It’s Michele with another author profile. The author interviews start Sept. 30 and on deck we have Anne Stuart, Judith Arnold, Barbara Bretton and a few others…
For today, let me introduce
Elizabeth Sinclair
Website: http://www.elizabethsinclair.com/
Wrote for HAR 1997 - 2002
Number of books you wrote for the line -- 4
A few sample titles: Eight Men and a Lady, The Pregnancy Clause, A Question of Love
Bio
Elizabeth Sinclair was born and raised in the scenic Hudson Valley of New York State. In 1988 she and her husband moved to their present home in St. Augustine, Florida, where she began pursuing her writing career in earnest. Her first novel reached #2 on the Waldenbooks bestseller list and won a 1995 Georgia Romance Writers’ Maggie Award for Excellence. As a proud member of five RWA affiliated chapters, Elizabeth has taught creative writing and given seminars and workshops at both local and national conferences on romance writing, how to get published, promotion, and writing a love scene and the dreaded synopsis. Upcoming releases include a January 2009 title from Silhouette Romantic Suspense called Burning Secrets and a single title from Medallion Press called Garden of the Moon.
Elizabeth’s thoughts:
I loved writing for the line when Debbie Mattucci was the Senior Editor. Debbie was a delight to work with. My book, Eight Men and a Lady, arrived at HQ American at a very opportune moment. Debbie had decided to do a series of books that were take-offs on fairy tales called Once Upon A Kiss. Since my book was a take-off on Snow White, it fit right into her plans and was bought within weeks of submission by Bonnie Crisalli.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Pears and pears and more pears, oh my
I have three passions in life: writing, cooking (especially desserts) and traveling. Since this is pear season and our two pear trees are laden with fruit, I thought I’d share a favorite recipe for fresh pear pie with you. Mainly because our two pear trees are laden with fruit and pear pie is on my mind.
Because I so enjoy eating a summer pie in the middle of winter, I always make and freeze several pear pies. Thaw, warm in the oven, and voila—it’s summer again.
This recipe is from my mom. I decided not to share the crust, but if you would like it, email me at ann@annroth.net and I’ll forward it to you.
Fresh pear pie
Unbaked crust (bottom and top) or a 9-inch pie pan
Preheat oven to 425 degree
Filling
6 cups sliced, peeled pears
2/3 cup sugar
3 Tbs flour
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
1 Tbs lemon juice
1 Tbs butter
Combine sugar, flour, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt; mix with pears. Add lemon juice. Turn into unbaked crust. Dot with butter. Cover with lattice or full crust with slits in top to allow steam to escape during baking. Bake 45 minutes. If the crust starts to brown too much, lower heat to 350. Serve warm or cold.
Until next time and enjoy, enjoy (Oink! Oink!),
Ann Roth
www.annroth.net
Because I so enjoy eating a summer pie in the middle of winter, I always make and freeze several pear pies. Thaw, warm in the oven, and voila—it’s summer again.
This recipe is from my mom. I decided not to share the crust, but if you would like it, email me at ann@annroth.net and I’ll forward it to you.
Fresh pear pie
Unbaked crust (bottom and top) or a 9-inch pie pan
Preheat oven to 425 degree
Filling
6 cups sliced, peeled pears
2/3 cup sugar
3 Tbs flour
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
1 Tbs lemon juice
1 Tbs butter
Combine sugar, flour, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt; mix with pears. Add lemon juice. Turn into unbaked crust. Dot with butter. Cover with lattice or full crust with slits in top to allow steam to escape during baking. Bake 45 minutes. If the crust starts to brown too much, lower heat to 350. Serve warm or cold.
Until next time and enjoy, enjoy (Oink! Oink!),
Ann Roth
www.annroth.net
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Happy Anniversary!
With this post, I'm jumping in to share a bit of the excitement around here!
If you've been keeping up with the blog, you know this is a special time because we're celebrating Harlequin American Romance's anniversary. You've already read some great posts and, as this month and the next roll on, you'll see even more of them--all from some very important people: the editors and writers who've had a hand in bringing you entertaining love stories each month for--count 'em!--twenty-five years.
I've enjoyed the blog entries from Johanna Raisanen and some of our "old-timers." ;-) And I'm looking forward to lots more.
Meanwhile, I'm celebrating a bit on my own, because...(drumroll)...September is the month of my wedding anniversary. I'm not sure how my future husband and I decided on this month, except that things just sort of fell into place for September. Not a very exciting reason, huh?
