So laughter rocked the walls of my office tonight! I read through all the entries with my husband and my two oldest daughters listening in. The judging was fairly subjective — we’re writers, so we are used to the whole “it’s subjective” thing, right? Based on the amount of laughter produced, the winner of the first, but definitely not last, …
In Others’ Words: Blessings in Disguise
“What seems to us as as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise.” ~Oscar Wilde, Irish poet & playwright Blessings in disguise. If only those blessings-to-be showed up in our lives as what they were going to ultimately be: blessings. But no. They stay hidden as we trudge through the darkness. The pain. The days where our our hope is …
What’s a Tired Contemporary Romance Writer to Do: My Kind of Mad Lib Fun (& a prize!)
So yesterday was all about this: 🙂 And in between replying to a steady stream of comments on this blog — thank you one and all for celebrating my book cover with me! — I also edited a magazine and racked up almost 4300 words in my work-in-progress. So, yes, I’m tired — but in an oh-yesterday-was-a-wonderful-day kind of way. …
Celebrate! Book Cover for Wish You Were Here … is here!
What a way to start the week! I’m thrilled to show you the cover to Wish You Were Here, my debut novel with Howard Books (May 2012.) And, yes, to answer your question, I love my cover. Love my cover. Bruce Gore, the art director at Howard Books, and his staff were so supportive throughout the whole creative process …
In Others’ Words: Books
‘A book worth reading is a book worth buying.’ John Ruskin, English art critic (1819-1900) The Wedding Dress, by award-winning author Rachel Hauck, comes out in April. I pre-ordered it months ago. I’ve been waiting to read this novel since Rachel first shared the story behind that beautiful book cover as we walked along the streets of Indianapolis during …
Contemporary Romance Writer: What’s in a Name
httpv://youtu.be/8LHjykG6MTA I put alot of thought into naming my kiddos. No one every told me that, as a novelist, I would agonize over naming fictional people. But I do. This vlog, which runs about a minute and a half, gives you a glimpse into my author-angst about novels, names, and keeping it all straight. Any favorite names for people — …
In Others’ Words: Change
“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” ~James Baldwin, African-American writer Let’s take a can change/can’t change look at this quote. Can Change: It’s Wednesday. How’s your week going? Look at that To Do list you scribbled on Monday — or formatted on an Excel spreadsheet, for you uber-organized …
Contemporary Romance Writer: Behind Every Dream is …
“It is by sitting down to write every morning that one becomes a writer.” ~Gerald Brenan, British writer Dreams take a whole lot of work. Who knew? At first you hum a few song lyrics: Life is but a dream … Daydream believer … Dream a little dream of me … (OK, I admit it: I need to update the …
In Others’ Words: Criticism
“Don’t mind criticism. If it is untrue, disregard it; if unfair, keep from irritation; if it is ignorant, smile; if it is justified it is not criticism, learn from it.” ~Unknown Criticism. In the past, I paid  entirely too much attention to critics. Sure, there were some people ready to let me know where I’d been less-than, not enough, or …
In Others’ Words: Stop
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop to look around once in a while you could miss it.” ~Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off So, how did your week go? Hard to believe it’s Friday, right? Confession: I’m working on this post on Sunday night. 🙂 Even so, I’m fastening my seat belt because I …