The one food I would really miss is eggs. I love them in all their states, and when you think how many recipes include them - what if you could never make those again? Wow – that’s a lot of deliciousness missing from my world. How about you? What food would you miss if you could never eat it again? Let me know below, then hop over to Jill Haymaker and see what she chose.
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The topic this week on the Romance Writers Weekly Blog Hop… If one of your books could be made into a movie, which one would you pick and what actors would you like to play your characters? I think No Life But This would make a great movie. It is set in an amazing location (the Azores), the characters do interesting activities (snorkeling with wild dolphins, bike riding into volcanic craters, paragliding, horseback riding), there are plenty of sexy scenes, and of course there is a wonderful happily-ever-after. Amanda Seyfriend would make a wonderful Abigail. She has the waif-like, ethereal fragility I picture for my fish-out-of-water heroine. And Jeffrey Dean Morgan has that slightly rough-edged handsomeness that would be perfect for Santos. Of course, the characters in the book are younger than these actors, but hey – that’s what movie magic is for, right? Now hop over to PG Forte and discover which of her books she's chosen to make into a movie!
We have been enjoying unseasonably warm temperatures this last week in Northern British Columbia. And by enjoying I mean wallowing, bathing, and soaking in the sunshine. We had a lovely winter, but nothing beats those first hot days of spring. That being said, this week on the Romance Writers Weekly Blog Hop, Leslie Hachtel asks: What is your favorite spring flower and why? Is it the scent? A memory? If you joined me from A.S. Fenichel, welcome! The first sign of spring where I live is the appearance of pussy willows. While not the most vibrant of blooms, these tough, furry, grey blossoms are a sure indicator the weather is warming up. When it comes to cultivated flowers, hardy bulbs like crocuses are next. While they have no scent, they are definitely cheery and bright! Because these are the first to appear, they rank as my favourite spring flowers. However, I am always thrilled when my clematis begins to sprout. While it will be months before we see the blooms fully open, knowing this rapid-growing vine is ready to grow is one of my great delights. What about you? What are your favourite spring flowers? Feel free to share below, then hop over to the instigator of this topic, Leslie Hachtel. When the last time you took a stroll around my website (other than this blog, of course)? You might be interested to see some changes, especially here. I'll give you a minute to go look...
What do you think? I love these new covers! I'm going to be celebrating by giving away a copy of each book. But you need to be a subscriber to my newsletter to end. You can do that here. I hope you'll join us! I love this week’s topic! A.S. Fenichel asks: How do you choose your characters’ names? Do you have a system, a book, an app or is it random? If you joined me from Caro Kinkead, welcome! When I was pregnant with our first child, I thought picking a name would be fun and exciting. I had no idea how stressful it would be. Names are powerful and can evoke strong emotions. If someone treated you poorly as a child, that name is often tainted for the rest of your life. If you liked a person, that name is attractive to you. When it comes to character names, I feel the same pressure. As I’m brainstorming a new story, I’ll make lists of names, trying them on to see how they fit. But I don’t always get it right the first time. I’ve actually changed names part way through writing because the one I started with just never sat right. For my main characters, I want names that are unique and interesting, but not so unusual they distract the reader. I think my most unusual name was Justice in WHEN TIME FALLS STILL. I saw a sign advertising Justice Motorcycle Repair and almost immediately the idea for the character popped into my head—although he had nothing to do with motorcycles. ? Minor characters are often the hardest to name. If he or she is only appearing in a scene or two, I often don’t bother, because I don’t want the reader to think they are more important than they are. But if they are necessary to the plot, they need a name, so I have to spend some time thinking about it.No Life But This - Excerpt Anne Bishop (if you haven’t read her, you really should. I love her The Others series) uses the names of people she knows, and then acknowledges those people in an Author’s Note. I did this for a minor character in NO LIFE BUT THIS, but am going to consider doing that more often. For my upcoming new release (sorry, no title or date yet!) I ran a contest where readers could submit their own names to be one of two minor characters. That was a fun and stress-free way to come up with a name! When I come across a name that sparks my imagination, I make a note of it, because chances are I won’t remember it when I need it! I also scroll through baby name lists on the internet (I like the ones that are listed gender neutral so I don’t have a preconceived notion of the person it is meant for). While I’ve used random name generators (the program I write my first draft on, Scrivener, has one built it), I find those names often feel as if they are trying too hard. In my current work in progress, I had to come up with a name for an art conservator. I was already using the name of a real museum, so I checked the staff list on their website, chose a first and a last name from two different people, and voila—a character was born! If I am making up a name, I immediately do a Google search to see who else might have it. That has saved me some embarrassment when it turns out it already belongs to a well-known person - sometimes even one I've heard of (there was a reason it sounded good)! Now hop on over to the originator of this topic, A.S. Fenichel , to see how she comes up with names for her characters!
