Furry Babies

Since I was a child, I've always had pets. When I was young, the house was full of dogs and cats. There were horses in the fields and chickens pecking around the yard. My mother wouldn't tolerate any small furry creatures in the house so I had to wait until I had kids of my own before we enjoyed the usual succession of gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits and rats.

For me a home isn't complete without furry friends. There is something innocent and trusting about animals that helps ground me when life gets hectic. Animals remind me what's really important.

I've loved all our pets, even the poor budgerigar that only survived for a few weeks before the cat managed to eat her. But dogs and cats are my favorites. I'm one of those soppy people who consider my dogs and cats as my babies.

My husband and I take our dear little Westie everywhere. She sleeps with us in bed at night and is rarely out of our company. When I'm apart from her I'm the one who gets separation anxiety! I keep wondering how she is. If we go on a foreign vacation, after a few days I want to go home because I miss her.

It's been medically proven that stroking dogs and cats can lower people's blood pressure and ease stress. My prescription to help cope with this modern chaotic life we lead is to pet a dog. Much better for you than medication!

The only downside of loving a pet so much is the inevitable heartbreak when they pass away. My dear little Shih Tzu, Lily, who I was lucky enough to share my life with for fifteen years, passed away recently. I still expect to see her and miss her terribly. I'd have been lost without my young dog to help me cope.

In my latest book, a dear old family pet provides support and love for the heroine when nobody else can. Do you have pets? Have they ever helped you through a difficult time in your life?

Helen lives in South West England near Plymouth in Devon between the windswept expanse of Dartmoor and the rocky Atlantic coast. As well as her wonderful, long-suffering husband, she shares her home with a Westie and a burmilla cat. Helen's latest book is the sixth in her Army Doctor's series,The Army Doctor's Forever Baby. Find Helen on FaceBook and Twitter, or visit her website.

Food Glorious Food by Joanne Hill

Food! Yummy, yummy food! It is such a big part of relationships from the gift of chocolates, to the cake at a wedding, to going out for a meal , whether it be beer and nachos at a pub, sharing a packet of chips/fries at a game, or dinner at a very nice restaurant.

I remember discussing the whole 'food' thing with some writers once  because so many scenes were set in restaurants  and I suck at writing those kind of scenes where its just eating and talking.  One of the writers, a long-time Harlequin author,  explained that she saw a dinner scene as a "breaking of the bread," between two people with an almost spiritual element to it.  A 'coming together' in fellowship.  It's what we do as humans and we do it over food all the time.  We get to know people over a coffee or a meal. We invite friends to dinner at our home or meet them for lunch at a cafe.  Events are centrered around food from the sandwiches after a funeral, to a lavish wedding breakfast, to farewelling a work colleague with afternoon tea, or to celebrating with friends, as the old photo here shows. 

It was taken with fellow writers Tessa Radley, Helen Kirkman, Sandra Hyatt and Rowena O'Sullivan (and Karina Bliss who took the photo). The event was to celebrate the RITA nomination of our friend Sandra in the novella category. As we had lunch (at a very nice waterfront restaurant), the Awards Ceremony was taking place in New York. Sandra was on the phone to her daughter at home, for an update on the ceremony, via the internet , and we were just so excited for her. We were also just as gutted when she passed on the news that she hadn't  won. It's moments like these, that  fellowship/breaking of the bread, that you remember and are so lucky to have been a part of.

Food can be memorable in some not-so-touching ways as well. Think of a dodgy meal that gives you food poisoning. Something going down the wrong way, even choking you while you're at a restaurant. A way-too-spicy meal that just makes your eyes water as you guzzle down whatever beverage is handy ...  All embarrassing and not romantic in real life.

So it got me thinking about those times a romantic dinner  can be spoiled. It's the stuff of romantic comedies and I always think, when I see that kind of scene, that the writer knew or saw or experienced that mortifying incident themselves. Grist for the pen!

Have you ever been out on a romantic dinner and it was just one big embarrassing nightmare - or maybe it didn't  end in disaster at all, and it was, in the words of Rick in Casablanca... " the beginning of a beautiful friendship?" Do share.

