Who in the World Is Luke Song?

Imagine working at a job you love and doing it well. Many people don’t get to experience that satisfaction, so those of us who do are very lucky.

But now imagine that you suddenly and unexpectedly receive international recognition for what you already love doing. It’s something many of us dream of, and it’s wonderful to hear about it actually happening to someone. After all, if it can happen for them, then maybe it can happen for us.

Take Luke Song, a Detroit milliner/hat designer. For him, this Monday was probably just like most days in the life of a hat designer. On Tuesday, when Aretha Franklin took her place at the inaugural podium, the eyes of the world were riveted, not on her but on her hat. Whether you love it or not, there’s no denying the hat is an attention grabber.

That creation was designed by Luke Song, whose family business, Mr. Song Millinery, has been making hats for several decades. This week, thanks to Ms. Franklin, everything came together at just the right time and place, and he became fashion industry icon.

According to the Detroit Free Press, “By Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Song had sold hundreds of hats. A store in Dallas had sold 500 more, and the material was running out. ‘People are calling from England, asking for the hat,’ said Luke Song, who designed Franklin's chapeau. ‘I'm shocked. I had no idea. We did not expect this.’ ”

Wow.

And then there’s the US Airways pilot who landed his disabled aircraft in the Hudson River last week. I’m guessing that Captain Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger III has always been an outstanding pilot, admired and respected by his family, friends and colleagues, but most of his passengers would only have known his voice as he welcomed them aboard and hoped they had a pleasant flight. Now he’s a hero—the pilot we all want in the cockpit the next time we fasten our seatbelts and ensure that our seatbacks are in the upright position.

How does a person handle being catapulted into the limelight after working in relative obscurity?

If you’re Luke Song, you immediately get to work on an entire line of bow-inspired hats and plan to display them at the Women’s Wear in Nevada trade show in Las Vegas next month.

If you’re Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger III (isn’t that an absolutely perfect name?), I imagine the talk show hosts are clamoring for a chance to interview you, and I’ll bet there’s a good chance there’ll be a book deal, and maybe even a movie.

