Renee: Sheesh! I don’t even know what to say. Am I sad to see RRT come to a close? Yes! Three years ago, one of our original members saw a need for those of us who were persuing publication to have a public forum. With her help we launched Romance Roundtable. During those three years we’ve seen writers come and writers move on. I have a quote written by Robin Perini on one of my taglines that says, “A successful writer is willing to do that which and unsuccessful writer is not willing to do”. When I first added that quote to my vocabulary it meant staying up late, rising early, sacrificing television shows and skippig dinners. All in all, it meant knowing when to say no. And as hard as it was to do it, the Tablers realized that we could no longer say yes to blog time when we needed to focus on personal writing time. In essence, a successful writer is willing to move on, to move forward.

So as we leave you with this final group post, know that we aren’t disappearing from the writing world, instead we are moving further into the writing world and hope to soon take it by storm!

Until then, blessings!

Laurie:

Brynna:

When we started the blog three years ago, I added my bio and works in progress and this little tidbit about me:

A Few of My Favorite Things:

–Novels that touch my emotions so deeply that I’ll go without sleep just to finish them and still long for them never to end.

–Music that haunts my mind and my memory and takes me both on journeys to places far away and to places hidden deep within.

–Photographs that tell stories all their own and enliven my imagination with the possibilities of what could be if I simply believe in my dreams.

–Animals (especially dogs) who teach us by example about unconditional love and who teach us to respect every part, every breath of our Father’s creation.

and as we say goodbye (for now), I’ll add:

–Friends who stick by me through the hills and valleys of this road we’re all traveling together, who never let me lose faith in myself though the storms come, who take each little success and celebrate it as if it’s the biggest of dreams, who make memories with me to take into each new day, who teach me, encourage me, laugh with me, and love me just because I’m me.

Here’s to the Romance Roundtable writers and readers–I appreciate each and every one of you.

Christiana:
There are so many things about Romance Roundtable that I enjoyed and that I’ll miss!  I loved seeing other points of view on so many topics.  If I asked a question in my posts, I got a plethora of great answers full of wisdom and good old common sense.

There were great book reviews that have stacked my TBR pile to the ceiling.  There were terrific ideas on what to write, how to write, and finding time to write…

Great posts on pets, day to day living, travel logs, publishing…

I enjoyed Caption Wednesday, Accountability Friday, Question of the Week, the Hunkalicious Hunks, not to mention my SURPRISE PARTY!!

And even though I’ll miss these posts, I’m really glad I got to be a part of a group filled with kind, good natured women who only wanted what’s best for ‘the girls’ on their blog.  Thanks for including me.  It means more to me then you know.

Terri:

RRT began as an idea for me to grow as a writer with a group of warm, welcoming people who accepted me and encouraged my writing.  From the language of flowers to the late Sam’s beer reviews and even to a half baked idea called Hunkalicious Friday, I was never told, “Impossible, you lack the talent to do this.”  In fact, I was encouraged and supported to write more, grow more, and delve more into my creativity no matter how crazy the idea. 

I may never be a published author, and RRT will end with this blog, but to harsh reality there are gems.  I am a proud member of a wonderful group of writers and will cherish this membership forever.

Anastasia:

Sasha:
If anyone had told me three years ago where I would be today, I would have laughed out loud. Writing for me was little more than a dream that I kept locked away in the deepest darkest corner of my mind. Then came the Avon contest, and a group of writers who decided they had had so much fun they wanted to keep going after the contest ended. One thing led to another, and before I knew it, I was a bonafide member of the Romance Roundtable, and I was writing! I still have the urge to pinch myself on occasion, and I still feel awed to be included in such a talented group of writers.

In the last three years I’ve grown as a writer. I’ve learned. I’ve laughed. I’ve had my butt kicked. And I’ve been offered any number of shoulders to cry on, no matter the crisis. To say I wouldn’t trade the last three years for anything is an understatement. To say it’s one of the greatest experiences of my life is also an understatement. So all that is left to say now is goodbye, and for that, I offer a few words from an unknown author: Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. They simply mean I’ll miss you until we meet again!

You can find us at http://writers.romanceroundtable.com/

There is an enrollment process to be able to see and post on parts of our forum.  This is because we got slammed with some bad spam and had to close ranks in self defense.  This blog was part of our effort to reach out past the barriers we were forced to erect.

Now that we know you, we want to keep up with you.  Come by and say “hi”.  Don’t worry about approval, as soon as we see that you aren’t a spam bot, we’ll let you in.  And thanks for hanging out with us in this little corner of the blogoverse.

The past three years have been a rush! Not only did I enjoy the community of my fellow bloggers and our wonderful visitors, but I loved all of the wonderful guest authors we’ve hosted over the years. Who can forget those fabulous posts by Sherry Thomas, Judi Fennell, Victoria Alexander, Toni Blake, Eloisa James, Jenna Petersen, Michelle Willingham, and the incomparable Anna Campbell! These authors have inspired us, encouraged us, and shared their wisdom and experience.

