A Writer's World

Looking for me?

2011-05-03T17:09:00.001-04:00

You'll find me at my new digs: http://AnnieRayburn.com. "Annie" and I are sharing the site. New website, new blog, excerpts, new pages about my books and new releases. Check it out!
- - - - -
UPDATE:
5/18/11: My short story Insight has re-released - visit new website for details and buy links.
Phantoms & Fantasies to re-release SOON! And don't forget...Bittersweet Obsessions releases at www.eRedSAge.com on June 1st!

New site coming

2011-03-17T00:24:00.014-04:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone.

I'm excited to announce I've been working on a new website, linking both CarolBurnside and AnnieRayburn dot-com's with blog, etc. It's not quite ready for debut yet, but will be soon. I look forward to you visiting me at my new digs!

Luck o' the Irish to ya all!

Cheers!

Oh, and just for grins...here's a green beer without which St. Paddy's Day just wouldn't feel right.

Last Chance for Lit Agent Crit

2011-03-16T14:18:00.000-04:00

Today is the last day to get in on a chance for a critique from literary agent Chelsea Gilmore. All it takes to enter is your first 100 words, polished to perfection. http://www.petitfoursandhottamales.com/ First 100 entries accepted until 9 pm EST. Read rules on the contest page and good luck to all who bravely enter!

Contests, Parties and Prizes. Oh, my!

2011-03-07T19:05:00.000-05:00

Semi-finalists have been announced for the first round of PFHT's writing contest. Check out the comments on last Wednesday's post there.

PFHT's writing contest continues this Wednesday with the 2nd round. Unagented writers can enter and the prize is a critique by a literary agent.

Oh, and hey, have been to Barbara Vey's 4th Aniv. Bash? It's going on all week - a fabulous time with more goodies being given away than Santa carries in his sack. Honest! Go check it out, then Tweet about it with Barb's special #BHBbash hashtag. Comment on the blog each day to win the slew of prizes being given away, including a bunch of e-readers. Been wishing you had one? This is your chance! Even PFHT is giving away a Kindle on Wednesday, so comment on Barb's bash every day and increase your chances of winning.

Enjoy!

MIA and SWF

2011-03-03T12:33:00.000-05:00

To understand my title and hear about an exciting contest we're running at PFHT, check out my blog there today.

Psst! Before you go... there's a sneak peak of my alter-ego's cover art of Bittersweet Obsessions and OMG it's pretty!

Magnets - Reflections of life

2011-02-04T00:14:00.087-05:00

Recently, I traveled to my sister’s house to help her go through my recently deceased mother’s things. In the process, I ran across a big plastic bag of refrigerator magnets and was struck by how reflective they were of Mama's life and what she held dear. You see, my mom loved to travel and collected magnets from many places that she had visited. Once that started, kids and grandkids would gift her other mememtos to add to her collection. It occurred to me in pouring through them that the collection represented the most important things in her life.

I made small collages of them and took pics to illustrate my point. My mother loved to travel, and the first three picures represent places she visited around the U.S. plus Barbados. Alas, I guess she couldn't find magnets of her travels through the Holy Lands. The first picture also includes a small antique sewing machine. Mama was an excellent seamstress and accomplished tailor of men's fashions. She made her living sewing and tailoring for a number of years. Some of my fondest childhood memories revolve around the beautiful dresses she made for me and my sister, especially at Easter.

The last picture represents the most important things in my mom's life: God and family. The first miniature wooden saw's message faded over the years, but proclaimed Mama the "Best Nana I Ever Saw". There's a button to her as a Mom and a mini card about friendship that is particularly meaningful. You see, when my dad died, my mother felt like her whole world had gone out, but one of her friends moved in, invaded her space and pushed Mama back into the world of the living again. Other magnets included in that last picture include one that compares quilting and motherhood, two things she excelled at. The other two items contain scriptures and echo the deep faith Mama exercised daily.

Now do you see what I mean? These snapshots of her refrigerator magnets tell a story, a reflection of what Mama held most dear in her life. Kinda neat, eh?

Damn. I thought I was ready to do this piece. Excuse me while I go have a good cry.

Blogging on PFHT today

2011-02-03T12:10:00.001-05:00

Moving with roses is the title of my post on PFHT today. Come on over and join in the hunt as I gather up a bouquet of beauties like this one.

Join me back here tomorrow as I showcase refrigerator magnets that tell a story.

Checking off tasks

2011-01-23T22:28:00.005-05:00

To Do List

Believe me, my list is much longer than this one, but I've managed to check off a few items in the last few days.

__Finish edits on Bittersweet Obsessions - DONE
__Reformat according to the Red Sage style sheet - DONE
__Send newly revised BO back to editor - DONE
__Pack for move day - In Progress

I am SO ready to be in my new house and settled again. The day can't come soon enough when I'm sitting at my desk, hands on the keyboard, gazing out at the Ozark mountains while contemplating the next difficulty I can throw at my characters. Meanwhile, I pack and wish I was writing.

One step closer

2011-01-18T13:51:00.002-05:00

I turned in my first sale info to RWA's RWR magazine. It should show up in the March issue.

Another small step done. Yay!

Carol Burnside

a/w/a Annie Rayburn

Bittersweet Obsessions, coming to eRedSage.com soon!

Personal blog, PFHT group blog

Brrrr!

2011-01-11T11:00:00.001-05:00

Tuesday Tidbits:

It's 11 a.m. here north of Tulsa and it's still only 19 degrees (Fahrenheit) outside. Snow on the ground and I'm freezing. My feet have forgotten what warm means even with thick, fuzzy socks and insulated slippers. Brrrr!

As for writing, I'm working on my Bittersweet Obsessions revisions, cutting back on a few things. Guess I'm chit-chatty. What a shocker.

Feels like deja vu

2011-01-06T00:03:00.001-05:00

Hmm... It seems like just yesterday I was telling you to join me at PFHT because I was blogging there. Oh, wait. It was yesterday, but I'm blogging there again today AND giving away a cool prize. Check it out. You might win.

Here and there

2011-01-05T00:03:00.001-05:00

I'm blogging today as a Guest Chef at PFHT, telling about my latest sale. I'd love it if you'd stop by and say 'hi.'

Have camper, will travel

2011-01-03T02:23:00.001-05:00

Today Hubby and I are westward bound with all three dogs. I've got a camper, a laptop with a strong battery, a brand spankin' new Kindle and noise-canceling headphones. What more could a girl want?

Have a great day, all!

Getting on with the happy new year

2011-01-02T02:12:00.004-05:00

Busy, busy, busy. January has barely begun and already things are hopping around my house. Hubby is now officially retired but loaded up our camper all day yesterday. Mid-day we stopped to attend a New Year's Day party at one of the neighbor's.

Now that the Christmas company has gone, we've also been stripping the house of Christmas decor and packing for a trip. Hubby is going pheasant hunting with the dogs and I'm visiting with my sister. Just so our ancient cat doesn't freak out, a neighbor is visiting her daily and keeping an eye on our place. Love that about our neighborhood. Always someone willing to help out and we try to recriprocate. (Thanks, Jeanne!)

When we return, it's moving time! Packing and sorting will ensue. Somewhere in all this, I've got to get my edits done and turned in to my Red Sage editor. In addition, I need to revise another story and resubmit it and plan another project or two.

I've got to quit thinking about what's to be done or else I'll start panicking. Thank goodness for laptops and internet. I can keep up my online presence and work while away from home.

That's a little about my current situation. How's your 2011 going so far?

Out with the old, In with the New

2011-01-01T12:17:00.006-05:00

Can't say I'm not glad to see 2010 go. It brought much stress and sorrow into my life. The year exited quietly at my house, helped along by a bottle of the bubbly stuff which hubby and I shared. Though I lost three family members, 2010 wasn't all bad. My husband retired, we bought a new home, had some nice visits with family and friends, and something else interesting happened.

I sold a book!

Yep, that's the good news I hinted at not long ago. Actually, I got an e-mail the day after Thanksgiving and signed the contract right before Christmas for an Sci-Fi/Paranormal erotic romance that will be published under the pen name of Annie Rayburn. Bittersweet Obsessions should be available as an e-book from Red Sage Publishing this spring or early summer. Yay!!

This Wednesday, I'll be blogging on the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales site about getting "The Call", then Thursday there will be my regular blogging day. I'll try to remember to leave you reminders, but I'll be traveling, so forgive me if I don't.

To all of you out there, I wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2011. May your dreams come true!

A little teaser...

2010-12-20T14:04:00.001-05:00

I may have some good news to share soon and that's all I'm going to say.

Series romance diversity

2010-11-17T13:35:00.002-05:00

A writing friend of mine produced a nice article on the diversity of series romance. I thought it was good, so am sharing the link with you.

MINNIE RUTH WHITE

2010-10-31T14:16:00.003-04:00

Minnie Ruth (Nall) White, age 84, passed away on October 18, 2010 after a prolonged illness.

She was born on January 17, 1926 in Santo, Texas. A poor farmer’s daughter during the depression, she grew up in Santo and Lone Camp, Texas. In her youth, Minnie Ruth was a blue-ribbon spelling champ and avid volleyball player. She graduated high school and became a student in the Army Nursing Corp during World War II, caring for the GI’s in the Veterans Hospital of Temple, Texas until she married J.C. White in 1945. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Mineral Wells and raised a family.