The stuff dreams are made of, right? So here’s a question. If your dream comes true tomorrow, are you ready to make the most of it?

~~~

Switching topics, Winter Peck, an aspiring Christian romantic suspense author, is holding a Valentine’s book giveaway on her blog. Among the prizes are four Harlequin American Romances:

The Good Mother by Shelley Galloway
Marriage on Her Mind by Cindi Myers
Temporarily Texan by Victoria Chancellor
The Man for Maggie by Lee McKenzie

For a chance to win, drop by her blog and post a comment. Then check back on February 14 when she announces the winners!

Happy reading, and keep on dreaming!

Lee
Lee’s blog
Lee’s website

Reality TV Isn't All Fluff and Nonsense

Okay, I admit to being a fan of reality television. SOME reality television. I don't watch every show that comes down the pike. But startling in January, I'm glued to the TV on Tuesdays and Wednesdays as the latest batch of American Idol contestants vie for the title. I've also been known to watch America's Next Top Model (I blame my teenaged daughter for this one), Project Runway, and So You Think You Can Dance.

A new VH1 reality show caught my eye recently: Confessions of a Teen Idol. I admit to watching the first episode of this show because back in the day, I was crushing hard on a couple of these guys and was interested to see how they turned out. The show isn't at all what I expected and has, frankly, surprised me with its intelligence and emotional depth. I find myself relating to these "has-beens" who are trying to figure out if they have what it takes to make a comeback and if they're really ready to make the sacrifices required of them for that all elusive fame. Why do I relate? Because their journey isn't unlike that of a writer seeking publication.

As I said, these guys have to make sacrifices to achieve their dream, some of the sacrifices are big ones. Name me one writer, published or not, who hasn't given up something important – like money, time, and family obligations – to write or attend a conference or enter a contest or take a class. What's the old saying? Nothing worthwhile is easy.

These guys are also putting themself out there each week, opening themselves up to frequently painful criticisms and critiques. They know if they are going to make it in the industry, they will have to develop, or in their cases, re-develop, thick skins. Don't we writers do that as well? We enter contests and receive harsh comments from judges. We get rejection letters by the barrel. We endure cutting and cruel reviews or posts on blogsites, trashing our books. It hurts. But we do for the glory of being published.

This past week, the seven guys were sent out on an audition for a hair product commercial. Three of them refused the opportunity, citing that commercials were basically beneath them. The other four did audition, realizing that at this stage in their careers , they weren't in any position to be choosy about what roles they took. Afterwards, one of them was awarded the part. He was ecstatic, and I was ecstatic for him. From small successes we can build bigger ones. I have basically conducted my entire writing career using this stepping stone method. It's served me well so far, and I hope it will eventually lead me to the top of the hill.


The four guys who auditioned didn't let their egos get in the way of their ambitions, and I predict they will each make some sort of comeback. I also believe writers have to do the same to be successful. We have to think we're good enough, or we have the courage needed to mail off that first submission. But we also can't afford to be prima donas. At least, not in the early stages of our careers or, like these guys, when we're on the downside of our careers.

Yeah, it's true. Another reason I like watching the show is because these guys still look good for their ages. Hotness isn't restricted to youth (grin!).

Go reality television!!

Cathy Mc

I'm a Spider Addict

They say the first thing you have to do to get well is admit your addiction. Okay, here goes. I’m addicted to Spider Solitaire. The difficult version, that is, the one played with all four suits. I’ve won over 378 games, and have a high score of 1110. Of course, these stats are probably higher—I reset them the last time I hit 500 games. I can beat the easy level in 95 moves, my best being 90.

Spider Solitaire comes free with Windows XP, but I had it even before that. My daughters like to play, but they cannot stand how I can win and they can’t. My ex husband couldn’t win either, but I’m a guru.

Spider has taken over everything. I used to play Free Cell and was good, but once I found Spider Solitaire, Free Cell was a goner. It didn’t have the challenges or the excitement. Minesweeper is also fun, and my best time on the easy level is 14 seconds. But Minesweeper gets boring, not to mention noisy when I blow up.

I think that my ability to play Spider Solitaire goes back to playing games of Double Solitaire with my stepsister. I’m not sure exactly how you play anymore, but you take two decks of cards and the goal is to clear suits in the most moves or less. It’s laid out with four card piles in two rows each, and you have so many cards, then you try to make holes to move things around, which is what you do in Spider Solitaire. In the doubles version, you can challenge and take over if you can make the play in fewer moves. Judy and I were brutal, not giving each other an inch. Along with puzzles (those all white seals or black cats were our favorites), we could keep ourselves occupied in the early eighties, back before MTV was a household staple (and when it played music videos).

I play hearts on the computer too, and my kids are good at that game and enjoy renaming the players. I’ve never mastered bridge, but I played spades in college and was a wicked partner. I didn’t lose much. Then came video games, and the challenge moved to the small screen. I loved Zelda on the first Nintendo, and after mastering being Link, could win in one life, without ever dying. Remember, back then “save game” was rare. I still hate the Teenage Ninja Turtles game for not thinking of that rather nice feature. If you lost at the very end, it was start all the way over from level one.