Then there were the newly minted authors, many of whom were Avon Fanlit alumni just like us, that in their success, we found hope for our own. Beverley Kendell, Tessa Dare, Lori Brighton, and Lisa Marie Wilkinson are some of those authors that we were excited to share in the celebration of their triumphs.

There have been many more authors that were kind of enough to spend the day with us and I can’t possibly list them all here, but we enjoyed visiting with each of them and loved hearing about their journeys.

The Roundtable has been such a great experience for me. It’s taught me how to stretch my wings, push past my barriers, and share a piece of myself with the reading and writing community. It’s been a truly wonderful way to meet other writers and share our experiences on this rocky road to publication.

Renee wrote of beautiful seasons, Brynna of milestones and memories, and Alice of taking a hiatus from The Romance Roundtable. I’d just like to add that this isn’t the end for us, but the beginning of a new chapter in our career paths. So I’m just going to say goodbye for now.

Thanks to all of you! And stay in touch!! You can always find us at the Writers of the Roundtable forum – www.writers.romanceroundtable.com. We look forward to seeing you!

Hiatus.

That’s how I think of this is.

It’s not so much that we are coming to the end of a great idea as that we are taking a little break from it. We’ve decided to stop blogging here for now, knowing full well we might be back some time in the indefinite future. We’re just taking a breather.

It’s been quite the run. When I sold my first book, this was the first place I wanted to visit to make my announcement. And what a reception! Everyone here made me feel so wonderful. I’ve met all kinds of interesting writers here, learned so much from my fellow blogging-author’s from their insight to their research, and generally enjoyed myself here.

It’s hard to believe it was three years. Seems like a year and a half to me. Sure a lot happened. I’m far from the only one to make my first sale in this time. But I it still doesn’t seem that long to me.

I’ll still be blogging on my personal blog. When we were thinking of quitting here, I was also thinking about quitting there. I’d noticed that a lot of blogs and hubs that were going strong a year ago are gone or fading now. But I think I’ll stick it out, if nothing else, so there will be a warm place for my friends from here to guest when their books come out.

Even though we are taking a break now, this was a great idea. I’m glad we did it.

And since it’s Wednesday, I’ll leave you all with one last bit of weirdness. Captions, anyone?

Today marks TWO milestones on my writing journey.

The first one—

Today, November 2, 2010, I’ve officially written more than

100 words a day for 365 days in a row.

In all the years I’ve been writing and in all the times I’ve written the words on the first page of a spiral—“I want to write, so this year I WILL write every day”—this year is the first year I’ve actually accomplished the task. No fudging. No writing something for work and counting it as part of my 100 words. No writing a blog or a post here or there and counting it. I’ve actually written somewhere around 140+ CREATIVE words every day for 365 days—one WHOLE year. And while the pantser in me knows I’ll have to weave those words together, another big thing for me with this challenge is that all the words have been for my two works in progress—my two Victorian gothics. One is further along than the other with the weaving process, but both have grown in character and shape and story. So I celebrate this “milestone marker” today.

The second one—

TODAY, I’ve written posts for the Romance Roundtable for three years.

When we first started this blog, I had no idea what to write, how to post, how to tag, or how to do ANYTHING associated with a blog. And while this milestone doesn’t mark me a professional, I’m way less anxious about creating my own blog when the time comes. Now, I know a thing or two about what it takes to create a post, but more importantly, now I know I can count on my ROUNDTABLE friends to help me as they’ve done every day for these past three years. So today, I want to say THANK YOU for all of you who’ve contributed posts and guest blogs and have made comments. Each of you has helped to make the ROMANCE ROUNDTABLE more than just another site in the blogosphere. We may have decided to employ our efforts in a different arena of this writing world, but I can say from my heart, that the last three years were special because of each one of you. I am thankful for every memory of these three years and I am thankful for my FRIENDS who travel this writing road with me.

So I celebrate this “milestone marker” today with YOU!

What “milestones” have you counted this past year (or these past three)? On this last week of the Romance Roundtable, share YOUR successes with us.

WOW! Three years and one week ago today was not only my first blog post with Romance Roundtable, but it was RRT’s first. At the time I had been writing less than a year and I’m sure it showed. I like to believe I’ve come a long way in my writing since that first post. I know I’ve come a long way in the friendships I’ve gained over these past three years, friendships that I know will continue on through the rest of my life.

I’ve encountered many seasons in my life over the past three years, writing, as well as personal, and you’ve been there almost every step of the way. Since starting this journey I’ve gone from writing dark medievals to lighter westerns and even inspirationals. I still twist my thoughts, but I’m learning not to head hop, and I’ve discovered what action beats are. Thanks to y’all, I’ve had people to share my joys and my pitfalls with, and I’ve rejoiced in each of your victories. Through the encouragement I’ve received from you guys, I somehow found the nerve to pitch on more than one occassion, and I’ve even jumped on a plane and flew across the country, an experience that I’m truly grateful for even if it did scare the wits out of me.  

