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: What did you want to be growing up?

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor, Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar Man, Thief… Have you ever heard that old counting game/clapping rhyme/song? Maybe you used it on the playground as a way of deciding who’s “it?”

My assumption is that many Gems knew they wanted to be writers from an early age, but perhaps not. Share with us what you wanted to be growing up and if that desire impacted your books in any way. Let’s talk!

“I didn’t always want to be a writer. While it’s true I started writing fiction young – I was 8 when I penned my first curious girl adventure series, my ultimate goal in life wasn’t writing – it was helping people. For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a nurse. My father pushed me towards medicine because of my smarts, but I didn’t want that. I wanted the 1-on-1 of caring for people, hands-on, when they were in a time of great need and crisis. I was lucky enough to achieve my goal. My nursing career was long and fulfilling. And even though I’m retired now, I still use my nursing knowledge daily. The added benefit: I met my husband while nursing and instead of being a doctor, married one!” ~ Peggy Jaeger

“A ninth grade class assignment was to present in front of the class what we wanted to do when we grew up. I researched free lance writer, but I never thought I’d be able to become one. I went to college and majored in English and history. Five years of high school teaching did me in, and I changed careers to become a technical writer. In 1998, my first book was published. Today, with a name change and 35,000 more words, this is Kentucky Flame.” ~ Jan Scarbrough

 “I had a few job ideas when I was a child -- an adventurer (think Indiana Jones), a spy (like Harriet), and I wanted to play second base for the Houston Astros. Being a writer, I kind of get to be the first two, but the last one....oh well!” ~ Kara O'Neal

“When I was little I wanted to be a fashion designer, marine biologist, a mermaid, a space cowboy...you get the idea. Like most kids I didn't know.

“But one thing was constant-I wrote stories. In fifth grade my best friend and I wrote a story together, and from that point on, I think I was always scribbling in notebooks. It's when I look back that I see that I always was a writer, I just didn't realize it. So it comes as no surprise that my chosen career is a writer, even if I didn't know it when I was younger.” ~Laura Hunsaker

“When I was a kid, I wanted to be lots of things. A rock star. Movie Star. But mostly I wanted to be a Kindergarten Teacher. And for twenty years I was. Then I moved to teaching third grade for ten years before I retired to write full time. Surprisingly, writing was nowhere near any list of careers for me. I hated writing. Comparing or contrasting. Analyzing things. But no one ever asked me to create characters, especially ones who fall in love. One day all the stories in my head finally cried out to be heard. I listened.” ~ Kari Lemor

“As I’m sure is true for the others, I’ve been a writer since I could understand the concept, but I was never encouraged to seek it as a career as it really wasn’t seen as one. I fell back on my next great love, which goes hand in hand with writing, reading. I decided to teach and share my love of books with students. Some people were born to that career, but for me, it produced more stress than I could handle, at the time. I have great admiration for teachers, though, and have several characters who are teachers.” ~ M.J. Schiller

Kathleen's
Grandparents

“When I was young, my parents pushed me to become a nurse, which they considered the perfect career choice for a female.  Luckily, my Grandfather Lawless, impressed by how much I read,  planted the suggestion in my impressionable preteen head that I should write my own stories one day.  It made sense to me.   Creative writing was my favorite class in high school, and my teacher reinforced the idea of me becoming a writer. So one fateful day, while my first born napped, using a borrowed typewriter and a gallon of white out, I typed Chapter One.  The rest, as they say, is history.” ~ Kathleen Lawless

“Don’t laugh, but I always wanted to be a cowgirl. My mom used to joke, saying I grew up in the backseat of her car, because of her chauffeuring my big sister to and from riding lessons. I loved western movies and TV shows, every horse that ever lived, and all things farms, and barns. I took my own lessons when I was big enough. English saddle first, but that soon grew to include a Western seat. I visited a dude ranch for a school field trip and never looked back. Strange, but I haven’t written a western romance. Although I’ve read many. Humm…You never know. 😊” ~ Kathryn Hills

“To be honest, my youth is so far away, I don't remember if I ever had a dream career. What I do remember is my 9th grade English teacher telling me I had a flair for writing. I've had three complete (10+ years careers) but, until I began writing, I'd never *loved* what I was doing. Just goes to show you ... teachers are the best!” ~ Nancy Fraser

***

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!

