Share your passion and I'll randomly choose a commenter to win a copy of the UK edition of Regency Rebels.

Filling the Bucket

2012-01-17T00:01:00.001-06:00

Slacker that I am, I am just now getting around to putting together a real website, as opposed to just my personal blog. Yeah, I know—I should have done this when my book hit Amazon for pre-order. I may have to legally change my name to Erin Procrastinator Knightley. Anyway, I was brainstorming today, trying to come up with interesting things to include, and decided to add “Erin’s Bucket List” to the “About Me” tab.

It sounded like a great idea, until I sat down and tried to put one together. Number One I already knew: Visit all seven continents. So far I have been to North America (duh), Europe (England, France, Italy), and Asia (Russia), but I’ve always dreamed of seeing Antarctica (I’m a bit strange like that, but I do have that science background), Australia (Hi Heather!) and South America sounds interesting when it comes to some historical sights. Africa is last one my list, but perhaps a day trip to Morocco can be arranged so I can say I’ve been.

The next on the list was to learn French or Italian to the point that I can navigate one of their respective cities without the aid of a dictionary. I have pulled up Rosetta Stone on my computer countless times, but each time couldn’t quite hit the purchase button. It’s so expensive, and seems so daunting! Still, its going on the bucket list, so I’ve got to do it now.

After those two, I kind of blanked on what else to aspire to. Interesting, no? Well, I never realized that so many of my lifelong goals were travel oriented. When it came to personal goals, well, I wanted to write a novel, so that one was checked off the list. I wanted to do a triathlon, and I did that a few years ago. I wanted to meet Colin Firth and, well . . .

So, clearly I need to come up with more life goals! I want to live a full, exciting, memorable life, and I’m a firm believer in the power of setting goals. After another brainstorm session, I added ‘Learn to Fly’ and “Learn to Ski” to the list, followed quickly by “Get over my deathly fear of hurtling down a mountain side with skis strapped to my feet.” It seemed prudent to swapped the order of those last two.

Next is to touch a volcano, change someone’s life for the better, and become semi-famous. Since my singing voice sucks and I can’t act my way out of a paper bag, I’m really hoping this writing thing works out for me so I can achieve that last one ;) Oh, and to make it a more measureable goal, lets quantify it with the following wording: “Become semi-famous and be recognized by an unrelated fan.”

So what else . . . I am waaaaay too attached to living to try skydiving, but I’d LOVE to do the indoor skydiving adventures. I’d also like to try rock climbing someday, and learn to pole dance (what? For fitness). And, silly as it sounds, it would be so much fun to do a 40’s pin-up style photo shoot.

Other things I want to do… to win a major award (I’d totally be happy with the leg lamp from A Christmas Story), participate in a flash mob (a cool one, not a lame one), grow a vegetable garden (I try every year, and have yet to succeed at this one!), ride in a dog sled (preferably beside Paul Walker, but alone is fine too), see my first opera at the Sydney Opera House (two birds with one stone!), and walk the Great Wall of China.

All right then – I’d say that’s a pretty good list! Now tell me, what is on your bucket list?

Here are some fun things that I can already cross off my list:
• Swimming with sharks
• Scuba diving on a shipwreck
• Zip-lining in a cave
• Write a novel :)
• Complete a triathlon
• Experience 24 hours without the sun setting
• Meeting my favorite authors
• Finalist for a major award (Golden Heart!)
• Given Christmas bonus to family in need
• Mingle with A-listers at swanky Hollywood party
• Live in a lake house
• Visit the Kremlin in Moscow
• Dine in the Eiffel Tower
• Tour the Roman Baths in England
• Stand among ancient ruins in Rome
• Promenade on Rotten Row in Hyde Park

They Made Us Sigh

2012-01-16T03:10:00.000-06:00

Themessage posted to our critique group started out being called “Call meStupid”. I think the question hadsomething to do with the historical accuracy of a word. I could go back and check, but it isn’timportant. As with most messages withinour critique group, the topic morphed into an entirely different subject untilLouisa Cornell posted this within her comment.

“CaryGrant!! (For those of you youngsters in the group he was the EPITOME of thesuave sexy hero onscreen!)”

Towhich my response was

“Gary Grant (followed by the love-struckemoticon)”.

See,I told you our subjects morphed because really, what does Cary Grant have to dowith the historical accuracy of anything? Well, my comment or Louisa’s was followed by the names of actors whocaught the attention, and heart, of my critique partners at one time oranother, and apparently held it for some time since none of the actors are intheir prime any longer, if even alive.

We’veall fallen in love at one point with a character and/or actor on screen. What was it about that specific person? So, I posed the question to the group askingthe who, the why and have you ever modeled one of your own heroes after him?

JulieJohnstone - I haven't modeled any of my heroes after old actors, but I do solove Cary Grant. I love Indecent and I love Philadelphia Story.

JerricaKnight-Catania - For me, it's a toss up between Clark Gable and Howard Keel. Igrew up on Gone with the Wind and movie-musicals, mostly from the 1950s.

SuzieGrant - For me, and I think it goes for all my heroes, they're loosely basedoff Clark Gable and James Dean. Two of Hollywood's bad boys. It was that"look" that they had where they would tilt their face down and stareup. Be still my heart. I've loved and watched every film by them both but thetwo that stand out the most are of course, Gone with the Wind and Rebel Withouta Cause. Most of my heroes have the dark hair but I think what draws me themost to these two men are the "bad boy" persona. There is nothingquite like taming a bad boy.

EllaQuinn - Jim Hutton was a hunk. When I firstmet my husband I thought he looked just like him.

OliviaKelly - I had a MASSIVE crush on James Dean in high school. I papered my wallswith posters and pictures, even hung up a JD t-shirt. Loved him madly.... :)

SarahBaker- I have a boyfriend in every era, but for me the one who will alwaystrump every other man is Charles Farrell. Now he is too obscure nowadays formost people to know (he was an actor from the 1920s and 1930s) but I did takeenough note about him to write an entire book about him! His biography, infact. :)

AvaStone - Oh, wow. There really are so many to choosefrom. In fact, you recently asked me if the hero in my current project wasbased after Clark Gable. He's not. LOL. Don't get me wrong, I do love ClarkGable, how could you not? BUT my favorite swoon-inducing actor has been andalways will be Paul Newman. He was such an amazing dramatic actor, with theface and eyes of a tarnished angel. I think the first old movie I saw him inwas Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Elizabeth Taylor. WOW! As the broken down,self-loathing ex-jock, I could NOT take my eyes of Newman. His skills teamedwith Tennessee William's dialogue... Well, I don't think that magic has everbeen duplicated.

Forme, it will always be Cary Grant. I amnot sure when I fell in love with Cary, but he has yet to be replaced in myheart. Like Louisa said, he was Suave and Sexy, but he also had great comedictiming. A few of my favorites (becauseit is so hard to limit them a short list) are: An Affair to Remember, Charade, His Girl Friday, To Catch a Thief, My Favorite Wife, TheBishop’s Wife, That Touch of Mink. Idon’t think I have ever consciously written a hero after Cary Grant.

Yourturn. Who is your favorite actor fromdays gone by? What was it about him thatmade him, as Ava put it, swoon-inducing?

Reading Resolution 2012

2012-01-12T00:01:00.004-06:00

I am a member of several reading groups on goodreads and one of the moderators for the Historical Romance group asked its members to come up with their Reading Resolutions for 2012 and post them. We’re supposed to update on that thread throughout the rest of the year so that we can see our progress. I thought this was such a brilliant idea. We have diet resolutions, writing resolutions, family resolutions and so many more. Why not have reading resolutions while we’re at it?

In my humble opinion this promotes reading and education and because of that I’ve introduced it to my kids. While my oldest boys just rolled their eyes at me, my youngest is delighted to read with mommy. I’m hoping to instill a healthy reading habit in him and hope that out of the three he’ll love reading as much as I do. My other two boys like to read to an extent but they have to be in a reading mood, which doesn’t come as often as I’d like, honestly.

So with that said I’m introducing my New Year’s Reading Resolutions for 2012 and hope that maybe some of you will play along.

1. My first resolution is to read in two new genres I’ve never read in before. I’ve always believed reading outside of your chosen genre can teach a writer or anyone something new. You never know you may find a new genre you love. I’ve chosen the Young Adult and horror genre for this year. Perhaps later this year I’ll report back in and let you know how it goes.

2. My second Reading Resolution is to read at least one book a month just for pleasure. All too often I’ll crit or beta read for someone because they’ve asked or I need to catch up on my crits for the group because I am behind. Well, I’ve decided that I need to rediscover the joy of reading again, not because I have a quota to meet, but because I love it. It’s been far too long since I’ve picked up a book just because. I think last year I maybe read a half a dozen books that weren’t required of me. I need to increase that because it’s time I take a little more time for myself. And reading is a joy of mine but somehow over the years of trying to become an author I’ve forgotten that.

3. My final Reading Resolution is to read to my four-year-old at least four to five nights a week. Somehow over the craziness of our lives we’ve strayed from that and I think he’s getting behind. I want him to be more than prepared to go into Kindergarten when the time comes. But that’s the least of it, I’m really hoping to inspire his imagination and a love of books. In my mind there’s nothing quite like the escape of a good book. I’d love to be able to pass on that love to at least one of my children.

So here’s to a wonderful reading year and some time spent doing things for myself. I’ve already started on parts of my reading challenge. I picked up two new books this week, sat down yesterday morning with a cup of double Mocha cappuccino and snuggled up with a blanket on the sofa. Oh what a wonderful way to pass the afternoon. It was the best time I’ve had in months. I’m looking forward to a lazy weekend with my husband and children, as well as some time to myself with a good book. What about you? Have you thought of a Reading Resolution and what is it? Btw, I picked up The Last Viking by Sandra Hill and Lord and Lady Spy by Shana Galen. What about you? What are you reading right now?

Letting Go and Saying Goodbye

2012-01-11T08:53:00.000-06:00

I feel like 2011 was a year of sad goodbyes and letting go. I said goodbye to a wonderful man who died of cancer, and I said goodbye to an exceptional lady who died suddenly of a brain aneurism. I came to terms with the fact that a long time friend was no longer a friend, and I let go of the obsession to help two different people who refuse to be helped. Though, truth be told, I still hold out hope that both of those people will see the neon sign flashing in front of them that says: Danger Stupid, Quit Engaging In Self-Destructive Behavior.

Today, I find myself saying goodbye and letting go again. This time I’m saying goodbye to an era in my life. My youngest child’s registration for pre-school is going on today, and guess who isn’t standing in line. You guessed it – me! I’ve been registering my kids for mother’s day out and pre-school for the last eight years of my life, but today I’ll be having coffee with girlfriends instead of standing in the long line to make sure my child has a spot at mother’s day out.

I thought I would be really excited for this time to come. I mean, I have spent the last eight years of my life with basically only two personal hours a day, if I’m lucky! So why do I feel a little bit sad? Stupidity? Selfishness? I feel as if this is the first step in a lot of years of learning to let go of my children, and this seems like the hardest goodbye yet.

My youngest son is only five, but I swear he talks regularly about who he will marry someday. I’m envisioning him now standing at the end of the aisle of a church, and me blubbering as I let him go and start a life with some other woman who hopefully will adore him as much as I do.

So why is letting go, even if it’s just a bit, so hard? I think perhaps it’s because, though we love to complain about the restrains on our time, or at least I do, we get used to the routine and even comfortable in it.

My goal now is to enjoy the new adventures to come for my kids and myself and focus on the things I have been dying to accomplish, and just might have a bit more time to do so when my youngest starts kindergarten in August.

I will actually have several solid hours to write without having to skip things such as working out, the grocery store or cleaning my house. I am going to start taking tennis lessons because I have always wanted to learn to play tennis, but have never had the time. Maybe I’ll learn to paint or play piano. These are two things I have always wanted to learn to do. Or maybe I’ll find my days are just as busy as they were before both my boys were in school full time. I’ve had several friends tell me this is the case.

Have you had to say goodbye to a friend, a loved one or a period in your life? How did you cope? Did you learn something new you had always wanted to do? I’d love to hear from you.

Have a great day!

Julie Johnstone, The Marchioness of Mayhem

Bring on the New Year

2012-01-10T04:25:00.001-06:00

2012 is hot!! Hot as in it’s the Aussie summer right now and I’m sweltering. The Christmas tree is down and packed away. Christmas bloating from too much rich food as eased and I’m desperately looking forward to the day my kids go back to school [19 days and counting].

The New Year started quietly for us. We sat, drank and pondered the past and what our future might hold. We did our share of ambitious dreaming, one of which was to have a livelier next New Year. The others were more personal.

In 2012 I will ...

. . . read more. My to-be-read pile is out of control. I enjoy falling into other writers worlds but I haven’t managed to do that on a regular basis. My goal is 52 stories for 2012 -- roughly one each week. I’m up to three.

. . . reclaim the menu. My hubby and I have different cooking styles and this past year he has done most of the cooking. Can you believe I actually miss cooking, AND shopping for the groceries to make them with (he’d taken on that chore too). I guess absence makes the heart grow fonder. I’ve missed cooking quiches, pasta, and most especially desserts that my kids love.

. . . write smarter. Almost a year ago I moved my working space down to the first floor. My thoughts were it was cooler in summer and allowed me to interact with the family more often when they were home. What I hadn’t factored into my thinking was how much I liked my privacy, space to pin inspiration and maps up on the walls. So, I’ve moved back upstairs to my pokey little corner of the spare bedroom. What do you think?

. . . move more. Since I write full time, it keeps me still most of the day but thanks to ‘reclaiming the menu’ and ‘writing smarter’ I’ve actually increased the amount of steps I take in my day. Coffee is downstairs, conversation is downstairs, and when I return upstairs to work I’m jogging up the staircase. Shopping is a trip into town, and I park at a distance from the shopping center entrance. I’m hoping that these little changes, coupled with the Zumba class I’m taking, will see me in better shape for that livelier next New Year celebration.

. . . take better care of myself. Like a lot of women, I put my family and friends first and get around to doing what I want when there is free time. But no more. This year I will run away from home more often, get my hair done, manicures and pedi’s when the mood hits me. I will remember that I do deserve little treats when I’ve been good or very naughty (in writing terms of course). Lets face it. If I don’t look after me no one else will.

I think my New Years Resolutions are achievable. I know I’m loving the revamped writing space. Perhaps I might even exceed my goals this year. What about yours? Were they realistic?

Brag About Your Kid(s) Day!

2012-01-08T23:59:00.001-06:00

Okay, I'm just going to come right out and say it…my kid rocks! Yes, I know…everyone feels that way about their own kid(s) at some point or another, but seriously, my kid is totally the best! :)

My little girl turned two on Christmas Day (which makes her doubly special ;)) And ever since her birthday, I've been amazed by just how awesome she's becoming. Okay, okay, I'll stop saying that she's just "awesome" and get down to some details…

Number One: She sings Ring Around the Rosie. Okay, sure, lots of kids sing Ring Around the Rosie, but no one does it like Bella. She bounds around and around in giant, spasmodic circles (spasmodic being the key word here), shouting at the top of her lungs, "ROOOOOSIE, ROOOOOOOSIE, ROOOOOOSIE, ROOOOOOOSIE." If that's not cute, I'm not sure what is…even if she is singing about the Black Plague (which she's actually not, but our nanny got reprimanded on the playground for teaching Bella such a horrible song. *eye roll* Mind your own beeswax, lady!)