Now my kids play a Zelda version I don’t recognize on the Wii, and I play card games while I’m checking email or pretending I’m going to write the book I have due. I figure it’s my vice, and everyone needs at least one, and I rationalize that it’s better than eating potato chips. Still, I really should find something else to do that makes better use of my time. I probably could have a lot more books written if I wrote instead of moved cards around. But it’s all mental, and rather entertaining.

So what about you? Any vices? Any games you can’t live without?

A small daily change… A huge payoff

Sometime back (years, maybe) Oprah Winfrey mentioned using a gratitude journal. Every night she jots down something she’s grateful for. I always liked the idea, but never tried it. Until recently.

I started January 1. Each morning, I play soothing music. (Right now, the music is from Within, a CD composed and played by David Michael, a Celtic harpist.) I sit quietly for a minimum of ten minutes (I’m hyper; for me ten minutes is a lot!). I decide what I want to create for myself that day. I also read through inspirational quotes and think about them. I finish by jotting down three things for which I am grateful.

So far, the experience is good. Actually, better than good. The mental focus I gain from doing these things begins the day in a powerful way. I am focused and active instead of hazy and reactive, and ready to conquer any obstacles that crop up. A huge payoff for ten short minutes. Whenever I’m tempted to skip the exercise (hey, I’m human), I remember what I gain from it.

What about you? Do you pray, meditate or otherwise focus your life on a daily basis?

Eager to hear from you and grateful for each person reading this,
Ann
www.annroth.net

Telemarketing Scams and Winter Blues

Okay, I'm going to confess something--I'm a Sucker. Yep, just paint a big S on my forehead.

Two weeks ago I was writing at my desk staring out the window at the snow falling--AGAIN. The temperature that day hovered in the teens and no sun--can you say Winter Blues? The phone rings and the area code is 407--Florida. I know someone in Florida, so I answer--not the person I know, but maybe better.

A cheery woman informs me that my husband and I have won a free vacation. Yeah! She proceeds to list off several "warm-weather" locations like Hawaii, Cancun, Orlando Florida etc. (Remember what I'm staring at out my widow while this woman is rambling in my ear). Like a circuit breaker gone wild my brain crackled and suddenly I was worrying about my wardrobe, thinking I have nothing to wear to a beach and must go shopping. Anyway the woman said she'd go over the details with my husband when he returned from his business trip to Detroit later in the week--this all had to do with his Marriot Hotel points.

Of course I called hubby and left an "excited" message on his cell phone. The poor man didn’t want to burst my bubble so he'd called the woman back before phoning me with the bad news--it was a vacation timeshare. Kind of like paying rent each month in exchange for one week at a resort destination. Well, that s*cked. And of course it didn't include air-fair or taxes on the hotel rooms and the woman had never mentioned sitting through a 90-minute company presentation when you arrive at the resort.

So the next day I sat at my desk again and stared at the snow and gray skies outside my office window and thanked my stars I was a writer and could at least escape the winter blues for a few hours a day by living vicariously through the characters in the book I'm revising right now--which happens to take place in Oklahoma during July and August.


Marin
A Cowboy's Promise *Men Made in America* (April 09)
Samantha's Cowboy (Aug 2009)
www.marinthomas.com

Telling It Like It Might Be

In romance, the gold standard for criticism is Romantic Times. So I was thrilled to read that RT awarded 4 ½ stars out of 5 to my January release, Million-Dollar Nanny. Reviewer. Whitney Kate Sullivan called it an “extremely touching, beautifully written story.” Thank you, Whitney!
Since few print publications review romance, thank goodness for romance Web sites. These are often established and maintained by dedicated fans and booksellers.
When Harlequin sends copies of my books a few months before publication, I mail out half a dozen to reviewers who, over the years, have shown an interest in continuing to read and write about my books. Some of them are kind enough to e-mail me when the review is posted, and I’ve even had the privilege of meeting several of these generous ladies at Romance Writers of America national conferences.
This is a far cry from the antagonism that sometimes springs up between literary authors and critics. In reading the Wikipedia article labeled “Critics,” I think a long-suffering author might have written this line: “Often destructive criticism comes from persons who are envious, cruel and those who judge in fields which are not their own.” It goes on to say that that hurtful criticism “may be done intentionally or out of sheer ignorance and foolishness.”
I’ll admit that, delicious as I find the sentiment, the article is festooned with warnings that it doesn’t cite sources and may not be factually accurate. Who’d have figured an article on critics would be subject to so much criticism itself?
I Googled my way over to Wikipedia’s much more scholarly article on “Literary Criticism,” which has been tidied up and properly Wikified. It cites an honorable history dating back to Aristotle and Plato. The article discusses literary theory and schools of criticism, using elevated language such as: “However important all of these aesthetic movements were as antecedents, current ideas about literary criticism derive almost entirely from the new direction taken in the early twentieth century.”
Let’s face it. I enjoyed that ragtag, opinionated, non-scholarly commentary in “Critics” a lot more. Which just goes to show that even literary criticism can take its share of brickbats.
By the way, I found an interesting definition of “brickbat” on Thefreedictionary.com. But I’ve indulged my curiosity – and your patience – long enough.
