Book Talk interview today

Fun news. My interview for MELTDOWN is up today on Book Talk. They've included
my trailer and an excerpt. Plus I have a contest open to anyone leaving a
comment to my questions. Thanks for stopping by to check it out.
http://booksbypickles.blogspot.com/

Icy Snow Blackstone presents her latest book

Bargain with Lucifer is scheduled for release in November by Class Act Books.

Book Blurb:
What a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive…Bargain with Lucifer is an object lesson on that phrase. Like his namesake, the Prince of Lies, Lucifer Deveraux is a deceiver par excellence…for five years, he’s deceived his grandather into believing he’s a married man and a father, every woman he’s met has been fooled into believing he doesn’t care for anyone but himself, even his brother Michel is convinced Luc seduced and abandoned the woman Michel now calls his wife. The truth is Luc is an insecure child-man who’s afraid to love anyone, seeing everyone he’s ever cared for die. He’s also been deceived in the most cruel way possible—he believes he caused his own mother’s death and that fact has twisted him from a loving, gentle boy into a selfish, hell-bent womanizer.

When Luc meets Julie Richmond, they are both in desperate need. Learning he has to be a settled married man by his thirtieth birthday or lose a five million dollar Trust, Luc invents a wife and family. All he has to do is find excuses to keep his grandfather from meeting to meet his wife and child, and—being an adept liar—he does this with ease. Julie is on the verge of becoming destitute because her husband has died, leaving her and her small daughter with nothing. When Luc’s grandfather demands he return home and bring his family with him, Luc’s bluff is called and he offers a solution to both their problems; she agrees and their marriage becomes another deception—to fool Luc’s grandfather into releasing the money.

Returning to San Souci, the Louisiana plantation where Luc grew up with brother Michel, Julie is thrust into a situation she has never faced before, and one which their shaky sham marriage-- trying so desperately to transform itself into a real one—may not survive. Luc’s former girlfriend Clarice is now Michel’s wife, a fact both brothers have long since come to regret. Seeing in Julie the kind of woman he should have married, the childless Michel has an instant attraction to her, as well as an emotional attachment to her little daughter. With Luc once more in residence, Clarice fools herself in believing he’s come back to her in spite of his bringing wife and daughter with him. With a reputation as the town man-killer, the beautiful Clarice is determined to win back the one man who ever dared to walk out on her. Let anyone, including a wife, prevent it and she’ll stop at nothing—not even murder—to get what she wants.

Welcome guest blogger Christine Columbus

Discover A New World Of Romance


'Trust Your Heart'

Michelle, a divorced mother of two preschool children living in a Minneapolis suburb, maintains her subscription to her hometown newspaper. So when she bumps into childhood friend David, she already knew he was successful and a bachelor, but what the paper forgot to mention was how he had matured into a handsome man. Memories of their past resurface and once more she envisions playing house with him.

Although this time it's the adult-rated version, where he's selling software that threatens her job, her co-workers refuse to play nice, her ex-husband is acting just plain weird and the hometown paper is in an uproar over who is sending her flowers and who she should date. Michelle doesn’t know whom to believe until she steps back and looks deep within and trusts her heart.

The Wild Rose Press
Sweetheart Miniature Rose
Release Date: 9-23-2009

Who is Christine?

I'm a poet and a romance novelist with a number of short stories and a Miniature Rose to be released September 23, Trust Your Heart and a novel. The Perfect Country and Western Story, will be released on February 19, 2010 through The Wild Rose Press.

Last year my poem Heaven and Hell was included in Bloomington Art Center’s production, Reflection and this year my prose “A Little Water” will be include in their Water production. I was also a mini story winner at mnartist.org with my flash fiction 'Tween Seasons. My website: www.ChristineColumbus.net My blog: www.ChristineColumbus.blogspot.com

I love to write what I know about…I know about love, romance and children. I’ve included a little piece of prose that was included in this year production Waters at Bloomington Center Arts.


A Little Water:

"How little is water?" My son asked sitting in a bathtub filled with plastic boats.

"It's as small as rain,” I explained.

"Pouring from the sky in a thunderstorm." His voice boomed as his feet turned the tepid bath water into crashing waves, sinking half his fleet.

Shaking my head like a dog emerging from a lake. "As small as a raindrop in a gentle spring shower, clinging to a shiny green leaf--"

“Eaten by a big fat green caterpillar that gulps down all the leaves before crashing down to the ground.” His palm smacked the surface sending a spray of water.