Without each of you, co-bloggers, guest bloggers, and readers there is no way I’d be as far as I am in my writing career today. And the confidence I’ve gained to just be me is all thanks to each of you.

I’m am richly blessed to count you all among my friends.  The time I’ve spent here at Romance Roundtable has been a most beautiful season. But as spring gives way to the scorching heat of summer and summer to the brilliant decay of fall and fall to the blanketed slumber of winter, so must the beautiful season we’ve had here at Romance Roundtable. Over the next few days members of the Table will celebrate the time we’ve share here.

I leave you with a well known Irish blessing.

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
May the rains fall soft upon your fields,
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

Please welome a great friend of the Rountable and my personal pal, LORI BRIGHTON.

Lori’s going to answer a few questions, talk about her books, both past, present and future!  And two, yep I said TWO lucky commenters will received a free download of her recent release, THE GHOST HUNTER! 

And here we go!!

Have you always wanted to be a writer?  How long did you write before you subbed your first story?  And how long did you write before you sold your first piece?

No, I didn’t really want to be a writer. I know, that’s not the answer you normally hear. lol. I’d always had a huge imagination and loved to read and watch T.V./movies. But I didn’t even think about becoming an author until I was in my twenties.

After I wrote my first romance, I think I subbed right away, like maybe a year after I started. I was rejected, and rejected and rejected. It took me about seven years to finally sell my debut book, Wild Heart, to Kensington.

Who are your favorite authors?  Do you have a favorite outside the romance genre?

Julie Garwood was the first romance author I read and I totally fell in love with her historicals. I think Johanna Lindsey was second, and again, I just fell in love. They’ll always be my favorites. I just don’t think authors write with that much emotion and romance anymore. As for outside the romance genre…hmm…maybe some books from my younger years like Anne of Green Gables and The Chronicles of Narnia. 

Of all the characters you’ve written, do you have a favorite?  If so, who is he/she and why is that character your favorite?

Honestly, I think Ella from my debut book, Wild Heart, is my favorite. She’s so kind and caring, yet will go to the extreme for the person she loves.

Not sure I can pick a hero. I do like Colin from Wild Desire, which will be out in March. He’s so charming and rakish. He reminds me of Indiana Jones.

WILD HEART is an historical romance with paranormal elements.  When you decided to write THE GHOST HUNTER what made you change to contemporary paranormal romance?

I’ve always planned to write every genre. The first book I wrote was actually a contemporary romantic suspense that finaled in a few contests. And now I’m working on a young adult. So it’s not surprising that I’ve branched out. I’ve always been interested in the paranormal. Even though Wild Heart is a historical, it does have a little paranormal too.

On the subject of THE GHOST HUNTER, many people have commented that they are really interested in what happens to Devon.  Will you be offering a sequel?Yes! I will write a book with

Devon starring as the hero. I’m so bad though, I only work well under a deadline and since these are self published, I don’t have a tight deadline, so I find myself wandering around.

Also, you chose to self-publish THE GHOST HUNTER.  What lead you that decision?

I’ll be honest, every editor I sent to rejected it. One rejected it just because it has ghosts in it and according to her, they didn’t buy books with ghosts. But I wasn’t ready to give up on the book. Fortunately, a friend told me about self publishing and I realized The Ghost Hunter would be the perfect opportunity to try it out. I mean, why not? It was just sitting on my computer.

With that said, I have friends who self published and have never been published by a New York publisher, friends who didn’t even send to New York but self published directly because they wanted to keep control of their work. Three women I know are doing incredibly well, much, much better than I am and making super good money and they (unlike me) were never even published prior to this.

Honestly, just like in the New York publishing world, you never know who will be successful and who won’t.

 Before we offer a blurb of THE GHOST HUNTER, would you mind sharing a little about your upcoming release WILD DESIRE coming in March of 2011?

Yes! I loved writing Wild Desire. It just flowed together so well. It’s a fun, adventurous story and it stars Colin, a secondary character from Wild Heart. Here’s a blurb below:

FIRST HE DROVE HER MAD

In what feels like a moment, Beatrice Edmund goes from being a proper lady cooped up in a stuffy Scottish castle to traveling miles from anything she’s ever known, in the midst of the wildest adventure of her life. And at the center of that adventure is the most infuriating, puzzling scoundrel on earth. She cannot take her eyes off him.

THEN HE DROVE HER WILD

Colin Fitch cannot deny he’s drawn to Beatrice—but lust is all he could possibly feel for the sharp-tongued minx. Still, if there’s a chance she can help him stop the madman he pursues, he must withstand her obvious disapproval. Yet withstanding the longing he feels for her is growing more troublesome by the second… And Colin has never been terribly good at staying out of trouble…

And of course I have to give you a blurb of The Ghost Hunter as well!