Number Two: At the ripe age of two years and one day, she fell in love. No, I'm not kidding. It's already begun. Am I happy about it? Well, let me just say that it was with a boy 11 years her senior, with dark skin, whose name is Jacob. Did I mention my daughter's name is Bella? My husband kept muttering under his breath, "If he imprinted on her, so help me…" #Twilight

But really, all kidding aside, Bella was infatuated with this kid at first sight. If he was around, she had to be near him, holding his hand or in his arms. If he wasn't around, she was talking about him -- "Jay-cub? Jay-cub?" Poor Jacob. He was such a good sport, considering all he really wanted to be doing was playing video games with my nephew :)

3) She knows how to b*tch slap. That's right. And no, I didn't teach her that. The kind of skill this kid has can't be taught. Yes, I know I shouldn't make light of her hitting, but please, let me set the scene….

A quiet Sunday morning, the three of us lazing about in bed. Cartoons on quietly in the background while the kitty purrs at my feet. Bella and I are having fun giggle time while Eric tries to catch a few more moments of sleep. And then…Bella, with the cutest smile you've ever seen, reaches out, and before I can stop her, b*tch slaps my husband. It echoes throughout the room as I stare dumbfounded at Eric, waiting to see what he's going to do. Finally, he grabs the pillow, buries his face in it, and starts laughing uncontrollably. Every time I open my mouth to reprimand Bella for hitting, I burst out laughing myself. That's right…bring on the Parents of the Year awards! The plaque should read: For their inability to keep a straight face when their daughter b*tch slapped her father.

Okay, enough about me and my little princess…it's your turn now. Brag away. Tell me your favorite stories about your kids, whether they be human or furry. What makes them special?

-Jerrica, Her Grace of Grammar

Guest Blogger: Sidney Bristol

2012-01-06T00:00:00.001-06:00

Hello! I’m very excited about being here with the Lady Scribes today. It’s a little surreal to be sitting on this side of the fence. I remember subscribing and reading this blog when I first started wearing my Serious Writing Tiara. Yes, there really is a tiara. It’s blue and sparkly, and I really do wear it sometimes when I write. So, roping in my wayward attention span, I have to say it’s very exciting to be here today.

Since this marks the beginning of my career as a Real Author, why don’t I take you back to where it all began?

Like my heroine in Flirting with Rescue, I was a rodeo brat growing up. My parents traveled all over the country going from rodeo to rodeo. My father was a world champion calf roper and team roper. My mom was a trick rider and roman rider. It’s a very different kind of life experience for a kid, one I wouldn’t trade for all the social knowledge I missed out on during those years.

Eventually my family did stop traveling and I entered public school. Besides being a huge culture shock, I had no idea what was cool, what wasn’t and what not to do. I was more than a little awkward, and very out of touch with reality. I made one friend early on; my closest, life-long friend Zibby. Zibby is the reason I started writing.

You see, Zibby wrote first. While some kids were trying to be king of the mountain, or practicing their cheerleading skills or playing flag football, she told me the really cool kids were writers. Now, if she told me that as a joke, or was being serious, I don’t remember, but I started to write. Writing became part of my daily routine. I even had a parent-teacher conference because I wrote too much in math class.

Fast forward a decade and some change, I’m writing again, and all because of Zibby’s peer pressure. I’d quit playing roller derby, wasn’t doing much with my life and there was Zibby, reminding me of this thing called NaNoWriMo. My first NaNo was a train wreck as far as the novel went, but I had the writing bug – bad. Have you ever picked up a hobby or an activity and wondered how you’ve lived without it? That was me! That’s still me!

I’m a fan of beginnings. The first chapter of a book. The initiation to something new. The start of a new year. And now, my debut book. I wouldn’t be here without the encouragement I’ve received along the way, and a good dose of peer pressure.

2012 stretches out in front of us. If you’re sitting at my desk, it’s even hosted by half-naked firemen, courtesy of the Houston Firefighter calendar. It's inspiration! Honest! This year is new and exciting. It’s a chance to tackle another book, do something new and make more memories.

Today I’m going to be giving away a $10 gift card to the winner’s choice of Ellora’s Cave, Barnes and Noble or Amazon. To enter, tell me a new activity, event or goal you want to tackle in 2012. The winner will be chosen at random.

For me, I want to go on a bike ride with my mom. That doesn’t sound like a big deal, until I tell you my mom’s one of the top ranked Ultimate Cyclists in her age division. She rides well over 15,000 kilometers in a year, several hundred miles in a month with an average of twelve hours a ride. That’s a daunting event! But, if my over 50 mother can do it, so can I.

---

It can never be said that Sidney Bristol has had a ‘normal’ life. She is a recovering roller derby queen, former missionary, and tattoo addict. She grew up in a motor-home on the US highways (with an occasional jaunt into Canada and Mexico), traveling the rodeo circuit with her parents. Sidney has lived abroad in both Russia and Thailand, working with children and teenagers. She now lives in Texas where she splits her time between a job she loves, writing, reading and belly dancing.

Her debut book, Flirting with Rescue, will be out from Ellora’s Cave in January of 2012.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Recipe for Sanity

2012-01-05T00:00:00.000-06:00

Life has been a little hectic to start the new year for me. My uncle is receiving hospice care, and my Granddaddy is in the hospital for already the second time of the new year, and I've been out of town with my parents trying to help out with things.

One way I've helped? I brought my crock pot. Grandmother has never been one to let other people cook at her house, and she always insists on making a meal. But with spending so much time at the hospital, she hasn't really been able to do much of that. So, for once, she let me do the cooking. It wasn't easy to convince her to allow it, but somehow I did.

What did I make? Well, today we're having a ham, potato, and kale soup.

Dice up about 2 1/2 pounds of potatoes, some leftover ham from the holidays, and an onion. Mince a couple of cloves of garlic and chop a bunch of kale. Put it all in the crock pot with a few cups of chicken stock, a little salt and pepper, and oregano (1 tsp if dried, 1-2 tbsp if fresh). Cook it on low for about four hours, or until the potatoes are fork tender. Add 1/2 cup of heavy cream or half and half and stir before serving.

Not sure what is on the menu for tomorrow yet. I'll decide later. :)

Do you have any super easy crock pot recipes for sanity during times like these to share? I might be in need of a recipe.

I Did IT!

2012-01-04T00:01:00.004-06:00

I finally did it! After years of trying…

I figured out how to infiltrate the Good Ol’ Boys Club.
LOL. Don’t you just love this winter hat? I never know what’s going to come in the mail.

But I was fully convinced after the BeerMos arrived along with this hat, my husband has too much time on his hands at work.

Or in this case, a TeaMo.

Why a BeerMo? I say, why not? Let's face it... Who doesn't want a nice, full stache for the next big office party?

But all joking aside, January is the perfect time to reflect on what we’ve achieved over the last year.

I used to approach New Year’s Resolutions by creating goals to address the areas in my life where I felt I was lacking.
1. I’ll spend my money wisely.
2. I’ll lose weight.
3. I’ll exercise more.
4. I’ll stop eating fast food.

The biggest problems with these resolutions are they can’t really be measured, and they don’t allow any room to be human. Besides, looking at my perceived flaws was a downer, and it was even more depressing when I broke one of my resolutions.

It wasn’t until I started working for my current employer that I began to look at things differently. Part of our evaluation and raise process involves a self-evaluation which begins with listing all the things we accomplished over the last year. Were we involved in a task force to improve communication? Did we complete all of our continuing education? Did we take on additional responsibilities? I always find I have trouble remembering what I did at first, but once I start reflecting on the year, many things come back to me. It’s a great feeling reading over the list of things I did well or new challenges I took on.

After reviewing our accomplishments, we are asked to look at what goals we have for the coming year. This seems like such a better system, because it helps me to be specific about what I want to do with my year, and it puts me in a better frame of mind.

Here are just a few things I feel went well this year:
* I met all of my deadlines for my publisher.
* I joined Goodreads and learned a little more about it.
* I met some really great people on Twitter and Facebook.
* I attended RWA in New York.
* I wrote a short story that I love for a Christmas anthology.
* We had all of the kids’ school supplies two weeks before school started.
* We had black pants ready for our son’s orchestra concert. (No running out same day to buy a pair.)
* I saved up all year for Christmas presents, so it wasn’t a financial strain.
* I baked Christmas cookies with my daughter.
* I took time off from writing to spend quality time with my family during the holidays.
* I bought a planner three weeks before the New Year, which I need for work. I use my iPhone for family stuff.
* Everyone in the family has been vaccinated against the flu.
* I regularly attend pilates reformer classes and my shoulder pain is gone!!!
* Skyped with my high school girlfriends and reconnected with them.

These may seem like small things, but they have made my life easier and/or more enjoyable over the last year. And it’s because of these small accomplishments that I’m feeling more confident about 2012 and the bigger challenges that lay ahead. I wish you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year.

Hugs!
Samantha, Lady Whimsy

What are your thoughts on New Year’s Resolutions? What are some things that went well for you this year?

Interview and Giveaway with NYT Best Selling Author Carly Phillips

2012-01-03T00:00:00.003-06:00

Happy 2012!!!!

Today is my day to blog and it just so happens to coincide with the day that Carly's latest Serendipity Series novel, DESTINY, releases. So I invited the Contemporary Romance Writer Extraordinaire to come by Lady Scribes so we could share in the celebration.

7 Lucky Questions with Carly:

Marquita Valentine: I read an interview where you said that you couldn't write a Paranormal Romance due to the massive world building involved, but I have to respectfully disagree! You've done just that with the town of Serendipity. Is there a certain town that it was the modeled after?

Carly Phillips: Well thank you! But you have no idea how hard it is for me to keep things straight. Even when I keep a notebook, and I always do, I get ages wrong, hair color, eye color ... if I can't do the basics, how can I build a world of people new to me and to everyone else LOL! Serendipity is in my head, it's every town I've been in or passed through that left a mark on me!

MV: How's life treating you as a redhead?

CP: LOL. Still trying to decide. One part of me knows its more flattering with my coloring. Another part of me just likes blonde hair. But all's good. The family likes it!

MV: ~~Who told you about my family~~ How in the heck did you come up with two people with the same half-sibling BUT NOT RELATED falling in love?

CP: Hah! Very good question! They found each other. Honestly. :) Nothing more complicated than that. Until I had to write them and explain it in case people hadn't read Serendipity ... LOL!

MV: What are Kelly and Nash's biggest strengths as individuals and as a couple?

CP: Kelly's biggest strength personally IS her strength - she raised her sister and had the courage to do what was best for her. Nash's biggest strength as an individual is his loyalty to those he cares about. There is nothing he wouldn't do for the people he loves, no matter how misguided his way of looking at things is. Together their biggest strength is how they understand each other - what I loved about writing these two characters was how they instinctively knew what the other one needed and gave it without question or reservation. I thought they were made for each other!

MV: Is staying totally pop-culturey, yo ;) while remaining timeless difficult to do as a Contemporary Romance Writer?

CP: Sometimes I have to ask on Twitter if a reference I use is too old for people to recognize. Other than that, I have two teenage daughters so for right now, pop culture is easy to keep on top of. I'm kind of into that so it helps the writing.

MV: Which scene did you love writing the most in Destiny (besides their Happily Ever After)?

CP: The scene that stands out most in my mind is the one where Kelly’s mom shows up. Her anger and how the brothers protect her (and Tess) and calm her down, even as Nash is slowly realizing his life is falling apart … that stuck with me. And I remember loving Kelly's emotions and reactions as I wrote it!

MV: As a savvy veteran (this does NOT imply age) of the publishing industry, how important is it for a debut author to be accessible to her fans via Social Media?

CP: I want to say very important - for a number of reasons. First, you aren't going to get publishers throwing a ton of money to make your name recognizable. The best way to do that is to befriend other authors and bloggers - in a GENUINE way, not in a read my book kind of way. Nothing is more irritating than someone who spends all their time on Twitter saying read my book. The reading part should come naturally if what you write appeals to the people you are talking to on various social networks. One new author who did this well is Jessica Scott - I "met" her on Twitter long before her first book came out and then we met in person at RWA and next thing I know, I'm reading her book and tweeting about it. Word of mouth is the best way to sell a book. It's old fashioned except for one thing - the new way of communicating is much faster - and so of course word spreads quickly!! Facebook is like a second website these days. Authors are able to make them have more than just text appeal and info goes out quicker than on a website. That said, nothing replaces an author's website as a means of communication.

Thanks Carly for a great interview, and for letting us celebrate DESTINY's release with you!

New York Times bestselling author Carly Phillips tossed away her legal briefs and a career as an attorney to become a stay at home mom. Within the year, she turned her love of reading into an obsession with writing. Over 25 published novels later, Carly writes sexy contemporary romances, striking a balance between entertainment and emotion, and giving her readers the compelling story they have come to expect and enjoy.

Carly is a New York Times bestseller, USA Today Bestseller and Publisher’s Weekly bestseller. The triple play earned her a spot on Romance Writers of America’s coveted Honor Roll. In 2002, Carly’s novel, The Bachelor, became Kelly Ripa’s “Reading with Ripa” pick on Live with Regis and Kelly, making it the first romance ever chosen on a nationally televised bookclub.

Carly received her undergraduate degree from Brandeis University and is a graduate of Boston University School of Law (J.D.). To date, Carly has over twenty-five novels to her credit, all available wherever books are sold.

When not writing or playing online, Carly loves to read, to knit, and to spend time with her family. She lives in Purchase, New York with her husband, two daughters and two soft-coated wheaten terriers who act like their third and fourth children.

Around the web you can find Carly at:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/carlyphillips
Facebook: www.facebook.com/carlyphillipsfanpage
Blog: http://www.plotmonkeys.com/

Which format do you prefer to read Carly's amazing novels in--print or e-book? One lucky commentor will win a copy of DESTINY (in his/her preferred format).

Thanks for stopping by!

New Year Traditions

2012-01-02T00:01:00.000-06:00

With the start of the new year a number of people make vows (a/k/a resolutions) of dieting, exercising, spending more time with the family . . .this list could go on and on and on. I am not going to blog about that.

This is about New Year's Day traditions. For me, it is dinner at mom's house. We have had the same meal for as long as I can remember and nobody better change it. And, now that I am older, I understand the reason for this specific meal.

You see, we always have lasagna. This may sound like an odd choice, especially since there isn't a drop of Italian blood on either side of the family, but that is what we eat the first day of every year. She made the pan up every December 31st and put it in the refrigerator to keep. Then, she would put on a beautiful dress she bought for the special night and my father would put on a suit (a very rare occurrence for this iron worker) and the two would go out to their favorite restaurant. They would enjoy a nice meal and dance the night away. I couldn't wait to grow up and put on a pretty dress and go out and celebrate New Year's Eve.

The next afternoon, the lasagna would go in the oven. I used to think it was so she wasn't stuck in the kitchen cooking while there were parades and football to watch. No, my mother wasn't hung over and I don't think I have ever seen her even tipsy. But, it was always a late night and she wanted to sleep in and have a lazy day. Now the making of the meal has fallen to me and I appreciate this tradition all the more. We made the pans up for the family and headed to mom's to pop them in the oven. After all, I do make the best lasagna in the family (though my sister likes to disagree) and I don't want to spend the first day of the year in the kitchen either.

The second tradition, and one far more important, the eating of cabbage. We usually make a slaw, but regardless of how it is prepared, we had to have a least one bite of cabbage New Years Day for wealth and prosperity. My kids hated cabbage and also insisted it didn't work. When I pointed out that they did have a roof over their head, clothing on their back and food in their belly, it was working. I am not about to chance it this late in life by not eating cabbage because I like how things are going for me. And really, how hard is it to make cole slaw? Buy a bag of already shredded cabbage and carrots, mix in cole slaw dressing (you can buy it with the other salad dressings) add some celery seed, stick the bowl in the fridge to chill and at dinner time - you have cole slaw. I don't even bother with buying the premade because you never know what you are getting. Sometimes it is too sweet and sometimes too tangy.