Happy reading!

There goes the adrenaline

Most people who know me know I write in big huge spurts. I'm on the end of one. I wrote the last nine pages of my book today, and then went through it with a fine tooth comb. Twice. I'm sure I still missed something.

The moment it left my inbox for my editor's desk, I was tired. All the adrenaline of writing (and forgetting to eat) left in a flash. It's time for bed, and time for goodbye until I get the book back on revision. However, I had to post my blog as I have newspaper deadline tomorrow and am working a 13 hour day at school.

It sounds funny to say, but I see characters in my head. For me, the characters come before the plot and anything else. They're like ghosts who talk in my head and create their own little movie. I don't interact with them; it's more like being a fly on the wall. However, I can make them do what I want, although often the surprise me.

My current WIP is about a corporate VP who becomes accidentally pregant by her much younger PA. Mitch loves Kristi, but she has no clue. Creating Kristi has been hard for me, because Kristi is unlucky at love and doesn't believe she's worthy. That forced me to dig deep to find those sitations that could make her realistic. As for Mitch, I wish he were real and I'd snag him right up. He's so convinced he's the man for her, even when she's oblivious.

I promise a better post on the 20th, but wanted to drop in and say hi and happy Monday. Enjoy your week!

The Magic of January

I'm not the first, nor probably the last, to blog about New Year's resolutions for 2009. But I just can't resist. I love the start of a new year, a blank slate.

Usually I start the year by reviewing last year's goals and checking off any that I've accomplished. This is almost always a disappointing exercise, because I inevitably bite off way more than I can chew. I set huge, lofty goals, imagining my perfect self with a perfect life, then setting goals intended to get me there, imagining that by the end of the year I'll be perfectly fit and toned, eating the healthiest of diets, living in a completely organized and beautifully decorated home, writing a book a month and somehow finding time to read to underprivileged children.

It all sounds perfectly sane in January. But somehow it always goes awry. I get distracted by some new kink in my life or I take up a new hobby I'd never heard of in January and the goals fall by the wayside. About June, I'm shoving them under the desk blotter and trying not to think about how little progress I've made, and by December I'm wondering if I'll ever change and knowing, deep down, that I won't. I'll always have a less-than-healthy diet, I'll always have a messy office, and I'll never stop procrastinating.

Yet, now it's January and I'm doing it again. I'm planning to declutter my entire house (this might actually happen, since I'm moving); write three books, lose five pounds (those last five stinkin' pounds!) cook healthy three nights per week and resume cycling and yoga. I'm going to get in touch with old friends. I'm going to meditate every day and volunteer my time once a week. I'm going to plant a garden and actually take care of it. That's only the tip of the iceberg.

Right this moment, I actually believe I'll do all those things. I am brimming with optimism. I haven't made it to yoga class or pumped up the bike tires, but I got a new skillet as a Christmas gift, so that’s almost cooking. And I meditated once already, and I've written at least five pages on my new book. Hope springs eternal.

But that's the magic of January.

A Strange Encounter

Happy New Year everyone!

I'd like to share a strange experience I had the other day. I had a doctor’s appointment and after I signed in, I notice a lady was reading one of my books. This is an author’s dream, or at least it’s one of mine. I could hardly believe she was reading my book.

Now my dilemma. Should I say something? Heck yeah, was my instant response. So I nicely said, “Are you enjoying the book?”
“Yes,” she replied, without raising her head.
Well, I didn’t expect that. So I tried again.
“I wrote that book,” I continued.
“I know,” was her surprising answer, and again she didn’t look up.
My ego was starting to take a beating. Where was the gushing or praise or something beside "I know?"
Okay. I waited a minute and then asked, “Would you like a bookmark?”
“No, thanks.” Again she didn’t look at me.
Now this was just weird. And rude. This certainly wasn’t turning out the way I was expecting. Before I could gather my courage to ask another question, she was called back to see the doctor. She gathered her book, her purse and quickly left the room, never looking my way.
At this point my ego was in the dumpster. Maybe that dream wasn’t so great after all.

When it was my turn to see the doctor, I planned to ask the nurse about the lady, but I never got a chance. The nurse said, “Linda, you have to stop scaring our patients.” And then she told me a shocking story.
The lady was in her late thirties and she was born to parents in their late forties. She was an only child and home schooled. Evidently she had very little contact with the outside world. Her parents had passed away and her guardian was trying to introduce her to the real world by making her go out in public, on the advice of a psychologist. The lady is painfully shy and has a extremely difficult time talking to people. Her passion is books and she reads all the time. She orders and never goes into a store.

The nurse went on to say that the lady had ordered all my books and had really wanted to talk to me, but she couldn’t. I felt so bad about persisting with questions and I asked the nurse to apologize for me. She said that she would, but the doctors wanted people to talk to her. That made me feel a lot better. I left a bookmark for her and the nurse said the lady would be excited to get it.

The situation didn't turn out the way I'd envisioned (have to wait for the gushing and praise), but I came away with a deep appreciation for other people’s feelings. I can’t even imagine living in that kind of fear.

How about you? Have you had any strange encounters?