Last week, my part of the world was locked in a deep freeze. Wednesday morning we woke up to -42C (-40C and -40F are the same temperature if that helps any). Is it any wonder my thoughts turned to travel? This week on the Romance Writers Weekly Blog Hop, I set this topic: Do you like to travel? If so, do you have a favourite place? Also - do you incorporate places you’ve visited into your novels? I love to travel, and have been lucky enough to go to some amazing places. Not only have I seen a lot of the wonders my beautiful province of British Columbia offers, but I’ve been to New York City, San Francisco, Mexico, France, Belgium, and England. I’ve also been to Portugal – not the mainland, but the islands of the Azores in the middle of the Atlantic (more on that later). And there are still so many places to see! One of my bucket list dreams is to spend at least three months living in a foreign country. I want the experience of actually living in a place – not just seeing all the tourist sites (which are wonderful, don’t get me wrong) but feeling like part of the community. When we travel, I like to read books that are set in the place we are visiting. London was amazing for this. I love Regency romances, and to be able to walk in Hyde Park and down Piccadilly Street, just like those heroines would have done (if they were real 😉) brings a deeper understanding of the stories. One of the reasons I decided to use my hometown of Prince George as the main setting for most of my own novels ties in with that thought. I figured if I liked to read about other places, other people do, too. And since Prince George is an "other place" to most readers, why go to the bother of coming up with an imaginary location when I could give readers a glimpse of the beauty surrounding me every day?
The only book I’ve written that ties in with a place I’ve travelled to (so far) is NO LIFE BUT THIS. My husband’s family is from the Azores, and in 2013 we decided to travel there with his parents, siblings and our children. Even before we left, I’d started NLBT, as I knew I wanted to write a story with a heroine who jumps out of her comfort zone in one big leap. While we were there, I soaked in as much of the sights and sounds as I could, then used them to colour my story. It is still one of my favourite books. What about you? Do you like to travel or are you more of a homebody? Let me know in the comments, then hop over to Clair Brett to see how she uses travel in her stories! Ola! Bonjour! Kon'nichiwa! We’re going international on the Romance Writers Weekly Blog Hop this week! I set this topic: Do you speak another language? If so, which one? If you don’t, is there a language you’d like to learn? How about your characters - do you write characters that speak different languages, and use that language in your stories? If you joined me from Clair Brett, welcome! I do not speak another language, which is partly why this fascinates me. In Canada, French is a required subject in school, so I have studied it, and at one point could stagger through a few sentences. A couple of years ago, we went to France for a holiday, and I used Duolingo to try and become more fluent. It wasn’t a success – my fault, not the program. I am too self-conscious to try and speak it. I love to read books where characters speak another language, as long it isn’t used so much I get lost in the plot. A word or short phrase dropped in judiciously, though, can really amp up the flavour of a story. In NO LIFE BUT THIS, my heroine, Abigail, goes to the Portuguese Islands of the Azores on an adventure holiday, and has an uncharacteristic fling with her tour guide, Santos. One of my favourite scenes is where Abigail meets Santos’ mother: Santos turned to Abigail. "My mother apologizes that she cannot speak better English." Abigail shook her head, smiling. "Tell her I'm sorry. I should be able to speak her language." "Why not tell her yourself? Say this: Minha desculpa. Eu deveria ser capaz de falar a sua lingua." "I'll make a mess of it." "Give it a try." He repeated it. "I promise I won't laugh." She stumbled through the unfamiliar sounds. True to his word, Santos didn't laugh, although the corners of his mouth tucked in. His mother allowed her demeanor to soften further and giggled behind her hand, her eyes dancing. It’s a quick little scene, but it shows the reader how Santos wants Abigail to fit in with his family, and also how Abigail feels as a visitor to his country. But using another language doesn’t have to be only instructional, like this one. Earlier in the book, Santos has these thoughts after leading a bicycle tour in which Abigail had needed some help getting up a long hill: He'd managed to convince himself his reaction to Abigail while helping her climb the hill in Sete Cidades had simply been plain old male hormones. He'd realized it had been more than three months since his last relationship. The hiatus explained why the sight of her scrawny little nádegas bouncing up and down in front of him had turned him on. You don't have to speak the language to know what Santos is talking about, given what was happening in the scene. Of course, you have to be careful doing this, as Google Translate doesn’t always supply the right words. Context matters! I have a friend who is a native Azorean Portuguese speaker and I had him help me to make sure I didn’t mess anything up. What about you? Do you speak another language? If so, I’m so jealous! Now hop on over to A. S. Fenichel to see how she used language in her historical romances. Congratulations to A. S. Fenichel! Today is release day for her newest book in the Everton Domestic Society series! A Lady’s Past The greatest risk—for the sweetest reward… His fiancée’s betrayal nearly cost Jacques Laurent everything. Despite his resolve not to trust anyone again, he can’t abandon the young woman he finds alone on the road to London. In the brief hours they spend together, the enigmatic Diana touches his heart in a way he can’t explain. Even after bringing her to the Everton Domestic Society for safe-keeping, he