Minnie Ruth was a devout Christian, a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many. She loved working puzzles and traveling, visiting such far-flung places as Canada, Hawaii, Honduras and the middle east. Many of her trips were with the Senior Adults Ministries (SAM) group from the Little Rock First Church of the Nazarene.

During the course of her lifetime, she fished and hunted, performed household duties, kissed skinned knees and soothed fevered brows. A big part of her life involved volunteering in her local Nazarene Church in various capacities, including Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School director, district camp nurse and dorm counselor, church treasurer, missionary leader, custodian, board member and other positions as was needed. She was a talented and sought-after seamstress, an amateur hair-stylist, a newspaper columnist, playwright and director. Even with all those accomplishments she was proudest of her roles as wife and mother.

J.C. was the love of her life. After his death in 1967, Minnie Ruth and her daughters moved to Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Later, she moved to Austin, Texas, then to Little Rock, Arkansas, and finally Collinsville, Oklahoma near Tulsa.

Minnie Ruth is survived by her children Billy White of Burleson, TX, Sue Sullivan of Collinsville, OK and Carol Burnside (husband Fred) of Maryland, seven grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Minnie Ruth was predeceased by her husband, James Clifford (J. C.) White, her son, Jerry White and granddaughter Carrie White. She was laid to rest at Woodland Park Cemetery in Mineral Wells, Texas, next to her beloved J.C.

R is for 'pass' ???

2010-10-28T15:30:00.004-04:00

These days, agents and editors alike seem to be 'passing' on projects rather than rejecting them. Okay, maybe it does sound gentler and less personal. They're not rejecting me, they're passing on my work. It still stings. Like today when I received not one but two passes. One from an editor by mail, another from an agent by e-mail. Ouch!

I'll let their comments 'stew' for a bit while I finish the requested edits on another project. Gotta keep trying, though some days I could use a glimmer of hope.

Gone forever, but not from my heart

2010-10-27T11:27:00.018-04:00

It's been awhile since I wrote anything of note here. For that I apologize but this time it was definitely a case of life laying me flat.

Today, on what would have been my brother's 64th birthday, I offer the following as an explanation (not a bid for sympathy or a 'poor me' complaint) for my frequent and lengthy absences of late. Be forewarned, it's also somewhat of a cleansing for me, but may be somewhat difficult to read. Because the bad news was coming in so fast and frequently, I may have gotten some things slightly out of time sequence, but otherwise, this is a true account.

Several years ago my mother was diagnosed with a slowly progressing and terminal disease that the doctor estimated had gone undetected for at least a decade, maybe more. She went to live with my sister in Oklahoma because there were days she didn't feel like preparing her own food and driving had become dangerous for herself and others. She began a series of hospitalizations when conditions of her disease made it necessary. A shower chair became necessary.

Then about a year ago, my oldest brother Bro-1 called from Texas with news that he'd had a persistent cough that traditional treatment hadn't had any effect on. He'd undergone further tests, which showed a growth on his lung that would have to be excised, but he wasn't sure when. I'd pre-paid to go on a beach writing retreat the following week and he wouldn't hear of me changing my plans when the doctors hadn't even decided when to schedule the surgery yet. Neither did he want our mother to know anything about this. He was adamant about that.

I was at the retreat when the surgeons removed the tumor and the bottom section of his lung. Test results showed a very aggressive lung cancer. He was given a 6-months-to-a-year prognosis that was brightened somewhat by a new clinical trial that might extend the meager time frame. Even so, I was devastated. Though the object of my trip was intense writing and I tried to concentrate, I wasn't able to get as much done as I'd hoped.

Of course, the family wanted to believe the treatment would be successful and it appeared so for a few weeks. The first round of tests after treatment showed some shrinking of the tumors, but a few weeks later a second round of tests showed evidence they were growing again. He was taken off the clinical trial and another cocktail of chemo was prescribed.

Meanwhile, my mother's condition was deteriorating and hospice care nurses and aides were brought in to help care for her. A walker and assistance while bathing was needed now. My siblings and I debated whether to inform her about Bro-1's situation. The decision was reached not to tell her unless his death seemed more imminent than hers.

Oh, man. Just writing that down still gets to me. What a decision to have to make.

I was in constant contact with Bro-1 and my sister. Bro-1 called to say that his last battery of tests showed two more tumors but they were inoperable because of their proximity to his heart.

As if that wasn't enough, I learned from my niece (daughter of Bro-2) via a late-night Facebook chat that she wasn't clear from the melanoma she'd undergone treatment for some time earlier. From what Bro-2 had mentioned, it hadn't seemed anything to worry about. She said it was a wait-and-see game, but with her minor children to consider, she'd put all her affairs in order, just in case. I didn't like the sound of that at all.

I called Bro-2 and asked for the low-down, but he wasn't aware the chemo might not have been successful. (She lives in Florida, he in Texas.) Apparently, she'd been keeping him in the dark as to the seriousness of her condition. He promised to get the facts and let me know, but didn't want to burden anyone else. The secrets were piling up, but I agreed because I wanted to protect those I love. Bro-1 had enough on his plate. My sister had a big enough burden taking care of our mother and was very tender-hearted. She didn't need this too.

During one phone call, my sister notified me that her doctor suspected that a lump on her throat was a thyroid tumor that might require surgery. Tests were scheduled for Sept. 3rd to determine whether it was malignant or benign, but she didn't want Bro-1 to know at all and Bro-2 only after she had the results.

Bro-1 informed me that his tumors were growing despite the new chemo cocktail, which the doctor decided to halt. Radiation was being considered and more tests were run. I didn't like the weak sound of his voice and called Bro-2 and Sister. Consensus was that we'd all go to Bro-1's house as soon as possible. My sister made arrangements for hospice to care for mother and we made flight plans.

Between that decision and the actual trip, Bro-2 called. His daughter had been having short-term memory problems and was being hospitalized. The suspicion was that her cancer had spread to her brain. Tests were run.

At this point tears were attached to daily phone calls. Mother was in pain and barely eating or drinking anything. She'd been rushed to the hospital by ambulance for rehydration, no longer transportable any other way.

Test results on my niece showed cancer all over her body. She'd waited too long before seeking treatment the first time, delaying getting the spots on her arm checked out for over a year. The day before she was to begin radiation, an aneurism burst in her brain.

My niece regained consciousness some time later, but was mentally like a child now. Bro-2 spoke to her by Skype.

Bro-1's latest test results showed two more tumors had formed.

Once our niece stabilized, the doctors said they couldn't do anything else for her and sent her home to die.

With mother reasonably stable again (and wondering why Bro-1 hadn't called her lately) we all converged on Bro-1's home in Texas. One look at him and we all knew he was losing his battle.

My sister found a moment alone with Bro-2 and told him about the situation with her throat. I knew he didn't need more bad news, but couldn't ask her not to tell him without divulging his daughter's situation. The secrets were getting harder to keep.

I found a private moment with Bro-2 before he headed home and we debated telling Sister about his daughter. I maintained she could get over the shock before seeing our mother again. He wasn't sure what to do, especially now that she had the worry over her throat. With his daughter likely to die any time, he was in no condition to make any decision, so I did.

That night, I pulled my sister into a bedroom, sat her down and explained what was going on. More tears and hugs, but we had to keep them quiet lest Bro-1 hear us. Together we made the decision that my sister would tell Mother about the niece. If she weathered that okay, then Sister would tell her about Bro-1, as it looked likely Mother's strong constitution would outlast his. Horrible job, but it had to be done. We discussed how to break it as gently as possible, but really, there are no kind words to tell a mother that both her granddaughter and son are dying.

Mother weathered the bad news with a strange calm, due to pain meds. It took a couple days to sink in.

Twelve days later on Sept. 3rd, my niece passed away, the same day my sister's dye test was run.

Bro-1 passed away the following day. His funeral was two days after my niece's.

We were at the airport to go home when my sister talked to her doctor. Test results were inconclusive, but the growth had to come out and possibly her entire thyroid with it. We'd have to wait until after the surgery to know her outcome.

Less than a week later, our mother entered a hospice care facility and my sister put off her surgery for a few weeks. I was able to visit them and took Mother a bowl of my homemade chicken and dumplings she'd requested. Another night my husband found her the crab cake she been craving. While she was only able to eat a small amount of both, it was comforting to know we'd been able to do this one small thing for her.

One month after my brother's funeral, his eighth grandchild was born. News of this tiny, but health little girl was a bright spot joy for everyone.

A few days later, I flew to Oklahoma to care for my sister and visit with mother at hospice. The surgery was over much faster than we'd anticipated, the doctor arriving back with more good news. The mass had been mushy and less invasive than he'd expected. Half her thyroid was intact, thereby alleviating the need for medication or worry over calcium levels. She could go home immediately.

I think we all slept easier that night. Unfortunately, Mother's condition was poor. Pain meds made her groggy. Her organs were failing. She was having difficulty swallowing even the tiniest sip of water. Some days she was unresponsive, though we knew she could hear us. It was extremely difficult to see the once strong and vital woman so tiny and shrunken.

My sister's son, who'd been co-parented by my mother, arrived to visit with her on Oct. 17th. Unable to utter but a few words, she clung to his hand. I called my children and put them on speakerphone. They spoke to her, telling her they loved her and she nodded that she understood.

The next morning and a week after my sister's surgery, we received an early morning phone call. Mama had slipped away a few minutes earlier, peacefully and in no pain. We buried her last Saturday in Texas, beside our dad.