I'm a writer--I could just make up a story, couldn't I? (smile)
Instead, I'm ready to read the tales you have to tell about the date of your wedding. Was the time of year special to you? The month in general? The specific day?
What helped you choose the date of one of the most important days of your life?
The romantic in me really wants to know!
All my best to you,
Barbara
~~~~~~
Barbara White Daille
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
If you've been keeping up with the blog, you know this is a special time because we're celebrating Harlequin American Romance's anniversary. You've already read some great posts and, as this month and the next roll on, you'll see even more of them--all from some very important people: the editors and writers who've had a hand in bringing you entertaining love stories each month for--count 'em!--twenty-five years.
I've enjoyed the blog entries from Johanna Raisanen and some of our "old-timers." ;-) And I'm looking forward to lots more.
Meanwhile, I'm celebrating a bit on my own, because...(drumroll)...September is the month of my wedding anniversary. I'm not sure how my future husband and I decided on this month, except that things just sort of fell into place for September. Not a very exciting reason, huh?
I'm a writer--I could just make up a story, couldn't I? (smile)
Instead, I'm ready to read the tales you have to tell about the date of your wedding. Was the time of year special to you? The month in general? The specific day?
What helped you choose the date of one of the most important days of your life?
The romantic in me really wants to know!
All my best to you,
Barbara
~~~~~~
Barbara White Daille
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Gotta Love Cowboys
Since cowboy heroes are considered a Harlequin American reader favorite I thought it might be fun to share a few passages from the book, Just One Fool Thing After Another --A Cowfolks' Guide to Romance by Gladiola Montana and Texas Bix Bender 1994 ©.
There's no cure for lovesickness, and nobody really wants one.
If you're in doubt about whether to kiss somebody, give 'em the benefit of the doubt.
To bring somebody into your life, take a step into theirs.
A Heart that ain't been broke thinks it's okay to go around breakin' others.
It may be more romantic to be the first love, but it's better to be the last.
Try not to make a ring around a finger feel akin to a rope around the neck.
To love and win is the best thing. To love and lose is the next best thing.
Be quick to mend fences.
Most marital graves are dug with lots of little digs.
If women are foolish it's because the good Lord made 'em a match for men.
Don't waste time on someone you can easily run the whole length of.
When your sweetheart wants a long walk, you'd better be willin' for a long listen.
The best way to reach the heights of romance is to stay on the level.
Life is not bearable with the opposite sex until it's unbearable without them.
A big heart is better than a big house.
To appreciate love you have to know you can lose it.
Don't share your blanket if you don't intend to share your heart.
Marriages made in heaven only work when they get down to earth.
Women have to be in the mood, men just have to be in the room.
A day without a shared laugh is a sorry day.
If a woman can't make you miserable, she can't make you happy.
My husband's aunt used to say…"When it comes to marriage …it's just as easy to fall in love with a rich man as it is a poor man."
Anyone else care to share "advice" they've received from their mother, father, or a friend on romantic relationships?
Marin
The Cowboy and the Angel Nov 2008
A Cowboy's Promise April 2009
www.marinthomas.com
There's no cure for lovesickness, and nobody really wants one.
If you're in doubt about whether to kiss somebody, give 'em the benefit of the doubt.
To bring somebody into your life, take a step into theirs.
A Heart that ain't been broke thinks it's okay to go around breakin' others.
It may be more romantic to be the first love, but it's better to be the last.
Try not to make a ring around a finger feel akin to a rope around the neck.
To love and win is the best thing. To love and lose is the next best thing.
Be quick to mend fences.
Most marital graves are dug with lots of little digs.
If women are foolish it's because the good Lord made 'em a match for men.
Don't waste time on someone you can easily run the whole length of.
When your sweetheart wants a long walk, you'd better be willin' for a long listen.
The best way to reach the heights of romance is to stay on the level.
Life is not bearable with the opposite sex until it's unbearable without them.
A big heart is better than a big house.
To appreciate love you have to know you can lose it.
Don't share your blanket if you don't intend to share your heart.
Marriages made in heaven only work when they get down to earth.
Women have to be in the mood, men just have to be in the room.
A day without a shared laugh is a sorry day.
If a woman can't make you miserable, she can't make you happy.
My husband's aunt used to say…"When it comes to marriage …it's just as easy to fall in love with a rich man as it is a poor man."
Anyone else care to share "advice" they've received from their mother, father, or a friend on romantic relationships?
Marin
The Cowboy and the Angel Nov 2008
A Cowboy's Promise April 2009
www.marinthomas.com
Monday, September 15, 2008
Who Me, an Old Timer?
