The Recess Bell

I enjoyed school when I was a kid and I was even a pretty good student, but I have to confess I lived for recess. For me and my friends, there was no more welcome sound than the recess bell. We’d slap our books shut, grab our jackets and troop out to the playground for fifteen minutes of fun. Winter or summer, rain or shine, recess was spent on the playground.

I remember two things about recess. Fifteen minutes seemed like a loooong time, and the games we played changed with the season.

We played marbles in the winter and jump rope in the spring. We had several rhyming songs for Double Dutch, but I’ve long forgotten the words to them. Red Rover and Duck, Duck, Goose were popular. Remember a game called Telephone or Grapevine? A group of children would stand in a row and the first would whisper something into the ear of the next child. The message was passed that way until the last person said what they’d heard out loud—and of course it would have been hilariously altered from the original.

My July release, Firefighter Daddy, was inspired by the William R. DeAvilla school, a block and a half from the Haight-Ashbury intersection in San Francisco.


The school’s paved playground still has numerous painted playground courts, and they’re even visible from Google’s satellite maps! (Click on the marker and zoom in.)


View Larger Map

One of them is a hopscotch court, and it became an important theme in the story. One of my favorite scenes in the book takes place on that playground, where the hero’s seven-year-old daughter teaches him how to play hopscotch. As I wrote that scene, I wondered...do children today still play games on the playground? I hope so.

What were your favorite childhood games? Did you or will you teach them to your kids? Grandkids?

Happy reading!

Until next time,
Lee
The Writer Side of Life
Firefighter Daddy available now!

Well, I'm dieting. I'd say again, but it's been many years since I've seriously dieted and not just "watched what I was eating" - something that definitely hasn't been working.

I finally bit the bullet after visiting my doctor a couple months ago. Instead of just being weighed — which I could have handled — this new scale gave a printout that included all this information I really didn't want to have, like my percentage of body fat and how close to obesity I am. Apparently, I'm right on the border. Talk about a shock!



I've never been skinny but spent most of my adult life since high school wearing a size nine. Then, about twelve or so years ago, I started putting on weight. A few pounds every years. And losing it was hard. Really hard. I sort of quit trying (okay, bad me). This last trip to the doctor showed I'd gained a total of forty pounds. Forty pounds!!! How in the heck did that happen? I mean, really. I don't remember packing it on. Since when does one cookie cause that kind of weight gain?

Sigh.

Long story short, a few weeks ago I met with the nutritionist at my doctor's office and began dieting under her care. I have to go in once a week and get weighed, which is good and helping me to stay on track. The dieting is hard. I can only eat like seven things. Fine, that's an exaggeration, but it feels like seven things. And I'm tired of salads twice a day.

On the plus side, I've lost eleven pounds so far. Not enough to show yet but my pants are fitting a bit loser, which his encouraging. I'm not trying to lose the full forty pounds. Trust me, that's way beyond my abilities. Twenty is my goal, and I'm starting to think I can manage that. I'll keep you posted.

Cathy McDavid

PS - any "poor baby" words of sympathy will be greatly appreciated :)

Missing the RWA Conference Already

Next week is the Romance Writers of America's annual conference. It was supposed to be held in Nashville, TN, but the terrible flood there forced a move to Orlando, FL. I sure hope the "tropical wave" off the east coast of Florida, which is supposed to turn into a tropical storm or hurricane, doesn't cancel or delay the travel plans of attendees. That would be a terrible double-whammy!

I had planned a road trip with some writer friends to Nashville, but opted not to go to Orlando for the RWA conference there since I'm going in September with my husband for a vacation. Now as I think about all my friends and associates heading to Orlando, I have mixed feelings. Yes, the conference costs a lot of money. On the other hand, it's fun and sometimes advantageous to network with others. You get very tired, but also very exhilarated. You wish you had a book in the RITA awards, but you also cheer for your friends who do.

In the end, you have to balance family, career, money and opportunity. But really, isn't that what we always do?

If you are an aspiring writer, often it's good to start by going to a local or regional conference first. The RWA national conference can be overwhelming, especially if you are still unsure about what you want to write, which publisher you want to target, or whether or not you need an agent. At a local or regional conference, you can meet published authors in a more relaxed setting and listen to them talk about their experiences. You can ask questions, and if the conference is at a hotel, the bar/lounge is the place to meet up. You have a better chance of getting an appointment with an editor or agent who is actively seeking new clients. The volume and variety of workshops isn't always so overwhelming. (Sometimes when I get my RWA national conference schedule, I can't decide which workshop is best for me, which ones I want to buy as recordings, and which ones I can skip to go shopping with friends!)

One of the best things about the RWA national conference is the booksigning, which benefits adult literacy groups. Publishers donate books as requested by authors who are attending. The room is huge, filled with all kinds of authors and books, from Nora Roberts to the newest member who just saw her first e-book published. Of course, the Harlequin American authors always have a good presence there and it's a wonderful opportunity to catch up with titles you might have missed. At the end of the evening, the author can either purchase her left-over books (with that money going to literacy also) or sign and donate them to local entities, such as women's shelters. If you get the chance to attend one of these booksignings, please come and buy books.

Next year I may see you in New York City. The conference starts June 28th at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. I'll be there! Until then, happy reading and writing.

P.S. Don't forget to check out my favorite recipes here on the Harlequin American Authors blog on the 4th of every month. On August 4th, I'll be on a road trip with my friend Rebecca Russell, who wrote for Silhouette Romance, but I'll still have the recipes up for you to enjoy.

Announcing contest winner today!

Please visit my blog post from a couple of days ago here at the Harlequin American Romance Authors site to learn the winner of a free book from my backlist.

The post is entitled "Good things!"

Thank you.

All my best to you,

Barbara

Barbara White Daille
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com

Good things!

They say good things come in threes, and that’s certainly true for me this month!

I’ve just received the cover for my third Harlequin American Romance, FAMILY MATTERS. Isn’t it fabulous?

And in celebration of the book’s October, 2010 publication date, I’m doing three things:

* revamping my website: http://barbarawhitedaille.com

* starting a blog: http://barbarawhitedaille.com/blog

* giving away a copy of one of my backlist titles to one lucky reader of my blog post here

This is the deal:

The drawing is a special opportunity for visitors to my Harlequin American Romance blog post for today. If you’re reading this post on July 17th, that would include you. ;-)

In order to have your name entered in the drawing, please leave a comment here at the Harlequin American Romance blog by midnight Blogger time on July 17th. Also, please visit my website at http://barbarawhitedaille.com by midnight Blogger time on July 17th.

Take a look at the excerpts for my first two books, THE SHERIFF'S SON and COURT ME, COWBOY. Send me an e-mail from my website, letting me know which book you would prefer IF your name is drawn—and why.

And, of course, feel free to take a look around my website and blog while you’re there. ;-)

One lucky winner’s name will be drawn and the name announced here at the blog on the Open date of July 20th.

Remember, this drawing is based on comments dated July 17th only.

And please remember to BOTH comment here at the Harlequin American Romance blog AND send an e-mail from my website in order to have your name entered into the drawing.

Thanks a bunch, and good luck!