While I feel a deep sense of loss, I mourn for myself and do not wish them back. Not any of them. To do so would be to wish them pain and that I cannot do.

Rest in peace, Carrie.

Rest in peace, Jerry.

Rest in peace, Mama.

You are greatly missed.

Angela James on PFHT

2010-09-29T12:14:00.002-04:00

Would you like more information on Carina Press? Need to ask managing editor Angela James a question? Go to PFHT today and get your questions answered.

On breathing...

2010-08-30T00:05:00.000-04:00

I'm blogging at Petit Fours and Hot Tamales today and the Title of my post is "Just Breathe."

Texas pride

2010-08-23T13:40:00.006-04:00

Made a quick trip to Austin, Texas this weekend. As I'm a native Texan it was filled with nostalgia. I forget until I go back to visit, just how much Texas pride exists within the people, both native and not. More so than in most states, you see Texas this and Texas that. Cowboy hats, boots, armadillos, rattlesnakes, scorpions, bluebonnets are red chili's are plastered all over the souvenirs.

I'd love to hear where my readers hail from (originally) and how state pride manifests itself. Talk to me.

Around here

2010-08-16T18:09:00.009-04:00

We live in a rural area. A developed neighborhood, so it's not totally countrified, but still rural. Even so, we're within several miles of a lovely boutique winery that has some nice perks. I'm not much on red wines, but Tarara has a nice Charval that fits my tastebuds well. They also have outdoor concerts every Saturday evening during the summer and that's up my alley as well.

Hubby and I use these Saturday evenings as date night. The stage sits on a grassy knoll with a small lake as backdrop. We sip wine as the sun ebbs away, eat take-out or goodies from home and enjoy the music for several hours. The photograph is of Shane Gamble performing on August 7th. An enjoyable concert. This last weekend it was 2U, a U2 tribute band that is exceptionally good. We'd talked it up so much after hearing them last year that six of our neighbors and two other friends joined us.

We'll move from this place one day, but we'll remember the friends, the fun, the bands and not-so-quiet date nights.

Submissions gone

2010-08-10T20:24:00.000-04:00

Well, if you said, no chance to my last post, you were right. Post offices in the boonies don't carry IRC's. Drove into the nearest real town and had to go to the main PO to get them, but succeeded and got that baby mailed off.

Then yesterday I finished light edits on the end of Nobody's Baby and sent the full off to the agent. Whoo!

Now that those are done, I'm tackling edits on Bittersweet Obsessions (requested on a full) and trying to figure out what else I can submit and where.

The saga continues...

One down, two to go

2010-08-05T02:50:00.002-04:00

Sending off my partial to the editor today. It has to go to Canada and I live in the boonies. What do you think the likelihood is that my post office will have International Reply Coupons for return postage, hmm?

Conference update

2010-08-01T00:24:00.004-04:00

Met with agent - she requested full.
Met with Harlequin editor - she requested partial.
Went to several workshops and took notes.
Met an online CP that I've critiqued with about 6 yrs.
Saw another online CP again this year.
Saw a lot of my chapter mates from Georgia Romance Writers.
Had lunch at Big River with two editors from Belle Books who are also chapter mates and terrific ladies.
Ate at Cat Cora's restaurant, Kozzina's twice for breakfast - Yum!

In the morning, it's back home to my hubby.
Next week I start requested revisions on a full with Red Sage and finish plotting out my next book.

A little update

2010-07-22T15:02:00.006-04:00

Wow, it's been ages since I've posted anything here. I haven't been totally off the 'net, though. Occasionally I post on the Petit Fours & Hot Tamales group blog I participate in. If you'd like to read those posts, the links are:

May 28th - a bit about my trip to Europe (pics included)
June 2nd - Expertise. Do you have it?
June 14th - I confess, You confess.
and
July 5th - Walking the tightrope

In addition, I'll be blogging there again on August 2nd and 30th. Also, my good friend, Terry Spear will be a guest chef on PFHT August 18th and will be talking about her writing success, especially her popular wolf-shifter romance series.

On a personal note, I've finished another book, though I think everything in my universe was working against that goal. I have an editor bite on it. I also have an editor interested in Bittersweet Obsession. Yay! I'll keep you posted on any progress with either of those.

I entered Brenda Novak's Mentorship Contest, an opportunity offered through her recent auction to benefit diabetes. Two manuscripts are in the running. Whoo! Being mentored by someone of her caliber would be radically cool!

Meanwhile, I'm off to Orlando for the RWA Nat'l convention next week. I have an editor appointment and an agent appointment, so think good positive thoughts for me, will ya? I'd appreciate it.

Michealangelo and a camel

2010-05-22T11:52:00.005-04:00

I kinda forgot to mention I was going to be away for awhile. Hubby and I went on a cruise around the Mediterranean for a couple weeks on the Disney Magic with two extra days in Barcelona to explore. We had a blast and I'll be sharing some pictures from our journeys soon. The trip was to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary.

One of the highlights of the journey was seeing the Sistine Chapel and Michaelangelo's Pieta and David scuptures. Words cannot express the level of genius that went into those works of art. Unfortunately, the only one of those we're allowed to photograph is the Pieta.

To whet your appetite, here's me and Hubby on a camel in Tunisia, N. Africa.

Blogging encore

2010-04-23T12:43:00.003-04:00

I'm blogging again on PFHT today, complete with cover art and an excerpt from an e-pubbed work from several years back. It's called "Dreaming Fiction." I hope you'll pop over and leave a comment.

Agent answers questions

2010-04-21T12:56:00.002-04:00

Today on PFHT, Chelsea Gilmore (formerly an editor with Avalon, now an agent with the Maria Carainis Agency, Inc.) answers your questions.

Blogging here, blogging there

2010-04-19T10:04:00.002-04:00

I'm blogging at PFHT today with the title "Writing With Effort." I'd love to have your opinion on the subject.

2010-04-07T09:10:00.002-04:00

On PFHT this morning, Dianna Love is challenging readers and writers alike. Check it out. There are prizes involved, people!

And for those who follow this blog, my laptop is still going strong, but I haven't been posting here because I'm trying to concentrate on my WIP (work in progress). Today I'll be writing away from home to see if I'm more productive.

TTYL!

So far, so good

2010-03-22T16:13:00.002-04:00

I know I'm tempting fate here, but I figure whatever is, is - or that 'que sera' thing, y'know?

Apparently holding your laptop upside down and beating the crap out it works pretty good for getting wine off the keyboard. ;)

Don't go nuts testing this out for yourself. Let me be the ginnea pig, 'k?

Oh, noes!

2010-03-22T02:13:00.003-04:00

Hubby spilled wine on the keyboard of my computer. I grabbed tissues to blot, he turned it upside down and shook it, quick, then we left it lying on a towel for awhile. In the middle of that, he held it up, I hooked my FreeAgent Go up and backed everything up in mid-air and upside down.

After several hours - so far so good. Am cautiously optimistic.

Okay, I'm really afraid I'll wake up in the morning and it'll be dead. Gulp!

Inbox: 1016

2010-03-21T17:26:00.002-04:00

Believe it or not, "Inbox: 1016" showed after I deleted some e-mails, then gave up today. I'm woefully behind, and obviously have more 'stuff' coming into my Inbox than I need or want to look at. Fortunately, the stuff I really want to see filters to other folders so I can see what I need to in a timely fashion.

Also, woefully behind in keeping up this blog. I posted excerpts this week on PFHT. You can view those here if you wish. (I hope you wish.)

Celebrity sighting

2010-02-17T00:04:00.002-05:00

Nancy Knight is our guest today at Petit Fours And Hot Tamales. Author, playwright, artist and partner of Belle Books, Nancy is creative and fun to be around. Don't miss this!

Tuesday Tidbits

2010-02-16T00:06:00.006-05:00

Here at home:
Most of my friends in the deep South couldn't imagine a 10-12' wall of snow unless I provided a picture, and I forgot to take my camera Sunday. But that's what we have here piled along the roadways. It's a bit treacherous on small two-lane roads when you can't see around the piles and have to venture the front of your car out and chance getting hit. Yikes.

On my nightstand:
Necessary Arrangements by Tanya Michna

Considering some of the things going on with my relatives right now, I probably shouldn't be reading this book. Lots of teary moments, but anything by Tanya is good reading.

From my DVR:
The Winter Olympics - what else?

In the DVD:
We've been watching The West Wing straight through Season 1-7. We're getting close to finishing up Season 6 and have slowed down - mainly because we don't want it to end. This show we actually bought all the DVD's.

Hubby and I watched NEXT with Nicholas Cage on Saturday night for the first time. It was pretty good and action packed. Love Netflix and their vast selection.

Going Places:
Hubby took me to see Avatar in 3D as part of our Valentine's Day celebration. Awesome movie. He didn't say so until afterward, but he didn't expect to like it - just went because he knew I wanted to see it. Gotta love a man like that and I do!

So... Have you seen anything good lately that I should check out?

My Award

2010-02-15T12:56:00.010-05:00

Today I was awarded this lovely Picasso bouquet from Carol Kilgore with the conditions that I tell you seven things about myself and extend the award to seven others. Right now, I'm thinking the snow in my front yard may linger till Easter - easily - so Spring-like flowers are a welcome sight. (Thanks, Carol K!)