Eyebrows popped up like umbrellas, hands flayed like windshield wipers, but still I got wet. “As small as a tear from an orange monarch--”

“Butterfly stuck to a claw of an angry bear.” His arms and hands thrashed. “The bear can’t shake the honey or the butterfly off his paw. The harder he tries, the madder he gets.” Soap, suds and toys scattered.

Suddenly the whirling winds ceased like a summer storm and calm was restored to the water.

My son glanced around. “How can something so little be this messy?”


I’ve included the recipe in this blog. (Susan's doing a happy dance).
Michelle serves up ‘Tootin Cowboys.'
I learned early on – if you want a child to eat something – you have to give it a really ’cool’ name.

1 - package of wagon wheel pasta cooked.
2 - cans of Chilli with beans
1 - cup of shredded cheese.


Mix the cooked pasta with the chili in a casserole dish and sprinkle with cheese - cooked 30 minutes at 300 degrees - or microwave until warm and cheese is melted.

I also taught my kids to drowned vegetables …aka dunkin’ carrots in a yogurt dill dip.

Ingredients

* 1 tsp fresh dill
* 1 tsp fresh parsley
* 1/2 cup non-fat yogurt
* 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
* 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
* 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
* 1 clove garlic, minced


Directions

Mix all the ingredients together and chill.
Serve with fresh veggies.

And a quick and easy desert, drowning Bears.

Ingredients

* 1 container of cool whip
* 1 box of Teddy Graham Cracker Bears

Take Bear and dip into cool whip head first

Enjoy and for More Information – Visit Me www.ChristineColumbus.net

Not one but THREE recipes! Thanks Christine. Your book sounds sweeter than honey.

Here's an excerpt from 'Trust Your Heart':

A trace of laughter filled his deep, sensual voice. My eyes widened. “David Lindstrom?”
His gaze narrowed. “Michelle Mason?”
My heart thumped. The handsome man in front
of me was David. He looked different from the teenager who had shared a locker beside mine for four years. Back then, he wore nothing but faded denim overalls, white stained t-shirts, work boots and a baseball cap, but the smile was the same.
He clasped my hand and drew me closer.
I leaned close and sniffed twice. He certainly didn’t smell like the farm boy who came to school more times than not smelling like manure. His scent was clean, crisp and all male. “You smell wonderful.”
His arms wrapped around me, and his chest rumbled with laughter. “You were always the honest one.”
The warmth of his embrace was like chocolate to a dieter, and my arms tightened possessively. Guilt and the desire to take a little nibble had me rocking back and forth in his embrace. His arms tightened.
Strength and the comfort were the two words that came to mind as the tension drained from my muscles and my head fell wearily to his shoulder. Sweet, farm boy David rubbed my back, his breath was warm. Suddenly thoughts of comfort spun out of control and I had images of his hands roaming over my body, his lips kissing me. I struggled from his embrace as the sound of a throat clearing came from behind me.
“Mr. Lindstrom?”
I recognized Rita’s voice and cringed.
“Yes.” His voice vibrated and his arms finally loosened their grip as they slipped around me.
“Mr. Humphrey asked me to find you and show you to the conference room,” Rita said breathlessly.
My spine stiffened. Visions of Rita and Mr. Humphrey’s pasty face covered in chocolate had my head spinning.
“Are you okay?” David’s arm tightened around me, his voice laced with concern.
I stepped back and steadied myself as the muted colors of cubicle walls came back into focus.
Rita quickly moved in, her lips plump and perky as she brushed against his arm.
“When can I see you again?” David asked.
Rita scowled and squinted in my direction as she wedged herself between us.
“Tonight, you can come to my house and I’ll cook you dinner,” I blurted.
“Great, let me jot down your address.” David pulled a Palm Pilot from his pocket. “Would six o’clock work?”
Rita’s head was shaking.
“Perfectly.” This was working out great. I gave him my address and cell phone number, knowing it would only be a matter of moments before Rita was again calling Lydia and this time she’d be telling her I had no interest in my ex-husband.
“See you tonight,” David called over his shoulder as Rita led him away.
Hmmm, David was so handsome. For years, I had been seeing his name in the Lewisville Post, the hometown newspaper to which I faithfully subscribed. He was the town’s most successful bachelor. However, I wasn’t sure if the success came from staying single or getting promotions and making oodles of money.
The warmth of his embrace lingered through the day. As I pictured David in my house, at my table and on my doorstep saying good night, a shiver shot from my toes to my fingertips.
Would he kiss me?