Kiwi  Indie author Joanne Hill usually avoids spicy food after some unfortunate incidents which thank goodness were not romantic anyway.  Her upcoming comedy "Dating Daisy" is part of a bundle with six other Kiwi authors called "Second Chances"  that is available now for pre-order on the iBooks Store! 

 You can find Jo on Twitter at @joanneauthor or Facebook at www.facebook.com/joannehillauthor

 

A little bit of magic ~ by Magdalena Scott

I am home now, after spending some time inside a fairy tale. Here is a photo of my fairy tale costume. I call it my MOG togs, since I was the Mother of the Groom. I took a lousy picture, so you can't see that the heels of my shoes are clear plastic. Kind of like Cinderella shoes, except, you know, I wasn't the princess.

The princess, much prettier than Cinderella, wore a gown as lovely as any fairy tale princess, and the prince was swoon-worthy in his tux. The attendants were also suitably attired for a royal wedding, and the event room had been extravagantly transformed into a place where dukes and duchesses would have felt at home.

The wedding was perfect, the preparations fun (especially since I had little responsibility but enough time to do neat stuff like tie lavendar bows on chairs with some of the wedding party).

The bride and groom, my son and new daughter-in-law, deserved this. Life has not always been kind to them, and no doubt there will be struggles in the future. But for one perfect moment in time, they had their fairy tale.

This is why I write romance. Because it's okay to spend time inside a fairy tale--to sigh at the beauty of the princess, swoon at the handsome prince. It's okay to take that break from reality, because when we are back in the real world, we still have a little bit of the magic that we carefully slid into our pocket.

~~~

Magdalena Scott writes sweet romance with small town settings, and is the author of six books in the bestselling Ladies of Legend series. (And a new one releasing this summer!)

All her books can be found on Amazon and at other ebook retailers.  

Catch up with her here:

    Welcome to Magdalenaville

     Twitter

     Facebook

     Goodreads

~~~

Coming in Summer 2014 - Second Chances

Wine is Easy (honest) by Melinda Curtis

There are many things in life that intimidate me – modern car engines, tax forms, computer viruses.  But not wine.  Yes, I’m from California.  Yes, I've worked at a winery.  Yes, I’ve earned a certificate from the prestigious UC Davis wine appreciation program.  But learning all the complexities is like learning a foreign language – if you don’t use it, you lose it.  I admit: I’ve forgotten more about wine than I’ve retained.  And so, when people turn to me for advice about what wine to order, I developed a bit of shorthand.

Do you ever drink wine or spirits?  If spirits, are you a mixed drink or straight person?  Do you drink black coffee or lattes?  Do you drink full-sugar soda or diet?  Orange juice, cranberry juice, or grapefruit juice?  Prefer chocolate for dessert or fresh fruit?  Season your steak with salt/pepper, a combination of dry seasonings, or a creamy sauce?

You don’t need answers to all the questions, just a starting point, a hint, a clue.  And you don’t need to follow the “wine rules” (red with red meat, white with fish/poultry).  That’s old school.  My cheat sheet is below.  My caveat: this is a system that works for me.  You might have different preferences and that’s okay, too.

If I’m with people who don’t normally drink wine, I veer toward white wine, usually something lighter, like a Sauvignon Blanc.  These wines – especially the ones from New Zealand – are very soft and subtle and generally please everyone.  Sauvignon Blancs from California tend to have a hint of grapefruit.  If you’ve got full-sugar soda or orange/cranberry juice drinkers, try a Riesling or a Moscato – although these aren’t what I’d recommend drinking with your main course, as they’re rather sweet.  If someone likes lattes or chocolate, a “rich, full-bodied” Chardonnay would be good (stay away from “oaky” Chards for this type of drinker).  One warning about Chardonnays: they come in more flavor variation than jelly beans – never assume if you like one Chard, you’ll like another.  Finally, if you have a mixed bag of flavors being mentioned in your group, try a white wine blend.  These are usually lighter in body and flavor, blended to please a broader spectrum of wine drinkers.  Some have a hint of sweetness, some a hint of brown spice or floral notes, so they aren’t boring.

