Spring, Stress, and Salvation by Peggy Jaeger

April's topic prompt here on the RGs is Read and Renew. I'll discuss the read part of that phrase later in the post, but first I want to talk about the renew aspect.

There's a boatload of bad news in the world these days. I don't need to tell you that. You're all sentient beings who watch television, read papers, and follow social media. I want to talk, though, about what all this bad news, these horrible images, feelings of isolation, doubt, and just plain terror are doing to your body.

Yes, I said ARE doing, not CAN do. Unless you're the type of personality who never lets anything outside of your body effect what's on the inside, then you're experiencing some type of physical or mental stress right now. 

As an old nurse who was a devotee of the Florence Nightingale school of health care, I know what stress does to a person and how, if it's not curbed, can lead to a slew of longterm and chronic health disorders.

So, first a primer: What is stress, really? Put bluntly, stress is a physical, mental, or emotional event that causes tension on the mind and/or body. Stress can be caused by external forces (from the environment, psychological, or social situations) or internal ones (illness).

Well, I would say without a doubt that what we're all living through right now is the very definition of stress.

So, what does stress do to you? In essence, it can effect almost every organ and system in your body. Mentally and emotionally, it can leave you with symptoms of irritability, anxiety, depression, headaches.

It can throw your digestive system off kilter and make you produce more gastric acid which could lead to an ulcer, or acid reflex. You can get constipated, or worse, have diarrhea.  

Stress can leave you so emotionally wrung dry you start to sit, stand and move differently because your muscles are tense, tight, and restricted.

And I don't even want to go into the sexual and psycho-sexual aspects of stress. Suffice it to say, you won't be getting any any time soon if you're stressed. You won't be getting any sleep, either, not the restorative kind, anyway.

What can you do to lesson the stress on your little psyches and bodies when you've been ordered to shelter in place, not so much as breath on another human being, and keep back 6 feet or more?

First, you can take a breath. 
And then another. A few seconds or minutes of deep breathing every day in a quiet place without distractions goes a long way in alleviating mental stress.

Second, you can move. No, not to another house or city, but get some exercise. An outdoor walk is preferable, but if you can't get outside ( we are in quarantine kids!) you can walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike. There are even video walk programs that fake your body into thinking you've walked a mile. Leslie Sansone has a whole slew of them on youtube.

Third, we are all in this new normal together so we all know what you're feeling like. TALK TO one another about it. It's not complaining ( which is what my husband thinks I do!) but a way to share the stress and maybe even laugh about it.

And speaking of laughing - please do. Often. Find an old I Love Lucy or Seinfield on Netflix or Youtube and watch it. Then watch another. Or watch THE BIRDCAGE with Robin Williams - you're guaranteed to laugh at that one! Laughing raises your endorphin  and oxytocin levels which decrease stress.

Now, as a writer I would be remiss if I didn't mention one other way to alleviate stress - and in my writer's mind, the most important one:
READ!!

Preferably something you like, as in, oh I don't know...books? Romance books? One of MY romance books, maybe? 

Hee hee.

Read something light and airy like chick lit. Or fun and flirty like a good RomCom. Or, if you really want to stimulate those endorphins and get that oxytocin flowing, something dark and sexy and...erotic.

I've got a new Sweet romance coming out next month titled VANILLA WITH A TWIST that might be just the thing you need to rid yourself of that toxic stress.  It's part of my publisher's new summer series called ONE SCOOP OR TWO. VANILLA WITH A TWIST is about a workaholic engineer and an ice cream parlor owner. It's the perfect blend of angst, romance, second chances, and ultimately an HEA.

Tandy Blakemore spends her days running her New England ice cream parlor, single-parenting her teenaged son, and trying to keep her head above financial water. No easy feat when the shop’s machinery is aging and her son is thinking about college. Tandy hasn’t had a day off in a decade and wonders if she’ll ever be able to live a worry-free life.

Engineer Deacon Withers is on an enforced vacation in the tiny seaside town of Beacher’s Cove. Overworked, stressed, and lonely, he walks into Tandy’s shop for a midday ice cream cone and gets embroiled in helping her fix a broken piece of equipment.

Can the budding friendship that follows help fix their broken spirits and lead to love?

