I loved it as soon as I saw it. In 2024, I want to focus on more JOY, more EXPLORATION, more APPRECIATION, more GRATITUDE. And as Ev explained, it could be more of LESS as well. Simplifying our lives, decluttering our homes…these might seem like less, but are really giving us more. More time to do what fills our souls, more space to thrive. In my author business, I see MORE pointing toward more LEARNING, more GROWING, more CHALLENGES. More SUCCESS (both on the monetary side and the craft side). So that’s my word for the year. MORE. What’s yours? Share below, then hop over to Jill Haymaker to see what she chose. Happy New Year!
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Authors I trust to write a great story and who I will often binge read include Ilona Andrews (the Innkeeper series has made it to my autobuy list, too), T. Kingfisher (her Paladin series), almost anything by KJ Charles, and when Martha Wells drops another Murderbot book, I’ll start saving my pennies (they as so good but a tad pricey for me). I also have several authors friends that I can whole-heartedly recommend. Sara Whitney is a new favourite of mine, Natasha Moore and Karen Booth are solid, and for scorching hot rom-coms, try Mellanie Szereto. The last three write older heroines, too. I’m not going to name a favourite book of 2022. I read and enjoyed so many I wouldn’t be able to decide. But if you have any recommendations I’d love to hear from you. Drop a comment down below! Then hop over to PG Forte and see what her top reads are!
Yet another easy at first look but tricky upon reflection topic this week... What is your favorite book and how many times have you read it? I love to reread books. It’s like visiting old friends. I know how the story ends but it doesn’t matter…I just want to spend time with the characters. Which makes this question more difficult than it first appears. I’ve reread Anne of Green Gables (the entire series) and The Lord of the Rings more times than I can remember, but not for several years. I also have every print copy of Dick Francis's mysteries, some of which are falling apart from too much loving. Then there’s Pride and Prejudice, which is my desert island book. It, too, has a peeling cover and loose pages. But then there’s the Nero Wolfe/Archie Goodwin stories and the Spencer series. Also Georgette Heyer’s Regency romances and the Lord Peter Wimsey novels…and…and…and... You get the picture. What about you? Do you re-read books? And if so, what’s your favourite? Then move on to Leslie Hachtel for her re-readable list!
Last week we looked ahead at what a shiny new year might bring. This week we’re looking back. Our topic is: How did you get to where you are today? Share the story of your professional journey, the roadblocks you encountered along the way, and your strategy for overcoming those obstacles. When I first read this challenge, I was a little deflated. To me, it was directed at someone who had already achieved their goals, had already become a success (as defined by them, not others). But upon reflection, I realized it is also directed at someone like me who is still on the journey. I have what I think is a reasonable goal for my writing career – that each book I publish pays for its own hard costs within a month of release. It is a little disheartening to admit I haven’t achieved that yet. But when I look at where I started, I can see how much I have achieved, and that dollars aren’t the only gauge of success. I’d always wanted to write a book. I was 44 years old when my first romance was released…and now I have 10 published books with 3 waiting in the wings. That is definitely a win! It's amazing what writing 500 words a day can do! I have made wonderful author friends along the way, authors who are generous with their time and talent and advice. I’m not in this crazy business alone. I have learned craft and studied structure and discovered that writing is as much an art as it is a skill. And from day one I’ve had the support of my family. My children tell their friends their mom is a writer, which makes my heart burst. My parents read every single book. My husband bought me my first laptop, reads early drafts of each of my stories, and is a constant source of encouragement. I have cousins and in-laws and friends who read my stories and tell me how much they like them (admittedly, sometimes with surprise in their tone, but I’m okay with that LOL!) I don’t think I’ve experienced