Learning Curves

I've read life is series of learning curves.
I feel like I've fallen off Mt. Everest.

Guest Blogger Becca Simone

Hello everyone,

Now that I'm finished doing that imitation of a headless chicken this week, I'm so pleased to announce my guest blogger today is fellow TWRP newbie, Becca Simone. The memory of the release of my book, MELTDOWN, is still fresh in my mind, so I feel your cyber-excitement, ecca. Congratulations and thanks for the tips and stopping by today.

Here's Becca: Thanks so much for having me here, Susan. I’m so excited to be celebrating the release of my first published work of fiction. MIDNIGHT TREAT released last Friday, Sept 18, from The Wild Rose Press. It’s an erotic romance with a Halloween theme. The hero, Josh, breaks into the wrong woman’s apartment Halloween night. He thinks he’s about to fulfill the sexual fantasy of a woman he met at a costume party. Instead, he’s broken into Cassie’s apartment by mistake. Cassie is tired of always being the wrong girl and goes along with the naughty role playing.

This story was so much fun to write. I really love Cassie. She’s shy and a wallflower, always the designated driver when she and her girlfriends go out. Always the one going home alone. She’s not your typical heroine, but a size 12, somewhat plain young woman. But Josh, the hunky hero, makes her feel beautiful, sexy and perfect.

In my personal life, my “real” job (writing erotica doesn’t feel like a “real job” because it’s so much fun to do) is in the fitness industry. As writers, we spend a lot of time sitting on our bums in front of the computer. Too often, our diets aren’t stellar either. It’s easy to munch on candy or chips or too much coffee while we slave away at our computers. I’d like to share with some simple, healthy changes you can incorporate into your writing life.

1. Take a hike. Okay, a walk will do. Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way, recommends a 20-minute walk. Every day. Her reason is that walking helps clear the head, helps quiet the blasted internal editor. Makes sense. My reason for wanting you to walk every day (even if it’s just for 10 minutes) is because we need to get off our collective butts. Walking serves several purposes: moving our bodies more is always a good thing; we burn some calories; any time you get the blood flowing to our extremities causes more blood to go to our brains—more blood to our brains mean more creativity. Even if you’re not committed to walking every day (but I really, really, really recommend you try it), try walking next time you’re stuck on a plot point or some other block with your writing. Don’t listen to music, just zone out on your breathing and your footfalls, and think about your story. I guarantee you’ll blast through that block.

2. Breathe. Every time you complete a scene, or an email, or finish posting on a blog, sit tall in your chair and take a big, slow breath. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Oxygen to the brain will wake you up and enhance your creativity.

3. Stand up. At least once and hour, get up from your chair. Inhale and stretch your arms overhead, exhale bring them back down. Do this 3-5x. Roll your shoulders forward and back a few times. Rise up and down on your toes a few times. Now the blood is flowing again, the oxygen is headed back to your brain.

4. Start drinking. Water, that is. Nothing is worse for the brain and energy levels than dehydration. If you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. My suggestion is to buy a pretty water bottle that holds at least 32 oz. Fill it with cold water when you wake up in the morning and sip from it all day. Keep it right next to you as you write. Make sure that your bottle is empty by the end of your writing session.

5. Eat. It’s okay to eat while you write. Snacking is a good thing if you make smart choices. If you choose a protein/carb snack instead of chips or other junk food, you’ll be amazed at how much more energy you have, how much less tired you’ll be. Some of my favorites: sliced apple and a piece of string cheese, sliced apple or celery with peanut butter, ½ cup lowfat/low sugar yogurt mixed with ½ cup cottage cheese plus 2 tsp of chopped pecans, handful of nuts and a piece of fruit, skim milk latte and a piece of fruit.

These are all simple, easy changes, but I think you’ll be amazed at how much better you feel. Good luck and let me know how you’re doing.

BeccaSimone.com
BeccaSimone at gmail dot com

Becca Simone’s short story, MIDNIGHT TREAT, released September 18, from The Wild Rose Press. It’s her first published work of fiction and she can’t be more excited.