And check out the great book trailer our very own Gem, Nancy Fraser, produced for me: 

https://youtu.be/VVaDd7JA5uU

And one last way to alleviate some of your stress is to enter our 

MONTHLY CONTEST AND GIVEWAYS

Until next time, peeps. Get working on lowering those stress levels ~ Peg

Coffee and Conversation with the #RomanceGems

It's time for Coffee and Conversation with the Romance Gems! So, grab a cup of your favorite beverage and join us for some fun.

This month's topic is: Your book as a movie or TV series 

Most of us are watching A LOT of TV and movies as we social distance and stay safe at home. Tell me… Which of your books would you most like to see made into a movie or TV series? Lights, camera, action! Let’s talk!

“Though I’m noted as a historical writer, I’ve published five romantic suspense books. Falling for Frederick launched Montlake Book’s short-lived serials. I had envisioned it as the first book in the Stately Homes Murders, set in England with my grad-student researcher female sleuth, who stumbles on murders much like Jessica Fletcher. Of course she has help from her sexy Lord of the Manor. Alas, those Amazon serials flopped, and along with it, my romantic suspense career at Montlake. But I’d still love to see my Stately Homes Murders become a television series.” 
~ Cheryl Bolen

“My contemporary western series with Maddie James would be a good pick for a TV movie. So far, there are seven books in the series set at a ranch in western Montana. The Montana Ranchers series is about Brody, Callie, Mercer and Parker—the four siblings in the clan of James McKenna. As the characters and storylines grew, we added additional books to round out the series. We are currently spinning-off other series from the original one.” ~ Jan Scarbrough

“When I was asked this question my first response was Nora Roberts. Then I was sweetly corrected that we were talking about my books. After I chuckled at my mistake, I had to give it very little thought before sharing my thoughts on what book or series would I like to see on the screen.

“I'd love to see the Loudon Series come to life on screen.

“The McKenna family have survived a devastating loss and despite the heartache they move forward, learning to live life to the fullest and love with all their hearts.

“Through the tears and the smiles each book features a family member. I cheered for them as they each find their happily ever after. Isn't that what is so wonderful about watching a series or movie?” ~ Lucinda Race





“The book I wrote that I would love to see in a movie is Midnight Escape. It's action filled drama including the mafia, and a captain of a commercial crab fishing boat off the coast of Alaska in the Bering Sea.”
~ Constance Bretes

“I'd love to see my Eclipse Agents turned into a series. It's time travel, but with an off the books agency that monitors the timeline. It's a lot more Historical Romance, and a lot less Science Fiction. But I would love to see something like that. Highland Eclipse is the first one, and since it ties into my Magic of the Highlands series, it would be really fun to have some Scottish time travels.” ~ Laura Hunsaker

“It’s been far too long since TV has given us a good old-fashioned cowboy romance series. My Seven Brides for Seven Brothers series has something for everyone. Hunky cowboys, a cute western town and ranch, a bad guy wreaking havoc, action, adventure, mystery and hidden treasure, along with feisty, independent heroines who throw their lot in with their hero to make their town and their world a better place. Of course, each romance ends with a wedding.”
~ Kathleen Lawless

“I would love to see all my books as movies, although maybe the Storms of New England could be a miniseries. There are ten books (only 3 out so far) and it revolves around cousins who all grew up in a small town in New Hampshire. I have fallen deeply in love with this family. They have such a variety of personalities, but they all love and care for each other. I think my favorite parts of the 4 books I've written so far (#4 will be out later this summer) is when the guys get together and play basketball. It's their guy bonding time but also when they let slip any problems they are going through. Of course, the other guys make sure to give support back, all in the shape of good-natured razzing.” ~ Kari Lemor

“I ‘see’ most of my books play out as a movie while I am plotting and writing them, so this month’s question is near and dear to my heart. I would love to see my Match Made in Heaven series turned into a Netflix series. My pinterest pages are filled with boards denoting the actors and actresses I based my character’s physical descriptions on. The setting would be – of course – a small New Hampshire town, and the mood would be lighthearted and RomCom fun! And I’m having it written into my contract that I get to play Nanny Fee!” ~ Peggy Jaeger