Linda
www.lindawarren.net
Mar ’09 - The Sheriff of Horseshoe, Texas

Beginnings

Happy New Year, everyone. Hope your holidays were wonderful. I got to see a lot of family, which filled me with the joy of the season.
Since we seem to be on a theme here, beginnings stuck in my head when I sat down to blog. Probably because I've started writing a new book, "beginnings" to me means the first line or first chapter. So I looked up some of my favorite books to see if their first lines drew me into the story. Of course everyone knows the first line of REBECCA by Daphne DuMaurier because it's quoted so often. Here's a sample from my shelf.
Father must protect me or I am dead. From HER ONE DESIRE by Kimberly Killion, Kensington Zebra.
It was a proposition that would tempt a saint. From MOON IN THE WATER by Elizabeth Grayson, Bantam Books.
"I ain't hirin' no baby killer to work in my store." From MAN WITH A PAST by Kay Stockham, Harlequin SuperRomance.
Each of these uses a different technique, but all drew me in. Whether it's a direct thought, narrative or dialogue, they effectively made me read on. These are on my keeper shelf because the stories are as wonderful as their first lines.
When I buy a book, I notice the front cover art, title and author's name. If I'm interested in one of those, I'll flip to the back or cover flap to read the blurb. Seldom do I read the first line to determine whether to buy a book. But when I'm reading, the impression that first line makes sticks with me. Did it grab me? Draw me on? Make me eager to find out the answer?
What about you? Do you have any favorite first lines? Or don't you think they're relevant?

Megan Kelly
megankellybooks.com

Interview with Lisa Ruff

Please welcome Lisa Ruff a new author to the Harlequin American line. Her first book, Man of the Year debuted June 2008 and her latest release Baby on Board hits store shelves this month.

If you could be lazy for an entire day what would you do?

Read! Which is what I always do when I am lazy for any amount of
time at all. I read all kinds of stuff--romance, fantasy, biography,
adventure, history. But to complete the day-long fantasy, I'd eat
chocolate and drink tea, too. While lying in bed. A handsome man would
have to bring me the tea and chocolate, of course, for it to be a truly
lazy day. And can he massage my feet when he's not doing that?

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Sail on my 40' sailboat, Thalia. I've lived on a sailboat for
fourteen years. My husband and I spent five years sailing from Seattle
down through the Panama Canal, around the Caribbean, then up the east
coast to Maine. I like the feel of the boat responding to the wind and
sea. And there's the satisfaction of harnessing the forces of nature to
discover new places and new experiences. Absolutely nothing compares to
sailing the ocean at night with the vastness of the star-strewn sky
overhead. You are insignificant and immense, both at the same time.

What is your writing routine?

Up in the morning, breakfast and a bit of procrastinating before
I sit down at the keyboard. I usually re-read and edit what I did the
day before, which often turns out to be just more procrastination! I
have a hard time actually typing the first few words, but after that I'm
a 8-10 page-a-day writer. Lunch is in there somewhere--my least
favorite meal, since it's just an interruption--then back to the
keyboard for a while until I reach whatever goal I've set for myself on
a particular day. I'm very goal-driven, and I work best if I set a
definite end-point to work toward, like finish a chapter or scene.

If you could wish for anything, what would you wish for?

The ability to write a clean, clear sentence that says precisely
what I mean, the first time I write it. That seems nearly unachievable
most days, but the elusive goal keeps me writing.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Creating the "Black Moment," where the two characters are on the
verge of destroying the love they have for each other. I like my
characters and, after 50,000 words, I don't want to torture them. But
the conflict of a story must reach a climax, a point where the main
characters teeter on the brink of failing and losing what they most
want. Or they end up torturing each other even though they intend to
love each other. Their worst side comes out. They might even be mean.
I don't like it when the people I create turn mean and small and reveal
their dark side.

What inspired you to write your first book?

I got the idea for Man of the Year from watching Little League
and wondering what happened to those young boys when they grew up. Then
I started following my local Major League team. Have you seen how tight
they wear their pants? Mmm. Very inspiring.

How long have you been writing?

Fourteen years. I wrote my first book--which was actually Man
of the Year, my first book published with Harlequin American--in 1994.
I submitted it to a couple of publishers and an agent, but there wasn't
a market for sports-themed romance back then. So, I put it into the
proverbial "magic drawer" for the future. Then my husband and I went off cruising in the Caribbean for five years. I continued to write, but didn't try to submit anything until 2006, when I noticed a lot more romances with sports themes. I polished Man of the
Year and sent twenty-two query letters out to agents on the day before
Thanksgiving, 2006. One agent decided to take a chance on me and
offered me a contract. She sent the manuscript out that week to
Harlequin American Romance. A year later, after one revision, they
accepted and here I am!

What did you want to be when you grew up?

An interior designer. When I was six, playing with Barbie was
not so much about the hair and clothes. But my gosh, all that
furniture! I found my calling. When I got a little older, I drove my
mother crazy rearranging the house all the time. Nothing stayed in one
place for more than about three months. The dust bunnies under the sofa
got cleaned up fairly often, so how much could she complain? I went to
college to study design and did commercial design--restaurants and
offices--for 10 years before discovering writing. Suddenly a whole new