BeccaSimone.com

MIDNIGHT TREAT BLURB:

It's mistaken identity gone erotically awry during a Halloween costume party.
Josh Panetti breaks into an apartment Halloween night, thinking he’s fulfilling the sexual fantasy of a woman he just met at a costume party. Instead, he’s broken into Cassie Snow’s place. Cassie immediately realizes his mistake—she’d seen him at the party with her sexy upstairs neighbor. She should tell him he has the wrong apartment and the wrong girl. But she’s always the wrong girl. Would it be so terrible to be the right girl for just one night?
>>>

The Chase

Sounds like the title of a romance novel, but it's the name of the contest to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup. We're down to 12 drivers that qualify and my fav drivers have made it: Kasey, Carl Edwards, Jimmy Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin. The sentimental favorite is Mark (the youngster) Martin, the baby boomer generation's hero. I met him years ago at The Glen. He was shorter than me,and I'm 5'3". Jimmy Johnston, a hottie, can make history and win 4 in a row. He's Mr. Cool on the track, but could be a male model on the cover of one of my books. Kasey is the young, talented driver that could surprise everyone. He's got a good team behind him, plus his boss is the King, Richard Petty. There's a lot of fans that would love to see the King hoist that Sprint Cup- made by Tiffany's that has to be handled with gloves. Carl's had a rough year, but he gets the tough guy award. With a broken foot he manages win Nationwide races, and he may shock a lot of people by winning the cup. He won 9 races last year, so he can do it if his luck changes. I believe this is Jeff Gordon's year. Ok, put aside that he's confident, some say cocky, but he's one of the greatest drivers ever, and he's been in the top five the last few races. He's a scientist behind the wheel, telling his team the changes he wants to his car.
Let the Chase begin!

Welcome guest blogger Toni Sweeney

This weeks guest blogger is Toni Sweeney, and I'm delighted with her topic. Demons and Vamps maybe the today's craze, but cowboys are timeless!

Toni writes:

In deference to my hostess today, I’ve decided to write about the two Westerns I’ve authored. What’s that? You didn’t know I wrote Westerns? Yes—gasp!—Toni V. Sweeney once, in her deep, dark past, wrote Westerns. Two—count them—two of them. Though I had to get them classified as Western Romances to get them published, I really don’t think they fit that criteria. Both stories are full of grief and violence, but—though not necessarily the type qualifying as the typical HEA--both do have relatively happy endings, and by that I mean a Toni V. Sweeney Happy Ending…where several people are left alive and still standing… They were written with a single purpose in mind: the celebration of Nebraska’s sesquicentennial of statehood. That year, you couldn’t turn on a TV or radio or pick up a newspaper without seeing celebration…celebration…CELEBRATION! Caught up in the fervor, I did my literary best to contribute and came up with Walk the Shadow Trail and Vengeance from Eden. (The fact that at the time I was dating a man who liked Westerns didn’t hurt, either. He offered his expert opinion on some of the dialogue.)

Walks the Shadow Trail’s publication came at a time when I needed a little bolstering. I was preparing for hip surgery, to replace the prosthesis which I’d possessed since age 28 and had now worn outat age 52. The day before my surgery, I received a letter from a publisher accepting my novel. The only problem was, I’d sent the manuscript in a year before and had forgotten about it, so for a few moments, I didn’t know what story he meant! Vengeance from Eden also had its own drama. My computer crashed beyond resurrection just as I was in the middle of running the hardcopy (this was before electronic submissions) and I had to rush out and buy another one to access the rest of the story from a floppy disk.

Both stories are set in Nebraska in the late part of the Nineteenth Century. Both concern men facing serious choices in their lives; how they handle them affects not only their own existences but that of the people who follow them.

In Walk the Shadow Trail, impoverished German Baron Karl Wilhelm von Brandt comes to America to avoid the debt his wastrel father left behind after killing himself. With the assistance of a Pawnee halfbreed who becomes his best friend, Will becomes a successful rancher in the Nebraska Territory but grief awaits him when he marries Summer Woman, the daughter of a Pawnee chief.

Vengeance from Eden featured another character who had life-changing choices to make. Lucas Brennan is a man who’s been alone most of his life, isolated on the ranch he inherited from his parents who died when he was twelve. The father of a half-Pawnee son, he travels back to Savannah to accept an inheritance from his uncle. There, he meets Marietta Sylvestre, a Southern belle almost half his age, and takes her as a bride back to Nebraska. For a year, Luke is happier than a man can be and then—in a few hours—everything falls apart as hatred and prejudice intrude into his life.