Do you have a New Year's Day tradition? Is there a food you must eat for prosperity? Or, is there a food you eat for other reason?

For the record, my resolution for the new year is to get my house clutter free, organized and keep it that way. I should diet, change eating habits and exercise, and all that, but I am only kidding myself if I thought that would actually happen ;).

Happy New Year, Everyone

Amy De Trempe
Duchess of Decency

3 Ways to Combat the Winter Blahs

2011-12-30T01:00:00.002-06:00

As the holidays wind to a close, it's difficult not to feel depressed as you put away the decorations. After a sparkling, light-filled December, January is bleak and grey, isn't it? In Texas, where I live, January is the one month out of the year that we can expect to see snow. But the rest of the month is usually just bitterly cold and dreary, with more sleet than snow. And add to that any kind of seasonal affective disorder, or cold, or flu, or any other ailment you might have, and it just gets worse.

But the post-holiday season doesn't have to be a stellar letdown. In fact, there are easy steps you can take that can ensure that January remains, if not as sparkly as December, at least not a complete wash. You need to move quickly, though, and take decisive steps--otherwise, it's too easy to fall victim to the short days, grey weather, and chill in the air.
Your missions, should you choose to accept them, are as follows:

Step 1: ABC--Always Be Completing

As soon as I turn in one project to my agent to rep, she asks me what I am working on next. And this is a smart way to look at life. Don't tie your identity or wellbeing to one month of the year, one season, one holiday, or even one manuscript. Instead, as the holidays wind down, look for projects to start in January. Your New Year's Resolution might be your next big thing, so get excited about it.

Step Two: Get Out of Dodge

Too much of the holidays are consumed by travel. And sometimes this travel isn't the most enjoyable, if you're dealing with a lot of traffic or family guilt or both. So step back and plan an outing that just satisfies your soul. Don't worry if you can't afford to book a cruise. Some of my best outings have been spontaneous road trips my husband and I plan. We just get out the map; look at all the destinations within an hour's drive, and go. Our most recent trip put us in downtown Decatur, Texas where I ate the most amazing grilled cheese sandwich, and we found a brand new thrift store to scour. Fun doesn't have to be expensive, and travel doesn't have to take you far.

Step Three: Get Help If You Need It

There's no shame in getting help if you are genuinely suffering from depression. This time of year can be extremely difficult on even the heartiest souls. So if depression really is threatening to overwhelm you, talk about it. Your physician or counselor, or even a trusted friend can help you gain perspective on a situation. And if need be, your physician can help by starting you on a mild antidepressant. I've seen both holistic practitioners and traditional physicians for various ailments, and both have helped me combat stress and depression through supplements and even medication if the need arose.

Right now, I am combating the winter blahs by finishing a current work in progress and beginning edits on another one. What steps will you take to make your January a little brighter?

Swiss Cheese recipe for first drafts

2011-12-29T08:30:00.005-06:00

So the truth is my w.i.p usually flows really well... right up until I hit the first love scene and then I falter. Every time. I’ll struggle with this for weeks because I feel like this is the part of the story that counts and it should be perfect.

But it doesn’t have to be perfect on the first draft.

Swiss cheese doesn’t fall apart, despite its many holes! I read this on a blog post last night and ding – I got it. You can find that blog post here! Lots of great information on that site and Thank you to Write to Done for helping me grasp this concept. http://writetodone.com/2009/06/23/first-draft-secrets-four-simple-steps/

I’m struggling over the first draft of my sixth story and I finally “get” it. Swiss cheese is more complicated to make than many of the other cheese recipes. A newly formed cheese must cure for four months to a year before it’s ready to be eaten. So remember that while you’re crafting your first draft. Once it’s completed you must let it cure for a while before it’s ready to be sent out to the world. This is only the first stage of the creative process. The second stage of the writing process is the editing, and this is the stage you should spend more time on.

It usually takes me about four to six months to finish a story. This year my new year’s resolution will be to finish a first draft in two to three months. I want to be quicker on the first draft so I can spend more time on the edits. Because if you think about it, the editing is the yummy frosting, the delicious toppings and you should take more time polishing your masterpiece than creating it.

Your first draft doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s taken me a long time to realize this. The famous Nora Roberts saying “You can’t edit a blank page” is true. But you can edit crap. Tell the story. Period. Don’t worry about showing versus telling, world building, or any other rules for that matter. Just tell the story. Get it all out and then you can go back later to make it shine.

Set daily goals and write. It doesn’t matter if its crap. Just write.

I think one of the key elements to writing a first draft is marking your holes as you go. That way it’ll take less time to spot them later in the editing stage. If you need to research something put in a little * or a ? or even an ____. It’ll help you remember where you need to come back and fill in the spaces, expand on an idea, or even research on a subject.

Using the highlighter is extremely helpful with this as well. Utilize all your tools at hand and don’t be afraid to make up some rules as you go. I remember when I first started writing I was so afraid to deviate from my original set plan that I almost stalled out to a complete stop. I did as a matter of fact quit writing for about five years. And then when I picked it back up again, I swore I would make my own rules, edit the rules I have already learned to fit my style and don’t be afraid to deviate from my initial plans. If you stall out on chapter six don’t be afraid to pick up at chapter nine where all the action is if that’s what your muse is telling you to write. You can always go back in to fill in the blanks.

More than likely, if you’ve participated in Nanowrimo this year and haven’t finished that particular manuscript but are so close, then I imagine the words are starting to stutter to a halt. So this is a great time to come to terms with the fact that this is a first draft. When it gets hard, don’t worry about whether it’s right or good, just get it done.

Swiss cheese doesn’t fall apart, despite its many holes. I love this phrase and I hope it’s given you the light bulb moment it gave to me. This post has just a hint of the info you need for the Swiss cheese recipe for writing. Read the entire original post to get all the goodies from it. It was a great help to me and I hope it will be for you.

Until then here’s a Swiss Cheese Dip recipe for you to try! It's great for parties! (And this coming from the Lady Scribe who hates, hates, hates to cook. So I know if I can do it, anyone can LOL.)

Ingredients

8 oz cream cheese softened

1 cup mayo (not miracle whip)

2 8 oz pkgs shredded swiss cheese

chopped green onion

cooked bacon cut into pieces

Directions

Mix cream cheese, mayo and swiss cheese. Add onions, spread in casserole dish, sprinkle with cut up bacon. Bake at 325 for 30 mins

Olivia Kelly ~ Lady Loquacious ~ asks: Do These Parachute Pants Make My Butt Look Big?

2011-12-28T01:00:00.003-06:00

Fashion!

What does it mean to you? When you realize that your favorite jeans have holes in them, are too small or too big (you evil witch!) or are acid washed, and it’s time for a new pair, are you thrilled to go shopping? Or does the idea of crossing the mall threshold make you break out in a sweat and want to hide in the closet with a box of chocolates and a Julia Quinn novel?

That’s just me? Oh.

Well, as you might guess, I’m not big on shopping. I used to be. I used to live at the mall every weekend with my girlfriends. I think it’s actually a required part of the American Teenage Girl Rite of Passage. (Shopping, gossip and finding a musician or movie star to crush on make up the 98.6 percent of a teenage girl’s time. The other 1.4 percent of the time is complaining there’s nothing to do.)

Partly, I think I hate shopping now because I’m still carrying around extra weight from the baby. (He’s six.) Mostly, though, I think it’s because I seem to fall prey to the Looks Fantastic in the Dressing Room Syndrome—you know the one. It’s when you try an outfit on, maybe something out of your comfort zone, and between the fun-house mirrors and the anorexic, gum-snapping rabid sales lady, you wind up buying parachute pants. For example, I mean. Not that I have ever worn parachute pants.

Erm.

Anyway…LFDRS seems to strike when I least expect it. Sometimes I can even wear a shirt or dress, or haircut, for weeks before catching a glimpse of myself in the hall mirror and shrieking “Good Lord, why didn’t you tell me?!” Apparently, I need a personal shopper/dresser—like a movie star.

(Please don’t tell me you think they all actually manage to look like that just “running out to pick up a coffee” or “hanging out at the beach”? That would be very, very depressing. For me, I

mean. I’m sure it’s lovely for them.)

A personal shopper! Why do I always think of these things after the holidays?

I think my personal Fashion Lows include:

*A poodle perm (it was the 90s)
*Hip-hop paint-splashed, one strap overalls (it was the 90s)
*Pairing a “skort” with knee high boots (it was the…oh, wait. That was last week).

My Fashion Highs include:

*My Junior Prom dress; fire engine red and sequined, with spaghetti straps. It was one long column, with a slit up the side. I’m still not sure how I made it out of the house that night.
*My new brown corduroy jacket from Kohl’s; cute, casual, form fitting and warm.

Umm. I’m thinking.

Well, that might be it.

How about you? What are your Fashion Highs and Lows?

Did you perm your hair or fluff your bangs? Have you ever owned a jacket inspired by Michael Jackson’s Thriller phase? Did you wear bellbottoms, fringe vests, shoulder pads, Doc Maarten’s or that fake turtle-neck thingy that goes under your sweater? (And do you happen to know anyone who has a personal shopper they would like to loan me?)

Not Sexy. Not even a little bit.

Oh dear, it’s the Poster Girl of 80s Fashion Perfection.

Gosh, I wasn’t expecting all this—I just need some milk and toilet paper. Did you see my Gucci headscarf?

~ Olivia

Happy Holidays

2011-12-18T22:01:00.005-06:00

The Lady Scribes would like to wish everyone Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas.

We are taking the week off to spend time with our friends and families, but look forward to visiting with you again December 26th. May your holiday be filled with joy, love, and laughter.

Truest Blessings

2011-12-16T10:18:00.002-06:00

I’m going to be a little selfish and hijack the blog for a day to give thanks to a few important people in my life. Tis the season to be thankful and after the year I’ve had, there are so many people in which to thank.

You see a year ago my husband was laid off at this job and while this hasn’t been the worst thing I’ve ever experienced — it was darn close. We were one paycheck away from being kicked out onto the streets. We struggled just to pay gas in order for me to go to my barely-above-minimum-wage-job and I have three children in which to take care of. The oldest two teen boys live with their dad one week and then come to my house for the next week. I ended up having to stretch those weeks into two because I had to do most of the traveling and couldn’t afford to go see my own kids part of the time. It was horrible, very lonely, I missed those little devils like crazy, and there were times when I got a little down. Yes, the person who always determines that you keep putting one foot in front of the other and never get depressed because life is never that bad got a little down. I admitted it.

And yet, we persevered. Somehow and not without help either. But I have much to be thankful for this year now that the hubby has a brand new job and we’ve moved into a new apartment. I still don’t get to see my kids as often as I’d like, but I’ll get them all summer long this year. So I’m content to see them on the weekends for now. After all, my oldest is nineteen and the second boy is fifteen, they’re almost grown. So I want to take a moment to thank my oldest boys for sacrificing their time with me so that I could get on my feet again. They truly are troopers and you know I know they love me no matter what happens.

I also need to thank my parents for being there with unconditional love and support, pulling me out of more financial woes than I care to admit this year. And Jake, you’ll always be my real hero. Christi, you'll always have a special place in my heart and the Lebo's crew, thanks for six years of good times. Thank you to my former boss, Leah. And she knows how special she is to me.

Ava Stone has been my mentor and friend for almost three years now. This year she was my guiding angel in this crazy industry called publishing. She did the most unexpected thing when I stayed at her house for our writer’s retreat weekend. She knows what she did and I will be forever grateful to her. I only hope one day to return such a favor. I hope she knows how much it means to me and how much I’ve come to care for her. Ava, you truly are a standard onto yourself and you don’t even know it. You’re a blessing, a wonderful mother, a truly compassionate person, and someone I look up to. Thanks from the bottom of my heart for just being you.

Thank you to Princess Jerrica and her knightly husband for a wonderful job offer in a desperate time of my life. No wonder you're both so blessed in life and love, your giving spirit to others is something we should all aspire to. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

My crit partners have been invaluable to me this year and they have been there every time I needed to vent my frustrations, whether it’s been about writing or my life. I cannot thank you enough for the time you take out of your day to listen to me rant. And I know I’m not the easiest person to like either but I have to say they do more than tolerate me, and for that I’m grateful. So thanks to Samantha, Heather, Erin, Amy, Mindy, Tammy, and Julie. And to the new folks who just joined this year, all I can say is you’ve joined the greatest crit group there is. You simply won’t find a better, more classy, stand-up group of writers on the net. They truly are one of my truest blessings. Thanks ladies. PS. Thanks to Erin for offering to pay for the seminar when I came up to the writer’s retreat. The offer was genuinely appreciated and I love that you’re such a giving person. Thank you.

Marie Higgins who has been a long time crit partner for going on fifteen years. That's a long time to support someone, lol. I hope it's many, many more.

A special thanks to Heather Boyd and Mindy Moore. Heather designed all of my beautiful covers for me and although, she didn’t ask for anything in return. I felt I should pay a little but even so, it was nowhere near what it was worth. But what gave it so much meaning was that it was done in friendship and although, we’ve bumped heads before, you’ve become someone special to me. I look up to you and I hope you know how much it means to me that you don’t ask for anything in return. I tip my hat to you, Heather from across the waters and wish you a very Merry Christmas. And Mindy Moore my editor who’s birthday gift to me last year was a free edit, may your every wish come true. You’ve struggled for a while as I have and are so deserving of every bit of success you’ve had thus far. Merry Christmas, ladies.

I have to take a moment and thank Maggie’O for being my very first fan lol. She’s waiting patiently on this next installment and I love her for that. Colleen for being a wonderful friend and fan, for reading every book and cheering me on. Sandi, my favorite pirate wench who is dying to read my pirate story but we just can’t figure out how to load into onto her Kobo. She’s patiently waiting on it to show up on the Kobo site. Thanks for your patience. And to all the rest of my few fans, there aren’t many in number but they sure are sweet. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I always believed the best part about writing was creating a great story. I’ve since learned that sharing that story with someone else and receiving an email or a comment that I was able to take them away from life for a second. That truly is one of my truest blessings. It warms my heart to know that by the end of a story I’ve given someone else the warm and fuzzy feelings I’ve gotten so many times after reading a great romance. We have the greatest genre as well as the greatest community — despite some of the uproar going on lately about the industry — I still believe this is the greatest reading community there is.

I think the biggest lesson I have learned this year is the truest blessings don’t come with a price tag. They’re there with you, every day. May we never forget how important it is to tell them “I love you.”

Happy reading everyone, and may you have a wonderfully, blessed holiday season as I have. Take a moment and say your thanks to the important people in your life. I’d love to know who influenced you this year.

A Danby Regency Christmas Summons Prize Extravaganza

2011-12-15T01:00:00.001-06:00

Tonight the authors of the REGENCY CHRISTMAS SUMMONS COLLECTION will be chatting live at http://hrcg.chatango.com/ from 8:00p - 10:00p Eastern time.

Presented by: Lilia Birney, Christi Caldwell, Phyllis Campbell, Jane Charles, Aileen Fish, Catherine Gayle, Samantha Grace, Suzie Grant, Julie Johnstone, Olivia Kelly, Jerrica Knight-Catania, and Ava Stone, in honor of the release of our Regency Christmas Anthology, consisting of A Summons from Yorkshire, A Summons from the Duke, A Summons from the Castle, and A Summons from His Grace.

