This is me. 🙂 Many thanks to the media/marketing crew at Harlequin. It’s a privilege to be an HQN author under the Desire imprint. You can check out the whole article (and watch the video again! 😉 ) on the HARLEQUIN BLOG.
FYI, some of those still pics are mine. Have a great weekend, everyone!
As I’m writing this (Wednesday afternoon), I’m gearing up for a weather adventure. It’s May. In Oklahoma. We managed to get through April without a tornado somewhere in the state. First time ever! So now it’s May and Mother Nature is making up for lost time. Anyway, scrolling back through my notes from the big U and today’s installment caught my eye. This pretty much explains what it’s like to write a romance novel. Seriously. Read it and think about it.
Laughter, new friends, and far away travel. Wildlife, unexplored jungles, and hidden lagoons. Adventure, ancient mysteries, and modern cities. Challenges, heroes, and passionate love.
You deserve it ALL, Silver.
So do I.
Would you mind visualizing for us?
Boots on,
The Universe
© http://www.tut.com ®Especially the “wildlife,” Silver. And I don’t mean eco-tours.
Am I right? Are those not all elements that make for a great romance? It’s a check list and in my case, on the current WIP, that “wildlife” IS a double entendre–because sexy Wolves. I’m not making fast progress on Gravedigger’s story but I am making progress. I’m going to make even more “today” — which means Thursday, the day y’all are reading this. So, writers, what’ your checklist when you right? And readers, do you tick off all the thing you love when you read a book?
Whether it’s a GRAND slam, the GRAND Canyon, or a GRAND dame, the #1lineWed theme for today is **GRAND**. Here’s a snippet from Digger’s story, from the heroine’s POV.
****
I was the world’s biggest fool, but I’d been thinking about it since leaving Full Throttle that afternoon. The manager of the loan company looked like a nice lady—a pregnant one at that. The biker who’d come out? He was sexy as hell but all about his old lady. He was scary but so protective of her that it made my heart hurt. What would it feel like to be that loved? They were making a family. I was making war. It had been a sobering thought, one that stuck with me all day.
Driving more or less on autopilot, I headed to the convenience store. A plan was forming in the back of my mind. A stupid plan, but it was a plan. At the store, I picked up a suitcase of cold beer. My brain decided a frontal assault was the best idea and rather than a Trojan horse, I’d use a 24-pack of beer to get through the gate.
I pulled up across the road from the gate, which was open, but two guys were lounging there looking all badass and cool. They pretended not to notice me while I pretended not to study them, the gate, and the compound. There were motorcycles lined up in the forecourt but I didn’t see any bikers beyond the two on gate duty. Did I take a chance and try to smuggle my pistol inside? In the grand scheme of things, the weapon wouldn’t really matter. I slipped my Glock under the front seat, made sure the hilt of my combat knife was well below the top of my left boot, and stepped out the car.
Making a show off bending over the reach back into Mitch’s truck, I hoped the guards were checking out my butt. My baby-doll tee shirt rode up showing a band of skin above the black leather belt looped through my low-rider jeans. I’d made sure that belt was loose enough my jeans rode down over my butt showing a hint of red lace. I owned one set of sexy underwear—the red lace bra and bikinis I’d worn on my first foray into Nightrider territory. Supressing the shiver the memory of that night conjured, I clamped down on my libido. I wasn’t here for a hand job or a quickie.
I straightened, the beer cradled in my arms. My boobs were barely a B cup so I used the suitcase to plump me up. If they were checking out my T&A, maybe they wouldn’t recognize my face.
“Hey,” I called as I crossed the road.
“Yo,” the tallest of the two guys said.
Decision time. Did I ask for Bricks or for Gravedigger? I flipped a mental coin. “Is…Gravedigger around?”
The men exchanged looks and I wondered if I’d messed up. I juggled the package of beer which jiggled my breasts, bringing their eyes back to my chest. “I owe him some beer,” I added, pasting what I hoped was a sexy smile on my face.
One guy put a cell phone to his ear while saying, “What’s your name, babe?”
Dare I give another fake name? Neither of them were on the gate the night of the party, but that one guy knew who I was. I probably shouldn’t chance it. “People call me Shy,” I said.
****
Poor Shy. She has some real issues and what happens next will rock her world to the core. Which why I love writing romance. Do any of you have some grand words to share?
[Note: I hate when I mess up the scheduled time to publish. *headdesk*] Happy May Day, and this recipe is just in time for Cinco de Mayo. Now that spring is tinged with summer, I’m always looking for easy dinners that don’t heat up the kitchen–or least not for long. The beauty of this recipe? Serve it with Mexican or jalepeno rice, guacamole and/or refried beans for a full dinner or serve alone for appetizers.