All my best to you,

Barbara

~~~~~~

Barbara White Daille
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com

Media Blitz Contest Today!

Today only we're running a one-day Media Blitz Contest to promote The Codys: First Family of Rodeo miniseries by Harlequin American Romance.

CONTEST RULES

Read this blog, then spread the word! Mention Dexter: Honorable Cowboy (July 2010) and The Codys: First Family of Rodeo miniseries on all your favorite social media sites--Facebook, MySpace, Twitter. The more places you link http://www.harauthors.blogspot.com/

to and help promote Dexter: Honorable Cowboy the more chances you have to win an autographed copy of the book and one of the cowboy items featured in the photo above.

Earn additional chances to win if you refer a friend and they in turn post a link to their favorite social media websites. Be sure to return to http://www.harauthors.blogspot.com/ and tell us where you're spreading the word in the comment section of the blog—we'll keep a tally of your activity, then post the winners' names in the comment section of the blog--check the blog on July 17th to see if you're one of the lucky winners!

The Special Bond Twins Share

Facts about Twins

• Fraternal twins result when two different eggs are fertilized by two different sperm.
• Fraternal twins are more common than identical twins and account for about 2/3 of twin pregnancies.
• Even after they are born, it is sometimes difficult to know whether twins are identical or fraternal.
• Fraternal twins make up approximately 75% of the twin population and can be boy/boy, girl/girl, or boy/girl sets.
• Fraternal twins share up to 50% of their genes, and are no more alike or different than any two siblings would be.
• Africa sees the highest incidence of fraternal twins; Asia, the lowest.
• The actor Ashton Kutcher has a fraternal twin brother named Michael

Before writing Dexter: Honorable Cowboy I Googled fraternal twins and came across lots of interesting information. The one thing that struck me was research claiming that although fraternal twins don't share an identical genetic code, they do share a special bond. When I got to thinking about it, I realized that as fraternal twins mature they experience many things in life at the exact same emotional and physical point of their development. However, that doesn't mean the outcome of the experience is the same for each twin.

Dexter-- serious, dependable, hard-working, honorable.
Dusty-- fun, playful, teasing, charismatic and the better-looking twin.

Both brothers once had a crush on the same girl--Josie Charles—but Dusty's charismatic ways and good looks won the girl and Dexter suffered silently in the background as he watched his brother and Josie date throughout high school. Eventually Dusty and Josie broke up and moved on, but that experience remained with Dexter all his life. The special bond between Dexter and Dusty is tested when Josie Charles returns to Markton, WY. After all these years, Dexter discovers his feelings for Josie haven't changed, but before he gets excited about a "second-chance" at love, he learns Dusty is the father of Josie's young son.

It is that "special bond" between twin brothers that Dexter struggles with throughout the book. He wants to support Dusty and encourages him to do the right thing and marry Josie and be a father to their son, but at the same time he believes he's the better candidate for husband and father. Once again Dusty stands in the way of what Dexter wants, which creates stress and tension between the two brothers. But it is the special bond they share that in the end allows both brothers to do what's best for Josie and her son.

I hope you'll pick up a copy of Dexter: Honorable Cowboy and see how Dex and Dusty settle their differences—then let me know if you think the right man won the girl!

P.S. Be sure to return in August for another one-day only Media Blitz Contest when Cathy McDavid blogs about Dusty: Wild Cowboy (Book 3 in The Codys: First Family of Rodeo miniseries. If you missed the first book Walker: The Rodeo Legend (June 2010) by Rebecca Winters, you can still order the book through online retailers. You can also keep up on the Codys at http://www.firstfamilyofrodeo.blogspot.com/

where the miniseries authors post a new blog about cowboys every Wednesday.

See you at next rodeo!
Marin

Good morning! I need help--more than usual!! LOL!!

Two of my kiddos are headed to college in under a month. My twins turn eighteen in a few days. How is this possible??!! I'm grateful that they're healthy and smart and funny and pretty, but I'm also sad that they'll no longer be lounging on the couch or making a mess in the kitchen. Even worse--who's going to clean the cat box??!!

Anyway, I'm trapped in a funk. How have some of you survived this transition period?

In other news . . . The annual Romance Writers of America conference is swiftly approaching. This year it's being held in Orlando. I fear this will be a VERY bad thing when it comes to focusing on honing my writing skills by attending workshops. BFF Margaret Daley isn't helping with her talk of how much fun we'll have!! Meanwhile, my other roomie, BFF Winnie Griggs, has declared she's spending the week holed up in our room, writing. This makes me feel even more guilty!! LOL!!

Have I mentioned I have NOTHING to wear? For those of you who have never attended one of these conferences, there's a fascinating mix of folks. Some wear jeans and a T-shirt. Others are decked out in full-on business attire complete with jewels!! I strive for somewhere in the middle. Alas, since I also strive for donuts, my wardrobe is limited. I've been on the treadmill, running like a fat hamster, but my fave stuff still won't fit. Hmm . . . wonder if I could start a new trend by wearing PJs all week?

All kidding aside, I can't wait to get hugs from friends I rarely get to see!!! Not only other writers, but editors and my agent. The week's highlight is always the Friday night Harlequin party. This year, it's being held at the Orlando Waldorf Astoria!!! There's always dancing and crazy-decadent food and decor. I LOVE these parties!!! But have I mentioned I still have nothing to wear? ;-)

GIRLFRIENDS

I know, strange subject to blog about on a writer’s blog. However, it’s what’s on my mind this month. I’ve been blessed with many friends, but they don’t all touch my life in the same way.

I remember a friend I met in college telling me that some friends are a part of your entire life while others come into your life for a specific reason. During the loss of my father and her divorce, which neither one were even on our radar when we met, we talked nightly. I’m not sure we’d have made it through without the support. I still consider her a great friend, but now we only talk a couple times a year, just to make sure the other is okay. Not a lot to say these days.

I had three really close friends from elementary school all the way through high school. One of those wonderful women I see regularly. Our kids are friends and now our grandkids. I can’t imagine my life without her being a huge part of it. Yet the other two women, I talk to on rare occasion and exchange Christmas and birthday cards.

Neighbors – How many great people have we lived close to in our lives? Yet there is only one who I still see. Take vacations with. Keep close to my heart.

Work friends are especially interesting. I’ve met so many wonderful people and friends there. But most of them seem to fade away after one or the other of us changes jobs or companies. One woman and I shared an office for two years and went to lunch together almost daily. Great lady, yet I don’t even know where she is these days. While another friend left the company and moved to California and still drove all the way back to Texas to surprise me at my very first book signing. If she and I don’t talk weekly, we at least email. Out of the hundreds of people I’ve worked with, why did the two of us click?

Writing friends – Wow! What do I say? I’ve met so many fabulous and helpful people in the field. Yet the two women I critique with have become so tight that we don’t know how to act if we aren’t all three online every evening. Sure we love to talk about writing, but we’ve also become important people in each other’s personal lives. I hope to remain friends with a lot of my writing buddies, but these two particularly I’ll be very surprised if we ever lose touch. When I sold my first book, I called these ladies before my family.

I’m sure most everyone has had similar relationships. What makes some friendships last, while others fade away? Do you have a special girlfriend story to share?

Media Blitz Contest this Friday!

Counting down the days until Friday July 16th--our second One Day Only Media Blitz Contest to promote The Codys: First Family of Rodeo miniseries!

On July 16th I'll be blogging about Dexter: Honorable Cowboy--RT Top Pick for July! For those who've read the first book in the series, Walker: The Rodeo Legend, then you know Dexter is a fraternal twin. I'll be blogging about how Dexter's relationship with his brother Dusty is tested as Dexter struggles with that special bond the brothers share.

Help spread the word by mentioning the book and posting a link to this blog on all your favorite social media sites--Facebook, MySpace, Twitter. The more places you link to and mention Dexter: Honorable Cowboy and The Codys: First Family of Rodeo the more chances you have to win an autographed copy of the book and some "cowboy stuff" pictured above.

Earn additional chances to win if you refer a friend and they in turn post a link to their favorite social media websites. Be sure to return to http://www.harauthors.blogspot.com/ and tell us where you're spreading the word in the comment section of the blog.

I'll keep a tally of your activity and post the winners' names in the comment section of the blog on July 17th--be sure to check if you're one of the lucky winners!

For those readers who are reading this miniseries, we'd love to know what you think about The Codys: First Family of Rodeo!

Marin * www.marinthomas.com *

Fun on the 4th of July!

Okay, so I know it’s the 10th, but six days ago I had a blast!

Recently, I interviewed the Battalion Chief at our local fire department in Colorado, for the 4th book in The O’Malley Men series about firefighter brother, Adam O’Malley.
“Rosie” as all the guys know him, invited me to come down to the station house before the parade started so I could get photos of the firefighters all dressed up in their dress uniforms, their pipe band, assorted support vehicles etc.
Just before they set off, he asked if I’d like to join the families of the firefighters in the march. Would I? You bet!
It was amazing being part of a July 4th parade, to see it from a different perspective from the spectators (as I’d done in the past).
The Fire Department always leads out the parade in Breckenridge and it was incredibly exciting to be sandwiched between the firefighters in front and the engines, ladder truck and other support vehicles behind.
Walking along, I had a couple of friends call out to me from the crowds lining Main Street – no doubt very surprised to see me there. But not nearly as surprised as my husband whose eyes popped out like saucers as I went by. “What are you doing there?” he called.
I shrugged and said, “Hey, they asked me!” I waved the American flag and continued on down Main Street, feeling a little surreal and incredibly privileged to be an Aussie marching in a 4th of July parade.