If I’m with wine drinkers, I’ll veer toward red wine.  Merlot is something I choose for people who like creamy sauces and is safe for a mix of wine appreciation levels (hard to screw up and not a wine with tons of different flavors at affordable levels).  If people like black pepper and strong spices, I might choose a Syrah or Chianti.  If chocolate or lattes came up, I might choose a Pinot Noir, but one from a drier climate (Oregon Pinots taste softer to me).  If there were preferences for fruit for dessert, I might choose a Zinfandel or a Shiraz.  I’ll choose a Cabernet Sauvignon if people like strong flavors (black coffee, pepper, straight spirits) and there is red meat coming to the table (probably the only wine type that I consider doesn’t go well with white meat or fish – but that’s just me).  Remember how I compared Chards to jelly beans?  Same applies to Cabs – lots of styles and flavors, therefore harder to pick one that pleases a variety of palates.

Wine is a lot like the different coffee drinks available at Starbucks.  You can get a plain, but good, cup of coffee, add different tastes to that cup (shake some cinnamon on top, add creamy whip, etc.), or have the coffee be a complement to heavier flavors (chocolate, caramel, etc.).  It fits your mood and your taste buds.  Wine does the same thing. Selecting a wine is a little adventure and when you ask people for their preferences, they become vested in that adventure with you (and therefore the adventure’s success isn’t all on your shoulders).  If you’re nervous about making a decision, you can always ask for a taste of something to see if you like it before you commit.  Have fun!

Melinda Curtis writes the Harmony Valley series of sweet romances set in a small town winery for the Harlequin Heartwarming line. Brenda Novak says: “Season of Change has found a place on my keeper shelf”.  Melinda also writes independently published, hotter romances as Mel Curtis. Jayne Ann Krentz says of Blue Rules: “Sharp, sassy, modern version of a screwball comedy from Hollywood's Golden Age except a lot hotter.”  Melinda is married to her college sweetheart, and has three kids in college.  She follows the NFL because one young quarterback is from her hometown, and follows Duke basketball because Mr. Curtis has a man crush on Coach K.  Her latest release is Season of Change.  You can learn more about her books at www.MelindaCurtis.net.

Happy Memorial Day from the Sweet Romance Reads Authors!

How To Change a Flat Tire in 10 Easy Steps by Donna Fasano

I received a call from a friend one day. She was stranded with a flat tire and she wanted me to pick her up. When I arrived, she told me she'd called her husband and he had agreed to change the flat later that day once his work day was finished. This plan meant that her husband would have to drive home, pick her up, and drive her back to the car so she could drive it home. When I suggested that we change the flat ourselves, she looked at me as if I had two heads.

Why is it that many women think this kind of thing is "man's work"?

Having grown up in a household of males (I was the only girl of five kids), I could toss a football, swing a baseball bat, and climb trees with the best of them. I guess that's why I'm not afraid of tackling jobs that other women might shy away from. (On the other hand, it could be that I'm just strange.)

Every woman should know how to change a flat tire. So here are some simple instructions. You will need: a spare tire, a jack, a lug wrench—all of these items should be in your trunk.

1.     Park on a flat surface and engage the emergency brake. Think about it. You don't want the car to roll while you're changing the flat. If it's at all possible, brace the opposite tire with something heavy (a block of wood, a large rock, a brick, etc). For example, if your front passenger-side tire is flat, brace the front driver-side tire.

2.     Remove the hubcap. Most newer-model cars don't have hubcaps, but if your car is older, you'll need to remove the hubcap so you can access the lug nuts. If your car doesn't have hubcaps, skip to #3. If you do have hubcaps, use the flat side of the lug wrench to pry off the hubcap, prying in several locations rather than all in one spot. Think of the hubcap as a clock face; pry at 9 o'clock and then 3 o'clock, then 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock, then noon. Prying the hubcap off all in one spot might bend the cap.

3.     Loosen the lug nuts. (Remember! Turn in a counter-clockwise direction. Leftie loosie, rightie tightie.) This is going to be the most difficult part of the job. Lug nuts are always TIGHT and it will take all of your strength to loosen them. Use the lug wrench and physics. Apply pressure to the furthest end of the wrench (as you would a lever). Loosen but DO NOT REMOVE the lug nuts (yet).

4.     Time to jack it up! Check your owner's manual for proper placement of the jack. Make sure the jack is firmly connecting with a solid part of your car's frame, the metal undercarriage, close to the flat tire. Once you've got the jack in place, crank the handle until the flat tire is lifted off the ground several inches.

