by Christine | Writer Wednesday, Writing
These two authors are, I’m proud to say, a part of my Los Angeles Romance Authors chapter of Romance Writers of America. I’m also proud to say that before they sold, I had partnered them each with a mentor; and both, within a year or so, had sold their first novel.
So sit back and enjoy as I introduce you to two of my favorite people.
My First Guest is Robin Bielman
Robin Bielman is your sunny, sweet girl next door. She rarely wears makeup but I swear, she doesn’t need it. Her stories are just like her; sweet, hopeful, and brimming with passion (but the passion is behind a closed door). She writes for the Bliss line of Entangled Romance. Here’s what her Amazon Page says about her: “Award winning author Robin Bielman lives in Southern California with her high school sweetheart husband, two sons, and crazy-cute mini Labradoodle, Harry (named after Harry Dresden from Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files books). When not attached to her laptop, she can almost always be found with her nose in a book. She also likes to run, hike, and dip her toes in the ocean. Filled with wanderlust, she longs to visit many different places and fulfill her curiosity. She wouldn’t mind indulging her sweet tooth in every location either. She’s a lover of Post-it notes, cable television shows and café mochas. Writing is a dream come true, and she still pinches herself to be sure it’s real.She loves to connect with readers! Find her on her website at robinbielman.com, on Facebook at RobinBielmanWriter and on Twitter at @RobinBielman.”
Robin’s latest two novels. Both of these came out in 2013.
Her latest novel is Kissing the Maid of Honor (which is absolutely terrific – I just finished reading it yesterday. Woo boy! You want this novel. No, really. You do.) Here’s the blurb:
Kissing her best friend’s brother never felt so right…
Sela Sullivan is resolved to be the best maid of honor ever, even if it means tolerating the best man. Insufferable, too-handsome Luke Watters is not only the guy who humiliated her at a kissing booth in high school, but he also happens to be her best friend’s older brother. Positive he’s the same arrogant jock, Sela vows to focus on her duties and steer clear of the frustrating—and frustratingly tempting—Luke.
As a world-renowned extreme-sports photographer, Luke is used to undertaking life-risking adventures. But risking his heart for the beautiful Sela Sullivan, who clearly still hates him for his rejection all those years ago? He didn’t see that coming. Sela inspires a passion he’s never known, and the more time they spend together, the more he craves her. But can he prove to the maid of honor he’s become a man of honor?
My Next Guest is Samanthe Beck
Samanthe Beck, Author
Samanthe Beck is an ex-lawyer, but don’t hold that against her! She’s a sweetheart who prefers to write hot and sexy and I can tell you, with total honesty, she delivers on the sexy! Here’s what her Amazon Page has to say about her:
“Award winning author Samanthe Beck lives in Malibu, California with her husband, their son, Kitty the furry Ninja, and Bebe the trash talkin’ Chihuahua. When not writing fun, sexy, contemporary romances or lazing on her beach towel with her face snuggled to her Kindle, she searches for the perfect ten dollar cabernet to pair with Ambien.
Connect with Sam via her website at www.samanthebeck.com to check her progress on that never-ending quest, or to get the latest on her upcoming books.”
Sam has had three books out in 2013 alone; her latest one is called Falling for the Marine, and looks to be Hot Hot Hot! It’s on my Kindle, just waiting for me to dive in.
Here’s the blurb for the book (which you really, really want):
Pretending to be in love has never felt so sexy.
USMC helicopter pilot Michael McCade has two goals: Get his damn back into alignment and keep his nose clean until his ultra-conservative commanding officer clears him to fly again. The doctor-recommended massage therapy seems like a necessary evil if he’s to return to the cockpit, but when his too-hot-to-handle neighbor turns out to be his masseuse, he strays from the straight and narrow in a major way.
Former military brat Chloe Kincaid is looking for an ego-boosting, no strings attached hook up. But when her positively panty-melting neighbor (aka Major Hottie) shows up on her massage table, their off-the-charts chemistry overrides her no-military-men policy until they’re caught. Now they have to fake an engagement to avoid the fallout, but can a girl who runs from attachments pretend to be in love with a straight-arrow soldier without falling hard?
I hope you enjoyed this installation of Writer Wednesday. What good book have YOU read lately?
)O(
by Christine | Observations, Writing
I wrote this for the January, 2014 LARA Confidential Newsletter, and I liked it so much, I decided to put it up here with a few changes because I always change my work.
So, It’s 2014. January.
A brand new year. Here we all are, still full of hope that THIS year, we’ll do everything we failed to do LAST year. All that burden on January. It doesn’t seem fair, does it? So I’m taking this time to point out that maybe it’s not just a once-a-year thing to do – take stock of our lives – but that maybe it should be a daily thing. You know, slow and steady.
My form of physical health. It’s working for me.