These two novels earned me a listing as a Nebraska writer on the Creighton University website, the Nebraska Center for Writers http://mockingbird.creighton.edu/NCN/sweeney.htm . I think they both reflect the Nebraskan mystique and Old West life-style of strong, stoic men and gentle-with-a-core-of-iron women to some extent. Each novel was on the publisher’s list of twenty top-sellers for three months. Both are available as audio books, e-books, and finally in print from www.double-dragon-ebooks.com and in Kindle from from www.amazon.com . Check them out. I think you'll enjoy them and they're certainly a switch from my usual writing style.

Welcome guest blogger Holly Greenfield

I'm jazzed to have Holly as this week's guest blogger. She's done an awesome job as vice president (soon to be President) of Central New York Romance Writers this year, and is also a fellow TWRP author. Holly's, Beltane Faerie of Fate, was published in the popular Enchanted Faerie Anthology. Bellow is the link to read an excerpt:
excerpt: http://www.hollygreenfield.com/Excerpt%20page.htm

Holly also writes a blog with several other authors at the Author's studio:
http://authorsstudio.blogspot.com/

For a change of pace, today she's decided to chat about the power of positive thinking, something we need more of in these changing economic times.

Positive Thinking:
Positive thinking powers the mind like the moon drives the tides. And the tides are important to the balance of the sea. Just as positive thinking is important to balance in our lives. It is amazing the people out there that scoff at the power and energy of positive thinking. I won't like and tell you being positive is easy, but I can assure the results are worth the effort.

Being positive is not a single action, or a brief moment, but a life style. A way in which we enrich our lives in all that we do, say, think, feel, and touch. "We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make our world" –Buddha.
You don't have to be Buddhist to know that Buddha was a pretty smart guy. He says "All that we are arises with our thoughts." Think about this for minute. Those who already live by the mantra of positive energy know that this is the golden key. But for those who haven't yet accepted that a reversal in thought can change their lives, should take a minute to dissect the Buddha's wisdom. (And know that Buddha isn't the only one to offer such advice).

All that we are arises from our thoughts…
The actions we complete, the words we string together in a sentence, the treatment we extend to others—it's all from the power of our thoughts. If you awake on a rainy morning and from the moment your eyes open, decided that a rainy day is a gloomy, bad day—guess what?—Your thoughts for that day, your words and actions for that day will be gloomy and bad. And as a result so will every interaction you have that day, so will every thought thereafter, and so your inability attempt a positive attitude will inevitably negatively effect those around you. You will not see the joy in what the rain brings to the earth, nor the opportunities if affords you.-- A rain-day from work, a reason to call in and curl up on the couch dressed in cozy pajamas with a good book and just relax. It could offer you the opportunity to play with your children in the rain, to wait it out and hear and smell the clarity that is in air and the songs birds that sing after a good, hard rain. The rainy day could be yours for the taking—all you have to do is want it.
A rainy down is a small scale version of what positive thinking can do for you, but the bigger picture is always the same.
Decide today that this is going to be a great day. Decided today that whatever goes wrong isn't the end of a good day. And that perhaps whatever went awry wasn't exactly wrong, but a different way for it to be done. Decided today to take a lesson from each of your encounters, instead of walking away with anger, frustration or even sadness weighing you down. I don't mean that these emotions are not valid emotions that should be acknowledged, but where we can take a weight off your hearts (and perhaps live a little longer for it), and where we can be a bright spot in some else's day (Perhaps helping them to live a longer as well) then why not make that decision.
By making an effort to see the silver lining in every gray cloud, you will inevitably feel lighter, healthier, and more energetic than you have in ages. And it's not far off to think, that positive energy used in positive thinking will produce positive actions, such as friendlier conversations, unexpected friendships in the oddest of places, healthier eating, healthier habits, a clearer complexion, a loss in excess weight… the positive results from positive thinking are endless. What have you to lose by giving it a try?

Arthur Rubinstein said, "I have found that if you love life, life will love you back." This is a positive attitude, positive thoughts resulting in positive living. How can life not be good to you, when you are good to life! Your argument could be that sometimes bad things happen to good people. Bad, hurtful things happen and weigh heavily on the mind and soul. Of course they happen, but it is how you face them, how you handle the situation that affords you the solace of positive living. The psychologist, William James said, "The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude." What greater gift could a person ask for, than to be in control of your own happiness?
In being positive you generate positive energy that carries a contagious bug. We all know that when you smile at someone, they have to smile back. Why? Because happiness, positive energy is contagious, and no matter the source of the smile, it is always happy.