A Summons From Yorkshire
Regency Christmas Summons Collection 1

In AVA STONE’s The Counterfeit Christmas Summons, Lady Emma Whitton has decided its time to take her future in her own hands. She has been in love with Viscount Heathfield since she was in leading strings. Unfortunately, it's been almost that long since she's laid eyes on her brother's old friend and vice versa. Tired of waiting for him to remember her, Emma pens a holiday invitation (in her brother's hand) to Heathfield and waits as patiently as she is able for her one true love to arrive. * Heath isn't quite certain what to make of the very strange summons he received, but his curiosity is most definitely piqued. He heads north to Danby Castle, only to find that his very orderly life is about to be turned upside down.

~ * ~

In AILEEN FISH’s The Viscount’s Sweet Temptation, Lady Harriet Thornhill knows the summons from her grandfather means he’s decided whom she must marry. Determined that she’d only marry a man of her choosing, she stows away in her friend’s father’s carriage, only to find herself alone with young Archibald Napier,Viscount Morley. * Morley’s plans for a quiet Christmas vanish when he discovers the sweet young lady hiding under the blankets in his carriage. As she claims an acquaintance with his sister, he feels duty-bound to see her safely back to her family.* A broken carriage wheel leaves them stranded, and Harriet’s reputation is at stake. Morley’s not ready to take a wife, until he’s told he wouldn’t be a suitable husband for her. With memories of her sweet, tempting kiss filling his thoughts, he prepares to fight for the hand of the woman he believes he could love.

~ * ~

JULIE JOHNSTONE’s Gift of Seduction - The day Andrew Whitton, Earl of Hardwick chooses his fortune over the woman he loves, Drew discovers that money makes for a cold bed partner. Now, no matter how far he runs, the memory of his betrayal haunts him, and there’s not enough liquor to dull the past or diminish his disgust. * Charlotte Milne trusted in happily ever after until her knight turned out to be wearing rusty armor. Drew, the scoundrel, seduced her, though she very much enjoyed the seduction by the man she’s loved since childhood. Left scandalously ruined, Char flees her home intent upon forgetting Drew and proving her worth. * Separated by disloyalty and pain, each struggle to bury the memories of the other until a mandatory summons from the Duke of Danby sets them on a path of collision to Danby Castle. With the tides of irrevocable change rising, Drew must find a way to show Char that even the most selfish of rakes can be redeemed by love before the woman of his heart becomes the wife of another.

A Summons From the Duke
Regency Christmas Summons Collection 2

In JERRICA KNIGHT-CATANIA’s Loving Mister Lockwell, Lady Isabel Whitton has no use for people other than her twin sister -- she much prefers the company of her books. So when she discovers that all her cousins from near and far have been summoned to her home, Danby Castle, for Christmas, she isn't pleased. To make matters even worse, the deplorable Mister Lockwell has come uninvited. * Damien Lockwell, 3rd son of the Earl of Totterdown, has invited himself to Yorkshire for Christmas. Spending the holiday with the Whittons seems far preferable to watching his father drink himself into a stupor. And Lady Isabel proves to be just the kind of entertainment he was looking for -- she's smart as a whip and quite the most unique creature he's ever met -- not to mention she despises him, which is the most thrilling part of all for a man like Damien.

~ * ~

In LILIA BIRNEY’s A Second Chance For Christmas, Philip Whitton has been summoned back home by his grandfather after a wastrel existence in Italy, studying music and trying to forget his first love. Emily Barlow, nee Ware, is picking up the pieces of her shattered existence following her husband's death. Thrown together by chance on the road back home to Danby, Emily and Philip rekindle the flames of their old passion. Will the fire burn itself out like it did before, or are they ready to follow their hearts and live out the truth of their love?

~ * ~

In SAMANTHA GRACE’s Twice Upon a Time - since her father’s untimely death, Felicity Halliday has relied on the medical knowledge learned at his side to treat London’s most disreputable in order to support her family. Life has been hard, but everything changes the night she is snatched from an alley behind a theatre and tossed into a nobleman’s carriage. * It has been less than a fortnight since Julian Beckford returned to London after a sojourn in India, and he’s already up to his top-boots in one of his cousin’s mad schemes. When his foolish cousin decides to engage an actress to play his wife over the holidays at Danby Castle, Julian becomes an unwilling party to the lady’s abduction. Along their journey to Yorkshire, Julian makes a stunning discovery about his cousin's pretend wife....and finds it’s possible to love Twice Upon a Time.

A Summons From the Castle
Regency Christmas Summons Collection 3

In CATHERINE GAYLE’s An Unintended Journey, Abby Goddard’s life is going along just swimmingly, apart from the disappearance of her life’s love—Wesley Cavendish, a man well above her station. Just before Christmas, Grandmama dies after revealing the identity of Abby’s grandfather. The Duke of Danby, no less. Now the entire family will travel to Yorkshire to confront Danby, hoping to gain a dowry for Abby. But then Wesley reemerges, sparking a hope Abby thought long destroyed. * Shall the prodigal son’s sole inheritance be an unsightly gash? Wesley Cavendish aspires to the political realm, despite his father’s near-murderous opposition…not to mention his opposition to Abby Goddard. But since Father died, will the new Earl of Fordingham rescind Father’s disgraceful allegations? Fordingham thwarts Wesley at every turn, threatening marriage to a prominent Tory family—which precludes Abby—to put an end to Wesley’s Whig involvement…unless Wesley can find a loophole.

~ * ~

In SUZIE GRANT’s A Caribbean Jewel for Christmas, blackmailed by a British Naval Commander, Captain Randall Whitton, a smuggler with a penchant for gold is rescued by Jewel Derington, a feisty plantation owner and the very woman who betrayed him in the jungles of Barbados. Escaping danger has never been so thrilling. Together they are drawn into a political game of winner takes all from which only his grandfather, the Duke of Danby, can rescue them.   * Fascinated by the glitter of his Caribbean Jewel, Randall's lust for gold soon fades. His quest to tame this fiery treasure catapults them both into an adventure where the stakes are higher and the prize greater than either of them have ever dared dream.

~ * ~

In CHRISTI CALDWELL’s Winning a Lady’s Heart, for Lady Alexandra being the source of a cold, calculated wager is bad enough....but when it is waged by Nathaniel Michael Winters, 5th Earl of Pembroke, the man she's in love with, it results in a broken heart, the scandal of the season, and a summons from her grandfather--the Duke of Danby. To escape Society's gossip, she hurries to her meeting with the duke , determined to put memories of the earl far behind. Except the duke has other plans for Alexandra....plans which include the 5th Earl of Pembroke!

A Summons From His Grace
Regency Christmas Summons Collection 4

In JANE CHARLES’s Compromised for Christmas, Miss Elizabeth Whitton craved excitement and adventure. Unwilling to endure one boring Season after another, she convinces her uncle in the Home Office to let her work for him. * John Phillip Trent has been spying for the Home Office in the stables of Tuileries as Jean Pierre Bouvier for more than two years, his only English contact – Lisette Renard a servant girl inside the palace. * When a summons from the Duke of Danby slips through the proper channels, both Elizabeth and John’s covers are compromised. To escape the palace and France with their lives, they’ll have to depend on each other and the miracle of Christmas.

~ * ~

In OLIVIA KELLY’s It Could Only Be You, Harry Connelly has crossed an ocean and pushed his half-healed, battle weary body to its limits to confront the man who stole the life he should have had; his grandfather, the Duke of Danby. Wounded, Harry collapses in a small village’s church, and is nursed back to health by the vicar's beautiful daughter, Lily Beaumont. A man haunted by the demons of war, he should know better than to become involved with such an innocent but he cannot stay away from her. Harry's forced to make a decision. He can wield his decades old anger and bitterness against his grandfather, to compel him to acknowledge the damage he caused, and demand that the duke make monetary amends. Or he can turn his back on the past, and create a future with the woman he is beginning to think he cannot live without.

~ * ~

In PHYLLIS CAMPBELL’s Becoming a Lady, Dorothy Paxton is not pleased when a handsome Englishman walks into her inn and announces he's taking her back to England to reunite with the grandfather who turned his back on her years ago. Her escort, Calvin Seton, bribes her by paying her brother's doctor's bills, and soon she's on the ship sailing for London. Little by little, Calvin's charm softens her heart. While her lady's companion teaches her to become a lady, Dorothy is secretly wishing Mr. Seton would do some teaching of his own...in his bedroom. Yet she must control her desires or she's no better than her mother who succumbed to a nobleman, only to have him leave her. Dorothy will not repeat history. Or will she?

December 1812 ~ the powerful Duke of Danby has summoned all of his wayward grandchildren home for the holidays. If you could summon anyone home for this holiday season who would it be? OR where would you like to be summoned?

Comment below with your email address for an entry in the Prize Extravaganza drawing held tonight during the live chat.

Prizes include:

1 $79 Kindle from Amazon

•1 of 3 $50 gift cards (2 from Amazon, 1 from Barnes and Noble)

•1 of 3 $25 gift cards (2 from Amazon, 1 from Barnes and Noble)

•1 complete set of Catherine Gayle's LORD ROTHEBYS INFLUENCE series

•1 complete set of Ava Stone's SCANDALOUS series

•1 of 2 copies of Jerrica Knight-Catania's THE ROBBER BRIDE

•1 copy of Suzie Grant's FOR THE SAKE OF SIN

•1 copy of Suzie Grant's THE DEVILS DAUGHTER

•1 copy of Suzie Grant's WRONG KIND OF PARADISE

•1 complete set of Jane Charles's ONCE UPON A TIME trilogy

•1 copy of Jane Charles's TO WALK IN THE SUN

•1 copy of Aileen Fish's THE MISTLETOE MISHAP

•1 copy of Aileen Fishs THE CHRISTMAS DRAGON SCHEME

•1 copy of Phyllis Campbell's SPANISH EYES

•1 copy of Phyllis Campbell's QUEEN OF HEARTS

The Meaning of a Gift.

2011-12-14T08:27:00.000-06:00

At Christmas I think it is especially important to remember the true meaning of a gift. I know you probably think you already know what a gift is, but do you really? Ask yourself this: if you woke up Christmas morning and there was nothing under the Christmas tree for you but a lump of coal would you be disappointed, sad or angry?

I bet many of you would be angry. As a society, we have come to expect Christmas gifts. Is this the true meaning of a gift, one that we expect because we think we deserve it? I think not. A gift is something given just because someone thought of you. It is unexpected and when received, no matter what it is, it is appreciated.

Because in my own life, I see that I sometimes forget the true meaning of a gift, I have really been contemplating this lately as I buy gifts for Christmas. Recently, I heard a speaker who really drove home some points for me that I would like to share with you.

Here are five red flags that you have misplaced the true meaning of a gift:

1. You make a gift list on Amazon and get irritated when someone buys you something other than what’s on your list. How dare they! Really? How dare YOU! A gift is not something you pick out and say, buy me this. A TRUE gift is something someone else has taken the time to think of, found, and given to you especially because they think you will appreciate it.

2. You buy someone a gift simply because they bought you one. Yes, that’s polite, but that is not the true spirit of gift giving. Tit for tat is not what it’s about. Christmas should not be like a game of Risk. You bought me a gift, so I need to buy you one or my ship is sunk. If someone unexpected bought you a gift be appreciative, but don’t feel you must rush out and buy them a gift just because they bought you one.

3. You judge a person by the amount they spent on you. Naughty-naughty. Be glad there is someone in this world who simply thought of you and be grateful and thankful for that.

4. You use gift giving as a way to make your children behave. I am so guilty of this, but I am really trying to stop this terrible habit. What are we teaching our children if we teach them that if they are good they will get a gift. No, no, no. Gifts are given out of pure love.

5. You don’t realize the best gift is one of time, understanding, love and friendship. Don’t think every gift must cost money. Give the gift of time. Call an old friend, your parents, or your grandparents.

Spend time you don’t think you have with your children, friends and family. You can do it. I spent two hours yesterday playing electronic Battleship with my two young children. It was a great gift of love and laughter that they gave to ME!

Happy Gift Giving!

Julie Johnstone, The Marchioness of Mayhem

7 tips to Survive an Aussie Christmas!

2011-12-13T05:24:00.000-06:00

1. Forget Snow, toss out the winter woolies
The closest I get to a white Christmas is watching Love Actually on DVD or listening to Bing Crosby crooning at my mum’s house. Bikinis and boardies are often the norm for kids on Christmas Day. And yes, I do feel silly singing Christmas carols sometimes. Those lyrics are just so wrong for us.

2. Forget roasting chestnuts on an open fire
Hey, total fire ban, man. Gotta act responsibly when you’re down under or face the wrath of the firemen and Santa when they come around with lollies for the kids. Not even a slab of beer as thanks for their hard work would get you out of a fine.

3. Did I mention it gets hot?
Historical Temps for December have ranged from 26.8C to 42.2C. That’s 82F to 108F. We rarely get to the cooler end of the scale - sometimes the nights don’t feel any cooler either. What you want on a Christmas day is a good stiff breeze, air conditioning, or some place to get really wet!

4. About the tree ...
As far as I can tell, we pretty much all use the fake Christmas tree on this side of the world. Eucalypts are the dominant tree and they just look odd with glittery balls attached. Mine comes out each 1st December then gets packed away by the end of the month. I honestly can’t remember seeing a real tree at Christmas.

5. Carols by Candlelight
Picnicing at night while listening to carols and watching the fireworks is an amazing experience over here. Mind you, if you have kids you are AMAZINGLY glad to get them back home again when it’s all over.

6. The Long Christmas Lunch or the Day of Frenzy
In my experience, there are two kinds of Christmas Day. The one where you’re on the road from dawn, after wrenching your sleepy/grumpy kids from bed, and don’t get home till dark. And the proper one where you are queen of all you survey, eat one meal that stretches forever and even get to have that much needed nana nap in the afternoon. Never mind that you’ve probably eaten too much. Thanks to point 3 (above), you’ve already sweated off the added pounds. LOL

7. ~~Drink, Drink, Drink~~ Drink Responsibly
Aussies are pretty good drinkers but you should know the risks of trying to keep up. There is always the chance of a booze bus (Random Breath Testing) around the next bend in the road to ensure you lose your drivers license.

For those of you staying in or braving the frenzy this Christmas season, enjoy yourself and take special care on the roads. Merry Christmas!

Heather Boyd - Lady Wicked

Top 5 Ways to Stay Sane During the Holidays

2011-12-12T05:55:00.006-06:00

The span of time between mid-November and about January 5th is the WORST time of year for me. Not that I don't love it -- I do. It's just that it can be such a stressful time, what with Thanksgiving, Black Friday, my anniversary, my birthday, my daughter's birthday (which also happens to be Christmas Day, so she has three parties in the month of December! That's her at her b'day party yesterday with a chocolate goatee!), Christmas Day, New Years and all the tons of traveling we have to do.

Now, I know I'm not the only one stressed out about all the stuff going on at this time of year. I'm sure there are some of you who get to stay home, cuddle by the fire with your loved ones and watch It's a Wonderful Life on TV while you exchange a few meaningful gifts over hot cocoa. But for the rest of us, it's go time!!

So for those of us who have no choice but to run around like chickens with our heads cut off, here are my stay-sane tips for the holidays...

1) Drink....lots of alcohol! If it weren't for the booze, I'd be ripping everyone's heads off. I know, I probably sound like an alcoholic, but I promise I'm not. And I am NOT suggesting you "tie one on" every night! But just a half glass of wine or a light beer at the end of the day can really help take the edge off. Or, if you're feeling more festive, try whipping up a Mexicocoa! Click on the pic to get the recipe...