Prep Time: 25 min.
Total Time: 2 hr. 25 min.
Servings: 20 servings, 3 pinwheels each
A bit of shredded Mexican-style cheese gives these yummy pinwheels their south-of-the-border cred. Serve with sour cream, if you like. (We like!)
What You Need
1 tub (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA 1/3 Less Fat than Cream Cheese
1 cup KRAFT Mexican Style 2% Milk Finely Shredded Four Cheese
1 cup chopped cooked chicken (I cheat and use prepackaged)
1 plum tomato, seeded, finely chopped (I leave off the tomato–allergy)
2 green onions, finely chopped
3 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
6 large whole wheat tortillas (10 inch) (And I use regular white tortillas because I’m all daring like that.)
Make It
Mix reduced-fat cream cheese and shredded cheese in medium bowl until blended. Stir in all remaining ingredients except tortillas.
Spread onto tortillas; roll up. Wrap individually in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 2 hours.
Heat oven to 375°F. Unwrap roll-ups. Trim and discard ends. Cut each roll-up into 10 diagonal slices. Place, cut sides up, on baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. (I line my baking sheet with non-stick aluminum foil for easy cleanup.)
Bake 10 min., turning after 5 min. Serve.
For full nutritional information, CLICK HERE to head to the Kraft Kitchens. Now, as most folks know, I’m Okie bred and born so Mexican and Tex-Mex food are staples on my table. You’ll never believe who introduced this recipe to the Wolf mates. Sean “Boomer” Donaldson, combat medic/explosives expert/computer hacker extraordinaire. I know, right?!?! Who knew Boomer was such a homebody? Annie didn’t but she loves it when her Wolf gives her a break in the kithen and her son Cody loves this for dinner because “Dad and I can eat with our fingers!” You can read how Boomer wooed and won Annie and Cody in WOLF MOON. It’s only $1.99 or you can read it for free with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. Just click on the cover to go check it out on Amazon. 🙂
This isn’t my typical Monday follow-up post, ie. this is what I did, this is what I watched, this is what I read, etc. Instead, I’m sharing random thoughts because my head exploded so many times this past week and weekend that I had to follow my PTSD counselor’s advice: “Get the anger and rant out by writing it down. Then delete it.” I did that. I didn’t delete the rant, but I didn’t post it. Instead, I offer these observations. Warning: There are bad words ahead.
The White House Correspondents Association needs to rename the group. I suggest The Middle School Mean Girls Club. Good grief. Grow the hell up and act like adults.
Some chick who claims to be a comedienne decided it was fine to body shame, denigrate, verbally assualt and otherwise flame three working mothers who have amazing families, intelligence, and careers. And not a peep from the feminists, because those women were conservatives. Hypocrisy much?
When did it become cool to mock an immigrant for her accent? Lookin’ at you, Jimmy, but you haven’t been funny, relevant, or cool for years.
According to many institutes of higher learning, the first amendment only applies if you lean liberal. Again, hypocrisy much?
I thought the Hippocratic Oath was sacrosinct to doctors. Not in Great Britain. That ol’ time socialized medicine strikes again. Rest in peace, sweet Alfie.
I’ve owned firearms since the age of 8. I’ve never shot anyone. Hrmm… Oh, wait. I did pull my weapon once. The threat of my loaded .357 was enough to deter the angry boyfriend who threw his shoe at me and then threatened to beat me and fuck me until I did what he said. Did I report that as a #metoo moment? No. Because I used my 2nd Amendment right to bear arms and defend myself. Plus, once the police arrived and arrested him, I had nothing further to do with the asshole. I’m #NotAVictim.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders is a class act. Chin up, lady! You got this.
I write romance and my heroes are alpha males who protect, defend, win bread, succeed, compete, and oh, they fall in love. According to the Univeristy of Texas Counseling and Mental Health Center, “masculinity is a mental health issue.” WTFH? (Look it up. It’s a real thing.) That’s one more school my grandson won’t attend. And FYI, if you have a problem wiht Alpha Heroes, don’t bother reading my books.
Another FYI, I’m married to an alpha male and I wouldn’t have it any other way. According to some (lookin’ at you, HRC), that makes me a Stepford Wife. *shoots double birds*
My husband, who has managed to live a full life as a traditional, masculine male, is an honorably discharged veteran of the US Army. He is a disabled vet, the injuries occuring while serving this country and defending all the rights we enjoy. You have the right to spew any stupidity you want. But when you start trying to shut up those who hold different views and you do it with incivility, and with an eye to denying those same rights? FUCK YOU! I’m like that character in the 1976 film, “Network.”
“I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it any more!”
So, yeah. Got that off my chest. How the hell was your weekend?
This is NSFW. That means do not play this unless you are wearing earphones, are alone in the room, there are no children around. On the other hand, this IS Gerard Butler so watching him explain Scottish slang is worth hiding in a closet so you can watch this video. Just sayin’… Have a bonnie weekend!
Back in the day, I was into unicorns. In a big way. I collected them. Had shelves of figurines. Windchimes. Notebooks with unicorns on the covers. Books about them. “Labyrinth” was a favorite movie, as was the animated “The Last Unicorn.” I had Pia’s secret figured out by the end of the first chapter when I first read Thea Harrison’s DRAGON BOUND. I still get a bit of thrill when Dragos’s creation story is revealed. And while unicorns are most often associated with young women, there always seems to be a hero in their story. I’ve even written a unicorn story, with a hero. Someday, I might pull that book out, revise, edit, and perhaps publish it, as it a science fiction fantasy and never found a home with a traditional publisher.
But I digress a bit from the Universe’s message. Unicorns are rare and shy and secretive. They are also strong and brave and the embodiment of all things magical. They are the elusive dream, the goal just out of reach, the castle in the air where hope lives. This is why I write romance, why the worlds in my head are rich and varied and sweet. The Universe is onto something, I do believe…
See the hero in everyone, Silver.
… and the unicorn.
Unicorn!
The Universe
© http://www.tut.com ®And when you find either, Silver, give a little wink.
My world consists of heroes and unicorns–the unattainable wish to find a love true and everlasting, the happily ever after that romance novels promise. I find the heroes and see the unicorns and I always smile. Now I’ll give a little wink, too.
Once again, Wednesday has arrived and with it a new #1lineWed theme. There’s no time to PLAY around, unless you’re Shiane “Shy” Roarke. As a setup, she “ran into” Gravedigger while “partying” inside the Nightrider compound and then she escaped, only to be followed by Digger in wolf form. She’s at her place, and he almost got caught.
Shy
I watched the dog run away. He was big, at least part German Shepherd, maybe a Belgian Malinois. About a year into my first enlistment, my LT asked if I wanted to be a K-9 handler. I considered it, but finally said no. I didn’t do attachments, not even to an animal. Or maybe, especially an animal because a dog? Unconditional love. I didn’t want to deal with that. Maybe I couldn’t.
There was no way I’d sleep tonight. I slipped back into my apartment and grabbed a sweatshirt, dragging it on over my head. Settling onto one of the chairs on my deck, I tucked my feet under me and wondered what the hell I was doing. I didn’t have time to mess around and going to that compound? Big mistake. I thought I could play them but I ended up getting played. Big time. My body still hummed from the orgasm that guy gave me. I wasn’t a virgin. I’d had guys in my bed. Sex wasn’t that high on my list of priorities but sometimes, a girl needed a little sumthin-sumthin.
What that biker did to me tonight? That was some serious business. I couldn’t believe all the live sex going on. No one cared. I’d been standing there wondering where that woman had left her dignity and then, with a complete stranger’s hands down my pants I’d had the biggest orgasm of my life. And before I could do a gawddamned thing, he’d disappeared. Story of my life.
I pulled my knees up and stretched the sweatshirt over them. Chin braced, I watched the eastern horizon lighten. Dawn was coming. I’d been home just over a week and all I had to show for my time was the location of their hideout. Except it wasn’t much of a hideout. It was a freaking edifice. I needed to figure out how they worked. And I needed to get back in there. The only way to bring the Nightriders down would be from the inside.
Yeah, that was my story and I’d stick to it if anyone asked. It absolutely had nothing to do with coming so damn hard I couldn’t breathe. From a man’s fingers. What would his cock feel like? I shivered, pretending it was from the pre-dawn chill and not from the memory of leather, strong fingers, and a scent that reminded me of a hot, rich, creamy Irish coffee.
****
So that’s my playdate for the day. What about y’all? Want to play?
I ❤ white chocolate. I have since I was a kid and first tasted it fresh from the candy counter of a big department store in Wichita Falls, Texas. I have to admit, this pie could easily become a favorite. It's easy to fix then you toss it in the fridge for later. Plus…coconut! Another favorite.
Prep Time: 25 min.
Total Time: 4 hr.
Servings: 10 servings
Treat your family to this White Chocolate Cream Pie Recipe. This White Chocolate Cream Pie Recipe includes cool coconut pudding and fluffy whipped cream
What You Need
1 cup BAKER’S ANGEL FLAKE Coconut, divided
1/4 cup margarine, melted
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 pkg. (4 oz.) BAKER’S White Chocolate, divided
1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) JELL-O Coconut Cream Flavor Instant Pudding
1-3/4 cups cold milk
1-1/4 cups whipping cream, divided
Make It
Heat oven to 350°F.
Mix 3/4 cup coconut, margarine and crumbs in 9-inch pie plate; press onto bottom and up side of pie plate. Bake 10 min.
Microwave 2 oz. chocolate in small microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 to 1-1/2 min., stirring every 30 sec. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Spread onto bottom of crust. Refrigerate 15 min. or until chocolate is firm.
Meanwhile, beat pudding mix and milk with whisk 2 min. Stir in remaining coconut; pour into crust. Refrigerate until ready to add next layer.
Microwave remaining chocolate and 1/4 cup whipping cream in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min., stirring after 1 min. Stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended. Cool completely, stirring occasionally.
Beat remaining whipping cream in chilled large bowl with mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Add half the whipped cream to chocolate mixture; whisk until blended. Stir in remaining whipped cream. Spoon over filling in crust.
Refrigerate several hours or until chilled.
Full nutritional details can be found by CLICKING HERE. One of my favorite heroines is a big fan of this pie too. Jacey Randolph Connor knows how to cook, despite spending a lot of years in vet school and then running her wildlife sanctuary in Oklahoma before Nate Connor literally lands on her doorstep in wolf form. You can read her entire story, along with fan favorite Sean “Boomer” Donaldson’s story in MOONSTRUCK: LIES, which contains HUNTER’S MOON and WOLF MOON plus some extra special chapters and scenes that aren’t available in the orinal books. And it’s on sale for $1.99 for another week. Then it goes up to $3.99 so grab it now while it’s cheap! And try some pie. 😉 Oh, just click on the book’s cover to get the links. What’s your favorite cream pie?
Spring finally arrived. Sort of. Still a bit on the chill side but sure beats the late freezes. I wouldn’t mind an extended spring before leaping into the heat and humidity of summer. Bills and stuff, ya know? And we have windows and I like fresh air.
So…procrastination. I’ve had it. More than a heaping helping of it, in fact. Then, yesterday morning as I lay in bed catching up on the DVR, ie. LIVE PD episodes from Friday and Saturday because Friday was a Cardinals game and Saturday I kept falling asleep. Anyway, I’m watching the episodes and a scene pops into my head. I’m drinking my coffee, watching the cops on LIVE PD, running this scene through my mind, trying to work it into any of my current WIPs. I have one about an Oklahoma oilman and a storm chaser, one about a CIA contract assassin and a Delta Force wolf shifter in the jungles of Brazil, a fae seducer and a shy human librarian, and about an outlaw MC enforcer and the tough former MP bent-on-revenge woman he plans to claim as his mate. No room in any of those for the scene in my head. Then I remembered a couple of scenes I’d written for a bit of flash fiction fun about one of the Nightriders and the sweet woman who is his mate. And it was perfect. So that’s the writing I did this weekend. It’s a good scene. And it will appear at some point in the future. Ah, my Muse. She is a bit on the ADHD side.
I mentioned LIVE PD. LUCIFER is also getting intense as we get close to the season finale. If they go the direction it looks like they’re going I’m going to be all muppet flail and PO’s and worried until the new season starts. Drives me nuts but dang, it’s a smart thing to do. This is why we writers start with a hook at the beginning of a book and end each chapter with another hook so readers don’t want to but the book down. It’s also the reason serials sort of drive me crazy. I HATE cliffhangers, even though I know they’re a smart move. Anyway…
My Cardinals have gone from the cellar to first place in the NL Central division. Crazysauce. And my heart goes out to Danny Farquhar, his family, and the whole White Sox nation. He pitched 2/3s of an inning, walked into the dugout, and passed out. Brain aneurysm. He’s in ICU in critical but stable position. Prayers and healing thoughts.
My reading/listening marathon of Kristen Ashley’s Colorado Mountain series has come to a conclusion. I really hope she gets on the California portion of the Rock Chick series. So many threads. Plus, Wood’s book in the CM series, even though he’s gotten his HEA as a secondary character in the other books. I finished BOUNTY last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Not sure what I’m going to read next. I’m open to suggestions.
And that’s pretty much the sum total of my life. The good news is, I opened my eyes this morning and it was a brand new day full of possibilities. I plan to spring into Monday and see what comes. What about y’all?
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