I completely agree, Holly.
Thanks for stopping by.
Love and Peace,
Susan

NASCAR AT THE GLEN

Someone's missing a T-shirt niche for when you leave the Glen. "I survived The Glen '09." I'd have worn one all week.
Per tradition, upon arrival at the beautiful Watkins Glen International raceway, we walked around to check for changes. More fencing, mostly additional grandstands, and the new vendors. We sat at turn 10 grandstand, by the gravel pit that Boris Said sunk into in qualifying and DJ skid across in the Cup race. Not a good year for another one of my alltime favorite drivers Dale. (The license plate holder for my mustang is #88). Another tradition is to walk across the pedestrian bridge during a race. I crossed during the Nationwide race. Imagine these nearly deafening sounds when you're about 50 feet about the track: 'errrrr-wham,' pause 'errr-whamwham' pause 'errwhamwhamwham' pause 'errwhamwhamwhamwhamwham.' Each 'wham' is one car racing under the bridge. The noise reverberates through your body. A cool experience, but not for the faint hearted.
You battle mother nature gambit of weather conditions when you're at the Glen, and parking lot jungles (grass, not blacktop), and stampeding fans (many bruises), that I don't have my normal quantity of pictures. I met a lot of first timer this year, people from Iowa, Connecticut, Tennessee. People with families and friends. NASCAR fans at their finest.
I saw plenty of drivers. Carl Edwards only from a distance, though. He always had someone talking to him. But I followed him on my Sprint device for both the Nationwide and Cup race. A thrill to hear him talking to spotters and his crew chief, getting encouragement that he could pass Kyle Bush. With a team like that I'm confident he'll win the Cup this year. I saw Jeff Gordon as he drove by in a golf cart. He used to smile more. That wreck was nasty. I hope he'll be okay. I spied Kevin Harvick walking by before the Nationwide race, and when his Copart Crew Chief, the handsome Ernie Clue stopped for ice cream, I wished him good luck and I got his picture (check my Facebook). At the McDonald's Funzone I got about 5 feet from Kasey Kahne. Of the four driver Q&A's I saw that day: Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Dave Reutimann,(all Toyota drivers) Kasey looked the most relaxed. The kids asked the silliest questions, and I can't remember one of them now, but they were the kind that only kids can think of. You could see the thought process in Kasey's eyes along with the smile. Again, the guy is just TOO cute. And he drives a two ton race car about 180 mph and has driven as fast as 200mph. I admit to a couple of joy rides with old boyfriends, at speed of around 120mph, and the landscape was a blur. A BLUR! I'm in awe of these NASCAR drivers. So congrats to Brian Vickers for winning the pole at Michigan with a qualifying speed of 187.242mph, and Kasey qualified #10 185.782. Carl and DJ are probably unhappy they aren't in the top ten, but they're in my top ten for coolest guys on the planet.
Who's your favorite NASCAR DRIVER? Who do you think will win the CUP?

Short Story Bingo- Welcome Vicki Batman

Tonight I'm happy to welcome a delightful friend I met at the KOD party at Dallas Convention, Vicki Batman. She's had a lot going on and has wonderful news to share!

His, Susan, and thanks for having me. I've had one crazy week and soon will tell more. Partly, because of the two newly adopted malti-poos, Champ (white) and Jones (charcoal). They are adorable, but potty training is killing all of us.

Susan and I talked at National about how our writing careers are progressing. Congratulations, gal, on your new release. I know you are thrilled.

My short story is now on the newsstands, Charlie's Friend, a September True Romance Happily Ever After. This story answers the never-ending questions of how I met Handsome. It's pretty funny. I like to write wit and humor into my stories.

I've been writing for five years now. I have three books (unpublished), written many stories which are out there in submission, and several essays.

About a year and a half ago, my critique partner said her New Year's goal was to write six to eight shorts to submit to Women's World magazine. Would I read them?

Of course I said yes. And in doing so, I got a crash course in writing a short story. One day I passed from my bedroom to my closet and Wham! An idea hit. (Don't you love it when that happens?) Since, I've been happily writing short stories. I love the rush of putting it down on paper (computer), then layering and layering. Finally, when I think, "no more," I send it to my partner.

She'll tell you she spreads blood (aka red ink) all over the page. I laugh when I get her critiques. Like I have one in my in box today and she found a huge glaring mistake that I'd read over multiple times. Even another friend never noticed. Thank God! for her.

Like all critique relationships, she does have her way and I have mine. I have to choose what I believe is best for my story. I am always eternally grateful when something she does really allows me to deepen my writing. (I only hope I do the same for her. LOL.)