2) Go to your Happy Place...in your mind, at least. Hubby and I are taking a few days to head to the Caribbean in January. I cannot WAIT. But since I have to, I try to go there in my mind when I'm feeling stressed and annoyed with holiday shoppers who seem to have lost any semblance of human decency. I close my eyes and picture myself swaying gently in a hammock under a palm tree, with a fruity cocktail in my hand (don't worry -- it's always after noon in my visions.)

3) Blow Sh*t Up...as our own Suzie Grant would say. Not for real, silly! For pretend! Find a video game, whether for your XBox, iPhone...whatever...that will let you take your frustrations out on zombies rather than on real people. Or even just a fun game that let's you escape into another world for a bit. I, personally, have gotten hooked on Holiday Town for my iPhone/iPad.

4) Buy Presents...for yourself! I'm really big on rewarding myself for a job well done, and if I get through a trip to the mall without tackling some crazy biatch to the ground, well, I think I deserve a prize, don't you?? Nothing big. It can be as small as a gourmet candy bar (Dylan's candy bars are amazing!), a tube of lip gloss, a yummy smoothie or a pair of fuzzy socks :) Whatever you're feeling in the moment, go for it! You'll feel much better, I promise!

5) Screw It! Seriously. Sometimes, you just have to blow off the 130th holiday party and choose to stay home. There's nothing more important than your health -- both mental and physical -- so stop worrying about who you might be disappointing and just take a night off, for goodness sake! The world won't end because you missed it.

Whatever you do, have a safe and wonderful holiday season! Oh, and don't forget to leave your own tips for surviving the holidays! Leave a comment and be entered to win a prize in the Christmas Summons Prize Extravaganza!!

-Jerrica, Her Grace of Grammar

Interview with author Callie Hutton

2011-12-09T06:00:00.010-06:00

Please help me welcome a wonderful author Callie Hutton!

Callie’s been making up stories in her head since elementary school, and writing since she learned to type in high school.
She loves falling in love, did it herself, and now enjoys writing about it. And yes, she falls in love with all her heroes.

Although she’s lived in several states, Oklahoma is where she’s hung her hat for the last several years, but she originally hails from New Jersey. An Okie-Jersey girl. And proud of it.

Her hubby supports all her ventures, truly being the wind beneath her wings. They have three children, with two still at home. And they’re happy their two dogs allow them to share their home.

What genre(s) do you write? I write Historical Romance, primarily. I have a contemporary novella coming out with TWRP in 2012.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? Both. I do a character sketch, and a brief outline of the book before I start. But I don’t follow it exactly, and change as I go along. By the middle of the book, I have a pretty good idea how the rest of it will go, although that can always change.

Why do you think people should choose your books over another author? Because I write the type of story that is both funny and serious in parts. When I re-read my manuscripts, I find myself laughing and crying even though I wrote it.

What do you hope readers take with them after reading one of your stories? I hope they take away a good feeling with them. I love a book or movie that makes me smile at the end, and say “Aww.” I hope readers will react that way to mine.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? I tend to write about strong women who want a man who loves them for themselves. As I said in one of my books, he loves her because of her peculiarities, not in spite of them. My heroes don’t always recognize that in the beginning, but by the end…they know.

How long have you been a writer? Since I could hold a pencil. I made up stories in my head since I was a child. It was how I lulled myself to sleep. Some nights I was anxious to go to bed so I could continue my story. Even now I’ll make up stories about people when I’m in a crowd. Although I’ve had articles published over the years, it wasn’t until last summer that I decided to write a book.

Please tell us 5 miscellaneous facts about yourself.

· I once interviewed Peter Lawford for a magazine.

· I was an ‘extra’ in a Bette Midler movie.

· My first published story was in a magazine from Scotland.

· I’ve lived in seven states.

· I read over 200 books a year.

Please leave a comment with your email to win a digital copy of Callie's new book!

You can find Callie at www.calliehutton.com, or on facebook https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Callie-Hutton/206166449404454

A Wife by Christmas

High School Principal Max Colbert needs to get rid of that pesky History teacher, Ellie Henderson. Getting her married off is the perfect solution, except everyone he introduces her to doesn’t seem right.

In 1906 Guthrie, Oklahoma, History teacher, Ellie Henderson, has been a thorn in High School Principal Max Colbert’s side ever since he took over three months ago. When she’s not flying by his office, late for her class, with books and papers jumbled in her arms, she’s attending Suffragettes meetings against his orders.

Because of her family connections, he can’t fire her, but he can certainly find someone to marry her, and keep her busy in the kitchen. And far away from his school. Max soon finds that what seemed like a good idea can turn into disaster when Miss Ellie Henderson is involved. The woman is a master at getting into trouble.

With the Christmas season in full swing, he has many opportunities to introduce her to prospective husbands. However, the uncomfortable feeling is growing that no one is worthy of the minx…

Excerpt:

Max Colbert glared at the woman perched on the edge of the chair across from him. History teacher Ellie Henderson had been a thorn in his side the size of the Oklahoma sky ever since he’d been appointed principal of Logan County High School three months ago.

She sat there, humming. Humming! His gut twisted and he clenched his jaw. Drat the woman for being so unconcerned while he fumed. It was important to get his emotions under control, needed his years of experience to kick in. He took a deep breath and leaned forward. “Miss Henderson, your unapproved activities have gone too far. I am going to have to fire you.”

Ellie’s right eyebrow rose, meeting him glare for glare. “No. You can’t.”

“Yes I can, and I am.” Blood rushed to his face.

She stood and placed both palms on his desk, and leaned in. “I will tell my Uncle Jesse.”

Max pushed his chair back and got to his feet. He moved close enough to see the light dusting of freckles across her nose. “It won’t make any difference.”

“It will if you plan to be Territorial Superintendent of Schools.” They were now almost nose-to-nose.

Beads of sweat broke out on his forehead. “I will get that job on my own merit.”

“Not without Senator Jesse Cochran’s endorsement.” Her hazel eyes narrowed.

His jaw tightened, his mouth working as if to say something. Then like a rag doll, he collapsed into his seat and leaned back, eyes closed. “Miss Henderson, you are a pebble in my shoe.”

“And you, Mr. Colbert, are a horse’s behind.”

He opened one eye. She again sat primly on the edge of her seat, adjusting her skirts. The two red dots on her cheeks the only indication of her anger.

“You may leave now,” he said through gritted teeth.

Ellie bowed her head slightly. “As you wish.” She stood, smoothed back the hair always loose from her bun. With head held high, she sailed from the room, closing the door softly. Her skirt stuck in the door. She re-opened it, yanked the skirt, and banged the door shut.

Max winced at the sound. His left eye twitched.

Make it Work

2011-12-08T07:00:00.000-06:00

Tim Gunn's onto something, you know?

If you don't watch Project Runway, what's wrong with you? Oops, I meant to say: if you don't watch Project Runway, Tim Gunn is the aspiring fashion designers' mentor. He delivers them their challenges, tells them the constraints they'll be working within ("You have $10 and 1.25 hours for this challenge of designing an avant garde showpiece."), and comes in during their work time to talk things through with them, giving his honest take on what is working and what isn't working. And, inevitably, at some point during every episode he'll say, "Make it work."

It's a simply phrase, a simple concept, but a difficult thing to put into action. Still, whenever I get frustrated with whatever project where I've bitten off more than I think I can chew, or when I write myself into a corner that I can't see the way out of, or when I am too easily distracted by things in my current writing venue to concentrate--any time any of those things happen, I hear Tim's voice in my head saying, "Make it work."

I used to just let those frustrations get the best of me. I'd set the writing project aside and say I couldn't fix it. I'd go for weeks or months without writing, because I was "stuck." I'd tell myself that my idea was too big, too bold, something that another writer was capable of but not me.

That's not really the best way of handling these things, though. Or so I've found.

You see, just because the idea is something unfamiliar and not one I've tackled before, that doesn't mean I can't do it, and do it well, and make it work within the niche I've carved for myself even if, on the surface, it doesn't seem like a good fit. It just means I've got to get creative and make it work.

Just because I've written myself into a corner doesn't mean I can't figure out a better solution, if I sit down (maybe with a trusted CP or two) and talk it through. And it doesn't even mean that I have to immediately toss 20+ pages of hard work. It just means that I've got to buckle down, put my nose to the grindstone as my Grandpa always used to tell me, and make it work.

Just because there are distractions where I'm currently working doesn't mean I can't change locations and find somewhere new to work. Too many things going on at home? Try Starbucks. Too expensive/loud/crowded/etc. at Starbucks? Try the local library. Too quiet/stuffy/stale at the library? Try the park/mall/a friend's house while they're at work if they'll give you a key. The key is to recognize what the problem is before it becomes too much of a problem, and then make it work.

Why am I writing about this right now? I've been in a funk, and trying to convince myself that the problem is one of those things listed above, or one of countless other excuses for not getting my writing done. In reality, though, I've just got to make it work.

Thank you, Tim Gunn.

Gifts That Keep Giving

2011-12-07T07:00:00.002-06:00

This year my husband and I told our children we wouldn’t be having an extravagant Christmas. Not that we ever have really extravagant Christmases, but I always find myself wondering as the time draws closer if the kids have enough to open. I know it’s a ridiculous thought, and all I need to do is stand at the threshold of their bedrooms to realize they have an overabundance of “enough”. Yet, that gnawing feeling returns every year. Do they have enough?

When I think back to Christmases when I was a child, I remember opening many presents Christmas morning. It was always exciting. I can, however, only name a handful of things I received: a bicycle with a basket and streamers on the handles, a Barbie Dream House, and later, a ten speed bike. My favorite was the Dream House.

My son was just informing me yesterday Barbie is bad for young girls’ body images, because it is physically impossible to be built like a Barbie. Thank goodness, because an inability to bend your elbows and forever walking barefoot on your tippy-toes must get pretty uncomfortable. (I can’t be the only one who lost one of Barbie’s shoes within the first 10 minutes of bringing her home.) But tossing political correctness out the window for the moment—Oh, wait! I already did that—the Barbie Dream House was awesome.

I created my first love stories in that three storied building that was as tall as I was. Let’s just say it saw a lot of smooching, on the cheek, that is. Oooh, and love in an elevator. Again, very innocent expressions of affection. Of course most of the stories involved a love triangle. How could it not with only one guy? Barbie was the heroine, Ken was the hero, and Marie Osmond was the villainess. I’m sorry, Marie. I absolutely adore you, but your doll only had one dress. It was lovely, and secretly Barbie envied that sparkly, purple ensemble that didn’t fit her freakishly unnatural figure, but if you wear the same clothes all the time, people are going to start talking.

In my early stories, Barbie, Francie, PJ, Malibu Barbie and an assortment of other Barbies I can’t remember never wanted to include Marie. At first, it seemed to be a result of Marie being mean to them, but eventually, the truth became apparent. Barbie and her blonde minions were acting like rabid pack animals. (Speaking of blonde minions... Did anyone else ever think Skipper was a result of an indiscretion in Barbie's younger years? Sister, my foot! Why did she live with Barbie? I never heard anything about their parents.) I saw their behavior as deplorable, and I wanted to cry on Marie’s behalf. I consoled Marie and promised I wouldn’t allow the mean girls to treat her badly again. In a later story, she’s the one that got the guy.

The Barbie Dream House wasn’t the real gift my parents gave me. It was simply the tool to manifest just two of the gifts that have stayed with me a lifetime: creativity and compassion.

The other day I remembered a true a story from when I was five years old. I loved to be outside in our large yard. It was filled with irises and lovely hiding spots created by bushes and trees. In my imagination, it was my pasture. I rode my horse, her mane flowing, my hair blowing in the wind, in search of magical treasures and fairies. I had the best time galloping across the grass, slapping my hands against my thighs to create the sound of horse’s hooves.

One day a little girl who came to visit her grandmother regularly came over to play horses with me. Her grandmother’s house was behind ours and shared a fence. We laughed and reveled in the joy of being young, energetic, and dreamy. It was a great day. But the next time I invited her over to play, she said something my five year old brain never forgot. “My grandma said I can play, but I can’t be running around flapping my arms like a chicken.” I was so hurt by this soured woman who probably never knew an ounce of joy her entire existence.

Later, I went to my mom and cautiously brought up what the lady had said. I was looking to her to see if it was okay to have an imagination. Was it okay to dream and live in the moment? She didn’t disappointment me. Instead she gave me one of the greatest gifts in life. Not only did she give me permission to indulge my creative side, she taught me that I didn’t have to allow other people’s beliefs or opinions to limit me. Now I look back and feel very sorry for my friend. I hope she had other people in her life that encouraged her like I did.

This memory made me wonder if my worries about whether my kids have enough at Christmas is really concern about if they will get all the things they really need for a full life. Will they know how to love well, work hard, and laugh even harder? Will they see the good in others? Will they recognize the value of friendship, loyalty, and compromise? At the end of the day, will they feel like enough?

Honestly, I think the answers are all yes. We have amazingly bright children with hearts of gold, which I think my husband and I can only take partial credit for. Our children are surrounded by loving family devoted to giving them the true gifts in life and in turn, our children have become gifts that keeps giving.

What gifts of a lifetime did you receive as a child? If you're a parent, what gifts do you hope to give your own child?

Tis the Season For Ugly Sweaters!

2011-12-06T06:35:00.000-06:00

Last weekend I received this little gem in my in-box from one of my favorite restaurant (no need to bring finger foods):

Close fascimile (always wanted to use that description)

Would I go? Of course! Hot Builder as my date? Check! Fugalicious Sweater? Uh...hm...er...Not exactly.

I had no idea where I'd get such a thing. So, I scoured the internet for hours, looking for just the right inspiration. Those faint of heart, stylish or perpetually queasy of stomach, I would advise you to quit reading. Right. Now.

This is a seriously hawt look.

Snoop Dogg just lost some doggy years.

For the love of God don't look below Colin Firth's shoulders.

What is he doing for her to make *that* face?

Apparently, Ugly Christmas Sweaters are a Big Deal, because there are websites dedicated for such an occasion. Here are a sampling:

These guys claim to have the largest selection of Ugly Christmas Sweaters
Sweaters are sorted into three categories: ugly, really ugly and butt ugly.
They're drinking more than just hot chocolate and eggnog at the North Pole.

Here's what Hot Builder picked to wear:

Understated but festive

As for me, I settled on this:

I'm a nonconformist.

What's the craziest, tackiest or just plain ugliest Christmas Sweater you've ever seen or *gasp* worn? Thanks for stopping by!

Christie's

2011-12-05T02:00:00.002-06:00

What do you do when your hero is a lord and just inherited estates, art, jewels (more possessions than anyone could everneed), along with debt up to his beaver top hat? His grandfather and father both believed that possessions “made the lord”so to speak. This left my hero with the need to either marry an heiress (something he would prefer not to do) or sell off possessions. I decided to have him sell. But, how and to whom? Thus, my research began.

I love being surprised by history. I know history shouldn’t be surprising since it is the past and it isn’t like being surprised when something happens in the moment like walking into a dark room and the lights suddenly go on as people shout “happy birthday”. This surprise came with the history of Christie’s. I knew Christie’s auction house had been around for a very long time. I just didn’t realize that their first sale was on this date in 1766. There is some information that sales were made prior to this date, but from the literature I have read December 5, 1766 is listed as the 1^st sale.

“James Christie holds a sale from his Great Rooms in Pall Mall, his first permanent auction rooms, on 5 December. The sale includes 2 chamber pots, a pair of sheets, 2 pillowcases and 4 irons.” http://www.christies.com

My guess, had he limited himself to such sales, Christie’s would not be what it is today. I do wonder though, who would buy a chamberpot at an auction? Had someone famous used it?