5.     Remove the lug nuts and slide off the flat tire. Lay the tire flat on the ground; you don't want it rolling into traffic (just imagine the screeching brakes, swerving cars, mayhem!).  

6.     Line up the holes of the spare with the bolts on the axle. Don't be surprised if you have to jack up the car a bit more—the air in the spare will make it taller than the flat tire. Slide on the spare as far as it will go and then hand-tighten the lug nuts onto the bolts.

7.     Use the lug wrench to tighten the bolts, and when I say tight, I mean TIGHT! You don't want the vibration of the car to loosen the bolts.

8.     Lower the car and remove the jack from underneath the car frame. Put everything into the truck: the jack, the lug wrench, the flat tire, the hubcap.

9.     Drive to the nearest car repair shop or your favorite mechanic. Have the flat tire fixed OR buy a new tire. You don't want to drive around on the spare as it might cause road-wear on the other 3 tires. When installing the new/repaired tire, the mechanic will probably use a compression gun to tighten the lug nuts.

10. Feel proud that you've changed a flat all by yourself!

I used my flat-tire-fixing experience in a book. In the opening scenes of Mountain Laurel, two sisters are driving in the mountains when they run into trouble--yeah, they have a flat, but the "trouble" is a sexy forest ranger named Michael Walker who shows up and starts being a bit bossy. *laughing*

Is this a job you think you can now try to tackle? I sure hope so! If you've already changed a flat (good for you!!!), do you have any wild and crazy war stories to share?

~ ~ ~

Donna Fasano is a USA Today Bestselling Author whose books have sold nearly 4 million copies worldwide. Find her on the internet at her blog, on Facebook, and on Twitter. She loves to hear from her readers.     

Butterflies...

Yesterday, with the delight of social media communication, I had a conversation with a wonderful childhood friend who now lives over 3,000 miles away.  Like so many of us, with the long awaited arrival of spring weather, she was thinking of gardening.  She was contemplating planting a “Butterfly Bush” near her house.  At first, she was excited about the idea of attracting colorful butterflies to her yard. But she changed her mind.

     “Of course, first you have to deal with all the caterpillars,” her mate had commented.

     “Ugh!” said my friend. “No way.  No caterpillars. No Butterfly Bush.”

And that was that.

This got me to thinking.  So many things in life that are enjoyable and rewarding begin with “caterpillars.”

                                      

In my writing, it’s MANY drafts of a story, creeping and crawling through the editing process.  This can be both difficult and sometimes disheartening.  But it’s a necessary part of the process, if the story is to “emerge” (hopefully) in its full glory when it’s done.

In my kitchen, sometimes it’s the messy clutter on the counter as the ingredients are tossed and measured and chopped and blended, hurricane style.  The final creation can be quite wonderful, but you could have a lot of doubt about that if you saw the kitchen in progress.

In my garden, it’s dealing with the mulching, the fertilizing, the planting, the weeding. It’s a lot of hard work and a lot of dirt on the way to the blossoming of the flowers and ripening of the vegetables.

In the gym… well, I don’t really think I have to explain what the “caterpillars” are.  I am no athlete. I grunt and groan a lot. But I’m loving the effects and strengthening that develops from the efforts.

I think it’s easy in life to make decisions NOT to deal with the caterpillars.  But then we don’t have the butterflies.  I have to remember this when I plan my day.  It’s worth it.  And I’m still hoping my friend will plant her Butterfly Bush.

What are the “caterpillars” you have to deal with on the way to your “butterfly” goals? 

 

Christine Bush is the award winning author of many books and novellas of sweet romance and light mystery. She also writes Middle Grade Fiction. When she isn’t writing, she can be found working with clients as a Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice, or teaching Psychology at a local college.  She lives with her family and two crazy cats in northeastern Pennsylvania, and loves to hear from readers and aspiring writers.

Her latest book “Cindy’s Prince” can be found at  http://www.amazon.com/Cindys-Prince-Christine-Bush-ebook/dp/B00IFSRVJ2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1393781746&sr=1-1&keywords=christine+bush+cindy%27s+prince

 

www.ChristineBush.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christine-Bush-Author/213919128638762

http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Bush/e/B001KHSLRG/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1392688497&sr=1-2-ent