We authors here at Harlequin American hope our readers enjoy learning more about us. Therefore, we’re running interviews twice a month, once with a newer author and another with a – gulp – old timer.
Who, me?
Well, yes. My first book in the line, The Dream Never Dies, was published in 1984. That, according to my 22-year-old son, occurred during the Late Jurassic Period. My January 2009 release, Million-Dollar Nanny, will be my 65th book for Harlequin (I’ve also written for other lines, including Intrigue and the now-defunct Duets, which featured romantic comedies).
I’m happy to report that the list of questions I’ve been given does not include queries about whether my bones creak or I have to pluck hairs from my chin. So here goes:
Q: Do you ever get tired of writing romances?
A: If I start to burn out, I go write something else, such as a murder mystery, and then I rediscover the fun all over again.
Q: What's the strangest thing you've ever eaten?
A: That can’t be one of the questions. I think my 19-year-old slipped that one into the queue.
Q: What comes first: the plot or the characters?
A: First comes the concept. Example: in my January '09 book, an heiress antagonizes the neighbors by planning to replace a historic cottage with a mansion. When she loses all her money to a con man, she has no choice but to live in the cottage and make nice with the neighbors, especially the grumpy guy across the street, who hires her as his nanny. After coming up with the concept, I developed Sherry’s personality so that hopefully you’ll like her despite her high-handedness, and created a storyline in which she and Rafe discover that opposites really can fall in love.
Q: When you looked in the mirror this morning, what was the first thing you thought?
A: Ouch.
Q: Do you re-read your books once they're in print?
A: After going through a rough draft, a couple of polishes, revisions, a copy edit and proofs … are you kidding?
Q: Did you ever eat paste or Elmer's glue when you were a kid?
A: Where is that boy? I thought he left for college.
Q: What did you do career-wise before becoming an author?
A: I was a reporter and a TV columnist for the Associated Press in Los Angeles. Before that, I worked for a newspaper and, even earlier, for a public relations agency.
Q: Has the American Romance line changed since you first began writing for it?
A: Repeatedly. We’ve gone through a fairy tale phase (The Improperly Pregnant Princess), a suspense phase (The Baby’s Bodyguard) and an era when paranormal was allowed (Daddy Warlock). Anybody remember those?
Q: What do you want to know about the future?
A: The older I get, the less I want to know about the future.
Q: Have you ever made a crank phone call?
A: That does it. I’m on the next plane to Tucson (University of Arizona) to chew out that kid.
Q: Who's your personal hero--past or present?
A: My husband, Kurt. We’ll celebrate our 30th anniversary on October 8.
Q: If you were stranded on a desert island, what kind of hero would you want with you--a cowboy, a Viking warrior, a CEO, a forensics investigator, a chef or an accountant…and why?
A: Kurt, because he’s very handy. He could have gotten those Losties back to civilization in a month.
Who, me?
Well, yes. My first book in the line, The Dream Never Dies, was published in 1984. That, according to my 22-year-old son, occurred during the Late Jurassic Period. My January 2009 release, Million-Dollar Nanny, will be my 65th book for Harlequin (I’ve also written for other lines, including Intrigue and the now-defunct Duets, which featured romantic comedies).
I’m happy to report that the list of questions I’ve been given does not include queries about whether my bones creak or I have to pluck hairs from my chin. So here goes:
Q: Do you ever get tired of writing romances?
A: If I start to burn out, I go write something else, such as a murder mystery, and then I rediscover the fun all over again.
Q: What's the strangest thing you've ever eaten?
A: That can’t be one of the questions. I think my 19-year-old slipped that one into the queue.
Q: What comes first: the plot or the characters?
A: First comes the concept. Example: in my January '09 book, an heiress antagonizes the neighbors by planning to replace a historic cottage with a mansion. When she loses all her money to a con man, she has no choice but to live in the cottage and make nice with the neighbors, especially the grumpy guy across the street, who hires her as his nanny. After coming up with the concept, I developed Sherry’s personality so that hopefully you’ll like her despite her high-handedness, and created a storyline in which she and Rafe discover that opposites really can fall in love.
Q: When you looked in the mirror this morning, what was the first thing you thought?
A: Ouch.
Q: Do you re-read your books once they're in print?
A: After going through a rough draft, a couple of polishes, revisions, a copy edit and proofs … are you kidding?
Q: Did you ever eat paste or Elmer's glue when you were a kid?