Unfortunately my camera conked out just as the parade started, but photographer Ken Papaleo captured some great shots for his website. There’s even one of me with Battalion Chief Rosenberger in the station house before the parade started.
http://xmarkstheshot.blogspot.com/

Until next time,
CC

Cowboy Up!

This is a very exciting day--y'all should head on over to the Harlequin American continuity blog where we're celebrating the First Family of Rodeo, the Codys. http://firstfamilyofrodeo.blogspot.com/ Our terrific American writers are going to talk about the cowboy!

Yep, as much as I'm a small town girl from the Midwest (or maybe because I am), I love the American cowboy. I grew up watching reruns of John Wayne, Gary Cooper and all the other heroes and villians clothed in chaps and riding the range.

Put Jimmy Stewart in a cowboy hat, give him a horse to ride (his favorite "actor" horse was named Pie), and our entire perception of him changes. He's no longer saving the Bailey Building & Loan or talking to Harvey. He's saving the ranch and upholding justice.

So, is it the clothes that make the man? Not at all. Did anyone believe John Travolta was a cowboy, Urban or otherwise, just because he had the boots and hat? Not me. I want my cowboy honorable, dependable, loyal. I want him tough and yet ready to have a good time, preferably loving the heroine.

The cowboy is bone-deep American. Yum.

I'll be back next month after our RWA conference in Orlando, but right now, it's cowboy time! See y'all over there.

Megan Kelly

www.megankellybooks.com

Coming Soon!

One-Day Only Media Blitz Contest!

On July 16th Marin Thomas will be blogging about book two in The Codys: First Family of Rodeo—Dexter: Honorable Cowboy--RT Top Pick for July! Help spread the word by mentioning the book and posting a link to the blog on all your favorite social media sites--Facebook, MySpace, Twitter. The more places you link to and mention Dexter: Honorable Cowboy the more chances you have to win an autographed copy of the book and some "cowboy stuff".

Earn additional chances to win if you refer a friend and they in turn post a link to their favorite social media websites. Be sure to return to http://www.harauthors.blogspot.com/ and tell where you're spreading the word in the comment section of the blog so Marin can keep a tally of your activity.

Marin will post the winners' names in the comment section of the blog on July 17th--be sure to return to see if you're one of the lucky winners!

July Recipes

Happy Independence Day! I hope you have a safe and fun holiday. Last night we watched some beautiful, dramatic and impressive fireworks over Lake Holbrook in Mineola, TX. These were set off from individuals' docks along the lake but rivaled professional displays. Tonight there will be a community fireworks event that we hope to attend, depending on the ongoing showers we've had the last few days.

If you happen to fix too many baked potatoes or corn on the cob on your grill or in your oven, here are some recipes to use up some of the excess. We cooked out last night and invited our new lake neighbors, Mike and Carol, to eat with us. They just fixed up an eyesore of a house into an HGTV or DIY Network worthy renovation. We prepared more food than we could eat, of course, so I'm going to make the baked potato salad in the next day or two. Enjoy!


Baked Potato Salad I
Submitted By: Tom (to AllRecipes.com)
*****
· Prep Time: 25 Minutes
· Cook Time: 1 Hour 20 Minutes
· Ready In: 1 Hour 45 Minutes
· Yields: 12 servings
"Is this a baked potato salad or a cheese and potato casserole? Try this recipe and decide for yourself."

INGREDIENTS:
· 8 medium potatoes, sliced
· 1/2 pound sliced bacon
· 1 pound processed American cheese, sliced
· 1/2 onion, chopped
· 1 cup mayonnaise
· salt and pepper to taste
· 1/4 cup black olives, sliced
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Put sliced potatoes into a large pot, and fill with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook until tender but still firm, about 10 minutes. Drain, and set aside.
At the same time, place bacon in a large deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly browned. Remove to paper towels to drain.
In a large bowl, stir together the potatoes, cheese, onion, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper. Spoon into prepared baking dish. Crumble bacon over the top, and sprinkle with olives.
Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, until golden brown.


Corn Pudding II
Submitted By: Heather (to AllRecipes.com)
*****
Yields: 7 servings
"Use a food processor or blender for quick and easy preparation. Originally submitted to ThanksgivingRecipe.com."

INGREDIENTS:
· 1 (10 ounce) package frozen white corn (or equivalent of fresh or roasted corn)
· 6 eggs
· 3 1/2 cups milk
· 1/2 cup butter, melted
· 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
· 1 cup white sugar
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a blender or food processor blend the eggs very well. Add in the flour and sugar and blend well. Add the milk and blend slightly. Finally mix in the corn by hand. Stir in the melted butter and pour the mixture into a large casserole dish.
Bake for about 45 minutes. When the pudding is done the center should be solid and the top should have a nice golden brown color. Let rest for approximately 15 minutes then serve warm.

Monthly Contest Winner

Congratulations to June!

June is the winner of our *June* drawing. To claim your prizes please contact Rebecca Winters and Tanya Michaels through their websites.

We're always giving away books here at the blog. Your name is entered into a drawing each time you post a comment on our blog throughout the month.

In additon to our monthly book giveaway mark your calendars for July 16th when Marin Thomas will blog about the second book in The Codys: First Family of Rodeo. Marin will be giving away autographed copies of Dexter: Honorable Cowboy as well as some fun cowboy "stuff" so be sure to stop by on July 16th for our next One Day Only Media Blitz Contest!

Wedding Bliss

So, how many weddings did you attend in June?

I went to three, but I only got to eat the food at one of them. Guess which:

1) A nurse and a neonatologist, who postponed their wedding plans after a disagreement over whether to have children, walked down the aisle at last. They had joyously resolved their differences after babysitting triplets.

2) Despite a flood and a heat wave, a wedding planner brought off her own ceremony to perfection. Two darling children escorted her to the altar, where her handsome groom – a widower she met on-line – couldn’t wait to make her his bride.

3) A hospital attorney happily exchanged vows with the surrogate mother to his baby daughter. At the reception, his brother and best man, a police officer who relishes bachelorhood, met a woman who just might change his mind.

Which of these romantic scenarios is real – hence the food – and which are scenes from my upcoming books?

The flood might give you a clue, especially if you happen to know that I’m from Nashville. Yep, that’s No. 2. Although some guests had to relocate from the flooded-out Opryland Hotel to another inn and a heat wave drove the reception indoors, my brother, Paul, and his beautiful new wife, Myrna, had a flawless wedding at the Temple in Nashville.

Myrna’s young grandsons walked her down the aisle. And yes, she really is a wedding planner at For All Occasions in the Washington, D.C. area. Judging by her own wedding and reception, I’d hire her in a minute (but my husband of 31 years might balk).

The nurse and the neonatologist made an appearance in the first book of my Safe Harbor Medical miniseries from Harlequin American, The Would-Be Mommy, last February. They finally tie the knot in book number three, December’s The Holiday Triplets.

In between, hospital attorney Tony Franco and his surrogate, Kate Evans, get their own romance in August’s His Hired Baby. Then, next February, at their wedding in Officer Daddy, Tony’s brother Leo strikes sparks with obstetrician Nora Kendall.

There’s nothing like a love story with a happy ending!

An Unexpected Spark

As always happens with an upcoming release, I find myself looking forward to July, when A MOM FOR CALLIE--my second book with Harlequin American--officially makes its way into "the wild." Like all other books before it (whether mystery or romance), there's a story behind the story...the thing that said, "turn me into a story."

Virtually all of my mystery novels have come from an interesting tidbit on the radio (love those ten second stories), a tidbit that lodges in my brain and begins twisting and turning until I have the mental outline of a story. My romance novels, however, have come to me in a very different way.

KAYLA'S DADDY, my January Harlequin American, came from a lost letter (which, in all fairness, was sparked from a radio story). MIRACLE BABY, my first-ever holiday book scheduled to release in November, came from a very special ornament my agent sent me for Christmas two years ago. And, A MOM FOR CALLIE, came from a stone bridge.

A bridge?

That's right. A bridge. More specifically, a beautifuly stone bridge in Central Park. You see, a few years ago, I was going through some rough stuff in life. I'd been diagnosed with M.S. two years earlier, my marriage of seventeen years was over, and life was anything but picture-perfect.

Then, one day, while working at Borders (one of the five part-time jobs I held in order to preserve my time with my daughters before and after school), I came across a calendar showcasing various New York landmarks. I studied each page as I flipped from month to month until I came to the winter scene of this particular bridge. The second I saw it, I knew I had to go there. A month later, on my birthday, I traveled from my then home in the midwest to New York. I saw a show, shopped, ate, and saw my bridge up close and personal. And on the way out of the park that day, I purchased a framed picture of that very bridge from a street vendor.

That trip was the start of a lot of changes in my life. Good changes. And, right or wrong, I see that bridge as the catalyst for many of them. Which is why that framed picture hangs on my bedroom wall still today.

Betsy Anderson's story (the heroine in A MOM FOR CALLIE) is, of course, different. The bridge she's propelled to visit is in a small town in Illinois rather than New York's Central Park. She is a writer, too, but she has very different things going on in her life. But, like me, that bookstore calendar will change her life in ways she never saw possible.

So tell me, has a picture or a movie ever propelled you to do something you might not have done otherwise?

~Laura

Writer In Residence

My friends, Mary and Barbara, decided to ask their book club to read my April book, An Unexpected Father. They also wanted me to speak at their monthly meeting. I was intrigued—and flattered—by the idea, and a date was set.

Afterward, I had an attack of “oh, what have I done.” This group tends towards the literary. Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence was their last read. How the heck was I going to stack up against him? So, I was a little nervous when I walked into Barbara’s apartment. There were about a dozen people there, apparently a bigger crowd than usual. Gulp! When it was time to start, I was pointed to a chair at one end of the room and the questions began.