world opened up. A world that I could create. That was way better
than moving furniture--I could arrange people and design their lives.

What got you interested in writing?

I've always loved books. My father read to me every night when
I was young. The Wind in the Willows, Kim, The Wizard of Oz you
name it, he read it. There was virtually no television reception in the
small mountain-locked town where I grew up, so books were my escape to
other worlds. When I was out of college and working in Seattle, I met a
few writers—some struggling, some successful—and had an “I can do that”
moment because of them. Then I learned why they were struggling. It's
hard work writing a book! That made me admire the successful ones all
the more.

What is the one question you wish an interviewer would ask you?

Have you lost weight? I wish everyone would ask me that, even if
it's not true. I hope I never get asked about how to calculate the
square root of some number. I'm an art major; I don't do math. Though
I am the person who can always calculate the tip on a bill. How strange
is that?

What's a saying you use a lot?

"It could have been much worse." That's from Sir Francis
Chichester's book, Gypsy Moth Circles the World. Sir Frances was one
of the great solo, 'round-the-world sailors. This was his stock phrase
when disaster struck, anything from running his boat aground on a reef
to having his mainsail shred in a gale. Sailing on the ocean always
seems to entail close calls and disasters of one degree or another. So
when things go wrong on my boat or in my life, I invoke Sir Francis'
spirit and remind myself that the situation could be much worse. He
also poured himself a cocktail when things went wrong. He figured that
by the time he was done drinking it, he'd either have thought of a way
to fix the problem, or the problem would have fixed itself. Not a bad
way to go about life. Sometimes I do that, too.

What's your favorite dessert?

Flan. One of the first phrases I learned in Spanish was: ¿Hay
Flan? We sailed down the coast of Mexico and Central America and I
asked that question in every restaurant, no matter how tiny or
primitive. And you know what? The answer was "Si", nearly every time.
I've eaten flan in Tijuana, Panama City, Panama, Mazatlan, Mexico, Playa
del Cocos, Costa Rica, Cartagena, Columbia, and Puerta La Cruz,
Venezuela. All of it different textures and flavors and most of it very
delicious.

Do you have any talents readers might find interesting?

I can wiggle my ears. That's pretty cool, if you're a
ten-year-old.

Are you a cat or dog person?

Definitely a cat person, since I'm allergic to dogs. I don't
have one right now, though. My beloved 18-year-old Mali died three
years ago and I haven't been ready for another cat since. She had a
long, good life. Against her will, she traveled to 19 countries by
sailboat. She was never much impressed with any of them. She survived
four gales at sea, one swim test, innumerable baths and one falling
over-board. She was a good cat, though she was never interested in
being good. She was more interested in being what she was: difficult,
funny, loud, affectionate, obnoxious and demanding. I still miss her,
but she started haunting me immediately after she died. She still
does. Her ghost pops around the corner or lurks in the dark, watching
me, wondering how I'm getting along without her.

If someone gave you a million dollars what would you do with the
money?

I've always loved to travel, and I would do more of that. The
thing I like best about cruising on a sailboat is going to a foreign
country and staying there. When you can stay for months, rather than
days, in a town you get to be part of the community, not just a
tourist. I love Spain and I've always wanted to go to Chile and
Patagonia, too. Last winter my husband and I spent four months in
Woodstock, England, in a cottage built in 1780. We got to be know the
people and had "our" local pub that the neighbors on our street
frequented. We felt like we belonged there, as much as a foreigner can
belong to a place for four months. With a million dollars, I would look for more experiences like that.

Lisa Ruff
Baby on Board (Jan 2009)
www.lisaruff.net

Cell phone novels

It’s 2009, and technology continues to race forward, presenting us with amazing new innovations.

I read a fascinating article in the Dec. 22-29 New Yorker (I Heart Novels, by Dana Goodyear) about cell phone novels in Japan. This craze has swept the nation and resulted in paperback and Manga books, movies and massive sales for those who write the stories. Amazing! Critics say the books are badly written, more like diary entries anyone could write than well-crafted stories. That may be true, but the authors don’t care. (They’re crying all the way to the bank.)

I wonder if this craze will catch on in the U.S. I’m not just talking about reading published novels on your cell. That’s already happening. What I mean is the practice of anyone, including those with no writing background and no idea how to develop characters or plot or theme, writing a book on their cell phone for a group of readers eager to read every word.

What do you think—will this craze sweep the U.S. and Canada?

Curious and wonderingly yours,
Ann
www.annroth.net

Happy New Year!

Without even checking, I’m sure I won’t be the only author here using the above title for her blog post--but, hey, when you’re sending out a message within four days of the new year, how can you not acknowledge it?

How can you not be excited about turning the page, beginning with a clean slate, making a fresh start? And, best of all, about being lucky enough to do things over and finally get them right?

A new year is so special because it allows us to make improvements in any and all areas of our lives. Don’t know about you, but I’m ready--though I won’t bore you with my long list.

What I will share with you are my wishes for 2009.

For the readers: many wonderful new books and time to kick back and enjoy them.

For the writers: fabulous story ideas and publishing contracts to go with them.

And for you all, good health and great fortune every day of this happy new year!


All my best to you,

Barbara

