#Writerly Wednesday Beauty When It Blooms #writing

Beauty, when it blooms, takes my breath away. It doesn't "burst" but unfolds with a simple kind of grace that not all things have. In a way, that's how my writing process often is. It doesn't burst onto the scene always, but infiltrates my mind slowly, sometimes slower than molasses on a cold winter morning, but, things begin to take shape and sometimes it's the most beautiful awe-inspiring thing to me when bits and pieces of a character start to come to life.

A little while back, I posted about my eagerness to start the next story, except for the research I need to do and that I'm getting bits and pieces of background info, like things about the heroine's grandmother. The other night, after working to clean the bathroom, kitchen and living room and wearing myself out so severely that I woke up every hour in bodily pain, I started "brainstorming" in my sleep.

Yes, I guess brainstorming it is, as I wasn't technically dreaming anything, but for several hours before I awoke, my brain worked out a BUNCH of background info on my heroine, who was otherwise a stranger to me. I mean, I know more about the hero. He is the baby brother of the other Pryce brothers, so he's made his appearances, albeit, most the time brief, but he's there and I know his family. The heroine was a complete stranger to me, until more recently and as her background and past begin to bloom for me, even in the deepest and darkest of the night, I feel exhilarated that "she" is showing me who she is, where she's from, the life she had before the story begins.

And from the looks of it, her past is haunting her with significant losses and rebellion in her youth. Her past is not going to be spotless. Not that all my characters pasts are, but this one seems exceptionally dark considering she's a surfer, but then, I'm starting to understand that surfing isn't just something she loves doing- its also her escape and her sanctuary. It's a dangerous sport, but one that brings her momentary peace from her demons, and its the thing she has just for her that saved her life after all the tragedy in her youth. No one else in her life, up until now, understands it, but Mark will and it's just making me SO SUPER excited to start writing their story!!!

(Laugh if you want, but the swell of excitement about starting a new story has brought me to tears this afternoon. It feels so good to be this excited about writing again!)

And thank heavens Mercury is back direct! I feel the shift, the movement of forward motion again in my life, and writing...and it's about time.

Hope you're having a wonderful Hump Day!

~I can see the weekend from here~

#Writerly Wednesday- My next #WIP & Merc in Retro-Perils of the Universe #writing

I'm eager to start on my next novel, Heart of the Surf, the 4th and final book in my Pryce of Love series. Centered around the youngest of the Pryce brothers, and also the last to find love, the story will be a journey for Mark and Alexa Stevens, both of whom have their eyes on the prize of the elite and exclusive surfing competition. Little could they know that their love of sand and surf would also throw them together in another way. Already, I'm gleaning background information about my main characters at odd times, like while I'm showering. I learned a little something about Alexa's grandmother yesterday, so I can feel life being breathed into the story and the characters already.

But....

Mind you, I've never been surfing, never even been to a coastal beach, so this book will be a challenge and there will be research to do, so what better timing for research than just as Mercury is about to go Retrograde.

You see, silly or as superstitious as it might seem in me- I don't start new projects when good ol' Merc's in Retro because I have no desire to "redo" anything later. Not in a big way. There will be enough to be done with edits and polishing once I finish writing the story. Not to mention that I need time to research anyway before I start rattling on about things I know nothing about, but I'm intrigued by the idea of the life of a surfer, so the desire to learn is there.

Of course, writing will be easier still if I wait until after Mercury goes direct again anyway shortly after August begins and my children are back in school. The quiet writing time will help tremendously. It's honestly hard to work and concentrate on writing, to fall deep into my storytelling, when I have someone constantly asking me "Mommy, what's for lunch?" "Can we have a snack?" "Again, why can't we go outside in this triple digit heat?"

(Sandwiches, string cheese or yogurt, I don't want you to resemble the scorched grass in our yard that looks more like bits of hay than living green foliage)

Add to that, I'm also still researching self-publishing, so I have that on my plate, as well. Oh, and the weird dreams- so many of them lately, but I won't bore you with the bizarre and wacky details. I think it's a side effect of the planetary changes. I can feel in my bones. It always opens locked doors to the odd and unusual within me.

And so, I'm also settling back into our routine normalcy around the house after being gone to visit my family and friends in my hometown for 3 weeks. I'm still feeling sluggish today though my mind is racing that I have things to do, people to contact, etc...I can hope to find the balance, but not sure I ever will.

Hope you're having a great Wednesday! I can see the weekend

(and a lucky Friday the 13th) from here!

#SixSunday Six Sentence Sunday- That Girl is a Hot Mess!