 ~ The Romance Gems ~

Prom Night Palooza by Kathryn Hills #RomanceGems

May…It’s the prelude to summer, PLUS the month we celebrate all things MOM here in the USA! As I see many great posts on social media about moms, kids, grandkids, even pet moms, it got me thinking…What could I share today about motherhood that might make you smile? After all, it’s not all pretty cards, flowers, and smiling faces in shared pictures. It can be rough. But it can also be funny. Sit back, and let me tell you a story…

It was a balmy May evening almost a decade ago when Darling Daughter went to her first prom. (Hard to believe, it was that long ago!) A dear friend volunteered to host an “After Prom Party” at the high school, so our local kids that wanted a fun place to go and celebrate could be safe. Dusk to Dawn, everything from copious amounts of food to a bonfire, crafts, photo booth, movies, a live band, plus a DJ. My friend went all out, soliciting donations and recruiting volunteers from all around the community. Hats off to her!

On prom night, when our kids were at the actual event, parent volunteers went to work…decorating, cooking, prepping everything. It was a mini army of do-gooders, excited to help. Pretty fun, if I may say. Maybe it was that I got to take over a BIG cafeteria kitchen? Those giant refrigerators, stoves, and cooking utensils…OMG, I missed my calling! Hahaha

Then my friend handed me a list of things we were missing or still needed.

Like any good volunteer with a list, I left that kitchen and headed to Walmart. At midnight. That was something new. I’m in bed by ten o’clock, people, let’s be serious! But I grabbed my cart and began tackling the list. It wasn’t until checkout that I realized how crazy I looked.

Here was my list…Extra Large Trash Bags, Bleach, Clorox Wipes, Latex Gloves, Duct Tape…and "ALL the Whipped Cream you can find." *blink*blink*

Just imagine the looks I got in that checkout line. At midnight! That’s a heck of a party, unless you’re the one gettin’ murdered. Writer’s brain…I know…we’re weird sometimes. Okay, all the time.

So, here’s to all those wonderful moms out there! We couldn’t host a Prom Night Palooza, or do much of anything else, without you!

***

This is a silly story from my life. But honestly, I love writing about families and family dynamics. Keep an eye out for these two books from me COMING THIS SUMMER! Secondhand Hearts – A Last Chance Beach Novella and Sand, Salt, and Spirits – A Last Chance Beach Romance. There’s a hefty dose of family mayhem in both books!

Thanks for reading!

~ Kathryn

For the Love of Cats by May Williams

 

At the risk of sounding like a stock character in a British drama, I love cats, drinking tea, and my garden. Today, I want to talk about my collection of kitties. There have been many cats in my life beginning with my childhood pet, Ginger. I can hardly remember what she looked like now, but I still know the name. Later, there was Mick, a house cat who was so large he was mistaken for a panther. (Not that we have panthers in my part of the country, but Mick was sighted near an elementary school and caused a few minutes of panic before getting a ride home in a police cruiser.)

Jasmine

I currently have two housecats: Jasmine (aka Bubbles) and Misha. Jasmine is 15 years old and rules the household. Note her queenly look. She allows us to pet her on her terms only. Misha is far more friendly, but a classic scaredy cat. If anyone visits, she disappears. Recently, my son was running power tools in the house. Misha, who is not a little cat, wormed her way under the treadmill and didn’t reappear for hours.

Misha

Outside, we have five strays that we feed. They come twice a day for meals and will scratch at the backdoor if we’re running late. They like to sun themselves on the deck, but we don’t get to pet them often. Still, seeing them makes me happy when I get home from work (even if that makes me a crazy cat lady).