Okay, so here are the seven things. I had to dig a bit deeper for them because Carol K's list of seven was me to a 'T'. So, if you'd like to know 14 things about me, read her list too.

1. I believe greeting cards should express what you feel about the person you're giving them to. (Yeah, I'm one of those people who blocks the aisle, picking over the cards for eons. Go ahead. Hate me. I'll keep doing it anyway.)

2. I love puzzles - crossword, logic, jigsaw, Sudoku, Anacrostics, etc...

3. I once read a story from a fifth-grade reader to my first-grade class at story time. (I was six at the time.)

4. I married my high-school sweetheart.

5. My favorite color fluctuates between green and purple.

6. I'm a Leo.

7. I'm the 4th child of JC and Minnie Ruth White.

And now, I'm extending the award to:

1. Pam Asberry at Sometimes it's Cloudy, Sometimes it's Clear

2. Walt Mussell at Daddy Needs Decaf (who needs your help with a slogan for a ninety-yr-old's birthday)

3. Tami Brothers

4. Terry Spear aka Terry Lee Wilde

5. Gail Dayton at Dreaming in Daylight

6. Liz Faulkner

7. Linsey Lanier

Can't wait to see what bits of themselves they'll share. :)

Make your voice heard

2010-02-13T12:39:00.003-05:00

I ran across a new poll today regarding e-book pricing on The Lyons' Den. It's simple and won't take but a minute or two of your time. If you're an e-book reader, or have been thinking about becoming one, please go vote in this poll. Results will be posted on EPIC.

Here and there

2010-02-11T16:47:00.003-05:00

Still cold here. Lots of snow blowing around, but nothing new falling today, thank goodness. Hubby and I were planning on going to the movies, only to hear from a neighbor that they've closed all the main roads leading into the nearest town due to blowing snow. The crews can't keep the streets clear enough for safe passage. Oh, well. Maybe this weekend.

Anyone have fabulous Valentines Day plans you'd like to share?

I'm blogging today at Petit Fours and Hot Tamales. Check out my mini fairy tale here:

More white stuff

2010-02-09T12:15:00.003-05:00

OMG, it's started snowing again. Another accumulation of 10 inches expected on top of what we already have. Gov't has closed offices for two days now. I expect they'll stay closed another day or two.

Sheesh.

Blizzard of 2010

2010-02-06T12:09:00.007-05:00

I thought I'd share with you some pix of what it looks like around my house today. This first set was taken at 10:30 pm Friday, Feb 5th. (click to enlarge for more detail)

Taken at 2:00 am, Sat, Feb 6th:

Taken at 11:30 am, Sat, Feb 6th, and the snow is still falling. Estimated 2 feet on the ground now. Expecting another 4-6 inches today. Our fence is 4.5 ft tall at the dip. Middle picture was taken through glass because I couldn't get the sliding door screen to open. Too much ice and snow on it. The guys are trying to dig us out, but it's slow going with the snow still falling.

It's pretty though. I'm glad I have a full pantry and fridge.

New Banners

2010-01-28T12:34:00.005-05:00

I have new banners to share. For me personally, a banner to show a recent placement in a contest:

Isn't that cool? And pretty too!

At http://PetitFoursAndHotTamales.com/ (new address on the web) we have an improved banner to show off. The old one was great, but we wanted to incorporate books into the fray, because writing them is the sole reason we started the group blog. I think it's pretty too.

Oh, BTW, the 1st anniversary party is still going strong with Prizes given out every day, quotes and recipes galore! Check it out.

Special thanks to Caroline Ziebarth of One Six Photography and One Six Studios for going the extra mile in making it fit our blog even better.

Petit Fours and Hot Tamales Blog Celebrates One-Year Anniversary

2010-01-24T18:46:00.005-05:00

In January 2010, the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales Reading, Writing and Romance blog celebrates its one-year anniversary. The blog, created by a group of 19 East Coast writers, serves a selection of writing and reading styles to satisfy any palate, from sweet inspiration to hot and spicy and everything in between. You’re invited to join in the celebration and see what’s cooking at a blogging party Monday, January 25 through Friday, January 29.

In times when other blogs are folding, the Petit Fours are going strong. That’s because they’ve expanded their menu and changed their recipe. The Petit Fours continue to offer free reads, The Saturday Review (books, movies, TV), weekly guest bloggers and of course, daily posts by its own bloggers.

On January 25, the blog launches its new format and celebrates with a variety of giveaways. This year, in addition to its successful offerings, the blog will feature Atlanta Exposé, the long-awaited sequel to its popular first blog novel, Aspen Exposé; a Sunday Travel section Travel the World in Words – a new research tool for writers that highlights cities around the globe to help them set the scene (It’s the next best thing to being there); the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales twist on popular fairy tales (February); and more.

New Blog Address

To find out what’s on the menu and be eligible to win some great prizes, visit them at their new address on the Web: http://www.petitfoursandhottamales.com/.

Haiti Miracle

2010-01-21T18:55:00.005-05:00

I read a story in the Washington Post today that had me in tears. A man here in Maryland. His wife and six kids in Port-au-Prince when the earthquake struck. He tried to call his wife's cell, but got nothing. No word from them. He believed them all dead.

I've lost a loved one before. One. But seven all at once? The pain would be unimaginable. Days later a call came, routed through a friend. His wife on the other end. Alive. All six children. Alive.
Their house and belongings all gone, and they were dirty, starving and thirsty, but alive. A miracle to be sure. Now if they can just survive until enough aid gets through.

Pray for the people of Haiti and for those that toil to help them.

The 'into everything' stage

2010-01-12T14:07:00.003-05:00

Don't let that little innocent tilt to his head fool you. Guinness is easily bored these days. When he's bored, he finds something where there is nothing and proceeds to destroy it.

Empty cardboard boxes.

Old rugs.

Random pieces of wood.

The grill cover.

Hubby's new slippers.

Nothing escapes his notice, but imagine my surprise when he decided to rip up the blanket insulation in one corner of our unfinished basement. I was concerned because insulation contains tiny ribbons of fiberglass (Get the glass part?). Then he began to throw up and quit eating for a whole day.

Emergency trip to vet.

X-rays.

Anti-nausea meds

Re-hydration

Overnight vigil

So far so good. He's hungry and very active today. Of course, I'm wiped out, but hey, the dog is better.

Our and about...

2010-01-07T00:10:00.001-05:00

I'm blogging today at PF&HT. This month we're giving you a glimpse of our homes, showing off our writing spaces, complete with pictures and deets. Check it out!

http://tinyurl.com/PFHTblog/

De-Christmasing the house.

2010-01-04T12:58:00.007-05:00

Don't you just hate taking all the pretty stuff down and untrimming the tree? This is what my tree looked like this year. A day later there was 18" of snow on the ground and the view was spectacular.

Every year I end up decorating one or two places and the rest of the house doesn't look "special" so I spread things out this year. The tree went in our formal dining room. Not the norm, perhaps, but it worked for us because we could see it from other places in the house and this window is next to the road so others could see it too. It was also nice to have this view as we ate the big Christmas dinner.

Other decorations went in the living room, foyer and den. Then we hung wreaths from the windows upstairs and the front door, wrapped the five white columns on the porch with red ribbon like candy canes and hung icicle lights.

In a way I'll be glad to have my house looking normal again, and I really wouldn't want to have Cmas all the time. It would lose it's specialness (if that's a word). But all the same, it's kinda depressing that the festivities are gone and we won't see them again for another year.

Oh, well. Guess I'd better get to it, though the outside stuff might have to wait another day or two. It's exactly 32 degrees (F) outside and the wind is bitterly cold. I don't do cold well. It's bad enough I have to get out and buy groceries later today. Prolonging the experience isn't going to happen.

Happy 2010 everyone!

An early Christmas present

2009-12-22T03:33:00.002-05:00

***** Please Forward *****

Valley of the Sun Romance Writers is pleased to announce the winners of our Hot
Prospects Contest.

Grand Prize Winner

***A Most Unusual Lady by Kathleen Bittner Roth***

Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal
1st-Moon Dark by Patricia Barletta
2nd-Sea Panther by Dawn Marie Hamilton
3rd-Jinn & Tonic by Kay Hudson

Historical
1st-A Most Unusual Lady by Kathleen Bittner Roth*
2nd- A Countess of Convenience by Sarah Winn*
3rd- A Rake by Any Other Name by Sally Orr*
4th- Guns and Gardenias by Bernadette Hearne*

Romantic Suspense
1st-Alive at 5 by Linda Hurtado writing as Linda Bond
2nd- The Gavel's Echo by Anne-Marie Carroll
3rd- Sniper Shots by Kathy Lane

Contemporary Single Title
1st-A Different Beat by Susan Breeden
2nd-Cinderolda by Janet Periat
3rd- Do Not Disturb by Lisa B Minnick

Contemporary Series
1st-The Reluctant Nude by Meghan Murphy*
2nd-Getting It Right This Time by Rachel Brimble*
3rd-Head Games by Denise Cychosz

Erotic
1st-Bittersweet Obsessions by Carol Burnside
2nd-Oliver Klozehoff by Iris Astres
3rd-Whispers in the Heart by Judi Phillips

Congratulations to everyone!
Linda Andrews, Contest Coordinator
Valley of the Sun Hot Prospects Contest

*Request for more material by Final judge

I'm blogging...

2009-12-09T12:27:00.001-05:00

at PF&HT today about goals, meeting them and setting new ones. Are you a goal setter?