From there, the evening went effortlessly. What struck me most was how interested they all were in the process of writing. We talked about the book and the characters, but more about how it got written, how all books get written. I realized that, if D.H. Lawrence had been sitting where I was, they would probably have asked him the same questions.

• Where do you get your ideas? Literally everywhere. From the newspaper, from the internet, from the bus driver, from the grocery-store clerk, from you.

• How long does it take to write a book? It depends on the length of the manuscript, but around five months for An Unexpected Father. I’m a slow writer compared to others I know, but what matters to me is how I feel about the results at the end of each day. If I’m happy with what I’ve written, even though it was only 500 words, then it was a good day.

• How much time do you spend writing each day? In the best of all worlds, six to seven hours. Of course, there are the distractions of life like laundry and cooking and exercise. I confess that I’m easily tempted away from the keyboard by the offer of coffee and a pastry, too.

• Who are your favorite authors? It’s a long list. I’m a voracious reader across all genres: Jane Austen, Mary Renault, Larry McMurtry, Robin McKinley, Dorothy Garlock, T.A. Pratt, David Lodge and soooo many others.

These were just a few of the questions the book club asked. I had nothing to fear and had a great time. I should have known: talking to people who love books is always a joy.

What questions would you ask me, if you could? Or D.H. Lawrence? Or any of the authors of the books on your bedside table?

Let's Hear It For Theme Parks

From my house on Florida’s east coast, it’s an easy one-hour drive to any one of four major theme parks. Imagine, non-stop fun practically guaranteed for the (admittedly hefty) price of an admission ticket. Unfortunately years, if not decades, pass between my visits to Orlando’s tourist mecca. Which is a shame, really. Because the parks are a lot of fun.

This summer, thanks to a story idea about a couple who disagree when she plans a theme park expansion that threatens his livelihood, I’ve been making the rounds of the theme parks. And since there’s no better way to view magic, I took some kids along. Believe me, it didn’t take much effort to “bribe” a precocious eight- and six-year-old to join in the fun.

It’s amazing how kids see things.

Stifling heat? Sweltering humidity? I don’t think they even noticed.

90-minute lines for popular rides? Did you know kids can play “I spy” for over an hour? Again and again? Plus, all memory of the time spent in line was instantly erased by a three-minute roller coaster ride or a train ride or a seat in a spinning teacup.

Crowds shuffling along, elbow-to-elbow, through a new exhibit? The 8-year-old kept asking if I felt the MAGIC of the town. The 6-year-old wanted to solve the mystery of snow on the rooftops in the middle of summer.

And an ice cream cone in the afternoon instantly picked up flagging spirits. My flagging spirits, that is. The kids were still going strong.

All-in-all, we had a blast. And I gathered a lot of info for the new book. Including one piece of information critical to surviving a visit to any of Florida’s theme parks in the summer—bring a hand-held, battery-operated water mister.

I Love San Francisco!

Every time I wear my I "heart" SF T-shirt, I'm surprised by how many comments I get.

"I love San Francisco, too!"

"I really want to go to San Francisco someday."

"What does SF stand for?"


I'm wearing my I "heart" SF T-shirt a lot these days because every time someone comments on it, it's an opportunity for me to hand them a bookmark and tell them about my next Harlequin American Romance, FIREFIGHTER DADDY (July 2010), which is set in San Francisco.

The hero in the this book is a widower with a little girl who loves to ride the cable cars.

These days the cable cars are among the city's biggest tourist attraction, but there was a time when they were also an important means of transportation.

This film was shot c.1905 from the front of a cable car traveling east along Market Street toward the Embarcadero (the clock tower in the distance).



Do you suppose there were any traffic rules in those days? Everyone seems to walk, ride and drive wherever they please!

Cable cars no longer run along Market Street, but you can still take a cable car from Union Square to Fisherman's Wharf, up and down those crazy steep hills, and I think it's wonderful that the city has preserved that part of its history. Just one of the reasons why I "heart" SF!

Happy reading!

Until next time,
Lee
Firefighter Daddy
The Writer Side of Life

My August release, DUSTY: WILD COWBOY, is quickly turning into one of the most exciting books of my writing career. Not only do I get to participate in Harlequin American's first ever continuity, THE CODY'S: FIRST FAMILY OF RODEO, I just found out yesterday that I received my first ever 4.5 Stars Top Pick review from Romantic Times Book Club. This has been a dream of mine for years, and I'm so happy to have finally achieved it. Hope you don't mind if I share the review with you.


DUSTY: WILD COWBOY
by Cathy McDavid
Genre: Harlequin American Romance, Current Series Imprints, Series

Rating ★★★★ ½ Top Pick!

DUSTY: WILD COWBOY (4.5) by Cathy McDavid: Dusty Cody ran on the wild side until he found out he was a dad. Since then his life has changed and never more so than when Maryanne Devonshire enters his life. A PR rep for an eco-company, Maryanne is vacationing with her father when she and Dusty meet, but the wild cowboy and the relationship-wary Maryanne will have to trust each other to move the relationship forward. Dusty and Maryanne are wonderful, and by turns charming and stubborn. The rest of Dusty’s family is as rowdy as ever.

Reviewed By: Pat Cooper

Thanks for letting me gush and carry on a bit. I'm still doing the happy dance even after a full day.

Oh! Don't forget about THE CODY: FIRST FAMILY OF RODEO media blitz contest we're running again, starting July 16th. I know it's a little early, but mark your calendars, and be sure to check back here before the 16th for more details. Remember, the more places you link the post, the more chances you'll have to win! You can earn additional chances to win if you refer a friend and they in turn post a ling to their favorite social media websites and blogs.

Whoo, hoo!

Warmest wishes, my friends.

Cathy McDavid

Father's Day

Since yesterday was Father's Day, I thought I'd share some photos from our visit with my husband's 92 year old father at his home in Denton, Texas. He's one of the people responsible for me writing about small towns and the people who live there. He and my late mother-in-law told wonderful stories of growing up in Texas, southwest of Fort Worth. He lived in an area near Dennis, TX, on the Brazos River. He called it the "Big Valley," which is the equivalent of bottom land for those of us more familiar with large rivers. The house he grew up in is still there, in the photo on the left.

My mother-in-law spent the first 17 years of her life in Lingleville, TX, which is near Stephenville. She grew up on a smaller farm with much poorer soil, less water and more rocks. It was a tough life which she escaped though education, attending college where she met my father-in-law. Many of the stories he's told us through the years centered around people they stayed with and knew, distant relatives and friends of friends who helped out.

Yesterday we had a great visit, heard a few more stories (and some of them the second or third or tenth time,) and watched our grandchildren play in his spacious home. We treasure these visits and I always take lots of photos because I want the girls to remember their great-grandfather, whom they call "Dad." I doubt that they will remember the stories, but I have plans to record them on my Flip video and store them for the future. After all, Dad probably only has 10 or 20 good years left! Happy belated Father's Day to all the dads and to everyone who no longer has their dad to visit and listen to and get advice from, I hope you hold on to the all the good memories forever. Perhaps when the girls are older (like 25 or so!) I'll suggest they read my books for the essence of the stories from their great-grandparents and so many other Texans I've met in the past 39 years.

And a special memory of my dad, Art Chancellor, on one of our trips to the Smoky Mountains. I miss you, Daddy.

Summertime Fun

My four grandkids, ages 2-8, and I have begun a sort of tradition this summer. I'm not sure how long it will last, but so far it's been interesting.

Each morning about 9:30, we've taken off for a walk to the neighborhood park, where there's a merry-go-round that's off kilter, two sets of swings, three sets of climbing bars, and a tall slide. It's a large park and includes a backstop for baseball or even soccer and a cement basketball court with two basketball goals. It also has very little shade. After all, this is Kansas, which isn't known for an abundance of trees. Not out here on the prairie.

Wednesday, after the kids had played for a while, I noticed the sky in the southwest had become cloudy and very dark. Obviously it was time to head home. We were a block from home when huge drops of rain started falling, along with some tiny hail. We walked faster, and the rain fell faster. We made it to my yard and hurried to the porch, just as the sky opened up and thunder boomed, scaring not-yet 3-year-old Jaxon. I thought that would probably be the end of the trips to the park. I was wrong.

Going to the park was the first thing out of Jaxon's mouth on Thursday, so we made a return trip, but this time it was sunny, windy and humid, with no clouds, white or dark, in the sky. We took juice and colorful Fish crackers, and Jaxon finally mastered the slide, something he's been afraid of doing.

The trip to the park seems to help us start the day off better. They get to play off some of their morning energy, while I get some needed exercise, and we do it before it gets really hot. It will be interesting to see if they are the first to lose interest or if I'll be the one to call a halt when the temps reach double digits. Either way, I hope when they're older they'll remember the trips to the park and the fun they had. Making memories isn't nearly as hard as it sounds. Have you made any memories as summer has begun?

What a tangled Web we weave...

This is a good-news, bad-news post today.

The good news is that my next book for Harlequin American Romance, Family Matters, arrives in October, just a few short months away.

And though I’m eagerly anticipating that happy occasion, the bad news is, I’m planning to update my Web site to coincide with announcing the book’s arrival.

It should be fun, right? Helping a designer pick out photos and fonts. Setting up a background that suits both my style and that of my books. Giving readers a good look at my “home” on the Web and hoping it’s a place they’ll like to come back to visit often.

Well, trying to decide on all these elements of my virtual home is becoming about as complicated as choosing a real house!

After looking at approximately eighteen gazillion Web sites out there--one more beautiful than the next--I’m afraid my mind’s on overload.

So I’m asking for your opinions and advice.

What do you like to see on a Web site? What don’t you like to see? What are the elements that stick with you after you’ve surfed through those Internet homes? And what brings you back to some of them again and again?

Looking forward to your input on this!

All my best to you,

Barbara