Not done yet…Yes, that's right, there are more cats in my life.

My daughter came home from college this week bringing her two cats to add to the mix for the summer. Alice is a beautiful tortoise shell with a lovely personality. She snuggles up next to me on the couch and likes to be held. Her companion, Squeak, is unlike any cat I’ve ever seen. She plays constantly

Squeak

(while making a squeaky noise, hence, the name) and never sleeps for more than a half hour at a time. In a lot of ways, Squeak is like a toddler, constantly moving and getting into things and so much fun. She can't resist pouncing on my desk when I'm writing and playing Godzilla.

Recently, I was out shopping and came across these gems. I couldn't resist cat sneakers. They make me laugh and they're so comfortable. What could be better?

For as much as I love cats, they rarely make it into my novels. I’ve written about dogs and horses. I think my next novel is going to contain a wonderful cat who brings my hero and heroine together.

I'd love to hear about the special cats (or dogs) in your life.🐱

Glued to a Desk? Tips for Staying Active While Writing by Nancy Fraser #RomanceGems

Are you a desk jockey? Does your livelihood rely on your ability to stay seated for hours on end?

Summer is upon us (at least here in North America) and with it the urge to bolt from my desk and enjoy the bright light. The sunshine calls to me ... begging me to come out to play!

So how does a writer, or any other desk-jockey profession, manage to keep their butt in the chair when there are so many things to distract? And, assuming we stay in our chairs, is that really good for us?

There are some definite “rules” for those who must spend an inordinate amount of time seated at a desk and tied to a computer. The following are just a few:

• Invest in an ergonomic chair, comfy but not too plush. Your back, hips and legs need support. A couple of years ago I purchased a high-end office chair made by Serta®. It’s the best $250 (on sale) I ever spent.

• Along that same vein, if your desk job involves a lot of keyboarding (e.g., a writer such myself), make sure you have your keyboard angled properly so that your wrists and hands remain in as straight a line as possible. A 90-95 degree angle is best for avoiding carpel tunnel.

• Take breaks every hour or two. Even if it’s only to walk around the house. Avoid turning that hourly walk into a trek to the kitchen (coffee excepted, of course).

• Do NOT eat at your desk. Studies show, people who consume their meals or snack at their desks tend to gain weight faster than those who are still sedentary but refrain from bringing food into their office area.

• Keep a water bottle handy. Sip frequently rather than go without and then down an entire bottle at one time. This helps to reduce foot and ankle bloat by evenly distributing the intake of fluid.

• Familiarize yourself with desk-ercises. I’ve including a handy chart for a few suggestions.

• If you’re someone who can walk and type, consider a treadmill desk. However, WARNING: Studies have shown that a treadmill desk does not lead to weight loss or even weight management and has been shown to reduce overall productivity. Personally, I can’t picture being able to type complete chapters while walking. The treadmill desk works best for people whose jobs are phone-centric with only data entry (e.g., customer service call centers), rather than those who have to type expansive amounts of text.

• Use of other forms of equipment (e.g., stationary pedals or sitting steppers) beneath the desk will also stimulate both energy and stave off swollen ankles. The under-desk pedal bikes can be found for under $75 at both Walmart and Amazon. The sitting steppers are under $20 from Amazon.

• Vary your work to stave off boredom. Boredom leads to improper posture and slouching of hands/wrists. As a writer, I find breaking my work up into blocks for creating new work, attending to social media, or switching between works-in-progress helps to keep my brain active. When the brain is active, the body follows. Usually.

• Engage your brain. Stimulate your body’s energy by pushing the limits of your creativity. Think outside your normal genre. I’m currently in the final edits stages for a book so far out of my comfort zone it comes from outer space!

These are just a few suggestions for helping us survive our desk tether. Of course we still have to find a reasonable way to block out that enticing sunshine.
I’d love to hear what others do to keep themselves at their desk without tiring themselves out.