can’t get her out of his thoughts. And when he next encounters her, working as assistant to a renowned scientist, he becomes even more intrigued… * * * * The Society’s kindness is especially welcome after everything Diana endured in a French prison, but she fears for the safety of those who get close to her. French spies are on her trail, convinced that her scientific knowledge can help them win the war. As peril draws them irrevocably together, Diana and Jacques succumb to mutual desire. But love may be the most dangerous pursuit of all, when a lady guards her heart even more carefully than she guards her life . . . Buy Links Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Ladys-Past-Everton-Domestic-Society-ebook/dp/B07R4K3Y1J B&N https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-ladys-past-as-fenichel/1131407370?ean=9781516109975 Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-lady-s-past iBooks https://books.apple.com/gb/book/a-ladys-past/id1461706183 Google Plus https://play.google.com/store/books/details/A_S_Fenichel_A_Lady_s_Past?id=_n6WDwAAQBAJ And don't forget -
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Abigail Garsson feels trapped in her safe, boring, conventional life. Desperate to escape, she signs up for an adventure vacation on the Portuguese island of São Miguel. Santos Carregado enjoys introducing tourists to his tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic. At first he barely notices the unassuming Abigail. He soon finds her meek exterior hides a vibrant woman who teases his senses and ignites his passion. Abigail is stunned to discover the handsome, confident Santos is attracted to her, but his fiery kisses and searing caresses convince her to accept a sensuous invitation. Will the realities of life shatter Abigail's holiday daydream? Or can the shifting sands of a short-term fling become the rock on which a life-long relationship is built? A mountaintop mystery leads two conservationists to dangerous obsessions and violent passions. Natural resources student June Brandt climbs Longworth Mountain for some alone time. But when Conservation Officer Alex Weaver arrives to look into the death of a grizzly bear, June is caught up in the investigation—and fascinated by Alex. Alex is attracted by June's competence and coolness under fire—as well as her lithe body and honey-blonde hair. Although their mutual interest in protecting the natural wonders of the area brings them together, they soon realize they view love from very different angles. He offers passion and pleasure, but June wants more. When one of Alex’s colleagues is murdered, June and Alex must work together to find the poacher before other lives are lost. And Alex must look deep inside to discover if he can give June what she deserves. | |
This week on Romance Writers Weekly, Dani Jace set the challenge – and a true challenge it was, for me at least!
We’re one day away from Halloween. Have you ever seen a ghost or witnessed something paranormal? Received a sign from a loved one in the hereafter? If not, share the oddest thing that’s ever happened to you that you can’t explain.
My life must be very boring. I cannot think of one thing that fits this topic! And it’s not that I’m a complete skeptic, either. While I don’t 100% believe in ghosts or parapsychology, I don’t totally discount it, either. There is too much that cannot be fully explained by the knowledge the world holds at this moment.
So, because I can’t really participate in this blog hop, I’m offering a giveaway! After you’ve taken part, don’t forget to head over to A.S. Fenichel, whose next on our hop!
GIVEAWAY!
I will give you one of my books for FREE, simply by doing the following:
In the comments below, tell me about a time where you experienced something unexplainable. Or, if you’re like me and don’t have that story to share, tell me whether you believe in the supernatural or not. There are no wrong answers! Once you’ve told your story, let me know which one of my books you’d like to receive: Mountain Fire, Chef d’Amour, When Time Falls Still or No Life But This. I will send it to the email you use to comment with.
Then, I have only one more request. Today is my birthday – so while I’m giving you a gift, I’d love if you could give me one in return. Once you’ve read the book I send you, please leave an honest review at your ebook retailer or Goodreads – or better yet share it on Facebook or Twitter! I look forward to reading your comments!
Happy Halloween!
We’re one day away from Halloween. Have you ever seen a ghost or witnessed something paranormal? Received a sign from a loved one in the hereafter? If not, share the oddest thing that’s ever happened to you that you can’t explain.
My life must be very boring. I cannot think of one thing that fits this topic! And it’s not that I’m a complete skeptic, either. While I don’t 100% believe in ghosts or parapsychology, I don’t totally discount it, either. There is too much that cannot be fully explained by the knowledge the world holds at this moment.
So, because I can’t really participate in this blog hop, I’m offering a giveaway! After you’ve taken part, don’t forget to head over to A.S. Fenichel, whose next on our hop!
GIVEAWAY!
I will give you one of my books for FREE, simply by doing the following:
In the comments below, tell me about a time where you experienced something unexplainable. Or, if you’re like me and don’t have that story to share, tell me whether you believe in the supernatural or not. There are no wrong answers! Once you’ve told your story, let me know which one of my books you’d like to receive: Mountain Fire, Chef d’Amour, When Time Falls Still or No Life But This. I will send it to the email you use to comment with.
Then, I have only one more request. Today is my birthday – so while I’m giving you a gift, I’d love if you could give me one in return. Once you’ve read the book I send you, please leave an honest review at your ebook retailer or Goodreads – or better yet share it on Facebook or Twitter! I look forward to reading your comments!
Happy Halloween!