Donna Alward

Fitness Friday: Ten Minute Trainer

2012-01-27T09:17:00.000-04:00

Today I've giving a quick look at another Beachbody product, Ten Minute Trainer.

I got this for my husband for Christmas. Problem is, he gets home from work at 4:30, and if he doesn't workout before dinner, he's probably not going to. No one wants to work out right after they eat dinner and it's just too easy to NOT do it by the time it's 7:30 or 8 and you've put in a full day.

So the hour + of P90X just wasn't going to work for him.

I'd heard great things about 10 Minute Trainer and we've had great luck with Beachbody so far, so I ordered it up.

After 30 days I'm not sure if he's lost any weight - he doesn't weigh himself often. But I did notice that things seemed to be fitting better. And that's the only change he's made to his diet (other than watching portions a little bit more diligently). For my part, it wasn't enough. Not just on the scale but from a "feeling fit and fabulous" standpoint. So I've started another round of P90X and I'm glad - and now and again I'm doing 10 Minute Trainer with the husband in addition to my P90X workout. Major burn on those days...

Here's the skinny:

Ten Minute Trainer consists of 5 different 10 minute workouts: Cardio, Total Body, Lower Body, Abs, and Yoga. The training schedule gives you three options for each day - you can do one, two, or three segments so that your workout is 10, 20, or 30 minutes long. There is a warm-up/cool-down option which adds 4 minutes to your time, and it's probably a good thing, but I find the 2 min warmup rushes through the moves so quickly it's not enough. (Not enough is probably my buzz word for this program).

The program works on the principle of stacking, aka moves that work multiple muscle groups for maximum benefit. And I can tell you that by the end of 10 minutes I'm pretty sweaty and out of breath (at least from cardio and total body, not so much from the other ones). You might only work for 10 minutes but you work HARD.

The ab workout is harder than P90X's Ab Ripper X in my opinion - and Ab Ripper X is hard. 10 Min Abs is probably my least favourite of the workouts because there are several exercises in a row where you start in plank and it's horribly hard on my arms and shoulders - more so than my abdominals. Alternating these exercises with ones in other positions would have worked great. Granted, I've got a bum shoulder right now which is making it harder - it's getting better but I'm having to lighten my weight and my pushups aren't as deep right now.

It's probably also the most complicated program we've done in terms of setup (though only for the cardio segment). You wear a band around your middle and have a resistance band anchored through a door hinge. Problem is, do you have a door in the right position to be able to follow the workout? Our basement is unfinished so there are NO doors and concrete walls. My dh bought anchors and actually drilled into the concrete to install a hook so this could work. You can do the workout WITHOUT using the band, of course, but the added resistance really amps things up.

Would I give it a buy? Yes. It's something the dh has stuck with for the last month, it's good when you're in a time crunch, and you DO work up a sweat.

But it's not my favourite Beachbody program. Unfortunately (or fortunately, however you want to look at it), I'm afraid I'm going to be a P90X girl for a long time.

What Does "Write What You Know" Really Mean?

2012-01-26T10:49:00.001-04:00

I got thinking today about how writers are always told to "Write What You Know". It doesn't make a lot of sense sometimes. What we know can be very limited. We didn't live 200 years ago, or even 60 years ago (most of us anyway) so how can we really KNOW that time period? And yet historical fiction is HUGE. Neither can we know what is to come in the future, but Sci Fi/Futuristic flourishes. I'm pretty sure I'm not familiar with sailing on a yacht on the Med or what it's like to investigate a murder (or kill someone either). Let's face it, the purpose of fiction is to take us on an adventure away from what we know.

And as writers, that's what research and imagination are for.

So what does write what you know really mean?

I've been thinking a lot about the term "core story" lately. Your core story isn't about writing the same plot over and over. My core story has little to do with ranchers and cowboys. Rather, ranchers and cowboys tend to be a natural fit with my core story (and is probably why the first story I sold to Harlequin after years of submitting was a western).

Your core story is bound up in theme and characters.

I didn't get this for a while, not until I had several books under my belt. Let's face it - we're all learning as we go along. There are themes that run through all my stories, and here are a few: finding a place to belong - home is where the heart is. Forgiveness, acceptance, and my heroines tend to want to be seen. They want to know that someone is willing to fight for them, to put them first, to value them. It sounds a little all about ME, doesn't it? But my heroines are also nurturers and caregivers. They're only asking their due, I think. They want a partner.

My heroes are often on the tortured or wounded side of things. They are also strong, hard working, honourable men (you can see how the ranchers and cowboys are a natural fit, as well as the odd soldier thrown in now and again).

Hard working men, nurturing women. Yes, there's a reason why I write western set and small town stories.

And that's where I write what I know. I'm a farm girl who loves open spaces, harvest time, and a little dirt on her boots on occasion. I'm a nurturer. I'm also a woman who wants to be valued, seen, and appreciated (don't we all?). As much as I understand and enjoy reading and watching stories about other types of characters, that's not my core story when it comes to writing.

I adore chick flicks, for example. I enjoy police procedurals, my favourite subgenre to read is Regency, and I simply adore adaptations of classic literature and miniseries (Downton Abbey, Austen adaptations anyone?). But when push comes to shove, it's different when I'm at the keyboard with my fingers on the keys.

For example, in my last book, the heroine wasn't working. I didn't like her a lot. I had solid motivation, real reasons why she acted the way she did. In the hands of another writer, she could have been the woman I initially made her out to be. But in MY hands, she just came across as abrasive and cold. I had written a heroine who was too departed from my core story, and it showed. I dug a little deeper, adjusted some motivations, and suddenly I was liking her a lot better.

I needed to write what I knew.

So take a little time to think about your core story, the types of characters you gravitate to and the common themes that seem to run through all your stories. Once you've got it, you can use that strength to really craft strong, emotionally satisfying stories.

And another one bites the dust...

2012-01-24T15:30:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago my editor phoned to ask if I could do a short special project (more details coming as I have them). What I can tell you is that it's slated for release later this spring, so clearly the timeline for writing it is really short. And because I handed in my last a few weeks before deadline, I had the time to spare (sort of, I just pushed back what I was planning to write by a few weeks).

I finished the first draft today which makes me very happy. However it is pretty rough, so I'm going to be spending the next few days editing. It's missing some anchoring details and a better idea of the heroine's goal when the story starts, and I'm just 75 words shy of my word count target so not a lot of wiggle room.

But the important thing is to have a complete draft, because now I have a whole story to work with and refine.

In other news, I discovered today that I can handle subzero temps and clear sunny days much better than I can handle grey, rainy, dismal days. It's not the temperature but the greyness that is so dispiriting, makes me tired and want to stick my head in a bucket of carbs. :-)

Off the Clock featured....

2012-01-23T13:02:00.004-04:00

Off The Clock is featured today on Ereader Daily News. Check out the first book in my FIRST RESPONDERS series - the second is coming later this year(Oct 16 to be precise). Book 1 has a paramedic hero, and Book 2 features a cop heroine (In The Line of Duty)! And you can probably guess what profession is in Book 3, Into the Fire...

It's Monday, and I've spent the morning putting together my RWA chapter's newsletter....the previous editor was and is a whiz and made it look so pretty so it is big shoes to fill, but I just about have it licked!