Here we are again Sixers! This Sunday we're getting a look into Derrek Martin's POV upon his first encounter with Jasmine Galloway, our heroine.

The young woman was a hot mess. Her silver wire framed glasses slid down the bridge of her sharp straight nose while her long brown hair, pulled up in a top ponytail, swayed around her shoulders and wisped across her high rosy cheekbones in the breeze.

Her knee-length black skirt revealed attractive naturally tan calves. Her short-sleeved floral v-neck blouse exposed the slightest hint of cleavage.

He did not know her, but he wanted to- hot mess and all. Warmth spread through his body as he watched her move.

#SCENTsational Saturdays- #Fave #5- #Jovan #WhiteMusk

Unpredictable in spirit, pure in its essence. Exquisite in its delicacy. Alluring Jasmine, ylang-ylang, and honeysuckle blend with sensual musk, soft woods, and amber. The result is a warm and purely feminine fragrance.

Every time I wear this, I'm transported back to my early-20s. I was living on my own, working at a factory where I printed keys for laptops, ironically. When I wasn't working, I hung out in my apartment with friends, went to the movies or out to eat. Sometimes I went to the local American Legion to listen to live music and maybe get up and dance a slow song if the right guy asked me. That wasn't often and usually it was a handsome stranger who shared one slow dance rather than the current guy in my life.

My biggest concerns were paying the bills, buying groceries and finding a way to get to the laundromat when I didn't have work so I would have clean clothes in my closet and dresser. Honestly though, life seemed more carefree back then...even with bills to pay and work everyday.

Of course, I wanted to get married and worried about whether my current relationship would amount to a hill of beans. I knew I was wanted, needed, desired, but needless to say, it didn't work out and neither did a few others after that, but I was having fun and living life. Even with all the heartache I also associate with that time, I also have a lot of great memories, too. I guess that's what those early years were for though- growing and learning. I sometimes think I took the freedom of my early 20s for granted, but I wouldn't trade that time in my life for the world.

I think that's what Jovan's White Musk represents for me- a more youthful side of me- the side that doesn't feel like a "mom" or a "wife" even, but that young woman who was spontaneous and carefree and enjoying life in the moment. I guess that's why I still wear it- because it reminds me that I am a woman, I am beautiful and desirable and wanted. And there's nothing wrong with that.

Ladies, find that thing today that reminds you that YOU are a woman, your own heroine!

Men, don't let your women forget that you know this fact!

Hope you have a SCENTsational Saturday!

#SCENTsational Saturdays- The Way to a Man's Heart...#Food #Recipes

I completely forgot to schedule this, so I'm running late this morning as I didn't remember until I was making cinnamon French toast for myself and my daughter for breakfast.

The other day I was thinking about how "Scents" encompass more than just fragrances, lotions, shampoos, etc. In fact, everyday we're surrounded by aromas that send our senses on a memorable journey- sometimes eliciting fond nostalgia for childhood and home as well as your first love or your first apartment.

And then another thought struck me while writing my blog for Potluck with Judy earlier this week. I mentioned that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach and so it got me to chewing that thought over, as I've been wondering what other things I could talk about on SCENTsational Saturdays. Food and recipes seems high on the list. Just as my favorite fragrances make me feel good—good home-cooking has almost an aphrodisiac effect on my husband, as it does most men.

And so, with that thought in mind, I decided to start sharing a recipe, probably at the first of every month, of foods that I know make for a happy hero (or heroine).

Today I'm sharing what to me is "Grandma & Momma's" Peach Cobbler, but to a lot of people it is known as the "Cuppa Cuppa Cuppa" recipe for most country cobbler desserts.

Grandma & Momma's Peach Cobbler

1 Large can of sliced Peaches (juice 1/2 drained)
1 stick of Butter
1 Cup Flour (self-rising)
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Milk
Dash of Cinnamon

Heat oven to 350º.

1. Melt butter in bottom of pan while oven preheats.
2. Mix Flour, Sugar, and Milk till smooth.
3. Add dash of Cinnamon and blend in.
4. Pour mixture over melted butter
5. Pour Peaches on top of mix.
6. Bake for 35 minutes to 1 hour, or until gold and bubbly.

Serves well, a la mode with Vanilla Ice Cream.

Have a SCENTsational Saturday!

Please #RT Tuesdays with Taryn #Q&A with @kristaames #SecondChances @RubyLionessPres

Tuesdays With Taryn

Please help me welcome Krista Ames this fine Tuesday morning!