Frenzied

2009-12-08T17:31:00.005-05:00

What's the deal with this time of year and chores? It seems like every time I check off one thing, I think of two to add. And what was I thinking, broaching the subject of having a little get-together for the neighbors in a couple weeks? Obviously, I was delusional or a glutton for punishment, but the damage is done as Hubby doesn't let grass under his feet. Oh, no. He started inviting within hours. Now I have to make up a formal invite and e-mail it...another thing for my list. (sigh) Then there's the menu to plan and...Oh, never mind. It makes my head hurt just to think about it. At least it should be fun when it actually happens. :)

I'm also one of THOSE people who still send out snail mail holiday cards. Yep, even at $0.44 a pop. I've got the annual letter done, and the card list ready for Hubby to look at and add/subtract, then it's a go and I can cross another thing off my list. Oh, wait. Gotta add, Go to PO and buy stamps. Damn. See what I mean? Check one, add one.

It's that time of year.

2009-12-05T15:46:00.003-05:00

Warm and cozy inside.
Christmas carols in surround sound.
Snow falling outside.
Christmas tree and decorations going up.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T13:39:00.005-05:00

May your day be filled with gratitude for all the wonderful things life has given you. And may you enjoy good food, great friends and make lasting memories on this day of Thanksgiving.

Carol

Today..

2009-11-25T11:54:00.003-05:00

I'm blogging at PFHT and sharing recipes even a novice cook could master.

And while you're there, check out the posts all week for great gift suggestions, holiday reviews and more!

Isle of Palms

2009-11-19T00:05:00.000-05:00

It's a beautiful place. Don't you agree?

More inspiration

2009-11-18T06:00:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, I saw this...

2009-11-17T00:05:00.002-05:00

and was inspired.

I love walks along the beach, the sounds of the ocean, and treasures found along the way.

I'm here

2009-11-16T00:05:00.002-05:00

for an all-writing week with a bunch of other authors. The sounds of the ocean create a natural, calm rhythm within me, and I write.

Ahh, the bliss...

Cutest Pudelpointer in the world

2009-11-13T11:36:00.003-05:00

At least I think so, because...

--he's mine

--he has cute wrinkles above his eyes when he's concentrating

--he tries really, really hard to be a good boy

--he has a soft, shiny coat and velvety ears

--he's a snuggler and has a warm little body

Hubby took the dogs hunting for two weeks. I miss them.

Tuesday Tidbits...a little late. :-)

2009-11-10T00:05:00.004-05:00

Amie Stuart has a great blog post at Southern Fried Chicas titled Ethnocentric that continues her thoughts on writing a variety of races. Good stuff there.

Over on Susan May's blog, she's worried about her NaNo project and The Economy. Aren't we all? Susan, I'm looking forward to our writing marathon later this month. :)

Terry Spear found the coolest picture for those who love reading. See it here. I wanna know how they did that!

Good advice bears repeating

2009-11-09T12:59:00.003-05:00

From the NaNoWriMo One Week Pep Talk e-mail I received:

Do not beat up on yourself. Do not criticize your writing as lousy, inadequate, stupid, or any of the evil epithets that you are used to heaping on yourself. Such self-bashing is never useful. If you indulge in it, your writing doesn’t stand a chance. So when your mind turns on you, turn it back, stamp it down, shut it up, and keep writing.

Good luck!

Gail Carson Levine

Great advice for any writer, but especially apt for those of us who have trouble turning the infernal editor off. Thanks, Gail!

It's Guinness time again

2009-11-05T12:38:00.006-05:00

Can't resist. This weekend we took all three dogs out for exercise and put the youngest two on birds so I could get some pictures.

The first picture is of Guinness at 14 weeks, exhibiting a nice point. In the second, it's hard to see that he's still holding a point, but I snapped it because you can see what is holding his attention.

And the third picture is of Murphy, whom you may have seen on this blog before. Murphy is now 4 years old and didn't need a lead to keep
him in check. He knows better than to move in
on the bird. See how that beautiful tail is extended and not moving? He's so intent on the bird that he didn't take his eyes off it, though I was walking all around him taking pictures. He got a lot of 'good boy's' for his efforts, just as Guinness did. Both had fun and were proud of themselves.

For those of you who might be concerned, the birds are tethered to a bush, but the dog isn't allowed to get the bird. After the dog points the bird and is praised, the bird is released. :)

I hope you enjoy my handsome boys.

Tuesday Tidbits

2009-11-03T00:10:00.002-05:00

NaNoWriMo is in full swing. Know how I can tell? I can't get on the site half the time, and when I do it says there are 5,872 others on their with me and the pages take 45 seconds to a minute to load. Sheesh!

Who was I kidding with that last post. I've been doing nothing on my NaNo project. I'm combing through Bittersweet Obsesssions, trying to make it the best it can be. That also entails a lot of work on the ending. Maybe I'll get to the NaNo project next week.

I needed a laugh today and definitely got it plus some when I happened on Amie Stuart's blog. Oh my. There's just no describing her post. You gotta experience it.

If you haven't done the Petit Fours & Hot Tamale blog Treasure Hunt you're missing out on a great prize. There's only a couple days left to collect clues and answers. Check out my sidebar or the PFHT sidebar for info on where to find the FREE READS where the clues and answers are hidden.

My friend Nicole North has a new book for sale and an "Under the Kilt" contest to go with the title Kilted Lover. Nicole's website is worth going to just to see those male abs. She's running title . Hmm. Even the title's intriguing on that one. :)

PF&HT blog sister Sandra Elzie's debut title, The Diplomatic Tutor is out as well. Check it out.

Have a great Tuesday!

NaNoWriMo is here!

2009-11-01T00:01:00.004-04:00

It's NaNo Day 1!!!

Are you writing?

I am, or will be. Give me a break, it's only 12:02 AM. LOL.

I've got some GOOD writing NEWS! Bittersweet Obsessions placed at third in the Heart to Heart contest, so no win, but I did get a full request. Yay! Guess I'll have to work on that a bit during NaNo too.

Happy Halloween?

2009-10-31T01:05:00.009-04:00

My hubby asked me last weekend if I wanted to buy pumpkins and a hay bale or some kind of decor for the front yard. Uhm, no. I've got mums in a hanging basket and an autumn wreath on the door. That, and the porch light will have to suffice to let Trick-or-Treaters know I'm home and handing out candy.

These days, with my kids grown and out of the house, Halloween means a night of ringing doorbells. And ringing doorbells means all three dogs will be barking most of the evening. Talk about a headache in the making!

I'd raid the liquor cabinet and make it a more enjoyable night, but I have to be fresh and ready to write, write, write on Nov. 1 for NaNoWriMo! Yay!!! Now that's something I can get excited about. :-D

=================
Later...now that the candy is gone. All five bags of it.

Yep, you read that right. Five (5) bags. All gone. Partially due to the fact that my dear hubby walked over to speak to the neighbors while I was inside getting a drink. He left the candy sitting on the porch and when he returned only a handful was left. There was a slew of kids that came by. Probably 70 or so. We were giving several pieces to each kid, but a few got the motherload.

I must admit, the rest were very polite and there were some interesting costumes. One in particular made me scratch my head - a toddler in a skunk costume. Why a skunk? Cheap costume? Kid farts a lot or has majorly stinky poops?

I guess I'll never know.

So, how'd it go for you? See any fab costumes?

I Scream, You Scream at PF&HT

2009-10-26T00:45:00.002-04:00

I'm blogging today at PF&HT and confessing what makes me scream. Wouldn't you like to know? Uh-huh. You know you do.

While you're over there, check out the latest FREE reads in the October Treasure Hunt.

NaNoWriMo Looming

2009-10-24T21:09:00.009-04:00

Hey, anyone out there gearing up for NaNoWriMo this year? This will be my first year trying it. I'm not sure my internal editor will go to sleep long enough to write 50K, but I am going to try to keep forward momentum for the month and see how far I can get on a new WIP.

For real?

2009-10-21T00:05:00.000-04:00

Wow, this has been a good writing month. Monday evening I got a call from the Hot Prospects contest coordinator telling me I'm a

Yep, Bittersweet Obsessions has done it again. Erotic category. Yay!!!

Tuesday Tidbits and Other Musings

2009-10-20T00:05:00.008-04:00

Autumn is fully here in southern Maryland, with rain and chilly temperatures and colorful foliage. As the leaves fall, I'm reminded that another year is drawing to a close. It's time to revisit my annual goals again and see how far I've veered away from them. Scary stuff.

Our new Pudelpointer puppy, Guinness is growing fast, weighing in at over 20 pounds now. I'll try to remember to post pictures soon, while he still looks like a puppy. :)

And now for a few Tuesday Tidbits:

If you like book trailers, you should visit Barbara Vey's blog at Publisher's Weekly. Each Sunday she posts several sent to her from various authors, just because.

Romance University is a great place for those looking to improve their writing. Posts on their blog include advice from published authors, special guests and editors and encompassess everything from internet dating, to plotting, to how men think and what they want. What woman doesn't want some insight on men?

Over on the PF&HT blog, Tammy Schubert has a fun, interactive challenge for everyone. Check it out.

And last, but certainly not least, over at the Author's Studio, Nita Wick has a great account of her experiences at the recent Moonlight & Magnolias conference with photos. What fun!