When Ashley Hunter inherits the Inn where her father mysteriously vanished years ago, she jumps at the chance to finally uncover the truth about his disappearance. But soon after taking ownership of the decrepit building, Ashley realizes she’s in for far more than she bargained. Not only has she inherited answers to many sought-after questions, she’s also inherited spirits, demons and even fallen angels! Then Cristian arrives, a gorgeous man who insists he merely needs a room to rent. She believes him, until one by one her ghosts start disappearing…

As a fallen angel destined for a life of servitude, Cristian Lucius is relegated to protecting earth from unwanted spirits. But he can’t accomplish this daunting task alone. He requires assistance from the very woman who frustrates him as much as she intrigues him. Cristian is determined to ignore his intense attraction for Ashley, and focus on his mission. If they don’t work together, they won’t have a chance in hell of defeating the demon threatening their lives. The problem is getting Ashley to trust him. No easy task, considering Cristian is the very man responsible for her father’s disappearance.

Thank you Lori for stopping by and sharing your views, your news and your stories! 

And remember to comment for your chance to win THE GHOST HUNTER…Just in time for HALLOWEEN!!!!

You can find Lori’s work on Amazon.com, Smashwords and Barnes and Noble online!

When Kelly suggested we read a Jennifer Crusie book for this month’s review, I jumped at the chance to read this award-winning author’s latest. The funny thing, though, is we both chose this book even though we THOUGHT it wouldn’t quite fit in with the whole Halloween thing happening in the next couple of days. Boy, were we wrong. If you want a must-read, can’t-put-down thrill ride, Jennifer Crusie’s latest, her first solo novel in six years, MAYBE THIS TIME is definitely the book for you.

To read more about this fabulous author, her books, and to enjoy her unique wit, please visit her blog at  http://www.jennycrusie.com/

And now the reviews:

Brynna said:  High school English teacher Andromeda Miller and attorney North Archer have been divorced nine years longer than the one they were married. Their passionate, whirl-wind romance ended when North’s negligence of Andie in favor of his job took its toll. But just when Andie decides to return every alimony check North has sent her over the past years, checks she’d never cashed, so she can close that chapter of her life and move on with her new fiancé, North has one last request of her.

To take care of and to teach the two children of whom he’s recently been granted guardianship. For a month. Only a month.

Because the amount he offers to pay her for the task would be enough to move her completely out of debt, Andie agrees.

She just never counts on a cantankerous housekeeper, two surly children, a promiscuous reporter, a cynical professor, an angry fiancé, a madam, a séance, and three ghosts to make it interesting.

Oh, and of course, there’s also North, who says he’s changed. Can Andie really believe him?

Maybe this time.

I approached this book with high expectations of humor and romance and that Crusie flair I’d heard so much about, and I wasn’t disappointed. Although the romance took a back seat to the mystery and the paranormal elements, Andie and North’s connection was the glue and the common sense that made the story work. I’m not much for books that scare me, but I can say there were true moments of REAL tension in this story and the focus on the kids kept me on the edge of my seat. This one is a page turner. Be ready for some surprises, a twist or two, some steam, and a passionate connection between the hero and heroine, and you’ll certainly enjoy this wild Crusie ride, er read.

Kelly said: Andie Miller ran away from a marriage in which she felt like the only participant, and she hasn’t stopped running since. But a final confrontation with her ex, North Archer, which was meant to close the book on that chapter of her life, instead finds her embroiled in a mess. Stuck in the wilds of southern Ohio in a crumbling castle for a month, Andie is tasked with the care and education of North’s wards, two children who want nothing to do with her, him, or the world outside of their home.

Then the dreams start. Or, at least, she thinks they’re dreams. Images of a stern, oddly dressed woman, of a man on the roof, and of a dancing woman who speaks to her at night and has the hots for North.

But they’re just dreams, right? After all, there’s no such thing as ghosts.

The next thing Andie knows, she’s dealing with so much more than recalcitrant children and a shady housekeeper. Suddenly the house is full of ex-family members, her new fiance, experts in the paranormal, a conniving reporter … oh, and North shows up, ready to start anew, just as things start to get interesting.

As I know I’ve mentioned before, Jennifer Crusie is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors ever, and I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of a new novel, one that hasn’t been co-authored, for the last 5 1/2 years (ever since I read Bet Me while waiting for a delayed train in DC’s Union Station and was completely hooked). Maybe This Time isn’t quite the novel I had expected, but it certainly disappoint. Packed with the quirky characters, witty dialogue, and unexpected plot twists that define a Crusie story, Maybe This Time is a jaunty ride from cover to cover. And if the pacing is a little more frenetic, the sentences a little more meandering than in her previous novels, well, hey – it’s still a darned terrific read.

I think we’ve all seen changes in romantic fiction over the last 30+ years. Our heroine’s have gone from innocent virgins to courtesans. Our heroes from bodice ripping to sweet seduction. One place I never thought to see changes is among Inspirational Romance. But I’ve seen exactly that over the past few months, which has got me rethinking my genre of choice to write.