A: Where is that boy? I thought he left for college.
Q: What did you do career-wise before becoming an author?
A: I was a reporter and a TV columnist for the Associated Press in Los Angeles. Before that, I worked for a newspaper and, even earlier, for a public relations agency.
Q: Has the American Romance line changed since you first began writing for it?
A: Repeatedly. We’ve gone through a fairy tale phase (The Improperly Pregnant Princess), a suspense phase (The Baby’s Bodyguard) and an era when paranormal was allowed (Daddy Warlock). Anybody remember those?
Q: What do you want to know about the future?
A: The older I get, the less I want to know about the future.
Q: Have you ever made a crank phone call?
A: That does it. I’m on the next plane to Tucson (University of Arizona) to chew out that kid.
Q: Who's your personal hero--past or present?
A: My husband, Kurt. We’ll celebrate our 30th anniversary on October 8.
Q: If you were stranded on a desert island, what kind of hero would you want with you--a cowboy, a Viking warrior, a CEO, a forensics investigator, a chef or an accountant…and why?
A: Kurt, because he’s very handy. He could have gotten those Losties back to civilization in a month.
Happy 25th--Congrats Jackie!
Okay, I'm posting this below Jackie's post because she's being far too modest. Jacqueline Diamond has been writing for the line since 1984. (Did you catch that?) That's 24 years. And her January 2009 release is her 65th for Harlequin. Wow.
I got the great privilege to be there in New York when she received a milestone pin from Harlequin, and I hope to be there to see the one for 65 books. Harlequin packed me with Jackie and Kara Lennox in the American Royalty series...which was my very third book! I couldn't have asked for better authors to be with in a continuity series...they helped to launch this newbie. I will forever be grateful.
So lots of comments please for the post above, for a stalwart of the line and one who been there with it every step of the way. Jackie, you are young at heart and fresh as ever.
So congrats Jackie! You are awesome! Cyber champagne on me.
I got the great privilege to be there in New York when she received a milestone pin from Harlequin, and I hope to be there to see the one for 65 books. Harlequin packed me with Jackie and Kara Lennox in the American Royalty series...which was my very third book! I couldn't have asked for better authors to be with in a continuity series...they helped to launch this newbie. I will forever be grateful.
So lots of comments please for the post above, for a stalwart of the line and one who been there with it every step of the way. Jackie, you are young at heart and fresh as ever.
So congrats Jackie! You are awesome! Cyber champagne on me.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Rain, Snakes & Never-Ending Dirty Clothes!!
First off, hugs to all of you in Texas and Louisiana hurting from Ike. Here in Tulsa, we had plenty driving wind and rain, but thankfully, no damage as we're still waiting to get our roof repaired from the last batch of hail!!This month's pic is from the twins' sixteenth birthday blow-out! We hired local legend (and hottie!!) Safari Joe to bring all of his exotic critters to our house. Fun, fun, fun!! This is me with Banana the ginormous python!!
Now that the sweet sixteen party is over, there's nothing much to report here. I've settled into a fragile routine at school. I say fragile, because at any given moment, you never know what (or who) may go wrong!! LOL!!
Hubby just returned from Seattle. While I was stuck at school till eight some nights grading, he was indulging in plenty of lakeside fine dining. Color me JEALOUS!!
All three kiddos are now driving, and we've already had our first trauma. Over Labor Day weekend, Daughter was supposed to have been spending the weekend with a friend at Grand Lake. Sunday night, she called about eight-thirty, announcing that she'd be home in a few minutes as one of the friends she'd gone with had to take team pics at eight in the morning. Eight AM? On Labor Day? We've been on lots of teams, and that didn't sound right. Anyway, when she arrived all dolled up and doling out hugs and kisses, my Mom Alarm was ringing.
Not ten minutes after she'd come home, we got more hugs and kisses, then she announced she was going to watch movies at a friend's. Mmm hmm. Making a long story short, we found her at her boyfriend's--not good, considering she was grounded from him at the time. Not a week after having earned her keys, she lost them.
Hubby and I just got back from breakfast at Denny's and a trip to Wal-Mart for laundry supplies. We also purchased nice, big hampers for the kids to put their mountains of dirty clothes in. Today, while I write, they're going to do their own laundry. Hubby's been a sweetheart, doing most of it for me since I've been back at school, but we're both exhausted. We figure this will be excellent training for when they go off to college. Hubby said his first college load turned pink!!
Anyway, wish us luck in giving laundry lessons! One thing's for sure, no one's touching my clothes!! LOL
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