This week at PF&HT

2009-10-19T00:05:00.002-04:00

This week our "Scary, Spooky, Witches, Ghosts and Goblins, oh my!" month continues. In addition, the Treasure Hunt is ongoing(See pumpkins logo in sidebar). Follow the instructions and be rewarded with free reads throughout the month. Gather the answers to the questions asked after each story, and be prepared to send the lot of them to a special e-mail address we'll divulge at the end of the month. We'll draw one random winner from everyone who gets all the answers right. There are four free stories already posted, so get to reading and GOOD LUCK!

This week's lineup on the Petit Fours & Hot Tamales blog:
Mon, Oct 19: Debbie Kaufman – TBA
Tue, Oct 20: Tammy Schubert – Prove a Story Creation Theory (A fun interactive exercise!)
Wed, Oct 21: Darcy Crowder - Creature Feature
Thu, Oct 22: Cynthia Hamer-Omey – My Greatest Fears
Fri, Oct 23: Guest Chef: Susan Heim (Chicken Soup Editor)
Sat, Oct 24: Reviews

Next week I'm in the lineup.

Received, Sent and waiting...

2009-10-18T15:26:00.004-04:00

My Golden Rose entry of Her Unexpected Family is revised and resubmitted with the synopsis. Winner results on the Golden Rose won't be up until early December, so I need to just forget about it. I've done all I can do at this point. It was encouraging to realize that two judges gave me one point shy of a perfect score! Whoo-ee.

Cross your fingers for me that I'll be a finalist in the Hot Propects contest, Erotic category, with Bittersweet Obsessions. Results coming out around Halloween. :)

Now I've got to concentrate on finishing up a few more projects and getting ready for a writers Hermit Week on the Isle of Palms in November. Sand, Sun, and Solitude during the day; Fun, Friends and fabulous food at night. I can't wait!

HUF finals in Golden Rose

2009-10-13T23:41:00.001-04:00

Yay! Her Unexpected Family finaled in the Short Contemporary category of the Golden Rose. Squeeeeee!!

PF&HT's Treasure Hunt

2009-10-07T00:01:00.004-04:00

If you've been following the Treasure Hunt from our Petit Fours & Hot Tamales blog, then you've reached the right place. Congratulations! If you've stumbled on this "treasure" by chance, here's how to participate:

Locate the PF&HTs Treasure Hunt pumpkins on the sidebar. Each time a new short story will be posted, a link will be made available to the location in this area. Click on the link, search for the PF&HTs pumpkins at that site, then enjoy the read. Don’t forget to record your answer at the end of the story. Hoard the answers (keep them to yourselves) and on October 31st, we’ll post our final “clue” and an e-mail address to send your answers to. Once we reach the deadline, we will draw from the participating treasure hunters for the final prize.

But WAIT! You can get started by reading my piece of the Treasure Hunt below and answering the question at the end. I hope you enjoy Roni and Carlo's story (below).

Marinara Magic

Roni Lombardo surveyed the atrocious mess of partially unpacked boxes, their contents spilling over the sides like drunken house ivy. Not one partial bag of cookies or chips anywhere. She knew. She’d created the mess while looking for them. Her stomach growled. While her former pantry held little to begin with, her dear brother obviously took pay for his moving services out in the form of her snacks.

She sighed and flopped down on her futon, too weary to consider going out for food. Caressing the satiny finish on her hickory futon, Roni treasured what she’d created with her own hands.

Through the open window above her head, the smell of onions and garlic drifted in on the cool salt-air breezes of early October, and Roni groaned. Why hadn’t she learned to cook instead of bugging her dad to teach her carpentry? Those skills didn’t help her right now.

Maybe not, but carpentry brought her to this old Sausalito neighborhood with it’s odd mixture of beautifully maintained old homes now sporting shop fronts, window boxes spilling profusions of color, and small apartments tucked upstairs. Perfect for the satellite workshop her dad trusted her to make a success.

The aroma of mushrooms and tomatoes joined the garlic and drove her back to the task of unpacking. Work would keep her mind off her stomach. Where’d she put those pictures and sconces to be hung?

She’d just started hammering in the second picture hanger when a solid knock sounded on her door. Caution and habit drove her to use the peephole. Through the distorted bubble, a guy in a chef’s apron stood waiting.

Damn. Was she so hungry she was hallucinating?

Another knock. A little louder this time.

She peered through the tiny viewer again. Same guy she'd seen before, same apron. He looked innocent enough.

Using the door chain, she cracked the door open. “Yes?”

One chocolate colored eye and half a wide grin appeared in the slit.

“Hey, I’m Carlo, your upstairs neighbor.”

“Hold on.” Roni closed the door to remove the chain, then swung the door wide. “Veronica Lombardi, but everyone calls me Roni.”

“Carlo Petrizzi,” the delectable male said with a nod. “Saw you moving in earlier and I thought maybe you could use a hot meal about now. I’ve got some—”

“Homemade marinara?” she interrupted, having noticed his tomato-splattered apron.

He glanced down at the stain. “Right. Guess the apron gave me away. My nonna says I’m not the neatest chef, but I make a pretty mean sauce.”

Roni arched one eyebrow and made a quick assessment. From the thick, dark hair cut close on the sides, but longer and unruly on top, all the way down to the bare feet peeking out underneath soft worn jeans, she saw nothing but possibilities—for friendship, and maybe more.

Years of cautious living won out. “I don’t have dinner with strange men.”

“Then you’re in luck,” he said, a smile lurking at his mouth. ”I’m not strange, and I’m a good chef. Ask anyone in the neighborhood.”

She laughed at his audacity. “You feed everyone in the neighborhood?”

“Just about. I’m the head chef at Rudolfo’s.” He flashed a grin. “How about you? Does the logo shirt mean you’re advertising the family business, or are you employed there as well?”

Roni glanced down at her attire, dismayed. What a lousy first impression. She looked like Lumberjack Jane wearing a full tool belt, an old work shirt sans sleeves, and her rattiest gym shorts.

“Oh my gosh, I need to change. I can’t go anywhere looking like this.”

Carlo smiled. “I think you look fine. But if it would make you feel better, why don’t you meet me upstairs when you’re ready? I’ll toss a salad. About fifteen minutes?”

“That sounds about right. See you then.”

With a nod and a wave, he was gone. Roni secured the door and ran for the bathroom, grabbing toiletries along the way, wanting a quick shower in addition to the change of clothes.

Once she was clean and dry, the lazy way Carlos had said “fine” echoed through her head, making her brush aside her usual jeans-casual attire for a dress relegated to the back of her closet. She zipped it up and turned to look.

Not bad for a carpenter, even if she was a bit too curvy from eating fast food. The deep red was a nice match with her dark hair and eyes. She’d show him what fine really looked like and hope he forgot about her profession.

* * *

Roni rapped on Carlo’s door. If the tantalizing smells were any indication, garlic bread was in her near future, too. Her stomach roared seconds before the door opened.

“Ah, good, you’re right on time. Come on in.” Carlo had ditched the apron, his crisp blue oxford stripe rolled back at the sleeves, revealing strong, tanned forearms sprinkled with dark hair. Apparently, he didn’t spend all his time in a kitchen. And if the appreciative once-over he’d tried to make look nonchalant was any indication, her dress had done its job.

Dinner went smoothly, with a mouth-watering sauce, homemade Italian dressing over baby greens, and some of the best garlic bread she’d ever eaten. They laughed over the trials and tribulations large families could foist on their singles while enjoying pumpkin cannoli, a seasonal dessert he'd brought home from the restaurant. She complimented him on the excellent fare and began to breathe easier. Maybe he’d forgotten about the “Lombardi Woodworks, Since 1892” logo.

Ignoring his protests, she insisted on helping him wash up. They worked together filling the dishwasher and wiping off countertops. When he reached for the last dish at the same time as she, their hands brushed together. His gaze turned warm and velvety for a fleeting moment—or had she imagined that?

He hung the dish towel on a hook and escorted her to the couch. “Um ... you never said before. Do you work in the family business?”

She hesitated, surprised at the sudden question, wondering what this man’s reaction would be. It dismayed her to learn she cared what he thought.

“Yes.” She scarcely breathed. Some men were too intimidated by her ‘manly’ skills outweighing theirs. Would he be the same?

“Well, my guess would be you don’t answer the phones. That tool belt looked pretty broken in.”

“I’m a carpenter.” There, she’d said it. She lifted her chin slightly.

“And a good one, I’ll bet.” He continued on as if he hadn’t just glossed over her dreaded moment.
“Lombardi’s has an excellent reputation, and I heard they had a carpenter setting up shop here. When you get set up and open for business, I have a sideboard I’d like you to look at. Your firm does restorations, too, right?”

“Yes.” The small word strangled her. Here she’d been worried about his reaction, and he’d known of her vocation all along—had possibly invited her to dinner because of it.

“Excellent. Nonna gave it to me, and it’s been in her family for generations. It’s really showing its age, but has great workmanship in the lines and hand-carved details. I’d like an expert opinion as to the practicality of having it restored.”

“Of course.” She forced the cheerfulness, but inside, disappointment stomped its foot in a childish tantrum. “I could look at it tonight, if you have it here.” She’d much rather get it over with than have to come back and be reminded of how silly she’d acted over this man.

“No, no, no. Another time. You’re tired.”

“Really,” she insisted. “I don’t mind.”