Until next month, keep writing, keep moving, keep engaged.

Nancy

Don't forget our August Rafflecopter Giveaway -- The Dog Days of Summer are Upon Us!

Check our Giveaway Tab above for all the details. You can also click HERE to go straight to the entry form!

Feeling alive... by Liz Flaherty #RomanceGems

May, more than any other month of the year, wants us to feel most alive. - Fennel Hudson

May is the fullest, most poignant, and arguably the most beautiful month of the year. Fifty-one years ago on the 26th, I graduated from high school. A year ago that day was my brother's funeral. My father-in-law's birthday is the 27th, our wedding anniversary the 29th. Our daughter-in-law Tahne was born on May Day. I met my husband in May a few days after he got his draft notice and two months before he left for basic training. Memorial Day is celebrated in solemnity and gratitude. The Indianapolis 500 is run in May, as is the Kentucky Derby.

This time is a microcosm of life-as-we-know-it. It is joyous and grief-filled in turn, exhaustingly busy but interspersed with gentle days of birdsong and flowers blooming and dinner off the grill. 

It has dark moments and a sometimes sagging middle. Times of sheer light and joy and times of happily-ever-after. It is populated with people we love, people who interest us, people we wish we could have somehow avoided. It navigates every emotion known to...anyone. It has excitement and passion and heartbreaking loss. 

May 29, 1851, Sojourner Truth delivered her "Ain't I a Woman?" speech at the Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. “And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man—when I could get it—and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne 13 children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?”

On May 15, 1869, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton founded the National Woman Suffrage Association.

May 20-22, 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman (and only the second pilot) to fly nonstop and solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that segregation of public schools "solely on the basis of race" denied black children "equal educational opportunity" even though "physical facilities and other 'tangible' factors may have been equal. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal."

On May 21, 1881, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross.

Margaret Fuller, the first female foreign correspondent, and Arabella Mansfield, the first American woman attorney, were born in May. So were Golda Meir, Nellie Bly, and Florence Nightingale. (Many of these citations are available on http://www.historyplace.com/specials/calendar/may.htm I went there to look things up and didn't want to leave... - lf)

The month of May is a romance novel, isn't it? Better some years than others, but full of everything that makes a good story. Strength, emotion, accomplishment, empowerment, relationships of all kinds. The woman’s journey told by ones who both understand and embrace it.

What a good time it is.

Happy-Go-Lucky by @SatinRussell #RomanceGems

Wishing you the best of luck!

Wow, can you believe it’s March already? Does anyone else feel like they sprinted straight through the first two months of 2019?

Have you noticed that whenever this month comes around, everything starts turning green? Even things that shouldn’t typically be green, like bagels and beer!

I know that Mother Nature will eventually get in on the action and we’ll start seeing those first tender shoots of grass and fuzzy buds on trees. (Unfortunately, that’ll come later where I live because – despite what the calendar says – we got six inches of snow over the weekend.)

Of course, I realize that all this fine greenery is because March is the month to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and everything Irish. Inevitably, this time of year always gets me thinking about luck and the role it’s played in my life.

I like to separate luck into two main categories, “life luck” and “chance luck”.

I’ve never been very lucky when it comes to chance. Casinos have never been very tempting. Cards and dice don’t hold much allure. I don’t think I’ve won a scratch lottery ticket for more than a dollar or two in my entire life – and that very rarely.

However, I've lead a fairly charmed life. I’m lucky that I’m strong, with a healthy constitution and all my faculties. I’m lucky that I was born into a well-developed society to good, loving parents. I’m lucky that I’ve had access to education and opportunity. And, I’m lucky that I’ve found love and can surround myself with people that accept me and love me for who I am.

Secret Hunger (The Harper Sisters #1)

All in all, I’ll take my "life luck" over "chance luck" any day. In fact, after taking stock of all the wonderful things in my life, I guess you could say I’m happy-go-lucky!