any true roadblocks on my journey. I’ve certainly taken detours and occasionally had to backtrack and try again, but I don’t consider those events roadblocks. They are just part of the journey, like take a shortcut that ends up in a totally different place than you’d expect. My strategy from the start has been simple: Write the best book I can. Publish it. Repeat. I’m still enjoying the journey. And I’m so glad you’ve come along for the ride. Be sure to hop over to A.S. Fenichel to learn more of her story. I am thrilled to be included in this upcoming box set. A SEASON FOR LOVE is available to pre order now! Sometimes forever begins after forty. A collection of fiery and passionate contemporary romances featuring characters in their 40’s, 50’s and beyond. These authors don’t close the bedroom door on the good stuff, so be prepared to get hot and bothered in the best of ways. After all, lust has no age limit! From billionaires and alpha military heroes to nerds and single dads, this limited-edition collection of sensual and sexy stories will keep you up all night and daydreaming all day! The one thing they have in common? They’re about to discover it’s never too late to fall in love. Including Stories from: USA Today bestselling authors Stephanie Morris, Phoebe Alexander, Krista Ames, Debra Elise, Dawn Brower, Melonie Johnson As well as: Simone Leigh, Jami Denise, PE Kavanagh, Judy Kentrus, Karen Nappa, Brenda Margriet, Shai August, Lisa Wood, Jordan Elizabeth, PG Forte Jennie Kew, Allyson R Abbott, Mellanie Szereto Congratulations, A.S. Fenichel! Today is VENGEANCE release day! The final book of the Demon Hunter series if finally here. The demon master is out for revenge, and the gates of hell are flung wide. Only the purest love can force him back… After a debilitating injury leaves Brice Lambert in agony, he's relegated to teaching others to hunt demons. He knows all the secrets of the demon war and plans to die for the cause. Never did he expect his dreams of a loving wife and big family to come true, but the very witch who healed his leg is capturing his heart. Abigail Higginbotham's extraordinary power elicits fear and mistrust from the very people who should love her. Instead, they shuffled her around, depriving her of family and coven alike. Joining the Company of demon hunters brings her the closest thing to a family she has ever had. Forbidden to love, she risks losing everything for the man who has loved her for many lifetimes. Together, they must find the key to seal the gates of Hell and lock out the demon master forever. Fail, and mankind is doomed. Succeed, and face death in the pit of Hell. A small price to pay for eternal love. Get it now! I’m afraid I’m going to cheat a little this week. A.S. Fenichel has assigned us FLASH FICTION: About 500 words and the prompt is “first kiss.” Give us a short and sexy first kiss. If you joined me from Leslie Hachtel, welcome! Usually I love writing flash fiction, but I’ve got a lot of things on the go right now and am going to cut myself a little slack. But I’m definitely sharing a first kiss scene! This is from Richly Deserved, my new release. Enjoy! *** Claudia straightened, her attention still absorbed by the painting, her face softly lit by the single bulb clipped to the easel, her profile outlined against the wall of windows. “Come here.” Titus took her arm and urged her toward the middle of the room, snagging one of the barstools as he went. “What are you doing?” she asked but went willingly enough. He set down the stool, placed his hands on her shoulders and pressed her onto it. “I’m going to draw you.” “Don’t be silly.” She shifted as if to stand, and he held her down. Even in his furor to get a pencil and paper, he kept his touch gentle. “I have to. I’ve been thinking about it for days. And now, with the moonlight streaming in…” He gestured to the nearly full moon glowing outside the window and she lifted her chin to look where he pointed. “Don’t move!” he said urgently. He wanted that exact tilt of her jaw, the angle of her head over her shoulder. She ignored him and turned to look at him again. “I am not going to model for you, Titus.” Desperation to create welled up inside of him, fierce and strong in a way he rarely experienced. He didn’t have time to argue. So, he kissed her. His palms on her cheeks, he pressed his mouth softly to hers, doing his best to wordlessly convey his need. She gripped his wrists but as he deepened the