Category Archives: First Impressions

November 5, 2015 · 10:06 am

Still NaNoWriMo-ing

Day 5 of NaNoWriMo and I’m way into my current WIP ( work in progress). Yes, I love a personal challenge. Yes, I adore a writing challenge. And yes yes yes I love to combine them both.

But I do have a life away from the laptop.

Yesterday, I started writing a 3 am ( chronic insomnia, folks) and went strong until 9 when I realized I couldn’t feel my a**. So, I got washed up and went off to the gym for a few hours to pump and cardio myself into a clear head ( and a smaller a**).

Back home I banged out another 1200 words before I stopped for lunch, then another couple hundred more before I called it a day.

A day for writing that is. When I closed my WP program, I did three loads of laundry, ironed it all and put it way, vacuumed the four floors in my house – yes folks – 4 FLOORS – dusted, put various stuff away and a took care of paying the monthly bills.

Then I started dinner.

After dinner I worked on two courses I am taking online, wrote this blog and stashed another one away for a future release. I am reading two books on kinesthetics, so I delved into those for a while.Tomorrow the car has to go in for service, so I will bring my laptop with me and NaNo while I wait ( like the way I made the challenge a verb, there?)

For those lucky people who can sit all day long and create ( and not have their a**es grow and spread) power to you. I am jealous. I am envious. I am filled with angst.

But not really, because…I do have another life.

So, if you are NaNo-ing, are you an all day typer, or do you take breaks? Let’s discuss

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Filed under Author, Contemporary Romance, First Impressions, Life challenges, NaNoWriMo, Romance, Strong Women

Tagged as Author, contemporary romance writer, NANOWRIMO, NANOWRIMO15, pantser, plotter, TWRP author.

November 4, 2015 · 10:36 am

What a conference can REALLY teach you

I recently attended the New Jersey Romance Conference and took a master class with Margie Lawson. Who, you ask? Well, if you don’t now who she is, you really are missing out. Margie Lawson is a woman who wears many metaphorical hats. She’s a psychotherapist, an editor, and a very smart, savvy woman, just to mention three. The master class I took was all about Empowering Character Emotion and it was the best 3 hours and the wisest money I ever spent on a day course.

Seriously.

In fact, I learned so much in that short 3 hours, I knew there had to be more to learn, and boy was there! When I clicked on her site I found she has on line instruction classes and packets and I purchased two right at the conference. I’ve been editing away ever since in my current contracted novel. You can see the efforts in the picture I’ve included. Now, Margie’s stuff is proprietary so I’m not going to tell you what she suggests doing, but I highly recommend you go to her site and click around.

I can say with all honesty my writing and editing skills have improved significantly since I started following her suggestions. She helps you hone in on places where you can add punch to character emotions and scenes where you can dial up the conflict from easy to complex with just a rephrasing of a few words, or the addition of a power word or two. She helps you see where you may have too much of one thing – like exposition, which makes readers skim the page – and not enough of another – like conflict, and we all know romance writers need conflict between their characters.

If you are determined to get that first book published or if you are a multi-published author already, Margie can literally take your writing skills to the next level and maybe even 3 or 4 more beyond that.

Just saying.

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Filed under Author, Contemporary Romance, First Impressions, Life challenges, love, MacQuire Women, NaNoWriMo, New Hampshire, Romance, Romance Books, RWA, Strong Women

Tagged as Editing, Margie Lawson, NJRWA COnference, romance writer, romance writing, Writing skills

October 25, 2015 · 5:37 pm

Snarkology Halloween Hop – Pumpkins Everywhere!

WELCOME to the 2015 Snarkology Halloween Hop. From now until October 31 ( Halloween, anyone?!) click here to Follow the hop for more fun, great books, and awesome prizes plus, visit almost 70 authors, all with a Halloween story to tell. And don’t forget to enter for a chance at a rafflecopter prize. Just click the highlighted rafflecopter word in the previous sentence to be entered.

FALL is my absolute favorite time of the year, bar none. I live in New England, home of Leaf Peeping Season, re-enactments of the Salem Witch Trials, and apple picking – just to name a very few.

There’s nothing better to me than apple picking at a local farm once the fruit is ripe and ready, or carving a series of Halloween pumpkins into gruesome and scary faces. I live in a town that has the distinction of being the Guinness World record holder for a number of years for the most lit jack-o-lanterns at one time, an event we natives call “The Pumpkin Festival.”

My daughter was just 5 when we attended our very first Pumpkin Festival. We met tourists from all over the United States, who’d come in for the three-day weekend/event to help us crack the Guinness Record. And we did. And then went on for several more years to hold- and increase-the record.