And as it's Monday, it's also crazy day for extra curricular stuff, but only in the afternoon. Once we hit 6:30, all quiets down again. I wonder if we'll have time to watch Downton tonight?

Fitness Friday: P90X

2012-01-20T15:10:00.000-04:00

Today we come to my current favourite program: Beachbody's P90X. A lot of people have seen the infomercials - if you haven't, just head on over to www.beachbody.com and you'll see lots of stuff for P90X.

P90X stands for Power 90 Extreme. There are three configurations: Lean, Classic, and Doubles. Lean has 2 strength workouts a week, Classic has 3, and Doubles is Classic with extra Cardio workouts scheduled on strength days.

I've done Lean and most of Classic and my fave is Lean. I love the strength workouts, but I find that with Classic I miss some of my favourite routines - notably cardio and core. Core Synergistics especially works to support all the other programs. My balance and stability improved so much doing the core routine. It is one of those love it but hate it workouts, as there are particular exercises that are just horrible for me (like prison cell pushups). But love it for the results.

The plan works on a 3+1 week structure - Three works of high intensity followed by a recovery week that focuses more on yoga, stretch, cardio, etc. and it is fantastic. During that week, that's when you really see your body change. During the last segment, you do 4 weeks before your final recovery week.

The one thing I'm doing this next round is swapping out Cardio now and again in Lean and putting Plyometrics in its place. In the Classic version, Plyo takes the place of cardio, so it's a good swap. I didn't think I'd enjoy Plyo, but it's one of my favourites.

And just because you do lean doesn't mean you're not building strength. You do 2 strength workouts a week, and the other workouts all contain some sort of weight bearing exercise - like pushups and squats. If you've ever held the warrior pose for long, you KNOW how hard it works your quads. Even if you're not lifting weights, you are working your body HARD.

Speaking of yoga - the P90X yoga is 90 min long. I hated it. My beachbody coach suggested I try Tony Horton's (Tony is the P90X instructor) Fountain of Youth yoga which is 48 minutes. I love it so much more.

There's not much designer about this program when it comes to staging and clothing and all the fancy stuff. The designer stuff is all put into the science of the exercise and it works. I may not have been utterly ripped last summer, but before RWA Nationals conference I left the plus size stores behind and shopped in a regular store. I lost inches off my waist and hips and felt so much taller. It's hard because it's supposed to be. It's going to push you big time. But one thing I like about Tony is his motto "Do your best and forget the rest". You do what you can, with the assumption that you are going to go not just until "oh that's enough" but to failure (I can't do one more). The moves are also not difficult if you are challenged with bad coordination. In a lot of ways, it reminds me of the conditioning I did when playing sports (especially Plyo. Who thought I'd end up loving the exercises I cursed back then?). Less glam, more boot camp. Suits my personality to a "t", so I like it. My fave workout of all is KenPo - kickboxing. It is an hour of awesome.

And you do a LOT of warm up and cool down, which adds to the workout time but prevents a lot of injury. Like Power90, it has the clock in the corner so you know how far you've got to go. When I hit the 20 min left bit, I'm like hell yeah I can kick this thing. 20 min used to be a whole workout! Now it's the homestretch!

For specs at a glance:

90 days of workouts, on average 1 hour a day
Food plan included - and you're doing a major burn so you can eat a LOT on this plan - in fact, I could never eat all that was listed for the third phase. All good stuff, of course!
Mix of strength and cardio
Advanced level - not to say beginners can't do it, but they should be prepared so they don't get discouraged at first.
Equipment needed: resistance bands for sure. A pull up bar for pull ups but there is a band modification. Personally I like using free weights for a lot of it - I use anywhere from 3 lbs to 20. But the bands will do it.
Cost: The program retails for around $140. For that you get 12 dvds, the food plan, the wall chart, and I believe a resistance band. And you can log on to Beachbody and have online support in the forums there.
Optional equipment: extra bands, hand/free weights, yoga mat, and my personal fave since I have tweaky wrists: push up stands.

Recommended: Oh yeah. Well worth the money in my opinion. Depending, of course, on what style of workout you prefer. Favourite DVD program I've ever done hands down.

Cover Squeeee!

2012-01-16T09:17:00.001-04:00

Monday didn't start out so great. It's the coldest day of the winter so far and we woke up to no power. That means no heat and no lights and no water. No one could shower but nothing was cancelled, so we lit the hurricane lamps and got dressed (brrr!) and the husband fired up the generator so we could run the propane fireplace fan and my space heater that is usually in my office. We closed the doors to the other rooms and the kitchen was soon warming and the sun came up so we could see. Still no water though - we got enough out of our cooler to brush our teeth.

The dog walk was also quite chilly (and therefore short) since the windchill was at -25.

But just as we were going out the door, the power came back on so I have water and my computer and the furnace is running. :-)

And things definitely started looking up when I discovered the cover to THERE AND NOW was up on amazon. It's a reprint of Linda Lael Miller's and Harlequin has included a reprint of Marriage at Circle M with it so my name is in tiny print on the cover but it is there just the same. :-)

I could stare at it all day, lol, but I have to get to work. I'm starting a brand new project today, one I wasn't expecting and just found out about late last week. The deadline is very tight so I need to get my butt moving. I'll have more about it later as I get more details. I will say that I am revisiting past characters and a familiar setting and I'm very excited about it.

Have a good Monday and stay warm!

Fitness Friday: Power 90

2012-01-13T11:28:00.001-04:00

Today's program review is going to focus on Beachbody's Power 90 program. Beachbody is the company behind the very popular P90X (which is going to be reviewed probably next week). Power 90 is the predecessor to P90X (which is short for Power 90 Extreme).

When we bought Power 90 it was because both my husband and I wanted to work out but were finding it difficult because he was traveling so much. What attracted us initially was the 30-45 min workouts and the lack of equipment needed - just resistance bands. If I remember correctly, the dvds came with one band, and we ordered another set of 3 of varying resistances. I did some comparison shopping, and nowhere could I find a set of bands as cheaply as I did on their site (and as I mentioned before, or at least I think I did, their bands are great quality. We love them.).

We were clearly out of shape when we started Phase 1-2 as our breath was heaving, sweat was rolling and we thought we might pass out. Basically you alternate a cardio day with a sculpt day, and after 45 days you move up to phase 3-4, which is slightly longer but still easy to follow because for the most part it is adding an extra set to most of the exercises. There's also the Ab Ripper 100 and 200, which is 10 exercises x ten reps for the 100 and 20 reps for the 200.

The bands are easy to travel with and so are the dvds. Tony Horton is my favourite workout leader EVER. I usually laughed a bit, and he is easy to follow. The exercises are not super fancy you must be dancer-like coordinated to do - this is more like boot camp. By the time I was in Phase 3-4, I could run again. I did running club and didn't feel like my lungs were going to explode. I also stopped having the constant hip pain I'd had for a few years, because the exercises support the whole body structure. I was simply amazed.

Tony is very big on a good warm up and cool down as well, which really helps with the soreness. In the corner of your screen is a counter, too, so you can see how much time you have left. And the time flies by while you're doing this workout, thanks to doing repeating sets of various moves.

The program comes with a food guide etc. for those who want nutritional support.