kiss her touch grew slack. Her mouth opened, welcoming him in, and her hands slid up his arms to his chest, and then wrapped around his neck. He’d wanted to distract her, bewilder her so she’d sit for him without complaint. Instead, the heat of her passion was like a backdraft, the fire he’d set roaring out to consume him. He dragged his mouth away reluctantly. Her eyelids fluttered open, and raw satisfaction filled his chest. Her gaze was dreamy and dazed. She didn’t resist when he took her chin in his fingertips and placed her exactly where he wanted her. “Look at the moon,” he said. “And think about me.” He went to get his sketchpad. *** What do you think? I’d love to read your comments. Then, hop over to Jenna Da Sie and see what she wrote. So, I'm doing a thing on Thursday. I'm joining author Kellie Coates Gilbert in her Facebook group, She's Reading, to talk about Richly Deserved, writing, reading, and more! There may even be giveaways... We'll be going live at 4pm Pacific. Why not join her group now and come along for the ride? I also did a thing yesterday (Monday). I did a live author event in the Seasoned Romance Salon, also on Facebook. If you aren't a member, you can join here, and watch the video. I also have a few giveaways that are open until 7pm Eastern today (Tuesday, April 13). As a reader, romance will always be my first choice. That's because it encompasses so many different worlds - suspense, paranormal, historical - and I am guaranteed a happy ending. But I also enjoy reading many other genres, including sci-fi, fantasy and mystery. In fact, mysteries were my first love, which is partly why my most recent releases have each had a mysterious subplot. This week on the Romance Writers Weekly Blog Hop, I set the topic: Buried treasure. Ghosts. Locked room murders. What is your favourite kind of mystery story? Or do you avoid those altogether? Like many girls my age, I cut my reading teeth on Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, and the Bobbsey Twins. I also remember the Cherry Ames series, about a nurse who wound up solving mysteries in the course of her various duties. By high school I was reading Dick Francis mysteries as fast as they came out, and had also discovered Robert B. Parker’s Spenser series. Then there are the classic mystery authors - Agatha Christie, Rex Stout and Dorothy L. Sayers. All of these contributed to my love of the genre. Murder mysteries are usually my favourites. Combine those with a locked door and I’m turning the pages fast and furious. But it darn well better make logical sense once it is explained – no supernatural appearances or clues hidden by an irritating narrator! I do, however, especially love when the mystery has a romance attached. Spenser is one of my favourites because of his love for Susan, and the relationship between Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane is one of the most complex love stories ever told. What about you? Do you like mysteries? What are your favourites? Let me know in the comments, and then hop over to Clair Brett to see what she thinks. And don't forget to sign up for Clair's newsletter here, so you don't miss any of her news!
Cabin fever is a real thing here in Northern BC. With travel restrictions in place, it’s been even more insidious this year. But no matter what our “real” life is like, reading can take us to other worlds and times, and help us get through the darkest days. Maybe that’s why I chose this topic for the Romance Writers Blog Hop today: Writers are readers, too! What have you been reading lately? I am a big re-reader. It’s not a lie to say I’ve read some of my favourites ten or more times. When I know the ending, I can really get involved in the way the story unfolds, and see nuances I never noticed before. In February, I reread (again) two different series by Courtney Milan – The Brothers Sinister and The Worth Saga. These are both set in the late 1800’s, and have heroines who are chess champions, biologists, computers (when that word meant someone who does complex math), suffragettes, daughters of traitors, and more. Ms. Milan’s romances are complex and emotional and ALWAYS a delight. Even if you don’t think you like historicals, I highly recommend you give them a try. What did you read in February? I’d love to hear from you below. Then hop over to Leslie Hachtel to see what she’s been perusing lately. It’s March – which mean’s is release month for RICHLY DESERVED!