“Funny enough, I don't plot or plan out my stories; I watch them unfold before me... just like a movie. This makes it hard to pick just one! But as much as I'd love to see the Welcome to Chance series as a television show, I'd even more love to see the quirky love story of The Two Tenleys as a movie. I even have the cast picked out! Blake Lively: Ten, Kristen Bell: Lee, Josh Duhamel: Nick, Ryan Reynolds: Kenny, Jeff Bridges: Charlie "The Hurricane" Harper. The rest are on my Pinterest board.” ~ Elsa Kurt

“I would choose Hidden Secrets, my just released, new romantic suspense. When Johnny carries Addison’s broken body to safety, and then becomes her protector, he stole my heart. I loved writing their story.” ~ Karen Kelley

"Lights! Camera! Action! Which one of my novels would make the perfect movie? Lynx, Rodeo Romance, Book 1"

“What woman doesn’t love a cowboy?” Lynx Maddox, had a dangerous reputation for taking chances.

Rachel Scott traveled the rodeo circuit with her famous father, until his death in the arena. She wants nothing to do with rodeo men.

Until she meets Lynx. Lynx removed his Stetson and ran his hand through his thick hair. His movement separated the edges of the cotton shirt, exposing the upper portion of his muscular chest. Rachel bit her lip to still a gasp; she knew her thoughts were written all over her expressive face.

Lynx looked at her before he hung his hat on a post and snapped closed the fastenings of his shirt. “Okay, Rachel, what comes next?” ~ Connie Vines

“As Peggy said above… I ‘see’ my books in my head as I write them. Quite like watching a movie with complete scenes. I would LOVE to see Haunting Highland House as a movie or TV mini-series! However, I’d be thrilled with an entire Time Traveler’s Journey TV series, including both books and the others to come. Spooky, romantic, suspenseful, with Victorian-era history. Did I mention there’s a haunted mansion? Also, since that mansion is based on a real historic property, perhaps a series would benefit the non-profit that restores and oversees it. Win-win!” ~ Kathryn Hills


Okay, it's your turn to join the conversation! Add your comments below or send via email through the "contact us” link on the bottom of the left sidebar. You can also make suggestions on what you'd like to discuss here in the future.

Thanks for joining us. Stay safe and be well!

~ The Romance Gems ~

Don't forget to enter our April Contest!

Details Here - Monthly Giveaway

Or go directly to Rafflecopter

April Prizes

1st Prize: $20.00 Amazon Gift Card

2nd Prize: $15.00 Amazon Gift Card

3rd Prize: $10.00 Amazon Gift Card

Best of luck to everyone!

Origins of a Time Traveler by Kathryn Hills #RomanceGems

Time Traveler #1

Time travel. It’s the stuff of science fiction and fantasy, and I love it! So much that my first romance series is titled A Time Traveler’s Journey.

The idea such travel could be “real” was introduced to me at paranormal events. Researchers have theorized for years that certain hauntings could be “slips in time” or “time glitches.” I began to think…. Wouldn’t it be fun to drop one of my modern-day characters into the past? Or, the reverse! It’s the narrative of some truly entertaining movies and books. Think Kate and Leopold and Lost in Austen. And, dare we forget Outlander? How about we add some ghosts? A Christmas Carol is the most famous that comes to mind.

Time Travelers #2

I gain inspiration for my time-traveling characters from a variety of sources - people I know and meet, those I read about, historic places, grand hotels, and especially haunted locations. Names often come from gravestones and old census records. Like most authors, I try to stay true to the time period of the book. It’s fun and interesting to research such history. It’s even a bit spooky, how many of my story ideas and characters fall neatly into place like puzzle pieces.

Time Travelers #3

Developing such characters also requires visual inspiration for me. One of my favorite sources is old photographs. I find them in antique shops and second-hand stores from New York to Maine. It is utterly amazing what you can learn from such visual history. Besides, I have a special place in my heart for all-things-older than me. Hahaha Maybe I’m the time traveler? Actually, I believe we ALL are in some ways.

I’ve scattered a few of my antique photos throughout this post. They are a fascinating mix of people, places, and things. So, tell me, what do these characters "say" to you? They are not connected in any way, so you can choose just one or comment on each.