Their website does report the following on their history page for 1778, however:

"James Christie values Sir RobertWalpole’s collection of pictures on behalf of his grandson George Walpole, 3rd Earl, and negotiates their sale from Houghton for £40,000 to the Empress ofRussia, Catherine the Great." http://www.christies.com

So, in two years he went from chamberpots and sheets to pictures (which I have decided translates to “art” - though I could be wrong), and one of the things Christie’s is known for today.

Did you know they became known for their international art trade after the French Revolution. The following sale reportedin their history for 1795:

The five-day sale of the contents of the studio of Sir Joshua Reynolds, P.R.A.. realizes £25,000. Following the execution in 1793 of Madame du Barry, mistress of Louis XVI, her jewels are sold by James Christie for £8,791,4s 9d.http://www.christies.com

In 1823, the location of Christie’s moved to the current location, 8 King Street, St. James’s. I have been planning for a trip to London in the near future and I think this will be one stop added to my itinerary.

As we all know, Christie’s has grown far, far beyond great rooms on Pall Mall, to having auction houses all across the globe. I wonder if James Christie had any idea what his business would become the day he auctioned off chamberpots and sheets. Regardless, I am glad he did, because my hero is off to Pall Mall to unload some art to save him from a marriage to an heiress. I may even have him sell a few chamberpots just for fun.

Have you ever been surprised by history?

Jane Charles
Countess of Content

The SixTips for Christmas and my True Love gave to me...

2011-12-01T08:00:00.003-06:00

Managing your writing schedule during the holidays

The saying time is money comes to mind but what do you do during the holidays when there is little time to even merely breathe? Here’s some short tips for managing your writing schedule during the busy holidays.

Tip #1

Manage your daily schedule. Life comes first obviously and it makes it very difficult to free your muse when you’re stressed about your errands you need to do for the holidays. So make sure to get your to do list done so that you can free your mind and release your creativity.

Tip #2

Set aside a half hour to write. Remember you don’t need a lot of time to write, just use your most productive time. Figure out when you are the most creative during the day and make it a habit to write during that time. Every day. (These twitter sessions #500in30 are a brilliant idea to make this happen. Try it and see if it works.) But remember we are creatures of habit so start creating your habit today.

Tip #3

Set the scene. Close the door and seal yourself off from your family in order to gain some peace a quiet. Sometimes, we just need some silence in our lives. Do you ever feel like you haven’t had a moment's peace in a while? It’s probably because you haven’t. So take some time and just sit in a silent room. This can trigger your imagination and hopefully lure our elusive muse out into the open.

Light some candles, put on some soft music, and no I'm not setting the scene for a romantic rendezvous, although it could be considered such if you’re as half in love with your heroes as I am, but this creates mood. And mood is the key to releasing our creativeness. This also makes it a routine and the repetitiveness will help let your muse know it’s time come out and play.

Tip #4

Gift yourself. While you’re out and about grabbing gifts for everyone else, don’t forget to nab yourself something cute to wear or something delicious to eat. And then set it beside your desk or writing area. Once you’ve met your weekly goal, reward yourself with it. Remember to sit where you can see it every day so that it motivates you to write.

Tip #5

Remember to de-stress yourself. It’s very difficult to write when you’re under pressure. So take time to de-stress. Take a hot bubble bath, watch a funny movie (there’s no better way to relieve stress than laughing), be intimate with your significant other (everyone needs a little inspiration,) read a book, and get some fresh air by taking a walk.

Tip #6

Give yourself permission to fail. Yes, you heard me right. We’re not superwoman. We CANNOT do everything and the quicker we accept this fact, the better off we will feel. If you don’t get everything done in one day and don’t find a way to write — It’s okay. Take a breath and hope that tomorrow brings better luck. If you want to try to make up the lost words. Excellent. But if you don’t, then don’t worry about it. Christmas isn’t the time to stress yourself out over your writing. Spending time with family and friends is all that’s important during this time of year. Give yourself a break and know that we all fail sometimes. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done when you make it work and take a tip from Scarlet O’Hara “tomorrow is another day.”

Do you have any advice on managing your writing during the holidays? I’d love for you to share it with us here.

Sleigh bells cost money, you know!

2011-11-30T10:33:00.001-06:00

Last week I made my official Christmas buying gift list, and I almost had a heart attack!

There are forty-five friends and family on my list, and this does not include my husband’s business gifts. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have thousands and thousands of dollars sitting around to spend on Christmas gifts. Did I mention my youngest son’s birthday is in December, so I also need to factor in the cost of birthday gifts and a birthday party. And if I’m going to take a really honest look at the December budget, I also have to accounts for things like a Christmas tree, a wreath and various other Christmas decorating items that pop up during the season. I doubt my kids would be pleased if I told them the budget didn’t include a Christmas tree this year.

So, to make sure there is enough of that hard-earned green stuff known as money to go around, I have become somewhat of a Christmas money saving expert. I have a few tricks up my sleeve that I’ll share with you, and I hope in turn you will share some of your money saving tips with me.

Number One – Buy cases of wine!
Yes, you heard me correctly. The wine is to give, though, NOT for you to drink and be merry. Oh, all right, quit grumbling. You can keep one bottle for yourself. Many grocery stores and wine shops give discounts of 15-20% when you buy cases of wine. I love to buy wine and put it in a fun bag with a special ornament for our friends. Any sommelier worth their weight in corkage can help you pick a good, but inexpensive, wine that your friends will enjoy over the holidays. I know from experience that Whole Foods has a great wine sommelier.

Number Two – Purchase a pretty Christmas plant.
You can purchase a lovely Christmas plant for ten to twelve dollars. Smack a bow on it, and you’ve given the gift that will keep giving back!

Number Three – Force yourself to shop at TJ Maxx, HomeGoods and Tuesday Morning.
You really can find some excellent buys there, especially for kids’ toys. Now, go prepared for chaos at TJ Maxx and Tuesday Morning because I swear I have never been in either of these stores when things were orderly. If, however, you are brave, you can do score some great Christmas gifts.

Number Four – Bargain shop online.
If you haven’t stepped into the age of technology— she clears throat as she thinks of her mother—NOW is the time to do it. Amazon rocks the gifts, in my opinion. I spent several hours online comparing prices for toys a few days ago, and time and again, Amazon had the best selection, the best prices, and FREE shipping. Just be careful to keep track of what you are spending. Somehow when you just click away your money it sometimes doesn’t seem real. The overdraft notice will be real enough, I assure you!

Number Five – Give the gift of reading!
I have friends with multiple children and as much as I would love to buy each and everyone of those little cherubs their very own special gift, it would break the bank. I have taken to picking a special book for the kids in the family and giving it to all of them as their joint gift. You could also do this with a game for the kids. The bonus is they are forced to learn to share! This is a twofer! It saves you money and teaches them a great life lesson!

Number Six – Buy couple gifts rather than individual gifts.
For years, I would buy a gift for her and a gift for him. It was expensive, and I found it difficult to think of something to buy good friends’ husbands, besides some sort of alcohol. Obviously, my creativity stops with my writing ability. I now buy joint gifts such as wine – oops still alcohol, movies passes, small food baskets, Omaha steaks, and gift cards to restaurants.

Number Seven – Take a name.
If you have an army of siblings or cousins draw names for who gives whom a gift. This eliminates having to buy a gift for everyone.

Number Eight – Bake your gift!
I can’t believe I said that! I don’t bake, usually. I do however make an exception and do MINOR baking at Christmas. People love to get holiday sweets wrapped up in pretty packages, or at least I do! Every year, my husband’s aunt sends us a box full of homemade goodies such as fudge, divinity, cookies, and chocolate mints. We fight over the last crumb every time.

Number Nine – Cut coupons.
I know. I hear you groaning! I hate to do it too, but cutting coupons from places like Target and Toys R Us really can save you some money.

Number Ten - Skip the fancy smanshy Christmas cards and check out Shutterfly, VistaPrints, or TinyPrints.
You can make great Christmas cards on these sites for a fraction of the cost from other places.

I would love to hear how you save money at Christmas.

Happy Holidays to you!
Julie Johnstone, the Marchioness of Mayhem

Don’t dally with a vampire...

2011-11-29T04:59:00.000-06:00

*** Spoiler Alert ***

I’m pretty sure that those words have been spoken, written and thought more often this week than at any other time. Yep, I just got back from watching Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1 and I swear giving birth to my kids was ‘as easy as breathing’ compared to that birth scene today. Was I traumatized as some headlines claim?

Well, no. I’d read the book so I knew what to expect from this latest edition to our screens. There were parts I waited for (the broken bed and feathers), parts missing (Alice and Jacob moment), others I don’t remember being quite so funny. I think Breaking Dawn wins for most awkward (Bella’s mom singing) and outstanding (Charlie’s mention of a gun) wedding toasts ever. I also don’t remember Bella chasing Edward so hard after they married to roll around in bed again. Mind you, I give her full marks for trying! Way to go Mrs. Cullen.

Would I see Breaking Dawn again? Absolutely. I’m considering another movie date next week just so I can watch the wedding again.

But what did my darling beloved think of it? He’d never read the book, or paid much attention to past movies before, so he went in with no expectations whatsoever. His rating: 4 ½ stars out of five. See it again? That’s an affirmative. But ...

Some of the most important stuff from the book flew right over his head. How exactly the baby was delivered? Oh, did he use his teeth? Missed that. The imprinting between Jacob and Renesmee he missed the importance of totally.

Setting up for a wedding is a LOT of hard work

So the question for those who’ve stayed with the post (I’m assuming you saw Breaking Dawn already) what did you think? See again? Movie wrecked the book? I’d love to hear your thoughts on what I’ve forgotten from the book and was missing from the movie.

Beyond Infinity

2011-11-28T09:14:00.004-06:00

To infinity, and beyond!

No, I’m not talking about Buzz Lightyear and his spindly-legged frienemy,Woody. That, dear friends, is the phrase that has gone though my head recently every time I sit down at the computer and try to nail down a scene.

The glorious thing about writing is that the possibilities are endless as to the number of directions the scenes can take as they play out on the page. The horrible thing about writing is that the possibilities are endless as to the number of directions the scenes can take as they play out on the page.

Recently, I have to confess, I have found the sheer number of possibilities to be crippling. I can start writing a scene, and then pause, wonder if perhaps they should be in a ballroom instead of the garden, or if it would be better to have them rolling along in a carriage. Should it be gloomy and foggy? Should sunshine add a note of irony for what will be a catastrophic day for my characters? What if the heroine is amused by the hero’s quip, or annoyed, or inexplicably moved? Maybe someone should interrupt and add a new bit of information to the story, sending them off on yet another path.

Ack! So many possibilities, and only one right path.

Or was there? What if there were many directions a story could follow, and all of which will lead the characters to where they ultimately need to be? Like diverging paths in the woods, what if the one less taken and the one most trampled met up down the road, past the copse of trees obscuring my view?

Hmm – this new thought had merit! Massaging my rigid shoulder muscles and unclenching my teeth, I decided to give up on the idea of having to write that perfect scene or die trying. Instead, I let myself just . . .write.

Believe it or not, I was on to something. As the words flowed, I realized that though different choices led to somewhat different journeys, my characters could still find their happily ever after. By releasing the idea that there was only one perfect route, I opened myself up to allowing the characters to have a bit of adventure. And if it didn’t work, I could always revise it.

Success!! My lesson for the day, I think, is that sometimes we have to give up the idea of having full control in order to move forward both on the page and perhaps even in life.

Do you ever get bogged down with all the possibilities? Whether it’s writing or choosing what to order at a restaurant (do NOT get me started on how long that takes me, lol), have you ever just given up on trying to find the perfect answer and ended up being happier for it? I hope it worked out as well for you as it did for me!

Thank Heavens for Friends

2011-11-23T07:00:00.004-06:00

This week is Thanksgiving in the United States, followed by the biggest shopping day of the year. It’s called Black Friday. While many people are preparing to cook a turkey, dragging out Grandma’s stuffing recipe, trying out the recliner for a day of football, and waiting on pins-and-needles for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, I’m wondering why I ever agreed to an overnight slumber party to celebrate my daughter’s birthday. No, it’s not actually on Thanksgiving Day. It’s next Saturday. There will be six little nine-year-old girls to entertain.

We have manicures and pedicures planned for 3:30. Then we can probably kill some time with opening presents, indulging in cake and ice cream, and maybe playing a few games. But then what??? Lately, one of my daughter’s friends is always bored when she comes over, which I don’t get. Maybe I used to get bored playing with my friends, too, but I can’t remember that ever being the case.

I was lucky to grow up in a great little suburban neighborhood outside of Little Rock. It was the perfect neighborhood with lots of kids, so there was usually something to do. And I made five best friends: Dana, Mary, Nancy, Nikki & Stacy. We were all in the same grade and most of us met in elementary school. (We had another friend, Stephanie, who we were also very close to, but she was like five years more mature than us, so we probably got on her nerves from time to time.) The most amazing thing is we are all still friends after all of these years. I’m not saying exactly how long we’ve known each other, even though I think we’ve aged well. ;-)

Back row: Nancy, Dana, Mary, Stacy

Front row: Nikki and me

I remember the overnight parties we used to have. It was always fun to stay at Nancy’s house, because her mom let us have the run of the house and her brother wasn’t obnoxious like mine were. (Sorry, bros! I still love you, but there are only so many times you can spray your pants with hairspray and light your leg on fire before it ceases to be amusing. And we always knew you were spying on us!)

We could throw together a party in a matter of minutes. Step one, secure the house. Step two, Nikki makes Crazy Crunch. Step three, Nancy cues up the Duran Duran videos. Step four, I raid my mom’s lingerie drawer in preparation for our funny beauty pageant. Step five, Dana practices her talent, prancing to Queen’s “Flash Gordon”. (I totally wish we’d had iPhones back then. I could watch that over and over again.) Step six, Mary rolls her eyes at all of us. Step seven, Stacy turns red trying to hold in her laughter before it explodes out of her.

Some of my fondest memories come from the time I spent with my girlhood friends. I know this is the reason I’m willing to brave another little girls’ slumber party. (Last year it was ten little girls, two hotel rooms, and six hours of hide-and-seek in a small space.) I hope my daughter makes, and keeps, the kind of friends I had growing up.

This fall Dana, Mary, Nancy, Nikki, and Stacy met in Florida for a long weekend, the location of our all girls’ trip after graduating from high school. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make it, but we did Skype so I could see everyone. I’m already planning to attend next year’s trip. Nothing will keep me away, because I miss those gals like crazy. Not only did they teach me how to have fun, I learned about loyalty, following my dreams, being accountable for my actions, and what it means to have integrity. I think that makes me incredibly lucky.

If any of you are reading this today, I love you all, my forever friends. I have much to be thankful for in this life, and y’all are up there at the top of my list.

Is there anyone you would like to thank this week in honor of Thanksgiving? Certainly feel free to leave your thanks in the comments, but more importantly, tell it to the person who has made a difference in your life.

Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Dream a Little Dream

2011-11-22T08:00:00.001-06:00

In my senior year of high school, we were tasked with a creative writing assignment that asked us to look ten years into the future and describe what our lives would be like. I thought long and hard on what to write, wanting so much to not just tell what I envisioned, but to transport the reader—and myself—to that place I hoped to be at. In my story, the opening scene is of me at the impossibly old age of twenty-eight on a balcony overlooking the ocean, a true woman in my own right. Confident in a way that I had never been in high school, I basked in the warm sunshine, breathed in the salty air, and exalted in the feeling of having finally finished my Ph.D.