If you're not ready for anything extreme, but you want a good workout without having to have a lot of extra equipment, this is perfect. While the workouts do get "easier" (you don't feel like you're going to die), you still break a good sweat and your heart gets pumping. Did I lose weight? Yes, not as fast as I'd like but I put that down to diet more than exercise. If I'd been stricter with myself, I probably would have lost more, but while I was doing it my weight did keep creeping downwards.

Definitely a recommended buy.

I'm Cold

2012-01-11T11:54:00.000-04:00

It makes no sense. I keep the heat set at 20 degrees celsius. I have on yoga pants and a sweatshirt, socks and slippers. I should NOT be cold.

But from now until about APRIL, I will be cold almost ALL the time. My mother was always cold. Granted, I still find she keeps her house crazy-hot, and I'm not quite at the point where I need a blanket in summer, but I'm starting to understand. I'm not quite 40, so I'm not sure if this is an age thing, a hormone thing, or what. But does it matter? I'm just COLD.

My next knitting pattern is fingerless gloves. I wear slippers or wool socks because the coldest things are my hands and feet. But really, no part of my body is exempt. The tip of my nose is cold. My arms are cold and so is my butt. And right now I've got a blanket around my lower half AND my infrared space heater about 3 ft away (set to 72 fahrenheit).

Just wait until April though. It won't take long for me to start complaining about the heat and humidity. Apparently I only have 2 thermostat levels: ice cube and on fire.

HELL ON WHEELS

2012-01-09T10:35:00.001-04:00

Is anyone watching AMC's HELL ON WHEELS? I've blogged about it over at Petticoats and Pistols today, and here's a little teaser to entice you to see what I had to say:

And in other Monday news, I'm giving away copies of Proud Rancher, Precious Bundle on Goodreads!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Proud Rancher, Precious Bundle

by Donna Alward

Giveaway ends February 15, 2012.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Fitness Friday: Wii Fit

2012-01-06T13:02:00.001-04:00

I'm going to try to post a series of Fitness Friday posts on the blog this year. Like most people who have struggled with their weight, I've tried lots of different things with varying rates of success. Last year I lost close to 40 lbs (and put a few back on over the holidays, darn it!) but I'm far from where I should be (another 20 would do it, I think!)

So I'll be talking different workouts, probably sharing recipes, linking to articles, and various other fitness related stuff throughout the year.

Today I thought I'd give a bit of a review of Wii Fit. I know a lot of people get gaming systems for Christmas at the same time as they make weight loss and exercise goals. We've got Wii Fit, so here's my run down.

The Wii Fit is fun - you can personalize your Mii to look sort of like you. Mine has long dark hair, extra weight around the middle, and glasses.

You also do a fit test each time you log in - it records your weight, your posture, and then gives you a few balance exercises to calculate your Wii Fit Age. I'm not sure how this works, to be honest. If I've worked out a lot, I'm tired and my posture may be off a bit, making me 45. If I do certain tests, I score better and I might be 23. But the recording of your weight is a neat tool, and it is also accurate within .2 of a pound usually to my digital scale. It'll give you your weight and your BMI, but I have to admit it drives me crazy when the little voice chimes out, "That's Obese". A polite way of saying "More time on the Wii Fit Board, Lardass."

The workout:

The exercises are divided up into four groups: Aerobic, Strength, Yoga, and Balance. In the original wii fit, you do one exercise at a time and then have to pick the next, rather than making a program or "playlist" type set up, which is time consuming. As you use it more, more exercises are unlocked.

In aerobic, there's basic step and advanced step, running in place, boxing, and hula hooping.

For strength you can pick individual moves and do a certain number of reps. There's often a "balance" component to make sure your form is correct. The same goes for yoga, only those exercises focus on holding the pose rather than reps.

Balance games are fun - there's ski jump, slalom skiing, tightrope walking, a fun thing with penguins and fish...

Once you do 30 minutes you also get a way-to-go type announcement and a star. Woo hoo.

Ultimately though what you get from this program is going to depend a LOT on your current fitness level. If you're sedentary and not used to exercising, this might not be a bad place to start. It is also good for people with joint issues as there is very little impact and it is what I'd call a "gentle" workout. A few years ago when the daily dog walk was my exercise, I broke a sweat with boxing and hula hooping. But when I stepped on the other night, it really didn't work me physically much at all.

So if you're already up and moving and looking to up your fitness and develop some real strength/cardio health/endurance - give this one a pass. You need something higher intensity to really get a burn. Wii fit will get you moving, but you won't be on fire.

Book Blog Thursday

2012-01-05T09:16:00.001-04:00

This is a great time for me to update you on what I've been reading! I've been reading a lot lately (or at least a lot for me) and had some stellar reads towards the end of 2011.

BEFORE THE SCANDAL by Suzanne Enoch

I loved it! This is the first I've read by this author, but I already have the other 2 in the trilogy in my amazon cart! Totally likeable characters, both on the "outside" due to scandals. I liked how they were old friends, each with their own external conflicts. Many times solving one problem would only create a bigger problem for the other, so the solution wouldn't work. And it was so easy to see that Alyse and Phin belonged together because they were good friends and not just lovers. I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out how it was all going to play out, and it wasn't predictable.

One of my favourite books of the year. I wish it hadn't sat on my tbr shelf for so long!

SUITE FRANCAISE by Irene Nemirovsky

I confess I bought this book for the cover - the moment I saw it I was intrigued, and doubly so because it is set during the German occupation of France.

Did I like it? I'm not sure. It certainly unromanticizes the period with stark reality and a dark side to "French manners" as the back cover copy mentions. The first part of the book was getting to know the characters, though several are introduced and I ended up wondering why when several of them disappeared for one reason or another.

I think my problem was this: the book is more of a statement than a plot. The language is beautiful and evocative, and yes, the book made me think....but in the hands of not just a wordsmith but a storyteller it could have been very different. What would have made this far better for me was if each of the independent characters might have seemed unrelated but in the end had a crucial part to play as things come to a head. To be honest - as the book comes to a close there is FINALLY some tension and high stakes...Lucile must choose love or loyalty, people may get caught, Russia has finally entered the war.... I wanted to see her choice and what would happen.

And what happens? It ends. After 338 pages, I was left thinking "but it was finally getting good!".
It's the kind of book that will have me thinking for a long time, but not entertained. And honestly- I like to be both.

AN O'BRIEN FAMILY CHRISTMAS by Sherryl Woods

Really enjoyed this one - the O'Briens take a family trip to Ireland for Christmas, where Nell meets an old flame and Matthew and Laila get their HEA.

Only bad thing? I missed books in between last year's holiday story and this year's, so I have to go back and fill in the gaps in the series. :-)

A CHESAPEAKE SHORES CHRISTMAS by Sherryl Woods

Ah, Mick and Meg! I've looked forward to seeing their reunion marriage, and visiting Chesapeake Shores again. It was good but honestly...Mick got on my nerves. He is SOOOOO bossy. It is a good thing Meg is strong-willed to match him in a way she wasn't when they were younger. I wanted to throttle him more often than not. Their daughter Abby had chats with her mom that were geared to make us perhaps see a different side to Mick's bossiness, but...

I found myself comparing this series to Nora's McGregor series. Daniel MacGregor was definitely head of the family and a first class meddler, but he never got on my nerves like Mick O'Brien. That being said, he and Anna always had a good marriage while Meg and Mick had split and so putting them front and center to work out their problems is different than Daniel and Anna being secondaries and in a supporting role.