~~~~~~

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

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Hi everyone!

Well, today's post kind of snuck up on me, so I don't have anything very interesting to say. Did everyone have a nice New Year?

Last night we watched my daughter cheer. Today I'm hoping we'll finally go to the movies. I want to see Tom Cruise's new one. Has anyone seen it? Tonight is church. Tomorrow will be tough--we're going to have to get organized. That will involve lots of laundry, homework, nagging, and packing. On Monday, the kids will go back to school, my husband will fly out of town, and I'll need to wake up at six again.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, and a great Monday morning, too.

Shelley

DECEMBER WINNER!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Our December winner is Rachel Bailey!!!!!! Congratulations, Rachel!!! To get your free, autographed books, please contact Kara Lennox and Victoria Chancellor through their websites.

Tell all your friends to visit us. To enter the drawing, simply comment and your name is entered in our drawing.

Good luck!
(Magdalena, if you're reading this, please email me: ann@annroth.net. You won the November drawing and I never did hear from you. I want to send you your autographed book!)

On the first day

In the blogosphere, where the old year dwells
Eternally in cyberspace,
Let’s grab the rope and ring the bells
To welcome the … human race … happy place… smiley face…

Too much sparkling apple-cranberry juice last night. Let’s try again.

There once was an old year, ’08,
That no one would dare celebrate.
It dashed all our hopes,
Threw us on the ropes,
And left my head in a terrible state.

Forget that! Who needs more gloom and doom?

Deck the mall with cards of folly
Tra la la la la (etc etc)
The banks are hoping you’ll be solly
Fa la la la …

Wait. Solly? Honestly! Once again into the fray:

While we wait for the economy to rally,
Let’s chalk up a personal tally:
One family well met,
Our home’s not foreclosed yet
And there’s plenty of lilies in the valley.

Sorry – I seem to have a poetic deficit this year. What I’m trying to say is:
To all my readers and fellow authors, Happy New Year,
Best of luck and love in 2009.
And may it be a much better year than ’08!

Happy 2009!

Normally I post on the 30th, but I wanted to let Kara's great Q & A stay up an extra day. As I am currently spending my break between first and second semester writing and catching up on reading my TBR pile, I'm going to keep this short and simply wish you a happy 2009.

If you are going out and about tonight, or even if you are staying home with a loved one and watching the ball drop, have a wonderful and safe New Year's Eve. I'm thrilled to be the last post of 2009, and may all your resolutions and goals for 2009 be met.