When I first started writing I knew deep down that I could never write Inspirational romance. It wasn’t because I was against the occassional scriptures and the professing of one’s faith (although they were dripping with preachiness). Far from it. I didn’t want to beat my reader over the head with religion, instead I wanted to provide a moral lesson with scripture at it’s base and romance filling the pages. I also knew I could never write unrealistic characters, which it seemed as if only ‘perfect’ heroes and heroines were allowed to take center stage in an inspirational.

Now, I’m no Bible scholar but I do know the scriptures pretty well, and I don’t recall too many ‘perfect’ characters in the Bible. In fact, I know of only One, and it wasn’t Father Abraham. So how could I write an unrealistic, unattainable, perfect hero/heroine? I couldn’t. My heart and my desire to share my faith on the pages of inspirational stories did not, could not, fit inside closed-minded boxes.

I’m happy to say that inspirational authors are pushing beyond the four walls of stiff-necked religious legalism. And Christian publishers are publishing their books! There’s even a fairly new term circulating around the publishing world; Edgy Christian.

After googling this new term, I’ve discovered that it is Christian fiction that typically would be rejected because it does not fall within the CBA (Christian Booksellers Association) guidelines. Straight inspirational romances focus on the romance between the hero and the heroine, as well as a relationship with God. A few of the ‘guidelines’ I’ve found arguement with are no drinking and dancing. Depending on the era you’re writing, those guidelines are down right unrealistic.

The last two inspirationals that I’ve read had the hero’s entering saloons, one smoked a cheroot, another looked at bosoms ;). Both believed God had abandoned them when they needed Him most, in the end they both prayed for their heroines when they were in peril. The latest one I’ve read even had the heroine waltzing!

As a ‘Christian’ who understands living in the real world, I’m excited about walls being broken down by these gutsy authors. And I can’t wait to see my name on the front cover of one.

What changes in the publishing world have you seen lately? I’m not talking about digital publishing, I’m talking about boundaries being knocked down.

It’s been requested that I post some of my Kansas research here. This is posted at my website www.reneelynnscott.com . It is one my favorite research posts, and I thought I’d share it with you all.

One of the best research tools I’ve found for Kansas Pioneers has been Books of the Kansas Collection. Most of them are diaries written by pioneers. Some are stories passed along. All the ones I’ve come across have been very entertaining.

The following excerpts come from one woman’s account. You can tell from her musings she was a woman who knew how to find humor in even the worse of situations. I have a feeling, though, that with constant cannon fire and cholera, rattlesnakes were the least of this author’s fears.

This first selection comes from Kansas: Its Interior and Exterior by Sara T. L. Robinson. The author, as you can see, seems to have been a guest of a state prison. For those of you who do not know much about this era in Kansas history, it was during a time known as Bleeding Kansas. A time when pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions warred fiercly. If Mrs. Sara Robinson was a prisoner at Lecompton, Kansas’ first capital, a pro-slavery capital, then she most likely held the values of the anti-slavery camp dear to her heart. Bleeding Kansas deserves many, many blogs of its own.

Its pages were penned during a three months’ residence of the authoress in the United States Camp, at Lecompton, with her husband, one of the state prisoners.

Preface

This first was written in the month of June possibly in the year 1856.

7th. — Mr. H. was very ill with an attack of pleurisy. Doctor being absent, I felt anxious, yet did the best I could. A mustard plaster and some simples removed the difficulty of breathing, and he slept quietly. He said he never was as sick before, but I was thinking he imagined himself sicker than he was just before night, and as I was wondering where E. could be, she came in, pale and almost breathless, with just enough left of life to say, “O, that rattlesnake!” I laughed at her at first; but being convinced that seeing a snake of some kind was a reality to her, and not quite liking the idea of their making a home in our neighborhood, we started out with shovel and hatchet for a battle. The spot where she saw him was very easily found, as the pail she had in her hand, while coming up the path from the spring, she set down when she came upon him. She had heard a buzzing noise, like that made by a large grasshopper, for some minutes; but her attention was attracted by a small bird flying backward and forward across the path, and no great height above it, and did not, therefore, perceive the snake until she was within a foot of him. Hastily setting down the pail, as he lay there coiled ready to spring, she took another path to the house. We looked along both paths, above and below, and far out on the hill-side, but found nothing. His fright was undoubtedly equal to hers, not being particularly partial to the cold bath she gave him in getting down her pail so hastily.

10th. — Was awakened by a little tree-toad on my pillow this morning. He must have climbed up the low roof of the ell part, and in at the window. I found a mouse in the tub, and a swallow came into the kitchen flapping his wings wildly, and seeming much frightened, as we were at breakfast. I am wondering if all the “four-footed beasts and creeping things ” have appointed a place of rendezvous upon our premises; and suggest, laughingly, that “the rattlesnakes will come next.” Scarcely had we finished breakfast, before the cry from near the wood-pile was, “Here’s a snake!” It measured about eighteen inches in length, was ugly looking, and had four rattles.