Overall though I liked the book and especially the Connor storyline...and I adore the Chesapeake Shores setting. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series (especially Mack and Suzi!)!

SEDUCED BY THE HIGHLANDER by Julianne MacLean

The last in the Highlander trilogy by Julianne MacLean, and wow, was it hot!

Oddly enough, through most of the book the hero has vowed to be celibate because of a curse put on him at the beginning of the story. But the attraction between Lachlan and Catherine is so sizzling that it really heats things up as he tries to help her discover who she is AND get the curse lifted. Sometimes all that restraint is quite sexy!

Catherine has lost her memory, but it didn't take me long to figure out how things were going to unfold and her "place" in the family. What did surprise me was the past that she forgot. When it finally comes back to her...I wasn't expecting THAT. It was a nice twist.

I'm a sucker for highlander romance and Julianne's trilogy was marvelous! I'm a bit sad it's over, but looking forward to her next trilogy coming out in 2012 - and it has the polish of royalty about it!

BRING ME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS by Robyn Carr

The Christmas-themed reading continues.... yesterday I was craving a reading day and mother nature obliged by whipping up a big storm and leaving us without power for over 5 hours. I read this is pretty much one sitting.

The very beginning was slightly confusing - there was some shifting back and forth with time and POV for backstory, but after about the 40th page or so it settled into place and I couldn't put it down. Becca was a little annoying at first, but she really "grew up" as the book went on, especially when she realized that she hadn't been there for Denny when he needed her years earlier. Her caring nature really started to shine through, and the Virgin River townspeople are as charming as ever. Denny is a fantastic hero! It didn't take long for me to see that all other men would pale in comparison to him. And as he and Becca reunited I really rooted for them! The ending was simply beautiful and completely sighworthy. It was a fantastic way to spend an unexpected day off!

THE FIRST LOVE COOKIE CLUB by Lori Wilde

This book was given out at RWA Nationals and I saved it for closer to the holidays to read. I really enjoyed it - loved the characters and how layer by layer we got to see them grow. I really liked how the heroine, Sarah, got stronger by the end and really put herself out there for the family and man she loved. It's a real feel-good Christmas story with the magic of a close-knit, small town and chock full of traditions.

HOTLY BEDDED, CONVENIENTLY WEDDED by Kate Hardy

One of the great things about Christmas break is more reading time, and on Boxing Day I settled in with a glass of pinot noir and one of Kate's backlist - Hotly Bedded, Conveniently Wedded. It was ten o'clock, I figured I'd get a start on it and and finish it on the 27th.

Instead I turned the last page at just a hair past midnight, only breaking to refill my glass.

Alex and Bel are some of the most likeable characters I've ever had the pleasure to "meet". It's very hard to make a marriage of convenience plausible in this day and age and so Kate bolstered the initial reason with family involvement - both families were very behind the marriage and with Alex's mom being ill, neither of them wanted to disappoint everyone by confessing it wasn't "real".

Alex's reasons for not wanting to fall in love aren't perhaps the strongest - but the reader doesn't care so much because it's so obvious that despite his assurances, Alex is ready to settle down and start a family. He's a workaholic who's getting clucky and it's pretty adorable - and he's also pretty good to Bel, too. He treats her so well - they don't just say they are best friends but they ACT like best friends. They share interests, and their professions were different enough that it gave the book a very fresh feel and made it interesting.

Bel's reasons for being afraid are much stronger and I really felt for her...at first it's easy to believe that she's focused on her work because she's dedicated but as the layers are peeled back we see how wrecked she is every time she sees babies and happy families. When Alex promises to try to give her everything she dreams of, that was it. I think *I* wanted to marry him. And when he ends up starting his new job and working late and travelling, I really felt Bel's loneliness, because at this point she knows she loves him and is fairly sure he'll never be in love with her the same way.

Without giving more spoilers, I will say that the black moment had me in tears but Alex showed what a good man he was and the ending was lovely.

If you're looking for a sexy, feel-good, emotional read that's like a breath of fresh air - snag this one for your e-reader (or find a rare print copy online).

I'll be back early February with a January roundup!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2012-01-03T09:28:00.001-04:00

Today is the official start of the New Year for me. Why? Because school is back in, the house is empty, and I'm back to work. The Christmas decorations came down yesterday, and I'm raring to go with the WIP which is due in just over a month.

Already this morning I've showered, had breakfast, tidied the kitchen after packing lunches, taken the eldest to her orthodontist appointment, walked the dog, had my favourite almond milk/protein powder/banana shake, ordered flowers for my mom's birthday, checked my e-mail, and put out the call for my first #1k1hr of the new year.

It was great sleeping in, having the downtime (because trying to structure any work with everyone home is a sure way to drive myself crazy) but boy am I happy to get back to the regular schedule!

I did some reading over the break and watched some movies too. In particular I enjoyed The King's Speech and Just Wright for movies and for books...well, the best one I read over the holidays was BEFORE THE SCANDAL by Suzanne Enoch.

As far as resolutions, I don't really make them - I make plans. I have a lot to get done this year so if there is any resolution at all, it's to keep the focus and maintain the productivity I saw through September - November. AND other than my RITA reading (which will start in a few weeks), this year I'm indulging myself and reading whatever grabs me from the shelf. Right now I'm reading Unveiled by Courtney Milan.

So happy new year...time for me to hit that deadline and give it what for!

What are your plans for the new year? Do you make resolutions?

Best Books of 2011

2011-12-29T22:43:00.002-04:00

To date I've read 56 books this year - less than last year, but on average one a week. After seeing lots of "top" lists, I thought about which books really captured my attention and so rather than a top list, here are my categories and faves!

*not all books were released in 2011. Some are tbr backlist.

Favourite Category Romance: Tie between Her Best Friend - Sarah Mayberry and The Heart of a Hero - Barbara Wallace

Favourite Debut: The Outlaw Bride - Kelly Boyce

Favourite Series: First Comes Marriage...the series by Mary Balogh

Favourite Historical Romance: The Duke and I - Julia Quinn

Favourite New To Me Author and Most Likely To Be Glommed: Before the Scandal - Suzanne Enoch

Favourite Contemporary: Bring Me Home For Christmas - Robyn Carr

Honourable Mention: Sherryl Woods and A Chesapeake Shores Christmas

What were your favourite reads of the year?

Montana, Mistletoe, Marriage

2011-12-27T15:06:00.001-04:00

Montana, Mistletoe, Marriage is featured on Super E-Reads today! For more info, check it out!

http://super-e-reads.com/2011/12/montana-mistletoe-marriage-by-donna-alward/

In other non-writing news, the girls and I did our post-Christmas gift card spending shopping trip today. We did great. They got new clothes/footwear/purses/makeup sorts of things and I got new slippers, new jeans, and a new shower caddy for the ensuite. We went for lunch together like we do every year, and now they are home and happy and vegging.

Is everyone still eating turkey? Tonight's dinner is one of our favourite turkey casseroles.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2011-12-23T12:04:00.004-04:00

I can hardly believe it's the 23rd of December. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and we're ALL READY for the big day here. Last night my husband and I went to a work party and when we got home there was a note waiting that said the girls had finished cleaning the house - which meant I got up today and was free to have a coffee with the husband, a leisurely breakfast and then work! :-)

To make it even better, it started snowing before we got up and it's STILL snowing and we are definitely in for a white Christmas! Look at this!