Time Traveler #4

Psst…I’ll tell you a secret. The first photo—the one at the top of this post, Time Traveler #1—she IS a character in my next Time Traveler’s Journey Series novel. Isn’t she magnificent with that chatelaine about her neck and waist? If you're unfamiliar with the chatelaine, visit Collector’s Weekly - “It’s the killer mobile device for Victorian women.”

I'm sharing more of my antique photographs over on Facebook. Stop by and take a peek.

Until next time... Thank you for reading. I hope you're doing okay during these challenging times. Be safe, stay well. I am thinking of you often.

~ Kathryn

Time Travelers #5

Don't forget our April Giveaway!

Details here - Monthly Giveaway

I'm also participating in the Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt. I've hidden an Easter Egg in one of these three places. 

Website       Facebook       Pinterest

Find the egg and then return to the Rafflecopter Form to enter the date, my name, and where you found my egg to claim your entry.

Happy Hunting!

April Prizes 

1st Prize: $20.00 Amazon Gift Card 

2nd Prize: $15.00 Amazon Gift Card 

3rd Prize: $10.00 Amazon Gift Card

Best of luck to everyone!

What's In a Name? by Laura Hunsaker

When I first started writing as a teen, I picked my crush's name, or my best friends' names for my stories. As I matured I realized I can't obviously name each hero after my crushes, or really, after people I know. But since my first book was a Scottish Romance, I needed a name that wasn't Brett, or Justin, or Logan. So I scoured census lists, archives, historical documents, you get the idea. I came up with common and true to the time names. I think that's why we see so many similar names in Scottish Romances.

But lately, I've been writing Contemporary Romantic Suspense and Hockey Romances, and I can have more freedom. Hello Jaxxon! But one thing I've noticed is that in many contemporary romances, the hero is in his thirties and his name is Aidan, Ryder, Stryker, or Jaxxon (yep, even I got caught up!), or some other name that on Twitter we've dubbed "Romance Hero Names." I love all of those names, but I teach kindergarten in my day-job, and when I have a 5 year old in my class who has the same name as my hero, it pulls me out of the story. The age feels wrong.

I tried really hard to make all the heroes in their thirties have names that I remember from high school. In fact, I had two Kyles! Oops! But I wanted a 38 year old hero to have a name that would have been popular in 1981, not 2020.

So where are all the Chrises, the Jasons, the Scotts? Where are the Tiffanys and Brittanys?

So now I turn it over to you? Do you have a favorite Romance Hero Name? Do you even notice if a name feels too trendy for a thirty-something year old?

Don't forget to enter the monthly giveaway!

And in the spirit of hero names, check out my latest book Dark Past with a hero named Kyle and a heroine named Kate.

Amazon  |   Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo  |  Google Play Books  |  Smashwords

The small town was supposed to be safe...

Kate Landry is tired of running. Thinking she's safe, she settles in the small logging town of Chester, California to manage a cafe. She may be keeping a low profile, but she's hoping to return to a normal life.
When FBI agent Kyle Donovan visits to Chester to stay with a friend, and to recover from his latest case, he never expects to meet sexy barista Kate.

But someone is following Kate...

Kyle worries he brought trouble to her door, while Kate worries her dark past is coming after her.
With danger lurking around every corner, her safe haven isn't as safe as she'd thought. Kate will finally have to trust someone enough to tell him her secrets. Secrets that may just get them killed...

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Spring Solace by @SatinRussell #RomanceGems

Hello, dear readers. How are you holding up through this global pandemic? First, before I get started on this post, a quick update. If you’ll remember, my last post was about whether I should “Push My Luck” and fly across country to give a presentation in San Francisco. Well, I decided last minute not to go. I just couldn’t justify putting myself and my mom (who is immuno-compromised and lives with us) at risk.

I’m SO glad I did! My presentation was on a Saturday and by that Monday San Francisco went under a stay-at-home order. Which happened the day I would have been flying out.

Just another reminder to always listen to your gut.

Now, ordinarily Spring is one of my favorite seasons because my birthday is April 3^rd. However, I think it’s safe to say this year, the season has felt a bit…strained.

Yes, I’m a writer and I’m used to working from home. However, all the news has been distressing. There is so much fear and sorrow and uncertainty in the world right now and I think many of us are picking up on it. It has made it very hard to concentrate and I have to admit, my writing has suffered.