June 12th

Many people were in, in the evening. The wind was blowing, and I heard a rustling near me. I looked, but saw nothing. An hour later, as I relinquished my seat, and went to make arrangements for extra beds, a gentleman very positively said, “I hear a rattlesnake.” Near where I had been sitting, the yellow-spotted reptile had crawled in between the last floor-board and the siding, and already his head had reached the window-casing. We had serious objections to his farther progress towards the chambers, or to his greater length of days. After a moment’s more envenomed rattling, all was still. Like the other, he had four rattles, and was undoubtedly looking for his lost mate. One of the gentlemen, Judge Conway, to whom the front room had been appropriated as a sleeping apartment, the mattresses being removed each morning, felt nervous about such companions for bed-fellows, and, to be prepared against the possible contingency of another similar visit, turned his boot-tops into one another upon retiring.

Although this one does not speak of an encounter, it is interesting as you will see.

18th. — The morning sun never shone more brightly than now. We found everything in the house damp, but had taken no cold. The cholera patient was doing well. The gentleman of the house assured me he slept well, but it was a mystery to me where he found a dry nook. Had a fine ride home in the early morning light, which gives to every object a double value. “Old Gray” nibbled at the “compass plant,” which always points northward in these prairies, occasionally cropping its bright yellow flowers with a satisfied air as he trotted along. The rattlesnake weed was also blooming in profusion. Nature is ever mindful of the needs of her children, and provides an antidote against the bane of rattlesnakes, and a sure guide over the wide prairie in the compass plant. When I reached home, found the doctor gone to attend upon a broken limb. A man, in rafting logs down the river, had met with this misfortune. The doctor has many calls professionally, and, though he assures them all that he is not now a practicing physician, he looks in upon many to advise them.

A note on the compass plant. First, the picture came from Oklahoma Biological Survey. Second, I have found several occasions where pioneers often believed off the wall tales, or remedies. Like how tying a raw chicken to your abdomen would draw rattlesnake venom from the body after having been bittern. So when I saw the little tidbit about the compass plant alway pointing north, I had to investigate further. And they were at least partly right. The flowers do point in a north-south direction. Most of the time.

She chewed on the inside of her lip as she signed her name at the bottom of the list. Her pulse hiccupped. And her eyes burned with the tears threatening to spill over her eyelashes. All the signs were there, but dare she hope her prayers had finally been answered?

“Mrs. Myers is here again.”

Linda pretended not to hear the whispered pity, but she did. Her heart crushed by the pain of the nurse’s doubtful words had heard. 

Turning from the receptionist’s desk, Linda’s steps faltered at the whispered response.

“The poor thing. Four times in six months.”

She should leave. The week of morning sickness was most likely a bad case of the flu, but she had to know. Had to know just like she’d had to know two months ago. And three months ago. And four. Linda sat on the sofa and took a deep breath.  Closing her eyes, she prayed.

Soon her name would be called. Soon she’d know.

“Mrs. Myers.” The nurse stood in the open doorway with Linda’s chart in her hand.

Linda hesitated wondering if she really wanted to know. If her symptoms were no more than the flu . . . did she have it in her to continue to hope?

* * *

Numb, Linda listened as the nurse told her the results. Negative. Again. Her legs threatened to buckle. She accepted the nurse’s apology with a slow nod, and then left the office. Even though she choked back the sobs, there was no holding back the tears. Thankfully, she hadn’t told Rob. Now she wouldn’t have to see the disappointment she knew he’d try to hide.

She sat her purse on the hood of her car. “Lord,” she cried. Her tears flowed freely. There were no words left to say. She was empty. “What can I say? What can I pray that I haven’t already?”

Drawing in air, she dug her keys out of her purse and slid into the seat of her car. The engine roared to life and she gave in to the shuddering agony. Needing air, she rolled down her window. Reverse. Her Toyota Camry rolled backward.

“Mrs. Meyers! Mrs. Myers!” The nurse ran out of the building waving her clipboard.

Linda hit the brakes, put her car in park, and got out. What more could be wrong?

“Mrs. Meyers, there’s been a mistake.”

“A mistake?” Linda’s heart stopped. What kind of mistake?

“Mrs. Meyers, your test came back positive.”

“Positive?”

“Yes, you’re pregnant.”

I don’t watch a whole lot of television, but every now and then I’ll get caught up in something hubs is watching. The other night he was watching some football drama. I have no idea what the name of the movie was, but it was based on the true story of a high school football coach whose underdog team made it to the state championship.

It was his wife that had entered the doctor’s office. My story is different as I don’t recall the complete details, but I do remember the tears sliding down my cheeks as the nurse informed the coach’s wife that she was finally pregnant.