He shook his head and grimaced. “I shouldn’t have brought it up. I was nervous about the lull in conversation. I should have waited.”

“It’s okay. I’ve been invited to dinner for worse reasons,” she joked, trying to cover hurt feelings.

“That wasn’t my intention at all.” He sighed and leaned toward her, a frown briefly creasing his forehead. “Okay, I watched you moving in from my window, and recognized the logo. But this was my way of getting past the awkward first date thing without the usual pressure. I enjoyed tonight and want to see you again, even if I have to barter meals for an appraisal. But, I understand if you don’t feel the same.”

So, he was willing to cook to keep her around. His honesty gave her courage.

“I’m handy in the fix-it area, but I don’t cook, so we could barter. Problem is, my expertise doesn’t come cheap. You may tire of seeing me across the table.”

“I'll chance it if you will” He reached for her hand—a small step, but one that spoke of endless possibilities.
----------------
If you'd like to comment on Marinara Magic, I'd love to hear from you. And now for the Treasure Hunt portion:

Carlo is a chef who specializes in Italian cooking. What classic Italian dessert did he serve and what atypical flavor had it been infused with in honor of the Fall season?

Remember to write down your answers, keep them in a safe place and check back on the PF&HT blog for more "treasures" and the final contest at the end of this month. GOOD LUCK!

Kate Duffy remembered

2009-10-06T11:04:00.003-04:00

One of the best obits I've read for the late editor, Kate Duffy, can be found here.

RIP, Kate.

Are you ready for this?

2009-10-05T14:33:00.004-04:00

PF&HT's Treasure Hunt offically started today. What is it, you say? Well, I'm glad you asked. It's the chance to read some free stories throughout the month of October, gather answers to questions posted at the end of the stories, and then check back on the PF&HT blog at the end of October for a special e-mail to send your accumulated answers in. One lucky reader will win a fabulous prize! Oh, and my contribution will appear on this blog on Wednesday.

How do you find these stories? Boy, you ask some good questions. Just look for the pumpkin logo like the one above.

The first free read has already been posted. Click the link above and go find it.

Woo-hoo!

2009-09-30T15:37:00.004-04:00

2009 Heart to Heart Contest finalists

Contemporary
Off The Deep End by Barbara Cool Lee
Slow Summer Burn by Elisabeth Barek
Counting On You by Gwen Hernandez

Paranormal
Raven's War by Barbara Cool Lee
Spirited! by Laramie Sasseville
Insomniac Chronicles: Karmageddon by Kelly Fitzpatrick

Historical
Sempevirens by Theresa Donovan
Ruining Lexi by Tatia Talbot
Deep Blue Sea by Angela Francis

Erotic
Gold Lust by Sarah Marshall
Sounds of Love by Marilyn Kelly
Bittersweet Obsessions by Carol Burnside

Ain't he sweet?

2009-09-23T13:22:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, I spent a large part of the day buying supplies, baking and wrapping breads for a meeting my hubby had this morning. Today he called to let me know my efforts were a big hit and he's saving me a slice of a breakfast bread I hadn't tried before.

I'm thinking he's still a keeper. ;)

Tuesday Tidbits

2009-09-22T00:05:00.003-04:00

Here's what I gleaned from my blog hopping lately, though I have to admit I'm having to go further and look longer to find these things. It seems there's a lot more writers having trouble keeping up with their blogs these days. Blogging lethargy, perhaps?

Amie Stuart is trying something different. She's doing a kind of Dear Abby for writers in the form of a Dear Gentle Writer column. Got a question about writing or publishing? Ask Amie.

Elizabeth Naughton posts excerpts from her novels on her Saturday Snippets feature. Check it out. They're great and you just may find a new author to read.

Last Friday, Fierce Romance interviewed Alisha Rai and posted a link to an excerpt of her Cabin Fever. Her hero? Wowser! Loved that description. Just reading that little excerpt, I could tell it was going to be a good story with great chemistry. Check it out.

Happy blog-hopping!

On my other blog.

2009-09-21T00:05:00.001-04:00

On Petit Fours & Hot Tamales, the theme is still mature heroines. We've got a terrific lineup this week and great guests coming.

Mon, 9/21: Cinthia Hamer-Omey
Tues, 9/22: Darcy Crowder
Wed, 9/23: Maxine Davis - The Ecstacy of the Mature Heroine
Thu, 9/24: Tamara DeStefano
Fri, 9/25: Guest authors Jenna Ives, Natasha Moore and Skylar Kade
Sat, 9/26: Reviews

New Guinness pics

2009-09-20T11:54:00.003-04:00

Yeah, we're like new parents. Can't resist taking pics of the new 'boy.' Here's Guinness in our front yard, sniffing a bird wing attached to a fishing pole. His instincts are kicking in and with his lineage, he should be an exceptional hunting dog.

In the second one, he's taking a tumble, but damned if it doesn't look like he's enjoying it.

Away today

2009-09-15T00:05:00.001-04:00

I'm blogging today at Petit Fours & Hot Tamales about mature heroines, reading them but not writing them. Join me over there, won't you?

Introducing: Guinness

2009-09-13T19:10:00.007-04:00

Friday, on our way home from Tulsa, we learned that there was a glitch in our new puppy's traveling plans and he wouldn't be flying in to join us until Saturday. Then the President's flight in Minnesota caused a delay and our puppy missed his connection from Boise, putting him into Dulles at 11 p.m instead of 6:30.

We were worried that at just 7 weeks old he would soil his kennel after being in it for about 12 hours, but he came to us smelling like a sweet puppy with only small whimpers to communicate his distress. What a champ.

He's cute and cuddly and everything a puppy should be to make us fall in love with him enough that we can endure all the trials that puppies can bring. This is Guinness, the newest 4-legged member of our family. I'm quite sure you can expect more on this subject in the future. ;-)

Tuesday's Tidbits

2009-08-31T15:34:00.005-04:00

Over at PF&HT, CiCi wrapped up our Back-to-School month by talking about learning with enjoyment. Check out her blog titled: "When are we Ever Going To Use This."

Also, the rest of this week's lineup at PF&HT is
Tuesday, September 1: Nicki Salcedo – Lose 30 lbs, Write a Book, Save the World
Wednesday, September 2: Tami Brothers - Confession Time!
Thursday, September 3: Marilyn Baron – Bridging the Generation Gap
Friday, September 4: Guest Chef: Jill Sorenson
Saturday, September 5: Reviews

I have several friends on Fierce Romance. They've got great news to share!

Sizzling Pens and Melissa Schroeder have posted sexy excerpts you won't want to miss. Mel's also points you to a FREE novella by Shayla Black.

And last, but certainly not the least, Terry Spear has a much anticipated new release today. Congrats, Terry!

We're expecting again...

2009-08-31T14:08:00.008-04:00

another puppy, that is.

Beau (also a Pudelpointer) is 8, Murphy (A tri-color Llewellen English Setter) is 3-1/2. And then there's the feline member of the family, Tabitha (aka 'kitty'), who turned 15 last month. Yes, we're probably nuts, but we're expecting our 3rd bird-hunting dog to arrive at Dulles airport on 9/11. He's one of the Pudelpointers in the 9-puppy litter you see in the picture, all adorable at 4 weeks.

I'm sure all that adorable will wear thin as we go through the house-training process. That I'm not looking forward to, nor the chewing phase, but it's all part of the deal, isn't it? At this point, we're bandying about names. I say Patch, if we get one with a white patch on its chest. Hubby says Guiness, after one of his favorite drinks.

Hmm...I wonder which one is ours?

- - - - -
Today's Menu:
Appetizer: Multi-grain bread dipped in seasoned EVOO
Entree: Slow-roasted Pot Roast with Onion-mushroom gravy, carrots and whipped potatoes.
Dessert: Wild berry shortcake
Wine: Tarara's Wild River Red

Tuesday Tidbits

2009-08-11T00:12:00.005-04:00

A bit of blog-hopping over the past few days took me to some interesting places on the web, and I found these gems:

Tamara found the sun on PF&HT.

Leigh Court is giving a behind-the-scenes look at her interview on NBC Nightly News over at Fierce Romance.

Lynn Raye Harris has some fabulous news! I'm so excited for her. Congrats, Lynn!!!

Oh, and check out the Sexy Saturday photos on Tami's blog. Phew!! Hot.

Gail Dayton has pictures galore. Fish, Fish, a Rita and a new cover.

Linda Winfree also has a new cover and that's one smokin' hot manly-man on it. Is the temperature rising or is it me? I think it's time for a cold drink...

Excellence a habit?

2009-08-10T13:22:00.003-04:00

Quote for the day:

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit. -- Aristotle

Start making a habit, today, concerning whatever area you'd like to excell in.

Wednesday’s Word: truculent Wat’s it mean?

2009-06-03T00:04:00.000-04:00

Truculent \TRUCK-yuh-lunt\ (adjective)

MSWORD’s definition:
Aggressively or sullenly refusing to accept something to do what is asked
Hostile, fractious

M-W’s Word Central:
ready and willing to fight or quarrel

Sentences:
Because there were several truculent boys in her classroom, Mrs. Baumgartner left the arduous homework announcement until the last possible moment.

Billy’s truculent attitude killed any sympathy Officer Barlow initially felt for the boy.

Wednesday’s Word: hoary Wat’s it mean?