~~~~~~

Barbara White Daille
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com

Gulf Oil Catastrophe

Over a year ago I was asked to put the book I'm currently revising on hold in order to write a couple of other projects for the line. Call it karma, fate or kismet but to make a long story short, I finished the book, received my revisions, then BAM! The Deepwater Horizon exploded and sunk in the Gulf of Mexico, tragically killing eleven workers.

What has this got to do with my book? The hero in Roughneck Cowboy is a roughneck –a deckhand on the Exxon Hoover Diana in the Gulf of Mexico. Even though the hero in my book, Travis Cartwright, quits his job on the ocean rig in order to work on his estranged father's oil rigs in Oklahoma, the topic is a sensitive one for many readers.

The sinking of BP's Deepwater Horizon and the resulting environmental chaos it's created in the Gulf is an emotional and volatile issue in our country right now. I'm certain many of our readers have loved ones employed by the oil industry or in businesses that supply products to the oil industry as well as readers whose family members are fisherman, shrimpers or own businesses along the Gulf coast. All have been affected by this recent disaster.

As I finish revisions on this book, I've gained a greater respect for the brave men and women who work on these oil rigs as well as a new understanding of the far-reaching consequences a disaster such as the Deepwater Horizon can have on our environment, nature and people's livelihoods—most likely for decades.

