Tag Archives: #L&SRBlogChallenge

March 20, 2019 · 4:40 am

#L&SR #wednesdayBlogChallenge 3.20.19 Hope to meet’cha!

Today’s prompt is Characters I want to meet.

Have ya got a couple of days, ’cause this blog could take a while.

In the interest of hoping people actually read this, I’ll edit it down before I start and only pick a couple!

I’ve talked about this first one before on other blogs, but I’d really like to meet Elizabeth Bennet.

I need to know the answer to this question: did you marry Darcy because you truly loved him, like over-the-moon loved him, or because you loved Pemberley? I think it’s a legit question because I’ve always found her motivation in falling in love with him after she sees his home, suspect.

I’m a huge JD Robb IN DEATH series fan. I’d lovelovelove to meet Eve Dallas and follow her around for a day. OF course, part of that following around would be to her home where I could also meet her ubersexy man, Roarke. Can you tell I’m drooling right now just thinking about that encounter? About how his hand, all warm and big and..Roarke-y, would feel against mine? How his angelic smile would be intent on me and me alone? How his “poet’s” mouth would form my name…okay, gotta stop and move on to the next one because this is getting a little out of hand.

I’d love to meet Aibileen from The Help and talk about where she gets her strength from. She is one of the best-drawn females I have ever read. Complex and simple, wise and still naive. I think I could learn a great deal from her.

Stephanie Plum and Lula from the Janet Evanovich Numbers mysteries are two gals who I’d like to take to lunch and chat up. I want to know why Steph can’t make a decision on the man she wants in her life when it’s so bloody obvious to me she needs to pick Ranger!! Really. What is her problem?? And as far as Lula is concerned, I’d like to know how she started out in the ‘ho business.

I’ll stop it at those 6 characters, because, really…I could go on all day.

Let’s see who the other authors in this challenge want to meet, shall we? Click here: Long and Short WednesdayBlog Challenge.

And when I’m not drooling over fictional Irishman ( ROARKE!!!) you can find me here:

Tweet Me//Read Me// Visit Me//Picture Me//Pin Me//Friend Me// Triber// BookMe // Monkey me //Watch me

Here’s the link to my TELL ME ABOUT YOUR DAMN BOOK podcast interview, just in case you missed it: TMAYDB

and the link to my recent interview on NewHampshirePublicRadio

13 Comments

Filed under Characters, Romance

Tagged as #amblogging #amwriting, #amreading #readromance Contemporary romance, #authorblogs, #L&SRBlogChallenge, #Romancecharacters, #writersonwriting #writingcommunity, Blogging challenge, Characters, Life imitating fiction, Long and SHort Reviews, Weekly blogging challenge

February 27, 2019 · 4:33 am

#L&SR #WednesdayBloggingchallenge 2.27.19

Those of you who know anything about me know I am a here-and-now kinda girl. I like living in the time I am currently ensconced in and it’s the main reason I write contemporary romance. I, simply put, dig the now.

Today’s prompt for the L&SR Wednesday Blog Challenge is Fictional worlds I’d rather not visit. This one’s a no-brainer for me: Middle Earth. So not the here and now.

I’ll admit this freely and face the wrath of Tolkien fans everywhere. I am not…a fan. Don’t get me wrong. I know he’s an icon, a brilliant writer, a fabulous linguist, and a visionary.

I get that. I really do.

But….

I’ve tried numerous times during my lifetime to read Lord of the Rings and have never been able to get passed the first few pages. I tried reading the Hobbit, too. Same result.

And to further irritate and annoy Historical Fantasy and Sci Fi fans worldwide, I don’t want to visit Westeros either. Sorry, George R.R. Martin minions.

I’ve never even seen the popular HBO series.

So, go ahead and hate me if you must. Le sigh.

Since this is weekly blog hop, let’s see where the other authors featured don’t want to visit, either. Click here: L&SRWednesdayBlogChallenge.