2009-05-27T00:04:00.002-04:00

Hoary /\HOR-ee\/ (adjective)

MSWORD’s definition:
1. Overused: old and stale from overuse
2. white with age
3. covered with pale, gray, or white hairs

M-W.com:
1 : gray or white with or as if with age
2 : extremely old : ancient

The way I’ve seen hoary used most often is thus:
Millicent awoke to find a hoary frost covering the tender shoots in her garden.
Using it in that way doesn’t seem to fit the definition very well because of the age factor associated with the word. Let’s try again.

The dog’s hoary coat and gentle eyes illustrated his long, loyal service to the old man.

The strange creatures who entered the space bar that evening were gaunt to the point of being emaciated, their thick, wrinkled hide hoary, though some of them were obviously quite young.

By her fourth book, the author’s unimaginative descriptions had become quite hoary.

Remembering the Fallen

2009-05-25T00:02:00.000-04:00

In honor of all the heroes who have fallen for our freedom, I offer these quotes:

For love of country they accepted death... ~James A. Garfield

The patriot's blood is the seed of Freedom's tree. ~Thomas Campbell

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. ~Joseph Campbell

Cover them over with beautiful flowers,
Deck them with garlands, those brothers of ours,
Lying so silent by night and by day
Sleeping the years of their manhood away.
Give them the meed they have won in the past;
Give them the honors their future forcast;
Give them the chaplets they won in the strife;
Give them the laurels they lost with their life.
~Will Carleton

We come, not to mourn our dead soldiers, but to praise them. ~Francis A. Walker

How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes! ~Maya Angelou

Rest in peace.

Aspen Expose and Karen White

2009-05-21T00:04:00.003-04:00

This week on PHFT:
Monday, May 18: Tami Brothers The Phenomenon that is Twilight
Tuesday, May 19: Marilyn Baron Don't Throw Out Your Novel Like a Worn-Out Shoe
Wednesday, May 20: Debbie Kaufman Space, the Final Frontier
Thursday, May 21: Michelle Newcome, TBA
Friday, May 22: Guest Chef: Karen White

The third chapter of PF&HT’s serial novelette, Aspen Expose, posted Sunday. The contest associated with it continues. Look for the links to previous chapters on PF&HT's sidebar.

Karen White joins us as our special guest chef on Friday. Karen is the author of several award-winning novels, the latest of which are The Memory of Water and The House on Tradd Street. Her lyrical prose and emotionally moving stories are reader favorites. The Lost Hours, Karen’s latest book, released last month. She’ll be giving a copy of it away as well as a copy of the hard to find and out of print, After The Rain. Comment on her post Friday to be entered in the drawing. It's that easy.

Wednesday’s Word: nexus Wat’s it mean?

2009-05-20T11:55:00.000-04:00

Nexus [nek suhs] (noun)

MSWORD’s definition:
1. A connection or link associating two or more people or things
2. a group or series of connected people or things
3. the center or focus of something
4. a specialized part of the cellular membrane that helps cells to communicate or adhere

Usage:
Sally was the nexus that held the kept the ladies social group together.
The nexus of their Center for Children was simply that everyone deserved love.

Out and About

2009-05-14T00:03:00.003-04:00

Today I’m blogging at PF&HT. The title of the piece is "Brave the Beast" and includes an excerpt of my work. Curious? Go check it out and let me know what you thought.

And speaking of PF&HT, this week’s fabulous guest for tomorrow is Dianna Love, who co-author’s the BAD Agency series with Sherrilyn Kenyon. (Whispered Lies releases in 2 days!) Dianna also helped develop the Break Into Fiction workshops with Mary Buckham and co-authored Break Into Fiction: 11 Steps To Building A Story That Sells. It should be a fun day with giveaways!

How was it for you?

2009-05-11T03:12:00.003-04:00

Question of the day...All you mothers out there - How was your special day?

I called my mama, my sister and received phone calls from both offspring (who are living many, many miles away). DS informed me the florist had a qlitch and I can expect flowers maybe Tuesday. Yay. Something to anticipate. I can live with that. Hubby made me a steak dinner, complete with strawberry shortcake for dessert. Gotta love a man who can cook, right?

Here at home, I tended my potted flowers by picking off the spent blossoms and watering them. They're coming along nicely. Provided I can find the camera, I'll post pix of them soon.

All in all, it was very low-key and relaxing.

Now, tell me about your day.

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T00:02:00.001-04:00

There were days when my children were young that I thought we should’ve had a Mother’s Day every month. LOL These days, my kids have flown the coop, I miss them every day, and my rugrats are four-legged and furry.

This week was very chilly and rainy in southern Maryland. That’s great news for the new lawn we’re trying to baby, not so much for exercising outdoors. Over the last two weekends, we dropped seed, spread half a dump truck of topsoil and raked it into the existing grass. With two large bird dogs and a cat, it’s been a challenge (understatement!) to keep the hardwoods clean. My hubby found a great sign that we hung by the sliding glass doors in the sunroom. It reads, “My windows aren’t dirty, that’s my dog’s nose art.” Only this week, it’s muddy paw prints. It’s bad enough, I even had to drag out the carpet cleaner!
================
Today’s Menu:
What menu? Hubby better be taking me out to eat. [g]

Check it out...

2009-05-07T00:02:00.001-04:00

At PF&HT tomorrow, Trish Milburn is our guest chef. Trish finaled in the Golden Heart eight times. She was fortunate enough to win the Golden Heart twice - in 2004 in Romantic Suspense and in 2007 for Young Adult. On July 24, 2007, she finally got "The Call" and sold two young adult titles as Tricia Mills, to Razorbill, a part of Penguin Young Readers Group. On Oct. 26, 2007, she was thrilled to sell two romances to Harlequin American under her own name.

Wednesday’s Word: lank Wat’s it mean?

2009-05-06T00:02:00.001-04:00

lank / langk/ (adjective)
MSWORD’s definition:
1. limp and straight
2. long and slender

M-W’s Word Central:
1 : not well filled out : THIN
2 : hanging straight and limp without spring or curl

The girl’s lank brown hair reminded him of dried tobacco hanging in the sheds back home.

They called him String Bean, and he had his lank frame to blame for that
=========
Today’s Menu:
Slow-cooked pot roast with carrots, mushrooms, and onions.
Whipped potatoes with pan dripping gravy
Buttered rolls
2005 Tarara Cabernet Franc Reserve

Tuesday’s Tidbits

2009-05-05T00:02:00.003-04:00

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Over on the Blaze authors blog, Alison Kent showed off her new cover for One Good Man and gave us a second showing of the recent video from ABC’s Nightline on Harlequin books. Her cover was the one they were shooting in the video. Too cool!

She’s also got a poll on there, the results of which I found very interesting. Check it out.

Brenda Novak’s 2009 Online Auction to benefit Diabetes Research is underway. Go. Browse. Bid. It’s for a good cause and if you’re a writer or reader, you’ll love, love, love the offerings.

Jill Shalvis had a funny I Love Lucy kind of day and lived to tell us about it. Bless her heart. Love the look of her blog too. I’m totally envious.

Linda Winfree is in a reading slump. Have a book you loved? Go recommend it to her. While you’re over there, check out her awesome book covers.

Susan May, author of Nick’s New Heart is chronicling her 20-yr-old son’s recovery from his most recent open heart surgery with all it’s ups and downs.

And for you YA readers, Barbara Vey’s Beyond Her Book blog now features YA books on her new feature, Saturday Breakfast (Book) Club/YA Style!

If you haven’t checked out the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog, you should. There’s lots of great posts and we try to have an author and a contest or giveaways every week. As an added bonus, nine of PF&HT’s authors have written a serialized novelette and the first chapter posted Sunday. Go check it out. There’s a contest associated with it and a new chapter for each of the next eight weeks.

Okay, I’ve shared my finds, now share yours or at least point me in the right direction. What cool stuff have you found on blogs lately?

I’ve been...dripping

2009-05-04T23:31:00.004-04:00

Constant dripping hollows out a stone. – Lucretius

My apologies to anyone who happens to still be checking on my blog for whatever reason. I’ve been...dripping. Why? See the quote above.

That’s my way of telling you I’ve been trying to keep my nose to the grindstone, keeping my butt in the chair, hands on keyboard. Gotta keep ‘dripping’ so I can hollow out a spot for myself in the world of publishing. And as you might guess from the sometimes posts on here about me blogging at PF&HT or other happenings there, I’ve been devoting some time to that endeavor too. Something had to be neglected for awhile and it was this blog.

But as of today, I’m making a concerted effort to post something on a regular basis. Honest.

Mother’s Day has been on my mind the last few days. Not for myself, but what to send my mom. She’s old and sick and in pain most of the time. The bulk of things I could get her would never get used. Others she’d consider a waste of money and would roll her eyes. I’ve got the perfect card and that’s going in the mail tomorrow. It’s one of those you record a short message and it plays a song that makes me tear up when applied to my mama, because this could easily be her last Mother’s Day. Any quick ideas for a shut-in that can be mailed or overnighted?
============
Today’s Menu:
Pan-seared Salmon w/honey-mustard and champagne vinegar drizzle
Baked sweet potato fries
Rice pilaf with mushrooms, carrots and broccoli

Natasha Moore on PF&HT today

2009-04-17T10:31:00.006-04:00

Go check out Natasha Moore's interview on PH&FT. Enter a comment and you get a chance to win The Passion-Minded Professor.

And while you're visiting there, check out my post from Monday, titled We Have Lost Hope!