I am resolved to have a healthier year this year, but I’m also very aware that “health” means more than “physical health”. Mental and emotional health is important, too. Physical, mental, and emotional health are the three legs of our life that we rest on – they are what give us energy to do everything we want and need to do in our life.
When we start from a place of wholeness, we know who and what we are and what, exactly, we want out of our life. When one of the three legs is lacking – say, you’re ill, or you have emotional stresses – it is very hard to compensate for that missing leg. Our work ends up lacking something, and often it can’t be fixed even in rewrites.
Some people can and do write through all the storms of their lives. It is part of what fuels them; it is part of their process. But I can’t believe that’s healthy, and many of those successful writers often flag as they get older, as the stresses multiply, as their issues (be they mental, physical, or emotional) get so big the issues drown out their writer’s voice.
Writing from a place of wholeness in mind, body and spirit is one of the greatest gifts I’ve decided to give myself this year. Here is my three-legged approach to a healthy and balanced life.
Physical Health This one, believe it or not, is easy. Eat in moderation. Drink in moderation (if you’re a drinker, that is). Get some regular exercise, even if it’s just parking far from the door of the grocery store. Move the body every 20 minutes if stuck behind a desk. Drink Water!!!
Pay attention to your body. Write down any aches and pains that stick with you for more than a day or so. Slather your body with lotion after every shower or bath. Smile at your reflection in the mirror, and appreciate the fact that you can walk, talk, think, see, hear, laugh, cry, hold your loved ones. Enjoy your age, because none of us are getting any younger.
Sometimes, mental health calls for getting away from all the electronics in our lives.
Mental Health Keep optimistic about everything, as much as possible. (If this means ignoring the news, by all means ignore!) Focus on the good in your life. Flush gossip out of your brain. If troubled about those you love, talk to them and say those worries out loud. In doing so, many of them fade. Don’t let worries get big by hiding from them. Instead, tackle big issues head-on, such as: pay bills on time (less stress); discuss that difficult issue with your boss; ask your agent for a contract change. Know how much money is in the account so you don’t overspend. Schedule doctor and eye doctor and dentist appointments ahead of time whenever possible. Keep a calendar and note important dates on it.
Revel in your accomplishments, and never, ever, talk bad about yourself. Give yourself your BEST self, every day. Then don’t let yourself down. Hell, I know we’re all human. So forgive yourself for mistakes, for everyone makes mistakes. When you can, put your focus on other people. Smile at strangers, laugh with friends, hug your pets. Never take those in your life for granted.
Emotional Health Refill the well. Be silent with yourself; or call it meditation. Spend even
A painting of one of the costumes/dancers of The Rite of Spring, shown at the Music Center in Los Angeles February, 2013
ten breaths in quietness, once or twice a day, and allow yourself to fill with love. Read everything, from the philosophers to pulp fiction to the daily news, for everything is fodder for the muse. Visit museums, walk along the beach at sunrise, breathe in the mountain air. Paint, draw, make music even if you’re not an expert at painting or drawing or making music. See live theater or music or go to comedy clubs, for seeing work live brings something to you that a movie or a recording just can’t. Visit with friends.
Take vacations, even if they’re short. Go places you’ve never been. Go alone. Go with a friend or a significant other. Forgive anyone you hold a grudge against. Woo your own heart. Let me say that again. Woo Your Own Heart. For you are worthy of wooing. Always.
The truth of the matter is, we can’t go back and relive our youth. We can only move through this life at the age we’re at, and accept and love the person we’ve become. If you put time into your own physical, mental and emotional health every day, your relationships will blossom. Your heart will fill. And your writing will come from the Passionate You that started writing, and that Passionate You will enjoy it again as much as you did the first time, when you wrote that manuscript and you didn’t have a clue as to what you were doing, and your heart overflowed and your soul expanded and you knew you had just Done Something Wonderful.
I don’t believe in writing “the book of your heart”. I actually loathe that saying. But I do believe that if you’re not passionate about what you write, it won’t strike the chord in your reader that you want it to strike. If you’re not passionate about your work, how can you expect others to be? And if you’re not passionate about your work, then why are you writing?
So this year, take it slow. Focus on all three parts of your health – physical, mental, and emotional, and get as centered as you can. Yes, life will throw you curve balls. No, those curve balls aren’t always pleasant (some find their way to your gut, stealing your breath). But if you keep what matters first and foremost in your heart and your mind, if you remember to be gentle with your body and soul, then you’ll weather the storms Fate has in store for you. And if you need help, know that there are hands and hearts out there, just waiting to help when asked. But you have to ask.
The daffodils under my apple tree. A happy surprise every Spring!
I truly believe that if you expect the best, or the worst, you’ll get it. So why not expect the best?
May your 2014 be bright with blessings, good friends, and love, always.
)O(