Warm, strong arms soon slid around my waist, and I leaned back into the comforting embrace of my husband, whose love and support help to make my dreams of becoming a celebrated marine scientist come true. The images of my floaty white blouse ruffling in the wind, my long hair lifting gently in the sea breeze and the immense beauty of the orange and copper hues of the setting sun were so real to me, I knew I must be on the right track. At the time, I was a semester away from graduating and about to head off to college to pursue my marine science degree.

The paper earned me the highest score in the class, and I was even asked to read it aloud. With pride and pleasure I shared my dreams with the class that day, anxious to someday fulfill my own prophecy.

Looking back on that paper, I realize that I was indeed tapping into my future, though not in the way that I thought. The reason why that piece was so moving was not for the future I foresaw, but for the telling of the story itself. Little did I know it at the time, but that was the true glimpse into my future. Writing had always been so important to me, something I threw myself into no matter the subject, but I was a practical girl; it never occurred to me that I could truly make a career of it. It may have been my true dream, but it was a pipe dream.

Instead I earned that BS of Marine Science (never made it to the PhD part) and toiled for years in the field, always mindful of the fact that though I was working hard for advancement, my true dreams had nothing at all to do with my chosen career.

But that dream . . . crazy though it was, the dream of becoming a real writer tugged at me, luring me. I had a good—albeit grueling—job, a mostly 8 to 5 schedule, and a comfortable monogamy to my days, but it just wasn’t enough anymore. I wanted to reach, I wanted to break free and go for those goals that I dare not even tell anyone about.

The desire to write blossomed and grew within me, filling my thoughts and coaxing my heart. More and more, a question kept rising to the surface within me. Why not me? Yes, I knew making it as a writer was something few people actually achieved. But you know what? Those few people did achieve it, it was possible. And I looked to my sister, who is forever an inspiration to me. Her chosen outlet was a bit different than mine, but the odds were no less daunting. And guess what—she made it. She was that one in a million success story. She set her sights, made her goals, and followed her dreams. And she succeeded. Not just because she had success in achieving her goal, but because she gave it everything she had. She would have been a success even if she had never sold that first work.

She was brave, and I wanted to be too. So one day I took a leap, jumping from the ledge of the comfortable and flying into the misty ether of the totally unknown. I was incredibly fortunate, and indeed, almost 2 years to the day after leaving my old career, I sold my series to NAL.

My newly unveiled book cover – yay!

It’s a beautiful ending—and beginning!—to the story, but it’s not the only story. There were times in those two years that I wondered if I would ever attain that long, quietly held goal of seeing my book on the shelves. With rejections abounding, it is hard not to wonder! But here is the thing: Even if I had never sold, even if those stories got tucked beneath the mattress and I returned to my day job, it would have been with the knowledge that I tried. I, like so many of you, reached for my dream, giving it everything I had and then some. If my words were destined to collect dust in a long forgotten box somewhere, than I would know it was not for lack of trying. And that, my friends, would have meant success.

All of you out there who are pursing your dreams are a success for that very reason. I applaud you! I encourage you! And I hope that my story may serve as an inspiration to you, just as my sister's was and is to me.

So, what is your dream? Has it come true yet? Are you working toward it? Tell us about it!

“Welcome to Hollywood, what’s your dream? Some dreams come true, some don't; but keep on dreamin' - this is Hollywood. Always time to dream, so keep on dreamin!”*

*Bonus points if you can tell me what movie this is from :)

Chasing Colin Firth

2011-11-17T08:06:00.007-06:00

Last week, my good friend MK (initials used to protect the fangirl) called and asked if I wanted to go walking. Sure. In downtown Raleigh. Well, our neighborhood is closer, but okay. Because Colin Firth aka Mr. Darcy was filming a movie. What?!!!!

Hullo, Fangirls.

That's right, the man who embodies the very essence of one of the most swoon-worthy characters of all time, was going to be in our capitol. We might even be able to get a picture, or at least stalk the production crew and beg for one. Though their response might be something like this:

You wanna do what?

However, MK and I were not deterred. We persevered and got shots of our ~~future husband~~ favorite actor like these:

Why yes, this is my natural stance.

He doesn't have a bad side. Ever.

Then it happened, our eyes met:

But of course we quickly looked away. Mostly so he wouldn't think MK and I were stalkers, which we were, but... Anyway, after grabbing a bite to eat and heading over to a park where the next scene would be filmed, MK and I found a familiar face. One that was just as excited as the two of us that Colin Firth was here:

Erin Knightley and I

Suddenly, there was a commotion. MK waved furiously and smiled. People gasped. The man beside me fainted. Colin Firth was headed our way!! And let me tell you, the man is GORGEOUS. And gracious. And tall. And smells like a dream. We were stunned, then giddy, but the crowd didn't rush him.

Instead we gently pushed the sweetest woman to the front, one who'd been waiting for Mr. Darcy since six am. He smiled. She teared up. Then he HUGGED her.

Of course Erin Knightley and I chose to celebrate like this:

Not ashamed.

MK, the intrepid instigator of the entire trip, stood back patiently waiting her turn. Not only did she get a picture, but he also signed her copy of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. I would post her picture with Colin, but she threatened to never speak to me again. So, I'll post mine:

Mission accomplished

MK, Erin Knightley and I skipped to our cars, ~~goofy as hell~~ girlish grins on our faces. We said our goodbyes and headed home, discussing our favorite movies starring Colin Firth, marveling over how nice he was, and giggling over how we both got hugs.

What famous person have you met? And, of course, what's your favorite Colin Firth movie?

Give me a bad boy any day of the week.

2011-11-16T10:52:00.001-06:00

I have to admit I have always been slightly attracted to “bad boys” in books, movies and sometimes real life. I dated a string of full-time bad boys before I met and settled down with my good boy. Of course, my husband was a reformed bad boy, which made him perfect for me. I never really thought about what attracts women to villianesque heroes in real life, books and movies until I recently went to see the Foo Fighters in concert, www.foofighters.com

They just happen to be my favorite band, and they are led by the quintessential bad boy Dave Grohl. Dave’s a hard rocker with long hair and tattoos to boot. Yesterday, I got into a conversation with my hairdresser, who also loves the Foo Fighters. We, of course, talked about their incredible music, but we also got on the topic of “bad boys.” We both agreed that we think of “bad boys” as mysteries and what’s exciting is to think you may be the only woman able to solve the puzzle.

I really started contemplating my own heroes that I write in my novels. When I write, I tend to gravitate to creating a hero who lives on the edge of danger and needs a bit of redeeming but definitely has the potential to be redeemed. I’m about to embark on writing my third novel in my Rakes Undone Trilogy, and my hero in this novel is a first class “bad boy”.

What makes a bad boy and why do we women love them? I’m going to hit on five major points, though there are many more. Bad boys have:

A troubled past – There’s something in their past that has shaped who they are. It’s up to the heroine in the story to somehow figure out what is the ‘dark secret’ in her heroes life and what she must do to help him overcome the dark secret. What woman doesn’t love to ‘fix things’, especially fix a man.

World-weary, jaded- The “bad boy” has seen it all, done it all, experienced it all-until they meet the heroine and really fall in love. This is new for them. This has never been done, and this great love can give them a completely new view of the world. Things are no longer the same-old-same-old.

Burdened by a secret guilt or sorrow – The “bad boy’s” troubled past is troubled because there’s a secret or sorrow bringing him down. It’s up to the heroine to show the bad boy he can confront his secret or sorrow and overcome it with her love.

Mysterious, magnetic and charismatic – There is something about the “bad boy” that draws the heroine to him. “Bad boys” fight the idea of “true love” believing they are not worthy to be loved by a woman so good, which makes them like a magnet for the woman they fall in love with. The heroine in the only person who can show the fallen hero that he is worthy to be loved.

Power of seduction and sexual attraction – They are experts in bed and out, but what really attracts the woman is when the “bad boy” start to care more about her pleasure than their own. They can take a woman to heights never before dreamed of or reached.

Now, my new hero Sin is going to be a Byronic Villain hero. Sin is dark, brooding, aristocratic, secretive, conflicted and of course, handsome. It’s up to my heroine, Audrey, to unscramble the pieces of the “bad boy” puzzle and make this man worthy of her love.

Do you like “bad boys”? If so, who is your favorite “bad boy” hero?

Julie Johnstone
The Marchioness of Mayhem

My top 5 for heroes

2011-11-15T05:05:00.000-06:00

I used to joke that I read romance novels not for the girl but only for the hero. Perhaps it’s a reflection of the life I lead. I am the only female in a house full of loud boys (I’m including my hubby in that description without malice). Even my rescued cat is male, or would be if someone hadn’t sent him to the vet.

Having so much male influenced stuff around you does tend to set you apart from your friends blessed (or cursed occasionally) with girls. Dance class or ballet? It looks good on the TV. Dress ups - I mastered ghouls rather than princesses long ago. I listen to my girlfriends who have girls with nostalgia sometimes. The problems the new generation of girls face haven’t changed much since I was young.

But my life is boy-centric, something I work to balance constantly in my writing. I solved part of the problem for some stories by writing gay historical romance - much less personal conflict that way. But I do love het romances, too, so now I get to write both.

So what exactly do I love about romance heroes? Here’s my short list in order of preference.

Sense of Humor - Nothing is sexier to me than a hero who knows how to laugh, tease and make others feel at ease around them. Not all characters are comedians on a stage, some are quieter, delivering pithy one-liners at the exact right moment.
Clever - Brains and the ability to use them wisely. One of my favorite characters on TV is Sheldon from Big Bang Theory. He is weirdly sexy to me, smart but with lots of odd personal quirks to offset the abundant brains.
Capable of Love - Blood sucking vampire to shy nerd - a man capable of showing his emotions gets me every time. Even if it’s only their grandma they dote on, or even a pet, who wouldn’t want a man who knew how to treasure something.
Lusty - I write erotic romance so a lusty, action orientated man is a given. But I also love sweet romances where the hero is restrained. Regardless of their approaches to finding the love of their life, I want a man who still very clearly wants the love interest, even if it’s off the page.
Strength - I’m not talking about a ‘strong enough to bite steel without breaking a fang’ type of hero, although physical strength is often necessary for compelling world building. I’m talking about the inner strength to do the right thing and earn the respect of me and his love interest.

Every male character I write has these traits, but often in different quantities. Every one is different, unique, just like the real men in my life. What do you think? If you are drawn to different traits in your heroes than I have listed here, add your thoughts in the comments section.

Heather Boyd ~ Lady Wicked

Over the River and Through the Woods...

2011-11-13T23:59:00.003-06:00

As the holidays approach, Thanksgiving in particular, I'm trying to maintain what I call an "attitude of gratitude." It's not easy - this is the most stressful time of year for most of us, and our fuses tend to be shorter than usual. Well, mine does, at least.

One of the biggest things that tends to get people's panties into bunches is the thought of traveling for the holidays. You start to hear complaints like, "I'm dreading dealing with airport security," or "2.5 hours on a plane with a toddler is going to be a nightmare," or "That 8-hour drive to my folks' house will be torture."

I am so guilty of complaining about travel. I was so happy two years ago when I was too pregnant to travel for the holidays. It was pure bliss to cook for Eric and myself, watch the parades in our jammies and decorate the Christmas tree with cups of hot chocolate in hand. And the only place we had to go on Christmas Day itself was a mile up the road...to the hospital...because I had the baby on Christmas Day :)

But thinking about travel this year -- driving to the in-laws for Thanksgiving and then flying to my hometown for Christmas -- started to get me all hyped up. You can usually just put a giant "UGH" above my head if the topic comes up. However, as I contemplated this blog post, I decided to research truly nightmarish travel, and I can't think of any worse conditions than the people of the Mayflower suffered as they set out to settle the new world...our world.

Fun Facts about the Mayflower:

1. There were no passenger ships in that day, so they all had to get comfy in a space designed for cargo...on beds of hay...next to complete strangers...although, I guess they weren't strangers for long! Sharing morning breath kicks things up to a new level of intimacy really quick!

2. Dinner was usually salt-beef, salt-pork or salt-fish...mmmm! But wait...on salt-fish days you got a little piece of cheese (lucky bastards!) Oh, and don't forget about the oh-so-delicious-ever-lasting ship's biscuits! These puppies stayed "good" for up to 5 whole years...I just hope no one tried to bite into them without dunking them first. Ouch!

3. There were no bathrooms! Yes, I know what you're thinking: Awesome! It was a free-for-all! Well, not quite. Each family had their own chamberpot that got emptied occasionally.

4. Since they didn't have terribly precise navigation tools, they ended up landing 200 miles north of where they originally intended. Crap! "Sorry, everybody! I know we've spent 66 days aboard this uncomfortable and disease-ridden ship, but...well, you're gonna have to get back on. We're not quite there yet."

5. The cost for all this luxury? The equivalent of $1,000 in today's money. I couldn't find out if that was per person or per family, but either way, that's a lot of blunt for the 50/50 chance you had of surviving the whole ordeal.

So what have I taken away from all of this?

1. I will not complain about not being able to recline my seatback on my 2-hour flight due to the fact that I was put at the back of the plane where seatbacks don't recline...or about my back being sore after the 2-hour drive to my in-laws. I could be sleeping in a cargo hold for 66 days next to an open-mouth sleeper.

2. I will not complain about the overpriced, crap food at the airports or the stingy supply of peanuts and pretzels on the plane. I could be eating 5-year-old biscuits and salt-fish for 2 months straight.

3. I will definitely not complain about the tiny airplane bathrooms that smell funny or the grimy gas station bathrooms on the highway. I could be doing my beeswax in a pot of my entire family's beeswax that wouldn't get emptied until next Tuesday!

4. I won't complain when Eric misses our exit and takes us three miles out of the way. It could be 200.

5. I won't complain about the cost of gas or the fact that we now have to drop a little extra dough on a plane seat for our toddler. It's still cheaper than the Mayflower, and a lot more comfy!

So, when you start to stress over the trivialities of traveling this holiday season, just remember what the pilgrims so selflessly went through so that one day we would be able to do our beeswax in our own toilets, in a free country.

What will you not complain about this holiday season?? Leave a comment and be entered into The Christmas Summons Prize Extravaganza!

-Jerrica, Her Grace of Grammar

Guest Blogger Lilia Birney

2011-11-11T12:04:00.000-06:00

One of the most difficult parts of being both a work at home mom and a professional writer is, I think, isolation. There are days when I go without speaking to another human being for eight hours stretches at a time. If my husband is out of town for his job, I may not speak to another adult for days at a time, unless you count the brief "hi-bye" with my daughter's teacher as I drop her off at school.

I like this life. I am, at heart, a bit of a hermit. But even to someone who, like me, relishes solitude, the life of a solitary writer can be too much at times. It's difficult not to get too wrapped up in a manuscript, not knowing when to call it a day. In fact, I find myself having to consciously adjust from "Regency-speak" to "21^st century speak" as I drive to pick my daughter up from school. I find it hard to turn off the train of thoughts in my head and to come back out of my shell to share conversations when I do have someone to talk to.

That's why working on the Christmas Anthology was such a unique experience. Because we all took a member of the family, we had a chance to interact with one another as writers. We had to make sure we all understood the various branches of the family tree. We had to settle on the duke's demeanor, his household staff, even what Danby Castle looked like. As a result, I was conversing and interacting with other authors all day—not about disparate novels, but about the common threads of the tales we were weaving together.

