Down to the wire

For me anyway.

There are four weeks and three days left of school. What that means is, essentially, my writing will come to a grinding halt. Kids will be running through the house. I'll have to find things for them to do. Unfortunately, my desk is in the front room area right at the front door. (I'd kill to have an office again, out of the main path of traffic.)

I know we're looking into swim lessons, but that's a very short span, and I have to go with him. Camp's not possible.

How am I going to keep my sanity? How am I going to get anything done? It's not looking too good at the moment, but I'll manage. Maybe I'll just start writing at night again.

Any suggestions?

Diana Castilleja


Unbound Trust || Coming Soon!
Crowning A Warrior King || Print
Aiza Clan Shifter Combo 1&2 || Print
The Eternal Kiss || Print

RT nomination for 'A Knight's Captive'

I'm delighted to say that A Knight's Captive was chosen among the select band of nominees for the Best Historical Novel category in the Romantic Times 2009 Reviewers' Choice Awards this month. I'm tickled pink to have been shortlisted, and congratulations to Tessa Dare, who won.

The list of all the nominees and winners is here.

Lindsay

Magic Moments

We all have 'magic moments' in our lives - those times when time itself seems to stand still and we are truly overwhelmed with joy: when we find our soul mate and recognise each other, when a child is born, when our love returns safely from a long journey. The happy exchange of flowers and other gifts, chosen with care and thought. Or that first loving kiss - and then others, and more.

Life is made complete by such moments.

Story and myth also has magic moments. Here are some of my favourites from well-known fairy stories and myths.

When the prince finds the glass slipper in Cinderella.

When Beauty tells the Beast she loves him and he is transformed.

When Gerda rescues Kai in the Snow Queen.

When Penelope tricks Odysseus into revealing who he is - by tricking him into describing their very unusal bed - and reunites with him at the end of The Odyssey.

Here are my magic moments - what are yours?

Lindsay
http://www.lindsaytownsend.net

Coming on June 1: 'A Knight's Enchantment' (Kensington Zebra, $5.99)

It's a party!

April 1st, but it's not April Fool's!

Today is the one year anniversary for one of my publishers PURPLE SWORD PUBLICATIONS! I'm very proud to be a part of this publisher, and all the hard work they put into providing excellent stories--and all the hard work they put me through to give them those stories!!

Well, in celebration, PSP is doing a giveaway! You heard it, a new Sony E-Reader! Click the link to learn the rules, there's only a few and they're very simple!




As usual, no purchase necessary. Share this with your friends! Help us celebrate our first milestone, and be a part of the celebration!





Diana

Excited people

by Maggie Toussaint

Don't you just love standing next to someone who's quivering with excitement? I got a virtual dose of it during the recent announcements of Golden Heart and Rita finalists. I had not entered and yet I got to experience the euphoria first hand. It was energizing!

Other exciting people give off great vibes too: charismatic politicians, evangelists, birthday boys/girls, anniversary couples, college graduates, award winners, entertainment stars, well, the list goes on and on.

In teaching my yoga class, I've noticed the positive effect of good vibes. It gives veracity to that old saw, everybody loves a winner, because in truth, they enjoy basking in the glow. And I'm not just talking about the glow of success. There's more to it than that, but since this is primarily a writer's blog, I'm going to keep it simple.

Believe in yourself.

Allow yourself to be excited about your work. That positivity will go a long way towards influencing others to your point of view. Cloak yourself in the glow of success.

Maggie Toussaint

MUDDY WATERS and ON THE NICKEL under contract

http://www.maggietoussaint.com/

Things that make you stop and go

by Maggie Toussaint

Do you remember the kid's game called RED LIGHT? One person is IT and he/she stands some distance away from a pack of children. IT turns his/her back to the pack, counts to 10 aloud and says the word "red light". At this, everyone must freeze. If IT catches you moving, you become IT. (Of course, the goal is to tag IT)

Life and writing are a series of stops and gos, and all of these interruptions and stolen moments come at a moment's notice and often without invitation. So how is a person to feel they are making any sort of progress?