So, what have I been doing, instead? I’ve been doing quite a bit of reading and taking walks on a rarely-used track through the woods near my house. One of those walks got me to thinking about a few things to keep in mind during these unsettling times.

1. Don't forget to look up!
Yes, metaphorically, but also physically. I know a lot of us have been looking at our phones quite a bit, whether we're reading articles, keeping track of news, staying in touch with friends via social media, etc. That can put a lot of strain on our necks and upper back. Take a break, go for a walk, do some laundry, try a new recipe, whatever you have to do to look up for a bit.

2. This, too, shall pass.
Hope and new beginnings are all around us. Remember, we will get through this.

3. Life finds a way.
It may not be how it was before. Some things will change, and that's okay. With change comes opportunity. It forces us to find new - often better - solutions to old problems.

4. Find beauty in imperfection.
Our cracks, our scars, our past challenges make us unique and even stronger.

5. A little rain helps us grow.
If all our days were sunny, we wouldn't be able to flower into our full potential.

I hope that you and your loved ones are healthy and happy. I hope that you are treating yourself with patience and kindness. You don’t have to learn a new skill, clean all your closets, or make some great masterpiece.

During a global pandemic, your number one priority is to survive and not make it harder for others to survive. That’s it! Everything else is icing on the cake.

I am participating in the Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt again this year. You can search for my eggs on my Instagram, Twitter, or Website. Once you find it, fill in the information on the Rafflecopter form below. You can find more details on our MONTHLY GIVEAWAY page.

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Coffee and Conversation with the #RomanceGems

It's time for Coffee and Conversation with the Romance Gems! So, grab a cup of your favorite beverage and join us for some fun. This month's topic is: Favorite Words

We all use them, agonize over them even as writers. After all, we are wordsmiths! So, tell me... Do you have a favorite word? One you use in your books, speech, or just because you love it?

"Favorite words!! How can I pick just one? For over 30 years I taught elementary school and made sure each year my students became sesquipedalian logophiles - lovers of long words. A few of my favorites over the years - troglodyte - a cave dweller - or recluse and shenanigans - silly or high spirited behavior, mischief." ~ Kari Lemor

"Gaze Verb: to fix the eyes in a steady intent look often with eagerness or studious attention Noun: a fixed intent look. - I use the word gaze too much as in this example from one of my books: "She’d seen the appraising way Scott’s gaze had raked over her.” As a young writer, I learned not to use “eyes,” because eyes don’t leave your body. They don’t drop to the ground or rake over someone. The trick is not using “gaze” too much and finding an appropriate synonym for it. Verb: gape, gawk, peer, stare or Noun: gape, regard, scrutiny, stare." 
~ Jan Scarbrough

"One of my favorite words, especially when writing, is albeit." "It felt decadent to be this aroused by little more than a few, albeit perfect, kisses." (from Touch Me) ~ Nancy Fraser

"Since I write historical, there are words I love to use that I can only use when writing my Regency romances. Take melancholy. It's not a word we don't toss around too much nowadays. It's not really a word I have my historical characters use, but it certainly was in use in those days to describe what we now call depressed or depressing. Therefore, it's a word I will use to describe a character's state of mind. A couple of other archaic words I sprinkle into my books are odious or vexed. They're just so . . . so quaintly old fashioned." ~ Cheryl Bolen 

"One of my favorite words is shenanigans. I love the sound of it, the number of syllables and the fact that it's so old, but still self-explanatory. Especially when used like this: Hooligans got up to shenanigans. Now, I ask you, who would need that explained? But no, I don't use it in my contemporary romances...but maybe I should have a grandparent say it as a joke. HMM..." 
~ Bonnie Edwards 

“I fixated on the word surreptitiously for a while. I still love it, but it's just one of those words that stick out like a sore thumb, so you can only use it once, maybe twice if they're really far apart in the story. I try to be aware of those neon bright words that distract rather than enhance, but sometimes I can't help myself.” ~ Elsa Kurt

"My favorite word is colloquialism. I once had a heroine pull on a toboggan. In Texas it’s the same as a ski mask. Not so up North! That’s when I learned about colloquialisms." ~  Karen Kelley 