An Interview with Kara Lennox

In honor of Harlequin American Romance's 25th Anniversary, authors old and new have answered a series of questions. Here are my answers--but I only answered the questions I liked!
1) How long have you been published?
20 years. Is that scary or what?
2) What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?
Don't take everything so seriously. If you're in this for the long haul, there will be ups and downs. Go with the flow.
3) What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?
Telling a good story. So long as you can keep readers turning the pages, nothing else matters.
4) You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be?
The time I sent a private message to a friend--only I hit the wrong button and it went public.
5) What's the strangest thing you've ever eaten?
A fish eye. It was dark.
6) What comes first: the plot or the characters?
For me, plot.
7) When you looked in the mirror this morning, what was the first thing you thought?
Who is that old lady in my bathroom?
8) Describe your writing space.
A total mess. Post-It notes everywhere. Can't see the top of my desk.
9) Do you ever suffer from writer's block? If so, what do you do about it?
I did for the first time this year! I waited it out. Eventually it went away.
10) What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
Victoria Holt and Mary Higgins Clark. Later, Janet Evanovich.
11) What are you reading now?
A Lisa Gardner book.
12) Do you re-read your books once they're in print?
Never.
13) What is your work schedule like when you are writing?
It's a pretty normal 9-5 workday, writing more in the morning and editing/brainstorming/plotting and problem-solving in the afternoon.
14) How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
I've sold 57 (as Kara Lennox and Karen Leabo) but I've written lots more that haven't sold. My favorite is a Silhouette Intimate Moments published in 1995 called INTO THIN AIR.
15) Do you hear from your readers much? What do they say?
I get letters and e-mail now and then. Many of my readers are teenagers and people from other countries. I've corresponded with readers from Africa, India and Bulgaria, and I love to hear from them especially.
16) Are you working on anything at the present you'd like to share?
I'm playing around with a young-adult paranormal romance.
17) Did you ever eat paste or Elmer's glue when you were a kid?
No. Blech.
18) What did you do career-wise before becoming an author?
I was an art director for a magazine, then a freelance nonfiction writer. I also did some crazy odd jobs. I was a blackjack dealer and a hamster wrangler for an entertainment company.
19) How has the American Romance line changed since you first began writing for it?
My first American came out in 1999. I think it's broadened a lot. You see more diversity in the line. It's more author-driven, I think.
20) What helps inspire you when you write? Do you have any ‘rituals’ (like music, candles, a favorite scent) that helps you find your writing zone?
I like groceries, that's what inspires me! No rituals. I just like it quiet.
21) What do you want to know about the future?
Nothing--I'd rather be surprised.
22) Can you taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke? If so, which do you prefer?
Yes, and I prefer Coke, though I seldom drink any kind of soft drink.
23) Have you ever made a crank phone call?
Yes. I was a horrible child.
24) What is your dream car?
A silver Nissan Roadster.
25) If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be?
Any place with a beach and umbrella drinks. No, seriously, I love to travel, and I love going to strange, out-of-the-way places like Bulgaria.
26) If you were locked in a closet for one hour who would you want in there with you?
My husband. He has a black belt in Tae Kwan Do, and I would get him to kick the door down. I'm claustrophobic.

Dreaming of a White Christmas

Kids around the world dream of a white Christmas – just ask Bing Crosby, Thomas Kinkade and Frosty the Snowman. It doesn’t get much better than sledding on your favorite hill, sipping hot chocolate and building a snow fort. And to that I’m tempted to say bah humbug – not that I’m a Scrooge, au contraire, I love the snow but this year we endured 12 days of frozen precipitation – snow, ice, and freezing rain. We shoveled, scraped and de-iced but that wasn’t the worst of it. When the white stuff falls in the Pacific Northwest absolutely everything comes to a standstill. Schools and businesses close, buildings collapse, busses don’t run, trains freeze up, airplanes are grounded and freeways are littered with abandoned cars. We had folks stranded at the airport, the bus terminal and the train station for days prior to Christmas. Oh wow - that has to be cabin fever on steroids.

But now - hip, hip hooray - we’re in the middle of a big thaw and life is returning to normal. Stores are packed and the traffic is a killer. All’s well in our little corner of the world. So the moral of this story is the next time I start talking about a white Christmas I think I’ll simply whack myself upside the head and buy a ticket to Maui.
Wishing you a wonderful New Year
Ann DeFee
The Man She Married, HAR, February 2009
Top Gun Dad, HAR, October 2009

Merry Christmas

We would all like to give you a big hug and a cyber chorus of We Wish You a Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year.

Joy to all and may today be merry.

The authors of Harlequin American Romance