During one Presidential political campaign year, George Bush ( 43) came with a carved pumpkin and added it to our count. On the dozens of towers set about our downtown you could find any sort of carving from intricate, professionally artist-carved ones to kindergartener simplistic ones with happy triangular cut-outs. At twilight, all the pumpkins were lit with votive candles, and then the official count was done by the Guinness representatives. As these pictures show, 30,000+ lit jack-o-lanterns is an amazing sight to behold.

The Pumpkin festival was a source of unending pride for our little ‘burg because it united all of us from every political party, religious persuasion, age, ethnic background, and economic class in an event that not only increased our tourism rate by the thousandth-fold, but also served as a beacon for all our citizens, and a source of civic self-respect. My town truly became a unified community for those three days in October.

As I said, I love the fall and I love New England, so for those reasons, I set my newest book FIRST IMPRESSIONS in the autumn season. There’s apple picking, pie making, and even a Red Sox game depicted in the novel. The cover art is simply the best illustration of this season for me: Two lovers, kissing, in an apple orchard in September. If that isn’t swoon-worthy, I don’t know what is!

Autumn in the North East…does it get any better???

SNARKOLOGY HALLOWEEN HOP

Buy Links for FIRST IMPRESSIONS:

Amazon Wild Rose Press Nook

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Filed under Author, Contemporary Romance, Family Saga, First Impressions, love, MacQuire Women, New Hampshire, Romance, Strong Women

Tagged as First Impressions, Guinness World record Holder, Halloween, jack-0-lnterns, Keene Pumpkin Festival, Pumpkins, Romance, RWA, Snarkology Halloween Hop, The Wild Rose Press

October 17, 2015 · 11:25 am

Our Sexy Love

Welcome to the 114^th week of My Sexy Saturday.

This week’s theme: Our Sexy Love

The theme this week can mean anything from a couple who have been together a long time, even forever or it could be about a couple whose love is new and hot and very sexy. It could be about couples pulled apart only to find each other again, maybe even in another lifetime. These stories are hot and sexy and everything our readers want and expect from us. They are sexy and can happen anywhere, anytime or in any universe.

If your story has one or more of these fabulous moments with some very sexy, hot characters in a love that’s destined to last forever, please share them with us…share all those sexy moments that you have between your characters …remember every relationship is important!

Sexy can be anything, such as romantic moments like walks on the beach, a home cooked meal or even in another galaxy. It could be two lovers here on Earth dreaming about the day where they go on a magical vacation to another planet. Or staying right here at one of those wonderful places we can find in our own world.

Readers want to see those characters, the ones who can’t get enough of each other as well as ones who are fighting their way back to being part of the world once again. These are the types of characters they can’t forget, the one they want to take home and keep forever. Readers love the kisses, the looks or touch of each and every one of our characters.

Sexy has nothing to do with looks or status or even wealth. It doesn’t demand perfection and it isn’t pretentious but it does make us want to read those books.

We know that everyone has their own idea of sexy and we all love sexy! Click on the link below to find your next favorite Sexy author. But first……

here’s a snippet of sexy love from my newest romance novel FIRST IMPRESSIONS. Serena and Seamus have been married for almost 30 years, but the passion has never burned out for them…

“How are you feeling, Dad?”

Seamus held up his bandaged arm. “My arm’s a little sore, but my pride’s worse. Still can’t believe the dog got me.”

Serena sat next to her husband and reached over to take his hand in hers. “Admit it, Seamus,” she said, laughter pulling at the corners of her mouth, “you’re not as fast as you used to be.”

“I’ll show you who’s fast.” He moved so quickly, Pat blinked and his mother was pulled into his father’s lap, his arms securely around her. Capturing her lips with his own, he gave her a resounding kiss that had her laughter bubbling through to the surface.

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Filed under Author, Contemporary Romance, Family Saga, First Impressions, Friends, love, MacQuire Women, New Hampshire, Romance, Romance Books, Strong Women

Tagged as #MSS114, #MySexySaturday, Contemporary romance, Fall in New England, Family Saga, First Impressions, Sexy

October 14, 2015 · 9:57 am

Food for Thought

Welcome to the MFRWBookHooksBlogHop.

Click on the link below to find your next favorite author. But first….

here’s a little snippet from my newest release FIRST IMPRESSIONS. A simple dinner between friends is never as simple as it seems…

In the next instant, Pat’s stomach rumbled loud enough to be heard above the kitten’s deafening purrs.

Clarissa tried to contain her giggle so she wouldn’t startle the animal, but when Pat’s neck heated with a ruddy flare and he thrust his hands into his pockets, she couldn’t hold it in.