My thoughts and prayers are with those most affected by this latest tragedy as are my hopes and wishes that the lessons learned from this disaster are used to better protect oil industry employees, the environment and our neighbor's livelihoods in the future.


On a brighter note…Mark your calendars for July 16th. Our next One-Day-Only Media Blitz contest here at www.harauthors.blogspot.com I'll be blogging about Dexter: Honorable Cowboy, book 2 in the The Codys: First Family of Rodeo continuity. I'll be giving away copies of Dexter and a few cowboy goodies to several winners who use their social media sites to spread the word. Be sure to tell your friends about the contest! We want to see how many places we can promote The Codys: First Family of Rodeo!

Marin
RT Top Pick
Dexter:Honorable Cowboy July 2010
www.marinthomas.com

Summer Vacations

Welcome to SUMMER! I don't know about everyone else, but last summer, although busy, was mostly work for me. We sold two houses, bought another, moved. I had a book come out and did booksignings and attended the RWA National Convention in DC. All good things, but not exactly relaxing.

This year, I'm focused on a more relaxed and stress-free summer. Last month I flew to California for a visit with two different friends. Drove down the Pacific Coast Highway. Caught up with each other's lives. Gorgeous drive for anyone who hasn't had the opportunity.

Last night I bought a new car, my first in ten years. I am super excited to go pick it up tonight because we have a couple road trips on the agenda. We're thinking South Padre Island, depending on the oil spill and possibly another to Colorado. Summer is packed with family birthdays and we have fun plans around that and at least one large get together with old friends.

What does everyone else have on their summer agendas?

Little Laura, where are you?

I can't remember the last time I had a full night's rest and feel like a ZOMBIE!!!! With that in mind, please pardon my random rambling!!

Though it's still officially spring here in Tulsa, summer temps have hit with a vengeance. Along with freakishly hot weather came the requisite broken AC unit and fleas. This year, as an added bonus, I've landed my first case of poison ivy. JOY!! LOL!!!

I used to love summer. I rode my bike all over town. South Haven, Michigan was the most idyllic place ever to be a kid. Lake Michigan beach, great friends, a couple of abandoned resorts and a draw bridge kept me plenty busy. Looking back on it, I'm sure there were sunburns and mosquitoes, but I was too busy having fun to worry about them.

When I was in sixth grade, we moved to Arkansas. As a former city kid, it took me a while to adjust, but soon enough I was swimming in cattle ponds, hiking in the woods and playing night tag with new friends. Did I ever once worry about chiggers, snakes or ticks? Nope. All I cared about was finding my next fun.

So here I sit in my fave green chair, scratching like crazy, watching my dogs scratch like crazy--they didn't get the memo that they've been treated for fleas and are now flea-fee--and I'm wondering when did I stop loving summer and start loathing it? How do I reconnect with the little girl inside of me who used to adore long, hot days and all of their enticing possibilities?

The very question makes me sad. With my newly graduated kids still sleeping and hubby long since gone to work, this Monday doesn't feel like I remember a summer Monday should. I have no grand adventure planned. No friends will stop by, and even if they did, my bike has flat tires and cobwebs!!

Usually, we join the neighborhood pool, but with the kids soon off to college, they all voted against the pricey fee. After all, who has time for lounging poolside with a cool drink and good book?

Wait a minute--THEY voted. Not ME!! Maybe what I'm forgetting is that even if my kids don't want to go to the pool, I'm still allowed. As an incentive, I used to write in the morning and if I got my pages completed, I'd wile away my afternoons not creating books, but losing myself in them!!

As I'm writing, my Benadryl has finally kicked in. As an added bonus, all three dogs are peacefully napping--not scratching. Okay, whew . . . I feel a little better. Hopeful, even, that summer might yet be saved. Maybe Little Laura isn't totally lost, but just hiding. With my own pool membership to entice her, she might even venture out into the heat to play.

How about you? Feeling too grown-up for summer? Share some tips with me on how you have warm weather fun!!

I’ve completely run out of ideas for a blog topic this month, so I thought I’d talk about researching settings. My stories for Harlequin American Romance are set in small town Colorado. Now, I don’t know about you, but I just can’t bring myself to set a book somewhere I’ve never actually been, nor that I’m on pretty familiar terms with.

I think it adds authenticity if you can bring the setting alive with sights, sounds and smells thereby capturing the atmosphere of a place. I have no idea how anyone does that without having been where their books are set.

Take it from me, you’ll never read a sheik book by CC Coburn because I have absolutely no interest in travelling to Saudi Arabia et al. Been there (sorta general region) done that, aint goin’ back!

I live part of the year in a small town nestled in the Colorado Rockies and get so much inspiration from this setting that it becomes an integral part of my books—a character, if you will. But I add layers to this setting by interviewing locals who work in the occupations of my characters.

At first, I was a little anxious about approaching people to interview them, half-thinking they’d discount me, as we see so often in the press, as just another hack writer of trashy books.

But the reaction has been quite the opposite. I’ve interviewed a County Court judge, been taken on a tour of the County Jail, interviewed the Sheriff and the commander of our town Fire Department (plus got to check out his firefighters and their quarters!) a veterinarian and a local rancher who all gave up hours of their time to answer my nosy questions. I’ve also interviewed rescue personnel and the head of the local ski patrol.

Each has been so generous in their assistance and supportive of my efforts to bring authenticity to the setting and the occupations of my characters and I’m very grateful for that. I reward their time and patience with a signed copy of the book they’ve so kindly helped me with, and although I’m not sure if they ever get around to reading them, I’m pretty sure they’re chuffed to see their names in the acknowledgement pages.

In a couple of weeks I’m heading back to beautiful Colorado with complimentary signed copies of my latest release, “The Sheriff and the Baby” to give to these wonderful locals.

Now if only I could find a hot ex-priest to interview…

I’m giving away a copy of “The Sheriff and the Baby” to celebrate its release this week. I’d like to know from readers if setting is important to them. And if you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Until next month!
CC

With a Little Help.... by Megan

...From My Friends.
Okay, I admit, I'm a Beatles fan. I would like this song anyway, even if Ringo wasn't singing it. It's so true for my life. I'm lucky enough to have really wonderful women as friends. Friends who stand by me, stand behind me, and stand in front of me when trouble comes.

My mom's health is deteriorating. She's suffering through some tough heart problems. So what do my friends do?

Offer to bring my family meals. Offer to critique my manuscript in the wee hours while I'm finishing up a deadline--running behind due to caring for my mom and the difficulty I had writing during this time. Offer prayers for my mom and the rest of the family. Offer to listen to me rant about doctors and hospitals and *stuff* in general. Offer me days off work to finish my ms. Offer me encouragement and M&Ms. (I have the best friends!!)

My family and I are deeply touched by their generous souls. It's this kind of love that forms my heroines. When writing I ask myself: would I want this character as a friend in real life? In a difficult situation, what caring thing would my friends do? I'm proud to have them as role models for my daughter and for me and for my fictional characters.

I hope y'all have friends as true and supportive as mine, and enjoy reading the fictional heroines we all admire in American Romances.

Megan Kelly
www.megankellybooks.com

The Codys: The First Family of Rodeo—Social Media Blitz Contest Today!

Dear Readers,

June kicks off the debut of Harlequin American Romance's first-ever six-book continuity series—The Codys: The First Family of Rodeo. In honor of this exciting occasion we're running a ONE DAY ONLY Social Media Blitz Contest here on the Harlequin American Romance Authors' blog.