So why stick with writing short stories? For now, I find it very satisfying. Oh yeah, I have a book on the back burner that needs a crucial element weaved in. But that takes too long. Someday I'll tackle that one again because I love the characters.

I'll keep on writing the shorts as long as I have ideas. It is amazing what stimulates the mind. Walking through the closet (I see a pattern here), I glanced over at Handsome's ties arrayed in a row on top of his dresser. Handsome buys the most beautiful silk ones ever. Then, bingo! The idea of a girl and a guy fighting over the same tie clicked. I raced downstairs and put what I had in the head on the computer and Presto! I'd written "Christmas Ties."

So lesson learned: never take the Bing! moments for granted. I believe the come from a special place. (Also learned to keep walking through the closet!!)

Thanks, Susan, for having me. If I can answer any questions, I'll be happy to. Contact me at vlmbatman@hotmail.com or http://vickibatman.blogspot.com. I'll be doing an in-depth author interview on loverly Susan in October.

Happy writing!

Vicki Batman

Guest blogger Mary Ricksen

Please join me in welcoming fellow TWRP author, Mary Ricksen, as my first guest Blogger. Mary is the author of Tripping Through Time, a touching love story set in Lake Champlain. When asked to talk about her favorite subject, Mary selected this tale about her DH. The toilet and the butterfly- effect. She's also enclosed an excerpt from her book. Thanks again for stopping by Mary!
Susan



"Well I had an interesting weekend. It started off quiet and I didn't expect
anything, although in hindsight I should have know better. My husband
decided to fix the toilet. Now right now money is tight, just like for
everyone else. So if he can fix it, he will try. Problem is, well I'm not
sure what the problem is.
I should have realized when he took a blow torch into the bathroom. I
decided to ignore it what could he do in the bathroom? If he couldn't fix
that leaky pipe below the toilet we'd just have to call a plumber. So I went
back to sleep. It was a late night for me, trying to finish a book.
It started when my husband and the dog were making noise at 8:00am. I
ignored it, until he came running in yelling. "Mary, Mary, the dog is in the
pool chasing a raccoon!" I ran to the sliding glass doors just as the
raccoon pooped in the pool and ran up a tree. The dog was wet. I quietly
handed him a large towel, told him to wipe the dog and clean the poop out
and went back to bed. If not for him yelling outside, I probably would have
fallen asleep. I went in, turned the pool on and went back to bed.The
raccoons stay away when the fountain is running. It was 8:15am.
At 8:30am my husband began in the bathroom and I settled for a snooze. At
8:45am I smelled smoke and I thought naw, can't be Well the dog, a huge,
loud, dog, began to bark, and my husband began to yell. "Mary, Mary, the
toilet seat is on fire!!" After putting the dog in the the bedroom I shut
the door, and ran to the kitchen. A pan of water in hand I ran to the
bathroom. My husband had a face mask and gloves on and the toilet was
smoking. I never did ask him why. You know those soft toilet seats have wood
inside? Well a lot more water and a promise to clean up, sent me back to
bed. In a little while I heard him in the closet taking out tools. Naw,
ignore it I thought, he'd already had one catastrophe today.
At 9:00am I heard my car start in the driveway. I got up and asked what he
was doing. "Nothing much," he answered. "Working on the the fuel injectors

and the bitsco beater." Yeah, Yeah, whatever, went back to bed. At 9:15am I
heard him yelling. "Mary, Mary, call 911, call 911, the car is on fire!"
Hmm. two fires in one day. He's broken a record today. I ran outside and he
was running around still yelling to call 911. I hate when I have to call
them back and say forget it, so I'm glad I waited. He turned the car off and
I handed him a hose. Who knew a catalytic converter could catch on fire?
It's 9:30am and I go back to bed. Hoping... At 9:45am I heard him yelling.
"Mary, Mary! No stop, Junior, leave the kitty alone, his head is stuck!"
This was of course at the same time the big, big, dog is barking. But his
bark has a different timbre. I ran outside, still in my nightgown, and held
the dog by the collar. My husband pulled the dog out from under his car. The
cat ran like the devil out from under the car. Hair standing on end, it was
awful. So at 10:00am I went back to bed.
Well at 10:15am the phone rang. It was my neighbor. I thought I had heard my
husband yelling, "Mary, Mary." But I thought I dreamed it. But her phone
call confirmed it."Your husband is chasing the dog down Flagler Drive. The
dog has a mouse trap on his tail and he looks scared. My husband is running
down the street after him. And I was trying to sleep. You know Saturday. Day
off and sleep late kind of thing." At 10:30am after I apologized, I ran for
his car, mine I didn't trust just yet. Oh Lord now he's got the neighbors
involved! By the time I got back it was almost eleven. So I got dressed, and
I hoped I could sleep late on Sunday. The toilet seat is on fire. It could
have been worse.