He squinted at her, and, with a menacing glare, pushed nearer to her. “You’re always quietly laughing at me,” he said, stopping so close she could feel his hot, moist breath on her face. “I can’t figure out why I want to be around someone who always laughs at me.”

“I know why,” she said, kissing the kitten again.

When his left eyebrow shot up his forehead, she answered. “It’s easy. Whenever we’re together, we’re usually eating. You’re hungry, so you want me to cook for you.”

His face went blank, and she couldn’t for the life of her discern what he was thinking. She could hear him breathing now, not only feel it, the air pushing out of him a tad faster than it had moments before. The flushed heat on his neck spread up his jaw. She could have melted to the floor when his eyes turned hot too, the lids hooded, so much so, Clarissa finally understood the meaning of a smoldering look.

Buy Links:

amazon The WIld Rose Press Nook

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MFRWBookHooksBlogHop

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Filed under Author, Contemporary Romance, Family Saga, First Impressions, Friends, love, MacQuire Women, Romance, Romance Books, Strong Women, Uncategorized

Tagged as #MFRWBookHookBlogHop, #MFRWBookHooks, Contemporary romance, Fall in New England, Family Saga, First Impressions

October 13, 2015 · 9:19 am

GoddessFish Book Tour, week 2

Today I have a double whammy! Two great interviews on my Goddess Fish Virtual Book tour. COme check them and find out somethings you didn’t know about me….really – you didn’t!

Rogues Angels is up first. Come meet me and the lovely Angels – but there’s no Bosley.

It’s Raining Books is next and you all now I love the rain!

Stop by and enter for rafflecopter prizes. It’ll be fun.

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Filed under Author, Contemporary Romance, Family Saga, First Impressions, Friends, love, MacQuire Women, Romance, Strong Women

Tagged as Contemporary romance author, GoddessFish Virtual Book Tours, GoddessFishBookTour, It's raining books Blog, Rogues Angels Blog, Romance

October 10, 2015 · 11:49 am

Friendship is Sexy….

Welcome to the 113^th week of My Sexy Saturday.

This week’s theme: All About Sexy

Sexy can be an anniversary date, a hot first meeting, love in the morning, love in the afternoon, sexy on a beach, sexy on a spaceship and the list goes on and on. Well, we want your best sexy and more sexy. We did mention sexy…and hot and sizzling…right?

Sexy has nothing to do with looks or status or even wealth. It doesn’t demand perfection and it isn’t pretentious but it does make us want to read those books.

We know that everyone has their own idea of sexy and we all love sexy!

Here’s a sexy little snippet – a moment in time – from my new release FIRST IMPRESSIONS. Clarissa and Pat are trying, really trying, to just be friends, but, damn, it’s hard!

She tried to pull away. Pat’s arms tightened. “No. Don’t. This feels too good. You feel too good.”

Their gazes stayed locked. Pat’s hands wound around her waist, settling above the dent in her spine. She was pressed fully against him and he knew without doubt she could feel how hard he was.

“Pat. You promised. Friends.”

His grin was quick. “I’m sticking to my promise, Clarissa, but I can’t help it if my body doesn’t listen.” He tightened his grip, making a soft gasp push out through her lips.

“I can’t tell you how much I love that little breath,” he said, barely above a whisper. With no will to fight his mounting desire, he dipped his head and skimmed his mouth along her jaw. “It’s sounds so hot and bothered, it makes me hot whenever I hear it.”

When his tongue traced along the skin he’d kissed, he could feel her push in closer to him. She tilted her head, giving him more access. And he took it.

Her satin skin was smooth and so seductively soft. Pat lost himself in the feel of it. He wet his lips and kissed the sweet spot behind her ear. Her pulse pounded against his mouth and the jolt of knowledge he was the cause filled him with an emotion he couldn’t name, but felt so damn good.

Buy Links

amazon The Wild Rose Press Nook

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Filed under Author, Contemporary Romance, Family Saga, First Impressions, Friends, love, MacQuire Women, Romance, Strong Women

Tagged as #MMS113, Apple picking, Contemporary romance, Fall in New England, Family Medicine Doctor, First Impressions, Love, My sexy Saturday, Prodigy, Sexy Veterinarian

October 9, 2015 · 12:35 pm

First Dates…

My dear writing friend and multi-published author, Susan A. Wall is celebrating 20 years of togetherness with her man ( which is wicked awesome, isn’t it??!) and that got me to thinking about relationships and first dates.

