Heart Pounding Romance

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Perfect Adventure

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There are a couple of universal truths. Adventures are never boring. Children have vivid imaginations. And, ask a child to imagine the perfect adventure, and I bet you’ll also nurture a future writer and reader.

As its summer, the kids are home and once in awhile, they do get bored. Imagine that! Today, my daughter asked why we don’t go on adventures. Being a writer, I immediately retorted, “Every day is an adventure for a writer!” She looked at me doubtfully, but when I asked if she wanted to work with me to create the perfect adventure, she readily agreed.

We sat down and took notes on the makings of a perfect adventure. It would have to involve a long walk in the heat through hills and valleys, naturally trudging through mud. Thankfully, this would take place in our minds, not reality.

Our perfect adventure would also involve meeting other people, or even talking animals or other-worldly creatures.

Finally, if this were truly the definitive “perfect” adventure, it would have to conclude with the discovery of some sort of baked goods. I’m telling you, my daughter’s taste in pastry is second to none! We decided on lemon bars or brownies as the ideal discovery.

And there we had it…the outline of our story, a child no longer bored, and me thankful for the opportunity to experience my daughter’s imagination.

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Indie Author Love

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I normally try to devote a post to one cover reveal or new release, but there are so many good ones right now that I wanted to highlight three fabulous indie authors and their latest, summer projects.

First up is Airicka Phoenix with “When Night Falls,” the first book in her new Regeneration Series. Every review on Amazon thus far is five stars, so I’m definitely picking this one up.

Next, one of my favorite indie books was “The Bet” by Rachel Van Dyken, now she’s back with “The Dare.” I can’t wait. Thirty…county them, 30 five star reviews!

Finally, a cover reveal by R.S. McCoy for “Spirits.”
spirit
This book is a follow-up to “Sparks,” which features the same intricately beautiful cover details.

Enjoy these summer picks and let me know what you’re reading right now.

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Feeling Bluesy? How to Beat Writers Block

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I’m a pretty upbeat person and I’ve learned to count my blessings…my husband, my children, and working as a writer. But every writer has moments when the words don’t flow and life can get you down. When this occurs, it’s important to know how to pull yourself out of the blues. Here are my go-to methods for beating writers block and getting back on track.

1. Open the curtains and windows. Fresh air and sunlight just make everything a bit brighter.

2. Clean the kitchen. I know it sounds crazy, because who lives to grab the Windex? But, having a clean space does make us feel less cluttered and more productive. Why else would there be so many magazines, blogs and Pinterest boards dedicated to beautiful homes and comforting rooms?

3. Nourish my body. Food. It sounds simple, but it’s effective. If I’m hungry, no doubt a raging headache is on its way and who feels good when a bass drum is pounding between your eyeballs? I also love to cook and find that being creative in the kitchen is a great way to nurture creativity in my writing.

4. Nourish my soul. Food is for my body, but books are for my soul. When I’m not writing, I’m reading. I also love guilty pleasures on television that take me away to other times and let me meet interesting characters.

So, let’s analyze the above. For argument’s sake, let’s assume I got a terrible book review (it happens) and I’m in the dumps. Do I decide never to write again? No way! Although I do admit that I might need to take a day off so I’m going to open my curtains, smell the fresh air, clean my space so that I can prepare a yummy meal and eat it while reading a great book or escaping into my favorite television series. I’m willing to bet that by the time that episode of “Pretty Little Liars” is finished, I’m back on track and ready to write!

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Shrimp and Quinoa

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Fast, healthy, delicious…what more could you want from a weekday dinner? Here’s a shrimp and quinoa dish that has an Asian flair to it.

Cook 1/2 cup quinoa as directed and set aside.

In a large pan over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil and cook 10 oz. of peeled, deveined shrimp until opaque, about three minutes, and set aside.

Return pan to medium-high and add 1 tablespoon olive oil to cook 1/4 cup each of chopped carrots, red bell pepper, and red onion, along with 1 minced garlic clove. Cook until the vegetables are soft, about three minutes.

Add remaining quinoa and shrimp to the pan, along with 2 teaspoons of low-sodium soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of toasted sesame oil, 1 teaspoon of rice vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger.

Cook, stirring until hot for about three minutes. Top with 1 tablespoon of peanuts and sliced scallions.

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Hearing Voices

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I hear voices in my head. I imagine being chased at night by werewolves or if I’m lucky, a hunky guy. I’m not crazy or perverted. I’m a writer and that’s how writers roll. I wish I could say I see dead people, but I can’t go that far and besides, that line is taken.

When people ask me which of my books is my favorite, it’s akin to asking someone, “Which child is your favorite?” I just can’t pick. I spend a lot of time with my books. They don’t just flow out of me with a new one coming out every month, and I’m okay with that.

Like a child, a good book has a gestation period. I need to get to know my characters, sit with them awhile, learn their likes and dislikes. Even if their personality traits or preferences don’t make it into my writing, it’s still important for me to know how they take their coffee or what they’d wear to a party. Getting to know my characters helps me decide what action they’ll take when faced with the adversity that I’ll no doubt throw at them in my books.

Whether I’m thinking about my heroines or villains, I love them all. They surprise me, just like my own children. My heroines are flawed and my villains have redeemable qualities. I have imaginary conversations with them and some of those do make it into my writing. The most remarkable aspect of these imaginary friends is that sometimes they’ll introduce me to new characters, and voila, a book is born.

Hearing my characters’ voices and holding imaginary conversations with them helps me avoid writers block. Best of all, I know I can turn to any of my characters for a heart-to-heart when my own children and husband have decided to run out to the movies for the afternoon.

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