Contest Scoop

Check out today's blog--Rebecca Winters discusses the first book in the Codys:First Family of Rodeo, WALKER: THE RODEO LEGEND. After reading her blog, post the following info:

www.harauthors.blogspot.com, Rebecca Winters and
WALKER: THE RODEO LEGEND

to your Facebook, MySpace and/or Twitter pages as well as your favorite blogs. The more places you link her post, the more chances you have to win! You can earn additional chances to win if you refer a friend and they in turn post a link to their favorite social media websites and blogs. Be sure to return to www.harauthors.blogspot.com and tell us where you're spreading the word so we can keep a tally of your activity.

Remember, the CONTEST IS TODAY ONLY—June 6, 2010!

Rebecca is giving away autographed books—both Harlequin Romance and American Romance. Plus, the grand prize winner will receive Rocky Mountain Chocolate! Remember, for each social media site you link to this blog and for each friend you contact who in turn spreads the word through their favorite networks, your name will be entered into a drawing. You have twenty-four hours to link us and win! Rebecca will post the winners in the comment section of her blog tomorrow. Be sure to return to see if you're one of the lucky winners.

And now here's Rebecca Winters' blog. Please keep reading!

~~~

Howdy Pardner from the Cody Stampede!

The cute little cowgirl you see in the middle with the tan cowboy hat is my darlin’ granddaughter Reese Burton. She’s here at the Denver Stock show with friends. Doesn’t she look great there watching the stockmen spray off those steers?

When her daddy sent me these pictures, I told him I was going to use this one to celebrate the launch book for Harlequin American Romance’s first-ever six-book continuity series.

The Codys: First Family of Rodeo

Everyone who loves rodeo enjoys milling around the grounds, checking out the bulls and horses. Some of the older gals enjoy checking out the Steer Wrestlers and bull riders, too!

Here’s Walker Cody, practicing for his event. Walker's the bulldogger in the first book of the series: WALKER: THE RODEO LEGEND. This guy’s a heartbreaker and a world champion bulldogger. He’s also a Marine who came back from war a wounded hero.

Come on and join me while I show you around. You’ve got to admit this is the prettiest country God ever created. When I saw this meadow, I knew it was the place where Walker yearned to come home to after the war.

A vision came to me of a mountain cabin built on John Walker Cody land years earlier at 10,000 feet. That’s where eight-year-old Walker and his siblings knew happiness sleeping in the loft while their grandmother cooked them trout they caught for breakfast. His fond memories include riding horses up there with his best friend and later on riding around double with a girlfriend. Now at 28, it’s his shelter away from everyone, his cave, his retreat, his fortress, his eyrie where he can try to heal his scarred heart and body before facing the world again.

Ya want to stay a spell and enjoy a week of rodeo? Cody’s the place!

Of course it won’t look all peaceful and quiet like this come rodeo season. A few miles away there’s another little fictitious town called Markton. From there you’ll come to the Cottonwood Ranch. There’s so much land, I envisioned a 600,000 acre spread in my mind as far as the eye could see and going right up the mountain. The rest came easy. A main ranch house here, bunk houses there, corrals, bullpens, you name it and the other gals writing for the series just kept addin and addin things like a fancy barn, a landing strip for their plane, a mechanical bull. It just grew and grew until…well…you’ll have to read all six books to capture the full flavor of a true rodeo family layout.

Walker needs help with his PTSD and decides to take up bulldogging again to fight it. But can he bring down a bull fast enough after being away six years?

One vet I know still suffers from it after many years, but with the help of a good psychiatrist and art therapy, he’s doing much better. Being around him gave me insights into Walker’s suffering. Here’s a sample of what he puts down on paper to get out his fear and emotions.

The picture of this dog walk-a-thon fit right into my story. I needed a setting where Walker and Paula, a grieving war widow with a two-year-old son Clay, will meet. What happens here throws three people together and lives are changed forever.

One of walker’s big challenges is getting back with his family again.

I come from a family of six children, and I’m second to the oldest. So is Walker. Being from a large family I was able to come up with some dynamics for the Walker family that defined my own. I had four sisters. My brother was the baby. Walker has three brothers, Jessie, Dex and Dusty, and his sister Elly who’s the baby. There were similarities I could incorporate. The rest came from the other authors as they developed their stories.

I had the luxury of doing the first draft of everything. That’s nice in one way because there’s nothing pre-conceived. You’re working from scratch. But as the other layers are added, you have to rework some parts until everyone’s satisfied.

Walker’s is a story of redemption through rodeo where wounds heal and happiness eventually triumphs.

Don’t forget to return next month for our second One Day Media Blitz Contest on July 16th when Marin Thomas blogs about book two in The Codys:First Family of Rodeo, DEXTER: HONORABLE COWBOY.

Write to me at http://www.cleanromances.com/ and share any thought or feelings. I’m signing off for now.

Yours till the Stampede is over!

Becky

Introducing The Codys: The First Family of Rodeo

Howdy,

You all are readers—I know because you are reading this blog. As readers, you will likely agree with me that when you find an author you love, you want to search out and read all of their books. And when you find a miniseries that really grabs you, you want to read the books one after another. Well, I found one. And it’s called The Codys: The First Family of Rodeo.

I’ve always wanted to do a big family drama in American Romance—something with a western theme, of course. And one night (there may have been some wine involved) I sat down and tinkered away at the computer, coming up with an outline for a town, a ranch, and a big family whose members would find their happiness, one at a time, with the loves of their lives. But things didn’t get interesting until I emailed the outline to six amazing authors who truly created the world of the Codys.

Even after all these years of being an editor, it still delights me to see an author’s finished story. Going from an idea to a book is a long process. It’s fun to brainstorm ideas with authors, or work with them on sketches and small pieces of characters and places and situations. But actually reading the final finished books, and seeing how an author has developed her characters—emotionally, physically, mentally—impresses the hell out of me. Sometimes I think where the heck did she come up with that? Fantastic! And it all came out of one little germ of an idea.

From a small outline, six authors created six great stories. I’ve been reading the finished and polished manuscripts as they came in and they have made me laugh, and get a little teary at times, and most of all they have made me whoop with glee. Wow, guys. You have made this family tick, and taken these characters places I never would have imagined. A shout out to Johanna, who has worked with all six authors from proposal to finished manuscript. She has been an integral part of this miniseries, and is an all-around cool person and a fantastic editor. Way to go, Jo. You da woman!

Thanks, Rebecca, Marin, Cathy, Pamela, Trish, and Lynnette. It’s an honor to work with you all. Thanks for these stories—pick ‘em up, people! You’re going to love them. And who knows…we might end up back at the Cottonwood Ranch one day soon.

Kathleen Scheibling
Senior Editor
Harlequin American Romance

P.S. The pictures here are posters Johanna and I have up in our offices. When we embarked on this journey into the world of rodeo, I thought it would be fun to have some authentic inspiration. These posters are from the Cody, WY, rodeo. Mounted, framed, and hung with pride in our offices at Harlequin.

**Dear Readers don't forget to return tomorrow June 6th for the first One Day Only Social Media Blitz Contest when Rebecca Winters talks about her launch book in the series, Walker: The Rodeo Legend.

Recipes of the Month

The public library in Bonham, Texas has a romance author event every February. Authors introduce themselves and participate in a roundtable discussion, followed by questions from attendees, and then the fun begins. The library ladies provide a wonderful pot luck luncheon for all the authors, giving everyone a chance to eat and chat in a relaxed environment. Author Kay Sisk of Bonham is one of the organizers of the romance author event every year, and for that, all of us who have particpated thank you, Kay!