Before I go, I want to mention a few holiday things going on - today I'm at The Pink Heart Society for Must Watch Friday chatting about a movie tradition in our family!

There's also a chance to win my novella OFF THE CLOCK at the Long and Short Reviews holiday event - Stuff Your Stockings with Books!

And starting on December 24, you should really visit the Romance Author Hotspot Holiday Bash for a chance to win books AND a Kindle FIRE!

Fun, right?

In the meantime - have a wonderful, blessed holiday. Travel safe if you're on the road. We're sticking pretty close to home, eating lots of turkey, and probably playing a bit of Rock Band and enjoying a few new toys.

Merry Christmas!

What's on your Christmas List?

2011-12-20T10:45:00.000-04:00

Today the fabulous Sea and Be Scene site has a holiday feature asking "what's the best Christmas present you ever got?" It got me thinking about all the presents over the years, big and small, and how hard it was to pick just one. But I did, and you can read about the faves of lots of East Coast personalities.

Then a few minutes ago I saw a tweet asking what writers were asking for for Christmas. My list was small this year and not a whole lot writerly on it - except for some books. I asked for the George RR Martin Game of Thrones series. Otherwise, hopefully Santa is putting a new can opener beneath my tree. Seriously. I asked for a new can opener.

What's on your Christmas list? Practical or indulgent?

Sweet Treats

2011-12-15T10:14:00.002-04:00

It's my day over at the Harlequin Romance Author site and I'm giving away a copy of Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses which includes 4 stories in one! Plus you're not going to want to miss my recipe either. It's soooooo good. And totally addictive.

Check it all out at www.harlequinromanceauthors.com!

I'll be back tomorrow - the last of the school concerts are today and tomorrow Christmas holiday officially begins!

Recharged

2011-12-12T09:48:00.005-04:00

I'm mostly recharged this morning - it was a great weekend and if I'm a little behind the 8-ball it's just because I didn't sleep that well last night. Plus my internet died this morning and I had to trouble shoot it which wouldn't have been a huge deal except I'm teaching this week and I had my first lesson all ready to go. I hit post and lost everything. It's Monday.

But the weekend was great. We kicked it off with my niece and her husband here for supper - I made lasagna and garlic bread and salad and we had Christmas treats for dessert and ate wayyyy too much and then played Rock Band for about 2 hours. Saturday I had coffee with a friend and then the girls and I hit Michaels craft store and spent more than I'd planned as their ornament kits were on 1/2 price. We did crafts all Saturday afternoon and Sunday evening. Saturday night I read, Sunday morning the husband and I took the dog for a long walk, and in the afternoon I wrapped stuff and made a roast beef dinner. It was really great.

And now here we are - Monday, and the last week of school before Christmas holidays. I've got lots to do - work on the WIP, teaching Blasting Through Blah at Passionate Ink, 3 concerts and who knows what else. S'ok though. We're ready for Christmas here.

This is also the last week for the Harlequin Romance Author site relaunch complete with recipes and prizes, so don't forget to stop by. A winner's list will be posted on the 19th.

And Mills and Boon Australia is having a sale right now, so if you're down under and looking to do some shopping:

Christmas

2011-12-09T13:14:00.001-04:00

We're hard core Christmas here this week. Tuesday I did most of the shopping, Wednesday I picked up the last little things and did a mess of wrapping before heading to the youngest's Christmas concert. It was our last elementary school holiday concert which might be sad except the parking and chaos is particularly insane at the elementary school and I'm not going to miss that. :-)

Yesterday we had a huge storm and lost power for most of the day, so I indulged myself by reading a Christmas book from my shelf - Bring Me Home For Christmas by Robyn Carr and it was sooo good. Then last night the girls and I did a whole mess of Christmas baking. There will be lots of choices for dessert tonight when my niece and her husband are here for dinner. Tomorrow I have a coffee date in the morning but otherwise the weekend is free - so I am thinking lots of Christmas movies and down time. The eldest's concert last night was cancelled because of the power outage, so we still have 2 more concerts to go next week before we can really let down our hair and relax for Christmas.

I had my hair cut this morning, which means I had some time while my *coughgreycoveragecough* was setting to start my next book - in keeping with Christmas stories I'm reading A Chesapeake Shores Christmas by Sherryl Woods - trying to get caught up with this series and I also have An O'Brien Family Christmas by Sherryl on my TBR to help that along.

A couple of work-y type things - don't forget to visit www.harlequinromanceauthors.com because our recipes and giveaways are still ongoing and as far as I know it all ends a week from today.

And starting Monday I'm teaching Blasting Through Blah hosted by the Passionate Ink RWA chapter. You can still register! http://www.passionateink.org/workshops/

See you Monday!

BREATHE is out in print!

2011-12-06T09:27:00.001-04:00

Today is a "second" release day for my book, BREATHE, as it is finally released in PRINT! You can snag it at special new release pricing at Samhain Publishing or get it from booksellers - if they don't have it in stock, they can definitely order it in for you (or you can order it online).

I loved writing this story and I adore the cover. It's kind of cool that it gets a second release date. :-)

Redux

2011-12-05T16:02:00.001-04:00

As you can see, I didn't quite make my NaNo total but I got over 40k written in November which, considering how crazy life ALWAYS seems to be in November is pretty good. I finished, sent, and sold a novella, started my next story, sent the partial to my editor, carried on with the story, took a long weekend to visit my mom, and spent a lot of time chaufeurring kids around. I'm happy.

Today I'm working on the copy edits of The Rebel Rancher (coming out next June) and I've cried twice and I still adore my hero, so yay! This was possibly my favourite book to write. I told my editor it IS actually hard to write the next book after a "fairy dust" book, but after her thoughts on the partial I've had a good think about it and I'm excited about making a few tweaks and carrying on.

Today I'm at Petticoats and Pistols talking about a Down Home Family Christmas and I'm also talking about the Harlequin Romance Author site relaunch at The Pink Heart Society. Don't forget to drop by the site for your chance to win Harlequin Romance books and get a few fantastic recipes!

This past weekend my sisters were here and we did a huge shopping trip on Saturday. They left Sunday afternoon around 2:30; my daughter had to be at a local community centre to sing for a seniors party at 2:50. She did great. Last night, to unwind, we put White Christmas on and decorated our gingerbread house. It was the perfect way to end the crazy weekend.

Brag Board and Hodge Podge

2011-12-02T09:56:00.001-04:00

There is nothing that makes me any happier than celebrating the achievements of my kids. I'm always proud, of course, but the last few weeks has seem my youngest really excel at something new. She's done such a great job and amazed a lot of people. She started playing flute in September and is doing so well that she's playing a fairly complicated solo with the school choir at their concert next week, as well as having a part in the school drama and doing another flute solo with one of the classes. Last night she had her concert with the district Honour Choir - they sounded beautiful.

I think that every kid has a "thing". For some it's sports, for some it's music, whatever...but finding that interest and talent is great. She's blossomed so much this year and it's been lovely to watch.