Afraid of being made fun of when I was a kid, I did my best to never cry.  I didn’t cry during Where the Red Fern Grows, and I didn’t cry during The Outsiders. But I wasn’t surprised by my reaction to this particular movie. Certain things turn on my water works. Of course, I was sitting in the dark and everyone was asleep so there were no witnesses to my weakness.

What makes you cry when watching a movie or while reading a book?

I once heard an agent talk about how one of her clients hadn’t met her deadline. I imagine this sort of thing happens often. Life has a tendency to slam writing into non-existence. The problem with this particular writer-and no, a name was not given-was that she was so busy networking and blogging for book one that she had failed to work on book two. I can see how that can be a problem. If the author doesn’t get the book done on time, the agent can’t get it to the publisher on time, and then what happens? Publishers know well in advance what spots are filled with which manuscripts, even if said manuscript isn’t finished. Basically, an author gives his/her word to complete a manuscript for a good reason, not just because they want to be a pain in the bootie.

I tend to over extend myself, and when life really does get in the way I run in survival mode. That means no blogging, no visiting blogs, no book reviews etc, etc. For a while now I’ve been fighting with some bothersome health issues, issues I’m sure will be resolved with the loss of a few pounds and a trip to the chiropractor’s office. As minor as the issues are it has wreaked havoc on my computer life, making it at times non-existent. When this bothersome issue first reared its ugly head I fell into a slump, a slight depression. I was created to write and if I can’t do what it is I was created to do then I fall flat on my face in a pity party. It took me awhile to see through all the crud seeking to bury me, but once I did I realized a few things.

One, I need to take advantage of every opportunity. If my body agrees, then I need to sit my butt in the chair and write. If for some reason I can’t sit in the chair then I need to utilize more archaic forms of writing. Good old fashion pen and paper.

Two, I can only do what I can do. BUT, on the other side of that coin I no longer want to be just a woman with good intention, I want to be known as a woman of integrity. If I give my word that I’ll do something, I’m going to try and give it my 100% effort to get it done in a timely fashion.

Three, (see two) I realize that I don’t have to worry over my multitude of blogs. My fan base isn’t real huge at the moment, and I’m sure they’ll forgive me if I post a Writer at Work sign on my blog spot. Along the lines of not keeping up with my own blogs (yes, I have several) I realize it’s okay to ask for time off from those places I co-blog, like here and at New Kids On the Writer’s Block - you can find me there every Tuesday. BUT, if I make a comittment to blog I want what I have to say count, whether it’s informational or something fun.

That being said, from here on out (with good intentions) my blogs at Romance Roundtable will be more substanstial. I’ve had a request to share some of my Western research finds. I also spend a lot of time researching ancient Israel, and as of November 1 I’ll begin my journey into the Romantic Suspense world, which I know nothing about at the moment.

Speaking of which, is anyone else jumping in on the NaNoWriMo train?

Sorry, I started to rabbit-trail there. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I get it, I get that not everything is going to work according to how I plan it. Sometimes stuff happens. And I’m sure I’m not the only one who drags their feet when it comes to writing a new blog post, no matter where that may be (Surprised? Yeah, me too!). But here is the thing, once we publish a post our words are out there. So when we drag our feet and decide something half-*ssed will do, we really need to think again. I dont’ want an agent or an editor to google my name and come across a post that makes them ask why I even bothered to write it. I don’t want anybody coming across my posts and wondering if the same lack of effort I put in my posts will be in my stories.  I realize I probably have a few out there, maybe even more than a few, but there isn’t really anything Ican or will do about that now; I think it’s okay for people to discover my growth as a writer. But from this moment on, whether I’m building a platform or not, I need to give it my all.

After all it’s my reputation as a writer and as a human being that suffers if I don’t.

So, what about you? Do you drag your feet kicking and screaming when it is time to writer your blog post? How do you get past the fit and create a dang good article?

We are excited to welcome to the table a favorite of the Roundtablers, Lori Brighton!

Laurie: Welcome Lori! So, what have you been up to lately?

Lori: Well…I have a new release out. A contemporary paranormal romance called The Ghost Hunter. It’s available…

*Renee runs into the room waving her hands like she’s being attacked by a swarm of bees* Whoa, whoa, whoaaaaaa! What’s Lori doing here?

*Lori takes a sip of her ice water*

*Laurie tilts her head to the side* What do you mean, Renee? She’s our guest blogger.”

No, no, no she’s not *Shaking her head, Renee paces the floor* Christiana’s new release is out today!

Laurie: You’re absolutely right. Lori Brighton is suppose to be joining us on Friday, October 29th. Today we are celebrating the release of Yesterday’s Indiscretions!

Renee: Yep! and we all want to say…

Yesterday’s Indiscretion by Harris Channing

Be very careful what you wish for…

Thirty-something kindergarten teacher Lindy Whittaker has decided it’s time to marry and start a family. Steven Hamilton, a successful businessman, seems to be “Mr. Right.”