I’ve been very open about my first date with hubman because it set the tone for our relationship and marriage. For those of you who don’t know the story – and there can’t be many because I talk about it ad nauseam! – for our very first date we flew to Boston for the day from NYC. I’d never been on a plane before so it was uber exciting from that standpoint alone, but we toured the city and then wound up in the North End for a delicious, multi-course dinner. Believe me, I was not watching the calories at that meal! A quick flight back to NYC because he had to work the next morning, and I had knew I was in love forever.

When I write about first dates, I always try to give the couple something memorable to do. In my newest release FIRST IMPRESSIONS, Pat and Clarissa’s official first date out and about is when they go to a Boston Red Sox game. It’s her first professional ballgame and it signifies a big change in their relationship when the game ends. Here’s a little sumthin’ sumthin’ from the day:

When Quentin handed her the huge chocolate ice cream laden with rainbow colored sprinkles, stuffed into a plastic baseball cap with the team’s logo on the side, Moira grabbed him with her free arm and kissed him soundly.

Pat snuck a glance at Clarissa, and, while he handed her a soda and sat down, whispered, “I’d like to think I’d get the same kind of thank-you from you if those two weren’t around.”

Without even thinking about the consequences, Clarissa snaked a hand around his neck and pulled him in for her own kiss.

When her lips spread over his warm and full mouth, she didn’t care who saw them or knew what they were doing. He felt so damn good and tasted even better.

“Oh. My. God!” she heard Moira cry.
“Don’t look now,” Quentin said, a laugh flowing out of him, “but you two are on live television.”

Clarissa pulled back when the words registered. She quickly found the jumbotron across the backfield wall and sure enough, she and Pat were front and center. The entire stadium shouted catcalls and cheers. Before she could take a breath, Pat grinned and pulled her in for another kiss, this one heart-stoppingly hot. She could hear the cheers reaching a fever roar, and the irony of the situation pushed through her mind.

When Pat pulled back, grinning, her hand still around his neck, she took a moment to catch her breath.

Clarissa experiences many firsts with Pat throughout the book that set the tone for their relationship….much the way that first date flight to Boston did for my hubby and me.

So, what was your first date with your significant other? Memorable? Laughable? Regrettable or unforgettable? Details, please, so let’s discuss….

FIRST IMPRESSIONS Buy Links:
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Filed under Author, Contemporary Romance, Family Saga, First Impressions, love, MacQuire Women, Romance, Romance Books, Strong Women

October 6, 2015 · 11:10 am

Virtual Book Tour Begins…

Hey, Peeps – I’m starting my Goddess Fish Virtual Book Tour today on Reading Romances. Click on the link to read my interview and if you leave a comment you will be entered into a rafflecopter drawing! Sweet- visit me, maybe win a prize.

I’m talking about my new release FIRST IMPRESSIONS, book 3 in the MacQuire Women. This is Padric Cleary and Clarissa Rogers’ story.

Enjoy!
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Filed under Author, Contemporary Romance, Family Saga, First Impressions, MacQuire Women, Romance Books, Strong Women

Tagged as Contemporary romance, First Impressions, Romance readers

October 5, 2015 · 9:54 am

Books-to-Movie Adaptations.

We all have a favorite book that we would just love to see made in to the best movie ever. We can name the celebs we want to star in it, the location, the director and maybe the music composer. I recently did a shout out to my Facebook peeps, asking them to tell me their favorite book-to-movie adaptations. Some of the replies included:

Sense and Sensibility

and my favorite: The Kiera Knightley version of Pride and Prejudice

All of these books were fabulous as were their movies and I saw and read them all, so I have to agree with the choices.

We’ve all read and fallen in love with books that we wish, hope, and dream will be made into a movie worthy of the book. Many times, tho, that dream falls short and dies on the cutting room floor for whatever reason. I think the above movies were such good adaptions of the books they were based on because many things came together well. Great casting, a rich screenplay and a screenwriter who actually got the book and characters, a director who stayed true to the writer’s vision and excellent settings. All of the above films had wonderful casts – I mean, really, Robert Redford, Matthew McConaughey, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Sandra Bullock, Ryan Gosselin, Charleze Theron…..come on. Big screen royalty, one and all. The scripts actually used dialogue from the books ( always the best way to go!), and the directors didn’t try to insinuate their visions into the movie – they took their own and adapted them to fit the book – again, always the best way to go!

SO, what was your favorite book-to-movie adaptation, and why? Let’s discuss….

If they made a movie of my recent book FIRST IMPRESSIONS ( shameless plug, here!) I’d like it to star Matt Bomber as Padric and Julia Roberts during her Steel Magnolias era as Clarissa. Two very hot peeps! Those of you who have read my book – and God Bless you always! – what do you think of my choices??