Hodge-podge wise - after months of losing a few pounds, putting it back, losing, putting it back...last Friday I was exactly where I was before I left for New York last June. Sigh. I knew I had to get strict, so a week ago today I decided to go "cleaner" with my eating (as I'd remained active but hadn't lost any more). I cut out caffeine and wine, and had green tea 3 evenings and last night I had 1 cup of black tea - my first all week. The withdrawal headaches lasted for nearly 4 days, but I'll confess I've been sleeping so much better! I also cut back on dairy - very little cheese (I think I had it once all week, beyond a sprinkle of parmesan on my salad one night) and mostly greek yogurt. And I cut back on gluten, some days having none at all, or if I did it was only at one meal. It really was not a difficult week despite the cut backs - I ate a LOT of fruit and vegetables and lean protein and drank a lot of water. Today I was down 4.4 lbs - in ONE WEEK. Tell me I wasn't hanging on to some goo?

I'm out of eggs, so this morning I made quinoa for the first time and put apples and cinnamon in it. It was okay. Not something I'd want to eat every day, but a decent gluten-free substitute for porridge that's high in protein.

And before I dash off - today is crazy busy - today's author at the Harlequin Romance Author website is Lucy Gordon - with a taste of Italy courtesy of her husband and a holiday book to give away. Pop by.

Have a good weekend! I've heard a rumour that one or both of my sisters may land here this weekend, though no one's really let me know either way...

Website relaunch and prizes!

2011-12-01T12:25:00.001-04:00

The blog's been quiet this week and for a very good reason. Today the Harlequin Romance Authors launch their redesigned website! Thanks to Anne MacFarlane of Annespired Web Design who made us this gorgeous new template - and set it up so that I could add information so easily! I've been busy adding author profiles to the Meet The Author page and a few photos to the Fun Stuff page with more to come!

To celebrate the launch, we're holding a party that will last long into the MONTH! Stop by each day for a chance to win a book and snag a recipe from the contributing author. There are some real goodies - we kicked it off with Barb McMahon, a 2 in 1 Holiday book AND her recipe for Chocolate Truffle Cookies that look delish (and that my kids are dying to make, must pick up some baking chocolate!)!

Head on over to www.harlequinromanceauthors.com to join in the fun and drop by each day for a new chance to win. We'll be posting a winners list after we run out of books and not before!

Today being December 1 also means that my biannual royalties arrived - woo hoo! I celebrated by treating myself to a massage. Then I ran some errands and finally I'm home to get to work. There'll be a newsletter hitting subscriber inboxes shortly and after that an update to my website....

Monday Madness

2011-11-28T11:56:00.001-04:00

Today instead of writing much today, I'm on homework duty. The youngest had an assignment that we did first thing this morning. The eldest had a science project that required me to videotape her and her sister like a news broadcast...tonight we'll put all the pieces together into a movie. I have to run into town to buy a wig for youngest's drama part and then there is choir practice for youngest - the last before her concert on Thursday. Add in a few loads of laundry, working on the Harlequin Romance author website and I think it's pretty good that I got 1000 words on the manuscript this morning.

I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I'm not going to hit 50k for NaNo. I'm a bit disappointed, but I also did more than I did last year which is good. I'll be over 40k by the end and that's still pretty good output for a month, especially considering how hectic November has been.

And it does still put me on track for finishing this book when I want to finish it. :-)

What are you working on this Monday? How close are you to reaching your NaNo total?

Friday - again?

2011-11-25T11:32:00.001-04:00

I just realized I haven't posted since TUESDAY! Where the heck did the week go?

Wednesday we had a storm here - officially at the airport we got 35 cm of snow, which is the better part of 14 inches. It was a mess. Schools weren't cancelled so both kids were late getting home. The dh got home early and started to blow out the driveway while I shoveled the walk and steps.

We woke up yesterday morning to a street that hadn't been cleared, a truck that wouldn't get out our driveway...it meant that I had to take the dh's car (which is an AWD) to my doctor appt. The 2 minute drive took me 30. Once we got out of the unplowed subdivision the roads were a bit better, BUT traffic was so backed up that we were at a standstill. When I got home at 9:30, the roads still weren't plowed except for our tiny cul de sac. The problem with that was now there was this giant heavy snowbank blocking my driveway and keeping me from getting in. Out came the shovel again so I could put the car in the garage. It made for a late start writing, never mind I also had to go out again to pick up youngest from drama after school.

To top it off, dh came home and went to blow out the drive again, and the tractor wouldn't start. Finally got it started, and the blower broke. Thank heavens for good neighbours with tractors who cleared us out enough to use both sides of our driveway. I can now get my truck out.

There is a good side to this though - looking out the window at all the whiteness has totally put me in the mood to work on the Christmas story and I'm currently just taking a break from writing a really great scene. There's nothing like decorating a Christmas tree, mulled cider, and a big strapping rancher to put me in the holiday spirit. :-)

In keeping with that, I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. A friend and I are taking our girls to Mahone Bay to their Father Christmas Festival - lots of food, crafts, decorations, activities, carols...perfect. The girls have been saving their money for some shopping!

And otherwise - I need to eat lunch and do another #1k1hr to get my word count done for the day - I enjoyed having a clean house so much last weekend that I'm going to try and "git'er done" today so that on Sunday we can break out the decorations and really get into the Christmas spirit.

It's Black Friday in the US, so what are you doing today? Business as usual, or grabbing major holiday deals?

If you missed it last week...

2011-11-22T12:20:00.001-04:00

If you missed my BLASTING THROUGH BLAH workshop last week, it's running again in a few weeks through Passionate Ink. It's a five-lesson course to help you break through the blah scenes in your manuscript. Seriously, I used at least 2 of the techniques in the course to fix my work-in-progress as I was teaching. In particular I had one scene that was just so BORING and I was trying to sort out what was wrong with it and then bang! I realized I needed technique number 2.

The cost is only $15 for members and $20 for non-members. You can find out more information about signing up, etc. here on the Upcoming Workshops page.

Monday Musings

2011-11-21T09:06:00.001-04:00

Here we are back at Monday again - and I'm just about ready to kick off my first #1k1hr to get some word count done. But first a few things to share - I heard from my awesome editor at Samhain and the second novella in the First Responders series is a go - so IN THE LINE OF DUTY will be out sometime in 2012. :-) It's a follow up to OFF THE CLOCK and now I just need to write the final installment, INTO THE FIRE. :-)

And yesterday was our RWA chapter potluck. As always there was tons of food, a lot of loud conversation and a cutthroat book draw at the end of the afternoon. I drew number 17 which meant I had my pick of a lot of books already opened. I came home with the new Robyn Carr holiday book and a Debbie Macomber I hadn't read yet, so I've got more good reading ahead!

Michelle Helliwell, Annette Gallant, me, Kelly Boyce

And it was also the last function for the current executive. It's been a fantastic year - I couldn't have asked for a better group to work with. All easy going, no drama...it hardly felt like work at all. The chapter was really active this past year AND we hosted a weekend editor event that pretty much turned out awesome. Now after two years of VP I've stepped aside but I'll confess I'm going to miss chatting to these three on the exec loop.

Kelly Boyce and Michelle Helliwell were new to the exec last year but Annette and I did Prez and Veep 2 years together and I think I'm going to miss her the most.

Thanks for a great year, you guys.

How did it get to be Friday?