But when Michael “Mac” MacIntyre, her former lover, who happens to be ten years her junior, comes to town, will he ruin all of Lindy’s well-laid plans? Will she find love in stability or in passion? And will the choice she makes lead her into blissful happiness or terrifying danger?

Congratulations, Christiana, from all your friends!!!

I’m still scratching my head over this, but I’ve recently realized that the only place I’m doing any writing is in the front seat of the pickup while zipping down the road to a football game.  Unfortunately, that’s not a daily event, which means neither is my writing. 

For those of you following the saga of my (non) writing life, I’ve come to such a standstill about putting words on paper that I have felt embarressed and untruthful about calling myself a writer.

But then I began to notice something rather odd.  It all started on the second day of the actual writing part of Book in a Week.  Those of us taking the class were supposed to dive in with both feet and all ten fingers and write like the wind for one week.  I did okay the first day.  Nothing to write home about word count wise, but I was writing.  That was Saturday.  Then came Sunday.  Go to church, eat lunch, hurry home and change clothes so we can head out on a sixty mile drive to watch our grandson play an intermural football game. 

I decided I would take my laptop with me and try to write on the way to the game and on the way home.  Honestly, I didn’t expect to get anything done, but strangely enough, I wrote.  Quite a bit.  For me.  Still nothing to write home about on the word count, but I wrote.

And so it has gone.  Sunday rolls around, I grab my laptop and jump in the pickup.  It doesn’t seem to matter that darling hubby wants to talk as he drives.  I just mutter uh-huh a lot and keep on tappity tapping away.  I’ve even been writing while the grandson is playing.  I know, I know.  Grandma’s supposed to be watching every spine-tingling moment, but when everyone starts yelling and honking horns, I ask Grandpa and he fills me in on the latest greatest play.  I know.  Bad Grandma, but hey, how can I say no to the words oozing out the ends of my fingers.  When you gotta write, you gotta write.

This past Sunday was no exception.  I managed to pound out twelve hundred and some odd words, crafting a scene that I really didn’t know how would work, or even how it was supposed to play out.  There’s one little bit near the end that pleases me immensely.  Just hope I don’t wind up cutting the whole thing out later on.

What about you?  Can you write on the fly?  Or do you need peace and quiet and familiar surroundings to get the words to flow?  What’s the weirdest, or maybe the most unusal, place you’ve ever had the urge to write?  For me, I guess I’ll have to start bribing hubby to drive me around the block a couple hundred times in order to get anything done, but hey, that’s better than not writing at all!

Happy writing, everyone, no matter how you do it!

We writers often speak of “showing” a scene rather than “telling” the reader about it, and the concept makes sense to me. People tend to understand things more clearly when we allow them to visualize the images in their minds. Words in and of themselves are really just concrete representations of the images we’ve constructed the letters to represent. We speak and write and communicate with an often necessary metaphorical language.

As a writer I can understand that.

We want to help our audience envision the world we see in our heads, and by making comparisons to a more common reality, we can communicate our visions much more precisely. What fascinates me is that our society still has a tendency to equate certain human characteristics, qualities, and/or actions with those of our animal brethren. The image of certain animals comes quickly to mind when we find we need just the right word for those “special” moments.

Oftentimes children are called kittens or cubs or lambs or pups, and men can be called bears or foxes or dogs or jackasses. And while women have been known by more negative associations, such as hyena and cow and bitch and crow, I’m happy to note a more positive analogy of late.

The cougar.

I have no idea who dreamed up the use of this term for a woman who has a relationship with a younger man or even, in reality, what is truly meant by the connotation. Even when I “googled” the word in this context to uncover some sort of answer, I found a mixed reaction and a mixed history. According to Wikipedia, the definition should only be applied to a woman who dates a man her junior by eight years or more. Since I’m only 4 ½ years older than my dh of 20 years, I guess that rules me out. Some say the word is still a negative hit for women—another word for a “catty” female. Others say it means an older woman who is “hot” and “sleek” and “sexy.” Since I find cougars to be unbelievably beautiful and crafty and intelligent, I think I’ll go with the latter.

Since time began, men have been able to date women several years younger than they are, but women are just catching up with the trend. I think it’s about time. Why shouldn’t we be able to find the one true heart that matches our own even if he was born a few years later than we were?

What about you? Do you think “traditional” relationships have more of a chance to succeed? Or do you think a woman can find real and lasting love with a man who might be a “dog year” or more younger than she?

We all know that genre fiction tends to follow certain patterns and it’s our job as writers to put a new spin on those patterns.  Even so, there are storylines (even with new twists) we like to see time and time again, such as the secret baby, the reunited lovers, the Cinderella stories, and many many more.  So my question for you today is a simple one:

What story premise (or “generalized” foundation for a story) do you NEVER get tired of seeing?

My answer is easy and it hasn’t changed since I was a child:  I’ll never tire of reading about the little cinder girl getting her prince. :)