Heck, even finding a good story can feel like a lucky break. If you're looking for your next great read, then check out my first book, Secret Hunger. Olivia has a mixed bag of luck, but I think you'll agree that she lands on the sunny side of life in the end.

How about you? Do you consider yourself fortunate? What are some of the ways luck has played a role in your life?

Speaking of luck, our March Giveaways are in full swing! There are three different ways you can win. See all the prizes on the Monthly Giveaway page. GOOD LUCK!

Comment & Win:

Leave a comment on any post in March + Your Email Address—written out, i.e. Mary at yahoo dot com. (We need your email to verify you are who you say you are and to contact you.)

The more comments you make; the greater your chance of winning. Winner selected by random draw from eligible entries.

Prizes: $5.00 Amazon Gift Card at the end of each week beginning March 8 for a total of 4 Amazon Gift Cards.

Friends Tell Friends:

To enter, send your friends to visit us. When your friend visits and reads a post, she should (1) leave a comment with her email address written out (2) leave the name and email of the friend who referred her. (Readers, coordinate this with your friend.)

Both names/emails will be entered in Friends Tell Friends Giveaway. The more friends you bring; the greater your chances of winning. Winner selected by random draw from eligible entries at end of March.

Prizes: Romance Readers Tee & Audiobook by Nancy Fraser

Luck O' The Irish Rafflecopter:

1st Grand Prize Winner

The Honor of Naming a Female Character in an Author's upcoming Book plus $10.00 Amazon Gift Card.

2nd Grand Prize Winner

The Honor of Naming a Male Character in an Author's upcoming Book plus $10.00 Amazon Gift Card.

Other Rafflecopter Prizes are shown on the Monthly Giveaway page.

Enter the Rafflecopter and the other Giveaways often. The more you enter; the better your chances to win.

Click to enter LUCK O' THE IRISH Romance Gems Giveaway

Plotting Life's Turning Points by @SatinRussell #RomanceGems

Which direction will you choose?

Have you ever been at a crossroads in your life where you knew that whatever you decided would chart your course going forward?

I think those points in life are something a lot of us have experienced. That was the theme of my own life when I decided to embark on this new career and was writing my first book.

However, there are other instances in my past that I can reference, as well. Those moments tend to be harbingers of great change and transition.

Sometimes, our choices can feel really clear. It seems obvious that going one direction will lead to better things, like choosing to continue your education after high school. Or not driving a car after you’ve been drinking.

Other times, both options may seem equally viable and can be harder to navigate. Say, you receive job offers from two different companies after interviewing with them.

For me, one such example was when my husband and I were living in Maui for a year. He’s in construction and was contracted to remodel the Kapalua Resort Villa condos there.

At the end of our one-year contract, we had a decision to make. Move back to Seattle where our community of friends were, or move to Massachusetts to be closer to my sister.

It just so happened that my sister got engaged that same year and I was her Matron of Honor. Not only were we looking at the cost of moving off “the rock,” but I was also going to have to pay for a round-trip ticket to go to her bachelorette party and bridal shower, plus two more round-trip tickets for my husband and I to attend the actual wedding. Yikes! That was a lot of money.

OR…

We could just move to Massachusetts and only have to pay for two one-way tickets plus moving expenses.

Long story short, that’s how we wound up living on the East Coast. Crazy, huh? The thing is, as we were making our decision, we knew it would affect the trajectory for our entire future. We even acknowledged that it was probably a ridiculous reason to move clear across the country, but it still felt like the right choice at the time.

As long as we were weighing our options, and taking steps with eyes wide open, we decided to have faith that we could make it work.

Oftentimes, we aren’t given a choice which direction our life takes. That’s the case for Olivia Harper, the protagonist in my first book, Secret Hunger.