Working on the anthology also kept me on track. I realize that now. I had so many people depending on me to get my part of the story done on time that I didn't have the luxury of frittering my time away on social media and household distractions. It was a fruitful collaborative experience that engaged me with my fellow writers and critique partners and made me realize that I could, with a little effort and focus, tear through three chapters in a day. I miss that now, as I struggle through the last half of the last act of my current work-in-progress. As I grind through these last few chapters, I wish Ava Stone, Jane Charles, Catherine Gayle, or Jerrica Knight-Catania were sending me reminders and updates so I felt not quite so alone, and part of a grand and wonderful experiment in writing.

To wrap up this blog, I'll include an excerpt from my story in the anthology, A Second Chance for Christmas. In this scene, my heroine, Emily Barlow, is feeling utterly alone as she leaves her solicitor's office, having just heard that her husband left her without a penny when he died:

Outside the solicitor's office, she leaned against the wall, panting and fanning herself. She was no better than a pauper—no better than she had been when she went to live with Uncle Arthur and Aunt Millie as a young girl. The only child of penniless parents, taken in as a charity case. Her marriage was supposed to secure her place in Society, not simply rent that place to her only to snatch it away with Charles' death.

She wept when her husband died, for while she didn't love him she was grateful to him for all he had given her. But now, if he were here and standing beside her, she'd give his eyes a jolly good scratching. She'd trusted him with everything, and how was that trust repaid?

Gathering her skirts with her courage, she headed down the steps and back to the Bridge Inn. How far away home was—and little Rose. Her heart gave a flip-flop and she calculated how quickly she could reach Sheffield. From here in Norwich, she'd take the public post tomorrow morning, and be home within four days. If only there was a way to send word home and beg Anna to begin packing and readying baby Rose for the journey. Well, she'd just have to pack quickly once they arrived. And then, she'd have to decide what she was going to do with the rest of her life.

Leave a comment below and include your email address to be entered in the drawing for tons of great prizes, including a Kindle, gift certificates, and much more.

NaNoWriMo - 1/3 of the Way There

2011-11-10T07:00:00.000-06:00

How many of you out there are doing NaNoWriMo this year? Raise your hands.

I'm doing it. But I'm cheating. The rule is that you're supposed to start on a new WIP and write 50,000 words. Well, I don't have time to set aside my current WIP, but I still need to get in 50,000 words...so I'm breaking the rule and using the manuscript I already had in progress.

I'm only counting new words, though. :)

So...if you're participating in NaNo, you should be about 1/3 of the way done with your 50,000 words at this point. Are you? I'm close, but not quite at that mark. Darn the early part of the month being filled with birthdays in my family. It doesn't get any easier in the later part of the month, either--that is Thanksgiving, which means lots of family functions.

Still, I'm finding a way to get my words in.

At this point in the game, though, those who are new to NaNo might be feeling stuck or frustrated, or both. Here are some handy-dandy tips and tricks for getting yourself unstuck.

Don't try to sit down and write with the idea of "I have 41,209 words left to write. Augh!" Sit down and say to yourself, "I'm going to write for the next twenty minutes, and I want to write 300 words in that time." Three hundred words is a page. You can write a page in 20 minutes. Break it into easy chunks.
If a particular scene is giving you fits, skip it. Move ahead to a scene that you know exactly how it will play out. It might give you what you needed to write the earlier scene, but no matter what, at least you'll be writing. You don't have to write everything in order.
Can't figure out the best way to work out the details of a scene, talk it out with someone. Go to a Write-In with your local NaNo Region, call up a critique partner, talk to the guy on the train who stares blindly at you while you're talking to yourself, or if all else fails--talk to a pet or a stuffed animal. Sometimes, just saying it out loud helps you to work through your blocks.
Don't like your current NaNo project? Scrap it. That's right, toss it in the drawer and pull something else out. (Be sure to keep counting the words you wrote on the scrapped project, though.) No one says that this project is the one you have to write. Write what you want to write.
Try doing a word war with someone else. If you're on Twitter, look for the #1k1hr hashtag and you'll likely find people doing them. It's easier to get a bunch of words out if you know you'll get a break in a certain amount of time. I'm fond of doing 30 minute sprints sometimes, so you might find me using hashtag #500in30.
Remember that this is supposed to be fun. If it is stressing you out, maybe NaNo isn't right for you. Or maybe the project you're trying to write isn't the right thing for you. If you're not having fun, reevaluate why you're doing it in the first place.
Enable Freedom. Freedom is a cheap software program (for both Mac and PC) that will disable your ability to connect to the internet for a set period of time. You set the time. It's amazing how much work I can get done if I'm not checking my email every ten minutes, looking to see what the authors I stalk on Twitter have tweeted, and playing games on Facebook.

What other suggestions do you have for getting through the slog that is the middle part of NaNoWriMo?

The Post Office & Other Hassles

2011-11-09T07:00:00.011-06:00

Last week I wanted to mail a book to a friend and send a card for another friend’s mother, and since the FedEx center doesn’t carry stamps, that meant a trip to the local US Post Office. Passing through the doors of my small town post office is like walking through a time-space portal. My ability to communicate becomes grossly distorted and time slows to an excrutiating pace. I avoid it if at all possible. (Can I say I think I prefer my yearly mammogram to my annual post office trip? At least a mammogram is quick and painful rather than drawn out agony.)

Despite my desire to be in and out as quickly as possible, I decided to take a little extra time to gather supplies I'll need to mail out books for giveaways, which will be here before I know it.

There was one guy in the lobby when I entered, and he was done in under a minute. It looked like I might meet my goal of a quick in-and-out. Wrong! I had failed to notice the invisible line that had formed before my arrival. I took my place and waited. And waited some more. Fortunately, the woman at the window finished her inspection of her shoes before I sprouted any more gray hairs, and it was my turn.

I told her I needed to mail single copies of paperback books. (Ask me why. Ask me why. Nothing? Really? You're not even the least bit curious? Sigh.) I explained that I wanted to have supplies on hand so I could avoid another awkward postal encounter such as this one. (Just kidding. I didn’t really say that part aloud.) Here’s how our conversation went...

Me: Do you have any boxes that are prepaid that I can drop in the mail to save me a trip to the post office?
Lady: We don't have boxes.
Me (pointing to the wall): What about those boxes?
Lady (slowly turning head): Yeah. That box is $5.25.
Me: So I can purchase that box and it won’t require any more postage?
Lady: If it’s under 13 ounces.
Me: If it’s under 13 ounces, I can just drop it in the mail without coming into the post office?
Lady: You still have to come to the post office.
Me: Why?
Lady: If it’s more than 13 ounces, you can’t use that box.
Me: But if it is under 13 ounces, I don’t have to come in, right?
Lady: You still have to come in if it's over 13 ounces.
Me: I really don't know how much 13 ounces would be. How much does a paperback weigh?
Lady (blank stare)
Me: You know, a small paperback that will easily fit in that box?
Lady (more blank staring with minimal blinking)
Me (holding out the MUCH bigger book I’m mailing): Well, how much does this weigh?
Lady (placing it on the scale): Thirteen and a half ounces.
Me: Oh, good! Those boxes should work fine.
Lady: You'll still have to come in to see if it's over 13 ounces.
Me (Loudly screaming in my head): Never mind.

I’m sure there’s an easier way, and I will figure it out or just go to FedEx. But it made me think about how difficult it must have been to get letters where they needed to go during the early 1800s. Perhaps the Duke of Danby will share his tips with me. After all, he summoned all of his grandchildren to Yorkshire for Christmas when they were spread here and there, and I can’t even get a straight answer from the lady at the post office.

Well, however he managed it, he did it! And what a great start to the Regency Christmas Summons Anthology, a collection of interconnected stories about the matchmaking duke and how each grandchild finds love. The books are like four boxes of yummy truffles. You can eat just one at a time for a satisfying experience, but really, who can stop with just one piece of chocolate? You can find my story, Twice Upon a Time, along with Jerrica Knight-Catania's and Lilia Birney's in A Summons from the Duke.

Julian Beckford, grandson to Duke of Danby, is up to his top-boots in one of his cousin's mad schemes only days after his return to England. Baron Penlow wants to engage an actress to play his wife over the holidays at Danby Castle, and he has asked for Julian's assistance in casting the role. Here's a sneak peek at their evening...

Julian nodded. “She’s the one.”
It had dawned on him too late that it mattered very little which woman he recommended to Pen since Julian had every intention of talking his cousin out of his plans on the morrow. He could have ended this nonsense hours ago.
“Are you certain?” Pen asked.
“Yes. Now I’ve done my part, and I’m growing impatient with this clandestine operation. I’m ready to play faro.”
Pen rapped sharply on the roof and opened the window.
One of his servants moved into the woman’s path before she reached the end of the alley. “Pardon me, miss. Lord Penlow would like a word.”
She froze like a rabbit, poised to dash away. “Step away from me, sir.” She readjusted her grip on the bag. The poor dear was probably frightened out of her wits, being accosted the minute she exited the alley, and who could blame her?
“Make it quick,” Pen called out. “We have somewhere to be.”
When the footman turned his head towards Pen’s voice, she took advantage of the distraction and tried to bolt around him.
“Stop her!” Pen scrambled from his seat and threw open the door. “Stop her now!”
His servant lunged to grab the woman, hugging his arms around hers and knocking her bag from her hand. It hit the ground with a thud.
“My bag!” Her panicked voice echoed off the building.
“Quiet her,” Pen said. “Put her in the carriage.”
“No!”
The servant clamped a hand over her mouth before she let loose a scream and lifted her off her feet. She kicked and wriggled until he almost lost his hold. The hood fell away to reveal a cascade of dark hair.
Julian shot out of the carriage. “What are you doing? You said nothing about abduction.”
Her gaze darted towards him, her eyes wide, and her thrashing increased.
“See what you’ve done?” Pen sprang forwards and captured her legs. “Let’s put her in the carriage before someone discovers us.”
Together, Pen and his servant struggled to put her in the Berlin before Pen climbed inside. “Come on, Julian.”
Julian hesitated a moment, then snatched up her bag and clambered into the carriage, closing the door behind him. Pen was sitting on the bench, holding his nose and oddly silent. The girl huddled in a corner, her breaths shallow and rapid. She was as scared as a church mouse. Good Lord, this might take some doing to make everything right.
Julian placed her bag on the floor and reached a hand towards her. “No one is going to hurt you, miss.” As he leaned in, her leg shot out, and her boot struck him in the center of his chest.
“Damnation!” He fell against the door; his side banged against the seat.
She barreled for the exit, trying to climb over him to reach it. Her boot ground into his thigh, and she lost her footing on the slick fabric of his breeches. She dropped like a lead ball, her knee crashing into his groin.
Julian hissed in pain. Pinpricks of light danced in the blackness, clouding his vision. His gut wrenched, wringing every ounce of comfort from him and replacing it with excruciating torture.
He would never trust his judgment again. He’d chosen a wildcat.

So, back to my original topic, sorta... If you had a team of footmen to run errands for you, which one would you be happy to hand over to them?

***Everyone who leaves a comment today with an email address will be entered into the Regency Christmas Summons Prize Extravaganza. We're giving away a Kindle and many more prizes.

I Have to Praise You Like I Should...Or in Other Words Be Thankful for Our Soldiers

2011-11-08T06:41:00.000-06:00

At first, I thought the title of this post would be longer than the actual blog, until I realized that I could write about being thankful and Veteran's Day while sneaking in an inspirational picture for you, my loyal readers!

Protects our country and takes time to read? Yes, please!

In all seriousness though, I wanted to use this platform to thank the soldiers in my family- those that have served and those serving still.

First, I want to thank my sister, 1LT. Valentine:

Don't let the smile fool you. She's bada$$!

Second, my brother-in-law, Blackhawk Crewchief Coyle:

Yes, that is the top of a helicopter. And yes, he 's a professional.

Third, my brother-in-law SGT. Winslow, currently serving in Afghanistan:

He's prepping to film the next YouTube viral video of soldiers lip-syncing Lmfao's Party Rock Anthem.

And lastly, but certainly not least, my dad, Gunnery SGT. Valentine. He served at a time when most people didn't support the war or the soldiers.

Barely Eighteen and far away from home.

The next time you see a soldier, go up and shake his hand and say hi. Buy her meal or a drink.

Or simply say: Thank you.

Who would you like to thank on Veteran's Day? Comment to win either Lisa Kleypas' LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON

Stephanie Tyler's NIGHT MOVES: A SHADOW FORCE NOVEL

Don't forget to leave your email address with your comment. And thanks for stopping by!

Hopeless

2011-11-07T08:00:00.001-06:00

Iam hopeless!

And,I am fairly certain the ladies of my critique group will agree (probablyHeather the most). You see, I amSocial Network Challenged. I am not sure if that is an official title, but itis me.

Let’stalk about Twitter, shall we. I recently set up my Twitter account and amfollowing some interesting people and I have a few followers myself. I actuallyenjoy twitter, especially when I am able to follow a conversation thread(though this rarely happens). I havebeen told that to have more followers you should follow. Okay, I get that. But,who do I follow? Other authors, readers, publishers, agents, the kid down theblock? How do you decide who to followand will a complete stranger find it odd that this romance writer has decidedshe wants to read ever wise tweet that’s written?

Thenthere is Tweet Deck. I set this up thinking it would help. Ha!

Okay,I take that back. It has gotten easier, but there were weeks of struggling withgetting my own categories straight and trying to understand the hashtag process(once I realized what a hashtag was). However, regardless of the progress I’ve made, I still feel a bit TwitterChallenged.

Goodreads– a place to be if you are a reader, author, or both (that’s me). I’ve set up my account. I have added a few books (I think) and I amnot sure I have any friends. Okay, thatjust sounds depressing. As soon as I amdone with this blog I am going to go find friends.

WhenI did set up the account I was immediately overwhelmed with how to add books,my own profile, adding my own books, and I gave up before I accomplishedanything. I jotted down my password foranother day and have only been back a few times. Figuring out GoodReads is on a ToDo List andwhenever I get to it on the list I have skipped over it and moved on. One day, I promise, one day I will get thisorganized.

Blogging: I have figured this out. Duh, guess I didn’t need to actually tell youthat since you are reading this. And I have my own blog, which I treat morelike a website. I would blog but Irarely, if ever, can think of anything interesting to write. I’ve toyed with the idea of my charactersblogging. It is so much easier to writefor them than myself. So, added to thelist (above Goodreads) is to blog regularly and hope I come up with some ideas,though I am sure my favorite heroes and heroines will take care of this for mein a pinch.

Thenthere is the ever so popular Facebook. This too has been set up recently and my kind critique partners are myfriends (thank you ladies). I don’t postmuch but I vow to get better. But with Twitter and Blogging, what is there tosay? However, I have discovered ZumaBlitz. Yep, a game where a frog shootsout colored balls to make chains that disappear. I am addicted! I play every day and tell myself it is totake a break from writing or editing, or to think through some dialogue or plota scene. But, before I know it, over anhour has passed and all I’ve managed to do was waste time *sigh*.

Iam only going to touch on the topic of Google+ because that is all I know aboutit. That it exists.

So,what do I do once I have learned to work in all of these networks (sometimein 2015), I will link them together so that once I post something one place, itshows up in other places too. Again,I’ve been told this can happen, I just don’t have any evidence that I can dothis.

But,I do have to wonder. With all of these social networks that people participatein, when is there time to write, edit, critique, read, work, sleep, eat . . .? Are those who have mastered socialnetworking simply geniuses who need no sleep?

Iwould love for you to tell me any tricks you may have as to learning Goodreads,Twitter, Tweet Deck, Facebook and Google+. And, if you have any of these accounts, tell me the name you go by and Ipromise to follow you.

JaneCharles

Countessof Content