We’ve heard it so many times it qualifies as an overworked, underpayed cliche: Opposites attract. Really? Do they? And if those opposites get all attracted to one another, is this a good thing? There certainly are certainly plenty of novels where two very different personalities fall in love. Here are two from two of my favorite authors: Joy and Luke, …
Kiss Da Girl
If you write romance, plan on writing a scene with a kiss in it. Maybe two. And, yeah, I know there are authors out there who write scenes with a whole lot more than kissin’ going on. I am not one of those authors. You know what? It’s tough to write a good kiss. I know what a good …
Debut Author Lisa Jordan on Forgiveness
I’ve been smiling all week whenever I think about my friend Lisa Jordan. Her Love Inspired debut novel, Lakeside Reunion, is now available on Amazon.com! (Lakeside Reunion will hit bookstore shelves in the next few weeks.) The novel focuses on forgiveness, as Lindsey Porter, the heroine, struggles to decide if she’s willing to risk her heart for a second chance …
Heroes and Heroines: Can They Ever Be Too Perfect?
I don’t hang around with perfect people. I’m sure you’re all very nice. I mean, you’re perfect, after all. And that’s the problem. I’m not perfect. I have a serious sugar addiction. (Jelly beans, anyone?) I skip my workouts. I prefer to “pile” rather than file my papers. My children will tell you that, um, sometimes I raise my …
In Others’ Words: Celebrate
“Celebrate what you want to see more of.” ~Thomas J. Peters, American writer Yesterday was a day of celebration for me as I held the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of my debut novel, Wish You Were Here. I did my version of the writer’s “happy dance” around my house (several times) and shared hugs and laughter with my family. And, …
Love Finds You … Where?
Miracle. Revenge. Romeo. Last Chance. Humble. What on earth am I talking … er … typing about? All of those words? They’re the names of real towns or cities in the U.S.A. And Summerside Press has designed an entire inspirational fiction book series around “towns and cities with great names, neat personalities, and colorful histories.” I’d love to meet the …
Heiress: Susan May Warren’s Historical Set in the Gilded Age (& Book Giveaway)
Award-winning author Susie May Warren’s book, Heiress, grabbed my attention — twice. We’ve all heard the adage: Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. But really, isn’t that exactly how we first judge a book? We walk into a bookstore (or a library) and we scan the shelves until — whoa! — a book’s cover art captures us, saying, “You …
Boy Meets Girl:The Meet-Cute
I learned a certain unforgettable phrase from the romantic comedyThe Holiday. (Okay, before anyone jumps in and protests about some of the content of that movie … I agree. Some of the content: Highly objectionable. Moving on.) Where was I? Oh, yes … the phrase. Arthur, played by Eli Wallach, is a renown scriptwriter from the Golden Age of Hollywood. He explains …
Looking Past Happily Ever After
Does anyone else ever get frustrated with how the fairy tales end? And they lived happily ever after … The End. Close the book. Dim the movie screen as the music fades. Sigh. Isn’t it romantic? Well, yes. It’s romantic. But is it reality? Sometimes the realist in me wants to add another chapter to the book, one detailing life …
Picking Favorites: Fact or Fiction?
In my debut novel Wish You Were Here (Howard Books, May 2012), one of the themes I explore is the issue of favoritism. What happens when one child is given preferential treatment? The topic of picking favorites isn’t a new one. Consider the biblical story of Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25). In that instance, parental favoritism tore a family apart as …