"Oxymoron. First, because it has one of my favorite words, MORON in it. Hee hee. I love a good oxymoron, like JUMBO SHRIMP, VIRTUAL REALITY, ORIGINAL COPY, and ONLY CHOICE. Kids, I could talk about this all day! Salacious. Say it slowly…sa—lay—shous!! You don’t even need to know the meaning to know it means something….dirty! Bifurcate. My daughter hates that I use this word all the time instead of just saying split in two!! Hee hee Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. No explanation needed for why this word is one of my favs." ~ Peggy Jaeger

“Ooo… As is my typical fashion, I’ll choose something a bit dark and mysterious… Kismet - a noun meaning destiny or fate. Synonyms include circumstance, doom, fortune, lot, and portion. A very bad character from Hellfire and Handbaskets speaks of kismet, and it suits him. But I also like quintessential - an adjective meaning perfectly typical or representative of a person or a thing. So, he's a quintessential bad guy.” ~ Kathryn Hills

"I had to really think about this - I have a short phrase instead of a word - Oh my stars - In Lost and Found my main character used this phrase, actually Cari uses it throughout the Loudon Series." ~ Lucinda Race

“A favorite word of mine is abscond. Many equate this word with theft, but I like to think of it as leaving stealthily, furtively, or secretively, with something. Not necessarily something stolen, but rather something not to be discovered or shared. As most of my characters have secrets they would rather not divulge, the whole idea of absconding, keeping said secrets safe.... I love the word. There is no substitute.” ~ Kathleen Lawless

"I don't know that I have a favorite word. I do especially like words that have internal "music" such as miscellany, a commonplace word that sounds almost musical when spoken. I'm fond of words like serendipity. It just sounds like fun. I like sentences with internal rhyming words like Poe's The Raven: "Once upon a midnight dreary while I pondered weak and weary..." Dreary and weary are evocative and set the rhythm for the poem. I'm a fan of palindromes—words or phrases that are the same when read backward or forward. Long ago in elementary school English, I learned how much fun palindromes could be with what Napoleon supposedly said when exiled to Elba: "Able was I ere I saw Elba." ~ Joan Reeves

Okay, it's your turn to join the conversation! We'd love to hear from you. What is your favorite word? (keep it clean *grin*) Add your comments below or send via email through the "contact us" link on the bottom of the left sidebar. 

You can also make suggestions on what you'd like to discuss here in the future. 

We've got LOTS coming up in May, so stick around. Thanks for joining us!

~ The Romance Gems ~

Contest reminder: 

Hurry! Our April contest ends at midnight tomorrow, Saturday, April 27th 

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Facebook Page of this Gems author

Check out our Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt before it ends tomorrow!

While Researching...by Karen Kelley #RomanceGems

     I love this time of the year. The bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes, and yellow (probably weeds?) flowers in Texas are flourishing. Even if the yellow ones are weeds, they’re still pretty. There are blankets of them in pastures across our state. Sometimes life can get so hectic we forget to look at what’s around us. Sometimes weeds can be really pretty.
    
     There was a skunk in the backyard last night. I’m almost certain it wasn’t the flowers I was smelling. Apparently, something scared the skunk because the night air was very ‘fragrant’. I remember our Pekingese saw a skunk in the yard once and started chasing it while I was frantically screaming NO! at the top of my lungs. Of course, she didn’t listen and the ‘kitty cat’ sprayed her.

     We researched every treatment we could find to get rid of the odor. Tomato juice, oatmeal baths, a mixture of vanilla extract with a gallon of water, apple cider vinegar… and baths. LOTS of baths. No matter what we did, it was still weeks before we finally got rid of the smell.

     Sometimes a writer’s research opens up possibilities. I ended up putting a scene in, How To Seduce A Texan, where the heroine gets sprayed by a skunk. It was a lot more fun than trying to get our little dog smelling better. By the way, we had a black and white cat visiting our backyard not long after that. Our little dog decided she wouldn’t mess with the cat.

     I love taking an episode from life and using it to fit a book I’m currently working on. I bet you can find little pieces of most authors in their work. It does make me wonder about Stephen King, though.

     If you celebrate Easter, I hope you have a fantastic one. If not, I still hope you have a great weekend! Southern Comfort is still on sale for 99 cents, but I’m not sure how long I’ll leave it at that price. Rescue Me, my newest book just released and I’m super excited about it. And don’t forget to enter our Easter Egg hunt!