So I had another interesting weekend. How about you? And somebody asked me
what DH meant and I told them dear husband. Ha!!"


TRIPPING THROUGH TIME


In the waters of Lake Champlain there is magic, and a Celtic Ring with a
mystic spell proves that love is truly timeless.

For years Keealyn McCalley has been under her father's commanding thumb.
After a young child dies in her arms, Keealyn leaves nursing school despite
his disapproval. She ends up staying at a camp on Lake Champlain, in
Vermont.

Depressed and overwhelmed she takes her first drink and before she knows it
she is stoned. Hungover and not thinking clearly she jumps into the lake.
Her misguided act leads her to find an ancient Celtic ring with a spell on
it. Putting it on sends her back to the year 1869. Found on the shore by
Ryan Wolf, she is immediately attracted to his misty green eyes, hard body,
and compassionate nature.

She must learn to trust him not to abuse her, save her heart, and teach her
the powerful healing power of unconditional love.


EXCERPT

Finally, her father left, furious and disgusted

with her. He gave her a non-refundable bus ticket

and his last words echoed in her mind.

"Take your choice, either come home with this

ticket, or go back to school immediately. I'm finished,

do whatever you want, I really don't care. The only

reason I came is your mother made me. As far as I

am concerned you were our biggest mistake."

"To you I am a mistake, but I am a mistake that

has a mind, feelings, and the right to choose how I

want to spend my life. You can't make me into what

you want me to be."

"That's for sure, you can't even come close. Try

living without any money, let's see if you dare to

speak to me like that when you are begging for my

help."

"Dad, I will never beg for your help, I'd rather be

dead. You will not hear from this mistake ever

again."

"Good." Her father shook his head, the look of

disgust on his face apparent. He turned and walked

out of her life forever.

After she left the police station, she ripped the

ticket into small pieces and watched wistfully as the

small pieces blew away in the wind. Finally

emancipated, it was over-bittersweet because now

she could never go home again.



Slowly her thinking became less coherent and

her lungs screamed for air.

The longer she held her breath underwater, the

slower her thoughts came, her mind now numb,

jumbled. She saw fish dart by above her and

followed them with hazy eyes. One seemed to stare

into her face, before swimming to the bottom. It

circled below her, as if trying to get her attention.

She saw something on the bottom. Bright gold,

it glowed, its radiance attracted her and she realized

it was a ring. At that point, she felt indifferent, so it

must have been reflex, or providence, that coerced

her to reach down, pick it up, put it on and then

open her mouth to end it all.

Before the water could fill her lungs she felt a

shock, her body tingled and her blood burned

through her veins. A bright flash of light surrounded

her for a moment and she passed out with a last

thought. I hope I don't go to hell for this. That

Catholic rhetoric they'd drilled into her head still

made her question her actions. Why was I ever born?

Darkness filmed her mind and she gave into the

respite of it.

Off to the Races

Hey there fellow NASCAR fans,

I'm packed and showered (never know what condition the bathroom will be in) and headed to Watkins Glen International Raceway for the "Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dip at the Glen" Long name for a road race. I hope the skies stay clear so I get plenty of candid pix of my favorite drivers to share. Who are they? For starts, as a romance writer you gotta love Carl Edwards. He's made cameo appearances in HQN and Harlequin series novels. I watched Jeff Gordon munch on his Wheaties at a Drivers Breakfast his rookie year, and right there and then decided I'd be a fan for life. And I have the picture to prove it! And who doesn't love DJ? Check out Dale Earnhardt Jr's My Space page. Love it, and him. Then there's the incredible Jimmy Johnson. Sigh.... The man is perfect. Speaking of perfect, did I tell you my tickets are for the McDonalds Family Zone? Richard Petty will make an appearance Sunday to sign autographs, and so will his #1 driver, the man who won the first road race of the season at Sonoma, Kasey Kahne! Be still my cougar heart!! I promise I'll take loads of pictures! Meantime, check out my facebook page for hius video. What a cutie!!
Susan