And if you decide not to hate me because I don’t read fantasy or sci-fi, you can follow me here:

Tweet Me//Read Me// Visit Me//Picture Me//Pin Me//Friend Me//Google+Me// Triber// BookMe // Monkey me //Watch me

Here’s the link to my TELL ME ABOUT YOUR DAMN BOOK podcast interview, just in case you missed it: TMAYDB

and the link to my recent interview on NewHampshirePublicRadio

14 Comments

Filed under Author Branding, author promotion, branding, Long and SHort Reviews, Romance, Romance Books

Tagged as #authorlife #writinglife, #L&SRBlogChallenge, #writersonwriting #writingcommunity, Author blog hop, Blog Challenge, Classic literature, Fictional worlds, Historical Worlds, Long and SHort Reviews, scifi and fantasy

February 20, 2019 · 4:15 am

#L&SR #wednesdayBloggingchallenge 2.20.19 Mi library e su library…

The prompt for this week’s blog experience is What to read to learn about X. A little vague but I’m gonna take it to mean something to do with how we, as writers, do research. ( Fingers crossed I’m correct about this!)

If you’re a follower of mine you know that I approach everything in life as if it was a study because I have such a strong scientific background. I love the scientific method. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this, here’s the textbook definition:

sci·en·tif·ic meth·od

(noun) a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.

“criticism is the backbone of the scientific method”

Let’s be honest: most of us took a basic English class decades ago. I would bet I’m not the only one who can’t remember the appropriate use of a semicolon, or when to use ellipses. For the basics in grammar, sentence structure, and just plain word use, The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation is hands down the best one – and easiest one to understand – of all I’ve read.

Before I wrote romantic fiction I dabbled in short stories that were mostly about murders, murderers, and mysteries. Since I’m a nurse, there are a great deal of little tidbits I’ve picked up along my career about poisons, drug interactions, etc., and ways to cause someone’s death – all great info if you write about murder! My favorite reference books for these are The MERCK MANUAL and the Nurse’s PDR ( Physician’s Drug Reference Guide). Both these little gems, when combined, can get those creative, murderous ( on the page only!) juices flowing.

One last series I think I should mention are the “Thesaurus” books by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. These include the Emotional Thesaurus, The Negative and Positive trait Thesaures, and a few more about location, setting. All of these books are gold mines of knowledge for the writer.

Those are my top five “research” books for now. I’ve got oodles more, but don’t want this blog piece to go on ad nauseum!

Since this is an author blog hop, hop on over to the other writers participating and read how they interpreted today’s prompt. L&SRWednesdayBloggingChallenge.

And, as always, if you’re looking for me, here I am:

Tweet Me//Read Me// Visit Me//Picture Me//Pin Me//Friend Me//Google+Me// Triber// BookMe // Monkey me //Watch me

and here’s the link to my TELL ME ABOUT YOUR DAMN BOOK podcast interview, just in case you missed it: TMAYDB

and one more: here’s the link to my appearance recently on New Hampshire Public Radio, talking about all things romance.

6 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as #amblogging #amwriting, #amlearning, #amreading, #amresearching, #authorlife #writinglife, #BLogChallenge, #L&SRBlogChallenge, #wednesday, #wednesdaybloggingchallenge, arcane knowledge, Romance reference books, text books

January 23, 2019 · 4:35 am

#WinterWonderland #L&SR #WednesdayBlogChallenge

So this week’s topic is FAVORITE THINGS TO DO IN THE WINTER. Timely, no?

I could be really perky and positive here and tell you I love to ski, ice skate, snow board. Or that I go for long, long walks during the most brutal of winter days, fully invigorated and stimulated by the frigid air whipping around my face. That curling is my sport of preference, or animal tracking in the woods is a fun family activity.

I could tell you all those things…but it would all be lies.

I’m not going to mince words here: I absolutely hate winter.

I hate the cold.

I hate that I have to wear 947 layers just to go from the car to the inside of the grocery store.

I hate snow, ice, wind. In no order, and all together!

I hate wearing hats and gloves. Boots and snow tires. Using shovels and snowblowers.

Get the picture?

Yeah. I hate winter.

And because I do I spend as much time as possible indoors, hibernating, reading, and drinking hot drinks.

So, my favorite thing to do in the winter? Well, a picture is worth ten million words, so….

And since reading by the fire truly is one of my favorite pastimes during the long, long, ridiculously long winter months, here’s one of my new favorites that just also happens to be one of mine: