Romance Writers Weekly

Hello and Happy Tuesday! Thanks so much for joining us this week!!!! I came up with the challenge:

Tell us the best book you’ve read lately.

I love to read. Sometimes I read up to two or three books a week. And an author I have read lately that I think is one of the best is Rachel Caine and her “Stillhouse Lake” series. There are three out so far and I couldn’t put them down. Another one comes out in January and you know I pre-ordered it.

Another one that tops the list is “The Chain” by Adrian McKinty. Such a unique premise and so well executed.

Two very different authors, both mesmerizing.

I also love my classic historicals: Julie Garwood always gets me hooked on her Scottish heroes. And, of course, Jude Deveraux and Kathleen Woodiwiss, among others, are always wonderful. A.S. Fenichel’s books are also must reads. And there are too many more to mention.

The bottom line is I adore good writing. Give me believable characters, interesting plots and a happily ever after and I am enthralled.

It makes me sad to hear people say they don’t read. They are missing out on so much. You can experience different times in history, different people and places, different situations and never leave the comfort of your armchair. Books are just one of those miracle gifts I appreciate every day.

Now let’s pop over to the amazing Cristina Alexandra and check out her favorite book(s).

https://CristinaAlexandra.net/blog

Romance Writers Weekly

Hello, happy Tuesday and welcome. This week is exciting because we have added new members and we are so happy they’re here! I’ll bet you are, too!

This week’s challenge comes for the amazing A.S. Fenichel:

I do a lot of research or my books. Tell us one or more fun/interesting thing you recently learned in your research.

Like Andrea, I, too, do a lot of research. If you want to create a believable background for a story, it’s vital to get the details right. The “Morocco” series took hours of research into a time and place I knew very little about previously. I found it fascinating. The harem and its hierarchy, Sultan Moulay Ismail and even the nomadic people who populated the outlying areas. I hung out with camels at the zoo (I love them!) and read every book about the Sahara I could get. I studied about the women themselves and how they came to accept the lifestyle. My heroines could never consent to living that way, but others appeared to thrive.

I immersed myself in the land and its people and it was like taking a trip back in time to an exotic place. It was terrifying and intriguing.

That’s what I love about research. It takes you to places and periods in history ready to be discovered. It’s not about dates or facts, but more about how people lived and reacted to the events surrounding them. It makes me wonder who I would be if I lived in those places or those times. And that’s why I love reading and writing. I can go there and watch stories unfold and experience the world in a whole different light. Without ever leaving my chair.

 and coming this fall…

And now let’s hop over to one of our new (and, of course, fabulous!) members and see what she has learned from research…

Clair Brett https://www.clairbrett.com/blog

Romance Writers Weekly

Hello and welcome to this week’s hop. Thanks for taking the time to join us. We appreciate you! This week’s challenge comes from the amazing Brenda Margriet:

I missed the last Flash Fiction week, so I decided to assign it again. Write 500 words using these three words: grandmother, freckle, giant.

My grandmother loved my freckles. She said they were adorable. I hated them. Who wants dark spots all across their nose? But she said that one day I would meet a man who would appreciate how unique they were and how special I was. And he would be the one for me.

Well, Grandma, no such luck to date.

I had time before I had to be at work, so I thought I’d treat myself to a fancy coffee at that new shop. It was a bright, hot morning and the cool interior of the store was a welcome respite. But my eyes hadn’t quite adjusted to the dim interior and I bumped straight into a giant.

“So sorry,” I mumbled, as I looked up and up to find his face. His very handsome face. But the man had to be well over six feet four and I’m just five feet nothing.

“I’m not,” he replied and grinned. Straight white teeth, a tanned complexion, and eyes the color of the sea after a storm. My heart did a somersault. “I like when a girl throws herself at me.”

Really? “Really?” Of course he was arrogant.

“No, not really. In fact, they never do. Guess it’s because I’m so easy to spot. If you’re looking up.”

Which I clearly wasn’t. But I should have been. Not so arrogant after all.

“You could make it up to me,” he said, a sly grin lifting his lips. I guess he noted my less than enthusiastic expression. “No, no. Just sit for a bit and have a coffee with me. I’ll even buy.”

I was suspicious, but this was a public place and he seemed pretty harmless, even though he was very tall. And broad-shouldered.

“Ulterior motive?” I asked, not knowing what to expect he would answer.

“Yes. I need to work on my math and observation skills.” He nodded very seriously.

“I don’t understand.” I was truly confused.

“I’m guessing forty-six, but I’d like to be sure.”

I just stared into those teal-blue, sincere eyes. “Forty-six?” I managed.

“Why the freckles, of course. There is nothing so adorable on a woman. But you must know that.”

“So I was told. By a very smart woman.”

***

Now let’s hop over to the amazing A.S. Fenichel and see what she wrote.

http://asfenichel.com/blog

Have you read her books? They are fabulous!

https://www.amazon.com/Ladys-Honor-Everton-Domestic-Society-ebook/dp/B073PB8P6N/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=A.S.+Fenichel&qid=1568640178&s=books&sr=1-1

Romance Writers Weekly

Happy Tuesday and welcome to our weekly hop. We love having you here! This week’s challenge comes from the amazing A.S. Fenichel:

Tomorrow is my birthday. I know, things got terrible on this day in 2001. Where were you that day? What do you remember? What stood out to you? What was your “silver lining” takeaway?

First, happy birthday tomorrow, A.S.!

Yes, things did get beyond terrible that day. I was home, getting ready to have lunch with a friend when she called me to say the world was coming to an end. She was right in so many ways. And the horrendous just kept on coming. So many people killed or hurt, so many lives destroyed and damaged. And such far-reaching effects (and affects) that still leaves their mark on today.

I remember being shaken to my core. Attacked in America? Inconceivable. Was nothing secure?

But then I also remember the courage, the strength, the heart of Americans. We came together that day, one country. On that horrible day, we put aside petty differences to help when we could, to pray, to offer succor.

There was a feeling of not being safe anymore, but that was over-ridden by knowing we weren’t alone. We, as Americans, had each other.

It saddens me that we had to have such a disaster to bring us together. But it strengthens me to know that, when anything happens, we are one country, one people, and I hope we remember that every day.

                                     And coming this fall…                                                                                                                                                   

Now, let’s pop over to the birthday girl and see what she remembers from that day…

http://asfenichel.com/blog

Romance Writers Weekly

Happy Tuesday and welcome to this week’s hop. So happy you joined us!

I came up with the challenge this time:

Name a pastime/hobby that inspires you.

Well, I should probably start with the obvious…reading. Years ago a friend gave me a copy of a Kathleen Woodiwiss book and I was hooked. I loved the genre and I was inspired to tell some of my own stories. Nothing inspires me like delving into a book and losing myself in it. It reminds me of the power of the written word and how it stimulates my imagination. Sometimes I wonder how there is room in my brain for all the tales I’d like to tell.

I also love to sew. I so enjoy buying beautiful, bright-colored fabric and fashioning it into something I or one of my friends can actually wear. And, compared to writing a novel, it’s a very fast process. I do love that immediate gratification.

The other hobbies that help me concentrate on plotting and characters are painting and jewelry-making. Both involve (again) bright colors. Creating images on canvas (in acrylic) is very satisfying. As for the jewelry, I love the bling. And, I have actually been able to donate some of my work to raise money for my favorite causes. Nothing feels better than that.

Now, of course, I am spending a lot of time with my newest pastime: puppy rearing. Inspiring? No, more like exhausting. But the rewards outweigh the problems. She is the cutest little thing and she is going to be a great dog and a wonderful companion. And soon…are you listening, Annie?…soon!

I hope your takeaway from this is: do what makes you (and others) happy and it will enrich your life.

  and coming this fall….   

Now let’s pop over to the incredible A.S. Fenichel and hear what inspires her…

http://asfenichel.com/blog

Romance Writers Weekly

Hello and welcome to this week’s hop. As always, we are so happy you are here! This week’s challenge comes from the amazing Brenda Margriet:

Let’s share our favourite summer photos, from any year.

My favorite summer photos are from a very long time ago and have since faded away. But, luckily, thanks to the internet, I can gather some pictures of the city that reflect my visit that summer. And relate a wonderful tale to go with the photographs.

Right after I graduated from college, I took the summer off and went to Rome.

Among some of the wonderful places I visited, there was the coliseum (of course), and “The Pieta” (breathtaking), and I walked the Spanish steps (so impressive).

I met some wonderful people and had the time of my life. I ate in places the tourists had yet to discover where the food was authentic and amazing, and I learned Italian. But one story told to me has stuck with me all these years.

One of my new friends introduced me to the Piazza Navona. There is a church there and in front of it sits a fabulous fountain. Now the man who built the church and the one who designed the fountain were rivals. One said the other one’s fountain would crumble before his church. No, said the other man. Your church will fall first. And so he had one of the statues built with his arms raised for when the church fell down.

Oh, to be graced with such talent and a wonderful sense of humor.

And speaking of travel…how about Morocco?

      and coming this fall….

Now let’s pop over to the wonderful A.S. Fenichel and see her pictures…

http://asfenichel.com/blog

Romance Writers Weekly

Hello and welcome to our hop. We are really happy you joined us! This week’s challenge comes from the fabulous Dani Jace:

Entering the “dog days” of summer in my area. Do you have pets? What type and how many? Do you write pets into your stories

These summer months have been a time of sadness because we lost our beloved Jakita.

She was the best dog. She sat at my feet every day when I wrote my books and she was the most loyal, loving, most stubborn, funniest…well, you get the point. I miss her terribly.

But the house was so quiet and empty, we decided to get another dog. A puppy. I know. What were we thinking? But, we saw little Annie and it was love at first sight. And it helped ease the pain. We actually don’t get to pick her up until Friday and I forgot how much is involved in raising and training one from scratch. She’ll only be eight weeks old. So, no sleep for awhile. But look at that face…

I’m a little nervous, but I’ve been to the pet store to stock up on supplies and I think we’re ready. Maybe. But again, look at that face.

As for writing pets into my stories…”The Defiant Bride” features a horse like the one I had (although horses really aren’t pets) and “The Dream Dancer’s” Bryce has a great dog.

I realize I should probably write about pets more often. There is no greater comfort than their unconditional love….

Now let’s pop over to the wonderful Dani Jace and hear about her pets….

http://www.danijace.com/blog