What book(s) most influenced you as a writer? You know, honestly I would have to say anything Linda Lael Miller. I love love love western romance and she hooked me first. From there I added Diana Palmer, Debbie Macomber, Kate Douglas, Maya Banks, Loralei James, Maddie James and the list goes on from there. It started my head rolling with ideas and I just started writing. The funny thing is I haven't published any westerns yet. I do have one in the works though. Mostly mine have been sweet contemporary romance.

What book do you read over and over again? Well that would be Maya Banks' Colters Woman. I have read it so many times but I love it each time anyway. It's just a really well written book and the three brothers stole my heart. The other I've read more than once is “Cowboy in my Pocket” by Kate Douglas

Tuesday Trio-

1) Movie- Just one? Okay, Pride and Prejudice, the version with Kiera Knightly

2) Music- Marry You by Bruno Mars

3) Decadent Dessert- Cheesecake...with raspberry sauce

What’s the most interesting or bizarre bit of trivia you’ve learned from researching for a novel? My publishing hasn't been too extensive yet but I do have a lot of works in progress. Not sure I've had anything so bizarre yet but I love doing the research about things I have no clue about so it's all interesting when I learn something new.

Novel on your Nightstand:

Who/what are you currently reading? It changes often because I do some reviews but right now I have a Valentine Anthology. Valentine Delights, Be Mine put out by Still Moments Publishing and also Unspoken Promises by Becca Dale from Decadent Publishing.

Whom would you cast as your Hero & Heroine if your book became a movie? Oh wow that's a touch question, I haven't thought about that once. For my new release coming out I see a younger generation actor and actress. Hmm, I really like Amanda Seyfried from her appearances in Mama Mia and Letters to Juliet and of course the Hero would be Channing Tatum.

Krista's upcoming release is Second Chances,

due out this Friday, March 16 from Ruby Lioness Press.

Here is an excerpt from Second Chances—

He watched her knees buckle a bit as Dana clutched at Amy’s arm, never taking her eyes off him. She said something he couldn’t make out—he never was good at reading lips. He was good at reading body language, however, and he knew in an instant what she meant to do just as she turned and made a dash for the patio door. Instinctively, he propelled himself forward, his body miraculously unfrozen. He had to go after her. He was the reason she was bailing after all. He knew from the look on her face. He passed Dave and Amy and shook his head when Dave tried to speak.

“Don’t. I’m sorry. I have to go after her.”

He closed the sliding door behind him and stood on the deck, searching the darkness. She wasn’t there. She couldn’t have gone far. She didn’t know anyone else here, and he doubted she was familiar with the area. He descended the stairs and walked out onto the yard along the water’s edge. Where’d she go? He started walking and, with relief, caught sight of a silhouette against the water toward the end of his property.

He approached her quietly. She stood, arms hugging tightly around her middle, and held her shoes in her hand while the gentle waves splashed up and over the seawall. Damn, he wanted to touch her. It’d been so long. He couldn’t deny the growing ache pushing against his heart and a sudden tightening of his groin at the sight of how well that dress fit her curves, but this definitely wasn’t the time for his libido to come to life.

He wanted to turn her, hold her in his arms, and nuzzle her beautiful neck just below her ear like she’d always loved. Would she still like it? Maybe she wouldn’t. Maybe he didn’t know her anymore, but he couldn’t stop himself. God, he wanted this woman still. He wanted her to know how very sorry he was for hurting her, and why. But she wouldn’t welcome his touch, especially now. He was certain of it. She’d likely administer a low blow, which he would totally deserve, and bolt. She was unpredictable that way. He loved that about her, too.

He was only human, however, and he couldn’t not touch her. She knew he was there—he’d seen her form go stiff at his presence. Careful not to scare her, he slowly ran his fingertips over her bare shoulders and down her arms, feeling her shiver at his touch before she took a step away. “Don’t, Nicholas,” she said in a low, shaky whisper.

Krista's Website

Krista's Blog- A Passion for Romance

Krista's Available Titles on Amazon

Krista's Available Titles on Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

1 Year #Anniversary- #BookContract #writer #TMPress

March 13th, 2011- I didn't know it that day, what was waiting in my email for me, but when I opened that email up, I nearly hyperventilated with excitement when KJ at Turquoise Morning Press offered me a contract for Castaway Hearts.

Now here we are a year later, less than 3 weeks away from the release of my novel and I still get giddy all over again thinking about the day I opened that email. I was about to start painting the living room, hadn't thought much about my email over the weekend and then decided to check it before I got started because I knew painting was going to be an all day job.

A few days later, March 18th, I signed my contract, then the next day I posted And So It Begins...