2011-11-18T08:59:00.001-04:00

How did it get to be FRIDAY already? It was a short week here with the kids off school, I guess, and there was a volleyball game in there, a practice, 2 days of drama, grocery shopping, badminton club, study dates and me teaching a course as well as writing so I guess I managed to fill the time without too much trouble. I'm doing a work "blitz" this morning because my niece and her husband are coming for dinner tonight and I need to do SOMETHING with this house. Being gone all weekend last weekend meant it didn't get a good cleaning as usual, so as soon as I make my 2000 words, I'm getting out the vacuum and duster.

It was snowing this morning! The blue sky is peeking through now, but there's NOTHING like a dusting of snow to perk up a writer working on a Christmas story, or to make a school bus late. Nearly 20 minutes late, and the same bus picks up my eldest during the next run so I drove her to school so she'd be on time and took a couple of her friends with. It's bloody chilly outside, so I poured a second cup of coffee, with Dulce de Leche creamer in it. It's a good Friday.

And once the house is cleaned up it's dinner...my "nephew-in-law" can eat like a horse (where he puts it, I don't know, he's a bean pole!) so we've got a ginormous package of ribs we're going to grill. My husband usually does them but I'm on the "pre-boil" detail. We sometimes add beer to the water, and usually some garlic and seasonings. Once they're boiled, the dh puts them on the grill and uses his favourite bbq sauce - President's Choice Stampede Barbeque. The secret is to not scrimp on the sauce. Messy and delicious. I expect I'll make a big pot of rice and some salad etc. to go with it. And I should probably make a dessert. What I'll probably do is get the girls to bake something when they come home from school. They love to cook. Wish they loved to clean up the dirty dishes as much, but alas...not.

Anyway have a good weekend...it's our RWA chapter potluck on Sunday which is always a fun time!

Feeding the Writer's Soul - plus girl time

2011-11-15T11:57:00.001-04:00

I am a homebody. Seriously - by the time the day's work is done, I've worked out, made supper, etc...I really don't feel like going out and running around.

But last night I made an exception because Kelley Armstrong was in town and doing a reading and signing at the library.

It was a time that fed my writer's soul. I got to watch how "the pros" do it - that is, talk to a room full of people about their books, answer questions, etc. And I mean a room. I don't know attendance numbers but I'd guess at over 60 people easily. Very different than speaking to a dozen (which is my usual number). I also liked listening to the Q&A...from the typical first "where do you get your ideas?" question to some of the others. What would it be like to be asked about characters in that many books? What would it be like to have a following like that? It's pretty darn cool. And listening to Kelly talk about life as an author made me realize that while our process is very different, we think a lot the same too. Nothing is more comforting to a writer than another writer who GETS IT.

I took my girls with me. My eldest is a fan so she was pretty jazzed, but my youngest is a little too young yet so about 3/4 of the way through she snuck off with my library card to lose herself in the stacks. When she came back we were in line to sign and she had two big books in her arms that she'd checked out.

The eldest had wanted to ask a second question during the Q&A but ran out of time, so she thought she'd ask when she got to the table. Instead she was so excited that she got her book signed and floated half way to the door before I reminded her that she'd forgotten. She said she didn't care - she had her book signed! And a bookmark! LOL. So Kelley - if you're reading this, my daughter would like to know what you would be if you weren't a writer.

We got home around nine so it was straight into bedtime routine, but it was worth the effort for this hermit to get out of the house.

Readers - do you go to author events and what's your favourite part? And authors - how do you feed your writer's soul?

Family Laughs - and Stuffing my Face

2011-11-14T13:09:00.001-04:00

This past weekend we travelled to my mum's for the long weekend. It was totally worth the three pounds I gained. THREE. In three days. I'm crossing my fingers that the sheer volume of water I'm drinking is going to address some of that problem.

It started with stopping at my mother-in-law's on Friday afternoon - we dropped off her Christmas present and a few other little things that the dh had done up for her, and we had supper. She'd made baked beans, brown bread rolls, baked ham and scalloped potatoes. YUM. And then...strawberry shortcake. Gah! We also picked up our Christmas stuff including about 100 lbs of fruitcake. When we were up over Thanksgiving (October here in Canada) I got her a Bulk Barn gift card to buy the fruit etc. and in return we get really great fruitcake and mincemeat. It's a fab deal.

Then it was on to my mum's. We spent the night there, got up in the morning and deliberately ate a breakfast of fruit and yogurt because we were going to market.

Market is great. I could spend a million dollars there without a lot of trouble, I think. Between the artisans and the food vendors... Anyway we wandered around but really just spent money on food. Of course. The kids and husband got Kurt's Sausage on a bun - the mister with sauerkraut and spicy mustard, youngest with ketchup, and the eldest? Well, she got hers with hot chili sauce. I got a beef donair. Being a generous sort, I offered the mister a bite when we got back to our truck. He opened his great maw and took a huge bite that left me seriously miffed. However the majority of the meat and sauce is towards the bottom, so ha ha on him. He got mostly onions and tomatoes. I only got one dollop of stuff on my jacket. Because I'm that classy and I always get donair drips.

We also bought a dozen beef and chicken samosas for the family potluck - which happened Saturday night.

Saturday night my sisters came for supper. My mum had made (more) baked beans and brown bread, and a chicken and broccoli casserole that was yummy. One sister brought a Chicken Penne Alfredo that was TO DIE FOR and also Oreo Delight dessert which was a tasty concoction of oreo crumbs, vanilla pudding, and Cool Whip drizzled with chocolate sauce. My other sister came with most of her brood (and their significant others) in tow so she brought a big pot of Sweet and Sour Stew (a personal fave, I brought a dish home and we had it for supper last night), a Shepherd's Pie, a Caesar Salad and my niece brought potato salad. In addition to the samosas I made a chocolate chip cheese ball served with cookies (recipe courtesy of Debbie Macomber's site). My mom's rhubarb and mince pies were barely touched - there was just too much food. It was one of the best potlucks we've ever had.

After supper we crowded into the living room to watch Great Niece (who is 19 months old) perform, and she's a real ham. Who needs entertainment when you have a little angel in a pink frilly dress? On top of that we had lots of laughs. One sister's alter-ego came out to play which had us in stitches, as well as the story of her driving her ATV off the trailer into the truck, or trying to swing the generator into the back of the truck and spraining her ankle. I teased my niece's boyfriend about his Movember effort and met my nephew's new girlfriend (hopefully we didn't scare her away) and my sister in law came late - she'd had to work until 7:30 and then went home and bless her heart made my husband a lemon pie. Her lemon pies are out of this world. It was still warm and not quite set, so we heated up some supper for her and saved the pie and...had it for breakfast yesterday morning, along with bacon and pancakes. Does your belly hurt? Mine did.

I'd spent the last several weeks making things for holiday baskets for the family, so I'm happy to say they are all delivered now, complete with bows and homemade tags.

Yesterday we didn't bother with lunch, instead heating up stew and leftover brown bread rolls for an early supper around 4:30. Thank goodness.

But it was so good to get together. To share a bunch of laughs. My mum was in heaven despite the noise and commotion and said to me yesterday that Saturday was her Christmas.

But now it's back to normal (in some ways thank goodness! I'm lucky 3 lbs was the total damage now that I write all that down!). I'm teaching a course at Savvy Authors this week, have chatted to my editor about the new book, and trying to knock a few other things off my to-do list.