Secret Hunger (The Harper Sisters #1)

When Olivia Harper graduated high school, she went off to culinary school with dreams of becoming a “top chef.” Then, her parents die in a car accident and she has to go home to raise her two younger sisters.

The story picks up a few years later. Her sisters have each graduated high school and moved out of the house and Olivia finds herself at a crossroads in her life.

Should she go back and follow the dream she had to give up?

Or should she stay on the path that life has given her?

Maybe that’s a question you can relate to. What are some of the major turning points in your life and how have you navigated them? Did you know their significance at the time they were happening?

PS: If you’re curious what Olivia decides, you can find my book on Amazon. It’s even available for FREE on Kindle Unlimited!

Remember the Comment & Win and Rafflecopter Contests!

To be entered in Comment & Win, all you have to do is read the post of the day—or any post you may have missed.

Then leave a comment with your email address written out. That means like Mary at yahoo dot com. (Don't leave your email as a "hot link" or web crawlers will harvest it and flood your Inbox.)

The more comments you make; the greater your chance of winning.

Grand Opening Rafflecopter

Be sure and enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win a Kindle Fire and Ebook Gift Bundles.

Good luck!
Satin

Grand Opening of Romance Gems by @JoanReeves #RomanceGems

Welcome, one and all, to ROMANCE GEMS, a blog that will be written by 23 popular romance authors.

Who Are We?

Some of us are New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors. Some are Amazon bestselling authors, and some are award-winning authors.

All of us are Romance Readers as well as Romance Writers. We're like you. We're moms, wives/significant others, and friends.

We pay bills, juggle the family budget, take care of a home, cook—at least every now and then—worry about aging family members, get frustrated with technology, vent over situations that drive us crazy and that we probably can't change, love music, movies, TV shows, reading, and having a good time. Plus, we like to talk about all of that.

RomanceGems Banner Design by Adina Mayo.

What Is Romance Gems?

I think ROMANCE GEMS—written out it's http://RomanceGems.blogspot.com—is going to be a pretty fabulous blog.

We want to put the focus on you, the Readers. We want you to talk with us.

Join the conversation and give us your 2 cents when you read each daily post. We'll talk about Life, Love, Books, Romance, Sex, Kids, and all the other really important things in your world.

Some chuckles and some good times await you so I hope you'll make a point to visit us each day.

Grand Opening Giveaway

Be sure and enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win a Kindle Fire and Ebook Gift Bundles.

Every week, there will be a Comment & Win Random Drawing for an Amazon Gift Card.

To be entered in Comment & Win, all you have to do is read the post of the day—or any post you may have missed.

Then leave a comment with your email address written out. That means like Mary at yahoo dot com. (Don't leave your email as a "hot link" or web crawlers will harvest it and flood your Inbox.) The more comments you make; the greater your chance of winning.

All Month Long

The Rafflecopter and the Comment & Win runs for the whole month of February plus there may be Pop-Up Prizes too. Enter often and have fun chatting with us.

But Wait There's More

Here's a quick tour of the blog. In the left sidebar, you'll see where we also blog. Just click to visit any of those blogs. Below that you'll see tiny pictures of those who follow the blog. Click to follow so we can see your picture too.

Below that is the monthly schedule so you'll known when each of us blogs. There are surprise days too so be sure and drop by to see what's going on then.

The right sidebar shows some of our books. Click on any you find interesting, and you'll be taken to the "buy" page for the book.

On the menu bar, you'll see the link for MEET THE AUTHORS. Find out more about all of us including our mug shots. *g* More pages will be added in the weeks ahead.

We've also started a Facebook Page: Where Authors and Readers Meet, and you have an open invitation to join us. So come on by and hang with us for a while. There will probably be someone there to chat with.

Sum It Up, Joan

You'll find a Gem of an Author and a Gem of a Romance Novel here plus some witty writers and good conversation. Come join us.

Oh, and remember, enter the month-long Giveaway for Rafflecopter Giveaway.

For Telling Your Reading Friends About ROMANCE GEMS