Sue Smith of Bonham prepared a unique and delicious "salad" one year and I asked her for the recipe. I'm not sure where the recipe originated, but probably with the company who makes Rice-A-Roni. Don't let the name or the ingredients fool you - this is really delicious, especially on a hot summer day, served with a green salad, fruit, muffins, and perhaps a hearty dessert.

Sue Smith's Cold Rice and Artichoke Salad

1 box chicken flavor Rice-A-Roni, prepared per directions and cooled completely
6 green onions, white and light green parts, chopped thin
1 jar artichoke hearts (I use 1 can of water-packed artichoke hearts, drained) quartered or chopped
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon (or more to taste) curry powder
Optional: 1 cup diced grilled chicken or 1 large can chicken breast, drained
Optional: red peppers, green peppers, olives, pimento, etc. may be added to your taste

Mix all ingredients together, chill and serve. Keeps well for several days in refrigerator.

Here's my mother's sugar cookie recipe, which would make a nice dessert with a salad lunch or dinner since you'll want to eat lots of them! My mother always made these cookies in her yellow ware bowl, which my nephew now has in Louisville, KY. I found one just like it at an antiques store and it makes me feel as if I'm still in my mother's tiny kitchen, making these cookies.

Virginia Chancellor's Sugar Cookies

1 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup milk
3 eggs
4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cream shortening and sugar in a large bowl. Add eggs and cream again. Add milk. Sift together dry ingredients and add to shortening/sugar/egg/milk mixture. Add vanilla and stir again. Drop by teaspoons on a greased cookie sheet. Add "sprinkles" if desired. Bake only until light brown on the edges; the cookie should be pale and spongy in the center when tested.

Family Game Night

My son is home from college, which means that our life has turned upside down again. I’ve begun to grocery shop every five days-our meager food supply will not keep one hungry eighteen-year-old happy for long. I’ve also started doing a whole lot more laundry. We now are back in the dining room for dinner-my daughter refused to eat in there when there was just three of us. And I’ve had to give up Suzy, the dachshund at night. Arthur likes sleeping with her, too.

One thing that has returned with a vengeance is ‘family game night’. Now, we’re just like any other family-it’s a small miracle to have all four of us home any evening after dinner. But for whatever reason-maybe the kids are just afraid to make me sad-they still stay home on Sunday nights.

Which is our family game night.

When the kids were little, we played Trouble and Clue and Life. Nowadays, we have two games that all four of us like to play: Hearts and Scrabble. We keep score and nitpick each point earned. And heaven forbid someone even thinks about putting down a word on the Scrabble board that cannot be validated in a dictionary.

We were all good with this little routine...until last Sunday night. That’s when my son pulled out Mad Gab. We had played it a few times last summer, and none of us were very good at it. But, well, I was sick of losing at Hearts, so we all decided to give it a try.

This was a very bad idea. First of all…Mad Gab is played in teams. Partners must rely on each other to decode phonetic sounding phrases. Timers are involved.

I’ll just go ahead and say it... None of us is very good at relying on each other for success. And none of us is very understanding about each other’s faults, either. After one round, the yelling began. Name calling was just around the corner. And wonder of wonders-I had to pull out my dormant completive spirit-otherwise no one wanted to be on my team.

Things got ugly. We kept switching teams. Finally, when no one could take it anymore…we gave up and put that darn timer back in the box. Later that night I made the call: Mad Gab will no longer be part of family game night.

There’s no telling when I’ll get everyone to stay home and play cards or Scrabble again. I might have to make a really good dinner in order to do that. Or maybe just promise that Mad Gab will never be attempted again.

Anyone have a game they play with their family?

Shelley Galloway

May Contest Winner!

Congratulations to Marcie--the winner of our May drawing! To receive your free autographed books please contact Laura Marie Altom and Cathy McDavid through their websites.

Each month we have authors give away a book to one luck winner. All you need to do is comment on our blogs and your name will be entered into the drawing--it's that easy!

June is a special month at Harlequin American Romance with the debut of the first-ever six-book continuity for Harlequin American Romance-- The Codys: First Family of Rodeo. Stop by June 5th for Senior Editor Kathleen Scheibling's blog and the very next day Rebecca Winters kicks off the One-Day only Media Blitz Contest with her blog about the first book in the series, Walker: The Rodeo Legend. Rebecca's giving away books and some delicious Rocky Mountain Chocolate!

Me? A Teacher?

Although I come from a family of teachers, I never saw myself as one.

My mother taught art in junior high school and, later, ceramics and other college courses to art students. My mother-in-law is a retired teacher, and my younger son is studying to be a high school biology teacher.

But me? Sure, I’ve enjoyed giving the occasional critique to fellow writers, but I’m impatient with people who aren’t seriously interested in learning a subject. Besides, the only thing I really know about is writing.

I had a lot of writing teachers. We can start with Mrs. Tyler and Mrs. Hitchcock in high school, and then there were some distinguished instructors in college, including Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Howard Nemerov and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright William Gibson (The Miracle Worker).

Later, while working as a journalist in Southern California, I took a few writing classes here and there, and joined a critique group that I’ve participated in for more than 30 years. Many members have come and gone – including Elizabeth George and T. Jefferson Parker.

I learned from my editors (don’t ask me how many – after 87 novels, I’ve lost count) and some of my agents (there’ve been three or four, but only two that count). I also learned from my editors at a daily newspaper and The Associated Press.

Along the way, I accumulated a lot of knowledge and skills. It seemed almost a shame to have gained so much insight when, let’s face it, I’m hardly Shakespeare or even J.K. Rowling.

A couple of years ago, a fellow writer tipped me off to a college-accredited distance-learning institute called Long Ridge Writers Group, for which she was teaching. I applied, was thoroughly evaluated and trained in their curriculum of short story & article writing and an advanced course on novel writing, and set loose on an assortment of students from all over the world.

During the last couple of years, I’ve learned something: that I’m a teacher. I doubt I could stand in front of a classroom and deal with bored adolescents or disciplinary problems, but I love working one-on-one with motivated writers from their teens to their eighties. The payoff is seeing many of my students make tremendous progress, and hearing back from them how much the experience has meant to them.

I’ve written an article called “Ten Things a Novelist Learned From Teaching Writing” and posted it at http://www.jacquelinediamond.com/WritingTeacherTips. If you get a chance, I hope you’ll take a look.

Where are the emperor's clothes?

Maybe I’m the only kid watching the emperor strut down the road naked. After all, I haven’t read the reviews or checked to see what my Facebook friends are saying or listened to anyone’s Tweets. So, maybe I’m the only one who didn’t “get it.” But I felt cheated by the series finale of one of my fav shows this week.

For years I, along with countless others, tuned in weekly to get a dose of mystery and romance. I looked forward to seeing which flawed, but loveable, hero the heroine chose. I wished a supporting character would escape from under her father’s controlling thumb. Fingers crossed, I fretted over pregnancies. I smiled at babies, cried as beloved “friends” died off, and hoped for an end to one character’s run of incredibly bad luck.

Turns out, I’d have been better off reading (and would have enjoyed it more). Because, after the last show of the last season, my take-away message was, “Ha! Ha! You’re joking, right?” To me, that ending re-affirmed the importance of the promise every author of romance makes to their readers: We will deliver happily-ever-after. Not only that, we’ll deliver it neatly wrapped with a satisfyingly emotional ending. With no room for sappy sentimentality.

So, are you fan of series television? Ever wish the writers and producers were required to deliver the way romance authors do?

Leigh Duncan
The Officer's Girl- April 2010
Catch of a Lifetime-2011
www.leighduncan.com