Sign up for my newsletter, and you won’t miss out on any of the behind the scenes stories, excerpts and other exciting news in the lead up to release day on March 29! CLICK HERE When we left our careers in television and radio early in 2020, Mr. C and I planned to do a lot of travelling. Riiiiiiggggghhhhhttttttt. Anyway – the last few months don’t mean we can’t look forward to new adventures some day. So this week on Romance Writers Weekly, I suggested we go on a Travel Hop! I asked my fellow members the following: Share the places and activities in the area around your home that you would recommend to someone visiting. Include photos and links so we can make future plans. I live very close to the geographic centre of British Columbia. My hometown, Prince George, has about 80,000 people, and is a hub for government, health, mining and forestry for the northern half of the province. We are surrounded by mountains, lakes, and forests, and have a vibrant arts community. One of the unique places to visit within the city is Northern Lights Estate Winery. It is BC’s northernmost winery, and produces red, white and fruit wines from locally grown produce. There is a lovely riverside bistro and they host tours of the orchard and facility. While there is a lot to do right in the city, short drives in all directions will bring you to amazing locations. About 1.5 hours to the east is the Ancient Forest/Chun T'oh Whudujut Provincial Park. In the traditional territory of the Lheidli T’enneh and BC’s newest provincial park, this area protects a portion of the only inland temperate rainforest in the world. Some of the western red cedars are more than 1000 years old, and these pictures don’t do justice to their massive size. Stuart Lake, one of the largest natural lakes in BC at 70 km (44 miles) long, is less than 2 hours away to the northwest. There is plenty of camping and fishing, or spend the day hiking Mount Pope for amazing views of the surrounding area. As well, the Fort St. James National Historic Site, a restored fur trading fort is a must-see. Another National Historic Site is only a short drive away, this time to the south. During the Cariboo gold rush in the 1860’s, Barkerville was known as the largest city west of Chicago and north of San Francisco. Today it is the largest living historic museum in western North America and a National Heritage Site of Canada. It is actually two historic sites in one, as it includes The Chee Kung Tong Building - a rare surviving example of Chee Kung Tong architecture in Canada, a living testament to the large Chinatown that existed in Barkerville. (By the way – my current work in progress links into this amazing site and history). There are so many other great places I could share with you, but I hope this has whet your appetite to visit my part of the world some day. Now, on to Clair Brett for another virtual travel tour! Three of our RWW members are pleased announced the Regency Romance Anthology ONCE UPON A TWELFTH NIGHT! Congratulations to A. S. Fenichel, Clair Brett, Christina Alexandra – this looks delicious! The honor of your presence is requested by The Earl and Countess of Stapleton at their house party to celebrate TWELFTH NIGHT. Festivities include: a titillating masked ball, ice skating, a romp in the local village, a naughty treasure hunt, midnight kisses in the garden and the Twelfth Night Ball where holiday magic brings about seven perfect matches. Available July 28 - preorder now! I never considered my self a terribly social creature, but the last few months have shown me that I may have taken for granted the joy of simply sitting and talking with someone face to face. Which makes this week’s blog hop topic a little...unsettling. Leslie Hachtel asks: If you were stranded on a desert island, what three books would you want with you and why? If you joined me from A.S. Fenichel, welcome! I suppose a deserted island would be the ultimate in social distancing, wouldn’t it? 😊 Not very long ago I might have yearned for a chance to read uninterrupted by other human beings, but it doesn’t seem quite as appealing right now. That being said, here’s my list:
Inspiration comes in many forms. It can be something as small as a snippet of conversation overheard in a coffee shop, or as life changing as the first person that believes in your talent. This week on the Romance Writers Weekly Blog Hop, A.S. Fenichel asks: What inspires you? Do you or did you have a mentor, parent or friend who you credit with making you the person you are today? It doesn’t have to be a person: Music, Art.... In the largest, most general sense, my inspiration as an author has come from the many, many, MANY authors I read as a child—even those whose names I can no longer remember. The simple fact that someone in a city or country far away—or even on a day long before I was born—wrote words that I was reading seemed a miracle to me (and still often does). I wanted to have that connection with a reader, too. When it comes to what stories I write, I am mostly inspired by everyday life and the people around me. I firmly believe there is someone for everyone—those people that seem unlikeable for some (usually superficial) reason, and those who, if you could get them to admit it, believe they are unlovable for some real or imagined issue. I want to give those people the happy endings we all deserve! As a person, I wouldn’t be who I am today without the love and support of my husband. He is always the first to read my books and will talk about his “author wife” given the slightest encouragement. I can’t say I would have given up on this publishing journey without his faith in me, but he certainly has made it a much more enjoyable ride. I encourage you to hop over to Caro Kinkead and see what or who she credits as her inspiration.
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