Read for free in KU
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Still only 99 cents
or read for free in KU

 

Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt

Check out the Monthly Giveaway tab to learn how to play this month’s game.

 

 

 

 

 

Today’s egg can be found on my website:   www.authorkarenkelley.com 

Use the “Contact the Romance Gems” link on the left sidebar (toward the bottom) to send us your answer. Include the place you found it, the color of the egg, and either the author's name or date of the post.

Best of luck!                                                                              

             Karen Kelley
             www.authorkarenkelley.com

  

Write What You Know by @KariLemor #RomanceGems

Often the advice writers get is ‘write what you know’. If everyone followed this advice though, we’d never have any science fiction or paranormal or fantasy books. Every now and then, writers need to branch out of their comfort zone and use their imagination. Or at least Google.

My first series, Love on the Line, was a romantic suspense featuring men who had been in the military together. Since I’ve never been in the military, I needed to use my imagination. And ask my father-in-law about his experiences. He spent almost a year in Kuwait during Desert Storm. I also checked in with two brothers-in-law who are a cop and a prison guard. It’s great when you get help throwing more conflict at your characters.

But in my newest series, Storms of New England, I’m going back to the ‘write what you know’ advice. Growing up in New England, I’ve experienced everything the area has to offer. The gorgeous coastline, the beautiful mountains, the refreshing lakes, and the small-town atmosphere that brings people and communities together.  I love the neighbor-helping-neighbor type of location and the family closeness you often have.

I grew up a few streets over from my grandparents and lived in what was then the “French” district of our small city. I went to the French Catholic school, as did most of the neighborhood kids. I had cousins who also went to the same schools and hung around with some of the same friends. Often after school, I stopped to see my grandmother before I walked the rest of the way home. On holidays, we would make the rounds visiting friends and family who all lived nearby. I loved the tight knit community.

So I’m drawing on those memories with this new series. The Storms are a family who originate in the small fictional town of Squamscott Falls, NH. Grandparents Hans and Ingrid Storm have three sons, Peter, Kris, and Nick. These men have ten children between them. Whether I’ll get to all ten will be decided by how well the series is received. The books will take place not only in Squamscott Falls, but also the coast of Maine, Cape Cod, and possibly a few other New England locations.

The first book, Elusive Dreams, doesn’t have a release date yet, but I’ll let everyone know as soon as I do. The series is small town contemporary. I left out the suspense in this one, but that doesn’t mean I won’t throw in a wee bit of danger or angst. We all know I love it!

Here’s the blurb for this story:

Creating a family might be the only thing to heal two scarred souls.

Wounded Marine, Erik Storm, can barely walk. Taking care of two children is out of the question, though he’d promised their dying mother. Moving to coastal Maine seems ideal, with his grandparent’s house empty, and quiet Tessa living next door. Tessa Porter is happy to help. Years in foster care has made her leery of people, earning her nickname No-Touch Tessa, but two children can’t possibly hurt her, right?

When Erik’s claim on the children is questioned, he and Tessa enter into a marriage of convenience to retain custody. A scarred soldier and an agoraphobic freak make the perfect couple. No expectations for physical intimacy or falling in love. But will Erik grow tired of her innocence and inability to be around people? Will Tessa want more than he can physically give? And when their reason for the marriage is threatened, will love be enough to keep them together?

~~~

Check out my Pinterest Board for Storms of New England, and the specific stories in that series! 

Do any of them look interesting? What kind of setting do you like for your romances?? 

Kari Lemor on Pinterest

APRIL GIVEAWAY AT ROMANCE GEMS!

Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt

Check out the Monthly Giveaway tab to learn how to play this month’s game.

Today’s egg can be found on one of the pages on my website. You will have to search by clicking on the page links under the banner.

Go here:  Kari Lemor

While you’re on my site, sign up for my mailing list if you want info about new releases or free stuff. ( I have a free prequel to my book, Running Target, going out to subscribers soon)

Use the “Contact the Romance Gems” link on the left sidebar (toward the bottom) to send us your answer. Include the place you found it, the color of the egg, and either the author's name or date of the post.

Good luck!

Kari