I further categorized my thoughts on this into things that shut down or nourish your body, mind, and soul. Here are mybreakouts:

Body stops: illness, too much to do, too little to do, visiting relatives, hunger

Body gos: good nutrition, exercise, anticipation, family, comfortable shoes, music

Mind stops: scary movies, frigid cold, illness, information overload, heavy fragrances

Mind gos: yoga, brain teasers, relaxing music, games, game shows, lively discussion with friends

Soul stops: people who are rude or mean, having to be around people who don't respect me, too much time in a hospital, excessive fluorescent lights, repetitive dullness in the environment

Soul gos: singing, being outdoors, being creative, meditating, worshiping

Interestingly, I found that music makes me feel better in every aspect and that negativity was draining on every level. I'm not sure one can draw a relevant conclusion from a sample set of one, but it seems to me that knowing your stops and gos can help you understand your highs and lows. It can also give you an idea of how to recharge quicker when life throws curve balls at you.

Using the actions of the kid's game of Red Light, I also had the thought that turning around 180 degrees in both perceptions and perspective can be the difference between stopping and going.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on stops and gos.

Maggie Toussaint

mystery and romance author

ON THE NICKEL and MUDDY WATERS under contract

http://www.maggietoussaint.com/

Seriously, folks

by Maggie Toussaint

Some days, no matter what you have planned, life takes a serious U-turn. That's happened in my life on several levels. I'm a person who doesn't surprise well, very goal-oriented and a completer of tasks. So when the unexpected happens and my pre-ordained schedule derails, it often takes my breath away.

First, the home front. Termites. Ugh. We found them in the fall, had our house treated, and waited the required 3 months to repair the door frame. Imagine our surprise when the damage extended up and down the studs to the left of the door as well as the right. The plate over the footer crumbled like sand at the touch. Termite trails were all through the drywall as well. Yuck. Now I've got carpenters and ladders and cold air in my house, banging and talking, and fixing, which is all good but annoying too.

Second, every time we think we are making headway with an elderly relative in a physical rehab facility, there seems to be a setback. This takes a physical, emotional, and spiritual toll. It also is toxic to my muse.

Third, some changes in books are needed. The general wisdom is that book one of a mystery series should be book two. Which is fine for book two, but lots of surgery in book one. I'll keep a copy of the "classic" version of book one, but I'll need lots of creativity juice for alterations. Another book needs CPR too. This one doesn't require a major overhaul, just a suspenseful tweak here and there. I can do it. I just need to wrap my head around it and get going.

Fourth, with all the rehashing going on, my WIP has to go on the shelf. I've done this before and I know I can pick it back up, but it is still a change in plan. And I really like my WIP, so there's some feet dragging going on, some mental whining.

Coping with change, for me at least, is a bit like the seven-step grieving process. You go through them all and you come out on the other end stronger, more grounded, more able to shelter life's storms. Life is, after all, about change.

We adapt and grow. Or we don't. It's up to us.

Maggie Toussaint
author of mystery and romance
www.maggietoussaint.com

Red Roses Award for 'Bronze Lightning'

My Bronze Lightning has won the main prize in the Red Roses for Authors Christmas Awards.

I've just received the prize for it, this rather nice pendant, so I thought I'd show it off. Thanks, Linda!

Lindsay
http://www.lindsaytownsend.net

The romance of far-away places

Many writers I know write about their own local areas and places. I love to write about far-away places. The pull and lure of the unknown always intrigues me. So I either write about the past - a different kind of far-off place where manners, customs, fashions are all different - or I write about distant lands.

I love Yorkshire as a place to live. It's where most of my family are. I love the landscape and the people. Yet, in my writing, I find I am most excited by the glamour of the different. For me, the grass over the other side of the fence really is greener!

Having studied European history, I tend to be drawn to the lands of the classical Greeks and Romans. The light and dry heat of Greece always amazes me and the wild-flowers and ruins and the fiercely passionate people all inspire me. Italy is a country I love for its culture, food, mix of ancient and modern and sense of family. Both places to me seem ripe for romance and adventure: their men folk are often impossibly handsome and open and engaging. Very appealing!

I wrote about the Greek island of Rhodes in my sweet romance, A Secret Treasure and about Italy and especially Italian bread and sweets in my newly published Holiday in Bologna. This Christmas we are having panettone as a cake, probably with soft Italian cheese. Delicious!

Do you read stories set in far away places? What inspires you in your fiction?

Lindsay
　
http://www.lindsaytownsend.net

SRN Christmas Chat

We'd love to see you all there.

If you'd like to be a participating author, please email me at

adellelaudanATyahoo.com

Happy Holidays!

Love Romances & More Book Club