All in all though? I'm really glad we went last weekend rather than waiting until the madness that's December.

What did you do this past weekend?

Writing a Christmas Story

2011-11-10T13:49:00.001-04:00

So this week I started my next book for Harlequin Romance - a Christmas story that will be in a trilogy with my fab colleagues Fiona Harper and Shirley Jump. Even though I'm a pantser, there's always some prep that goes into starting a new book. You have to know your characters, their problem, their basic motivations and goals. The setting, the timeline. Doesn't mean you have to do a chapter by chapter outline, but you need the basics.

When you're writing a story with other authors, you need more than that too. We're writing about 3 sisters, so there's backstory, timelines, intersecting points, etc. that all need to be ironed out.

But still...I can't speak for Fi or Shirley but I know that things change when I start writing the novel. Oh, the basics might stay the same - who my characters are, their big problems and conflicts, etc. But other things. I've focused a lot of WHY Blake and Hope are the way they are, but on the page I have to think about making sure they are both sympathetic to the reader - why should they root for this person? I heard Liz Fielding say something the other day - that the heroine, despite her conflicts, should be someone the reader would want to be friends with. I struggle with that a bit, especially as my heroine tends to distance herself from getting personally involved with people.

And then the other thing that changes? Christmas. I want this book to fairly DRIP holiday spirit. Up to now, I've focused so much on the whys of the story but now, as I've started writing, I'm looking for ways to make the Christmas season an integral part of the plot - so that it's not just a romance that happens to be set at Christmas but a Christmas Romance.

I wanna grab a lot of heartstrings, and give my readers romantic, swoony sighs.

As I was writing today I came up with another surprise that just makes me smile. My heroine doesn't stand a chance. I love it, and I think it's going to be big fun - as big as Santa's sack of toys.

Now, I think I'll have to break out the Christmas playlist - what do you think?

Preview of my life for the next 6 years

2011-11-09T09:49:00.002-04:00

This week - well, and to be honest, last - has been crazy on the kid front, and I don't even have the girls in anything overly crazy. I realized last night, as I went to pick up my daughter at 8:15, that this is a preview of my life for the next 6 years - or at least until they're both driving (and that's a whole other level of OMG - the idea of them taking the car and driving themselves!).

Monday required some juggling as the youngest had to be driven to choir (our other arrangements fell through) and then I left there to go to my eldest's game. We got home within 20 min of each other.

Yesterday I had to pick up youngest after drama and drop her at a neighbours for a twice-weekly after school job. Then after supper, eldest had a short babysitting job and so I drove back and forth to that (since the kids she was babysitting were already in bed). This morning she had to be at school early for practice, it's a half day because of Parent-Teacher, so I have 2 interviews this afternoon in addition to youngest having her job after school and eldest working the book fair at her school during interviews.

Tomorrow? Drama pick up, eldest has badminton in the evening.

It requires a certain amount of juggling and, well, gas. BUT there are so many good things about it. It's good for them to be involved in music and sports - there are important lessons to be learned, and it's far more beneficial than coming home and plunking down in front of the television. We try to keep commitments to one per term with the odd extra here and there, to allow for enough homework time and sleep. They still go to bed pretty early, actually.

It's good for them to have little jobs too, to earn their own money, decide what they want to spend it on, and to know that when it's gone I'm not filling the gap.

And it's good for them to do some things for no pay at all - the eldest is volunteering her time this afternoon and that's cool. Sometimes you do things to help people out and do the right thing, with no expectation of money crossing palms. It's not a bad way to view things once in a while, IMO.

So I'll grouse and complain about running here and there, but really I'm proud of who they are turning out to be and if a little running back and forth is my contribution...it's not that big of a deal.

Now I'm off to make some word count - after all, another 2 1/2 hours and the first one will be home and I'll have to put on my mom face for parent teacher!

Sports Season and A New Review

2011-11-08T09:56:00.000-04:00

It's sports season here again and I'm over at Tote Bags 'n' Blogs chatting about being a sport mom and the life lessons to be learned from competitive sports.

I also got a new review for OFF THE CLOCK today! The Romance Studio gave it four hearts and said that it was "pure emotion and real". You can read the whole review over at their site.

Meanwhile I'm not having any trouble keeping busy. Early work is ongoing for the Christmas book and I've been critiquing some stuff for people the last few days, not to mention trying to stay caught up with admin. At this rate I'm simply looking forward to Christmas break! LOL

B-day: Behind the Book, Blasting Through Blah

2011-11-07T09:25:00.000-04:00

First up - I'm over at Petticoats and Pistols today talking a bit about the inspiration behind HOW A COWBOY STOLE HER HEART. Feel free to drop by for a spell to find out a little more about Clay and Meg - and also for a chance to win a copy!

And I have a workshop called Blasting Through Blah beginning next Monday at Savvy Authors and there is still room to register. The course description is as follows:

Most authors have written a scene that just doesn’t feel quite right, or lacks that certain spark. Saggy middles? Stilted dialogue? Can’t seem to see what’s wrong? This one-week workshop will introduce some fun techniques to blast through the blahs of your manuscript! Come prepared with a work in progress, as each day attendees will try their hand at employing the day’s technique. This is a five part (one week) workshop with assignments for participants. Assignments will not be graded. Target Audience: Mixed. Must have a work in progress ongoing.

Topics covered by this online class will include:

Lesson 1: Say What?

Switching dialogue to tease out motivation and conflict.

Assignment: take a scene and change dialogue attribution

Lesson 2: Get Out Of My Head

Play with POV: the benefit of trying opposite points of view. Assignment: take a scene and change the POV

Lesson 3: Let ‘Em Have It

Holding back on that crucial plot point? Do it now, and let the chips fall where they may. Assignment: introducing a crucial element earlier than planned

Lesson 4: Everyone Can Do With A Change Of Scenery

Moving the scene to a different setting can make all the difference! Assignment: take a scene and put it in a different setting.

Lesson 5: You Big Meanie!

Take away your character’s security blanket. Assignment: examine a scene for what your character wants most – and then take it away.

This day will also be for any lingering questions/observations.

You can register at the Savvy Authors site.

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-11-06T07:15:00.000-04:00

I've been watching my friend Liz do this and got quite intrigued, so this week I'm giving Six Sentence Sunday a go with six sentences from my October release, How A Cowboy Stole Her Heart. Meg has always been a bit of a tomboy and Clay has never noticed her the way she wanted - until she agrees to go to his Aunt's wedding as his date and knocks his eyesballs out. Leading to this:

His arm came around her, lifted her feet clear of the porchfloor as he kissed her: hot, demanding, and all-encompassing.

His mouth was soft, hot, and devastating.Megan let the shock ripple deliciously through her as she clutched hisshoulders. There was a small thunk; the house key dropped to the step. Eventhrough the layers of his tuxedo and her coat Meg felt the hardness of his bodyagainst her.
It was the most wonderfulthing she’d felt in her whole life.

You can find out more about Six Sentence Sunday HERE.

November Christmas

2011-11-04T12:17:00.002-03:00

Last weekend, I watched a Hallmark Movie from last year called November Christmas. I taped it because it was filmed not too far from where I live, and hey, it's Christmas! But it's languished on my dvr all that time. Finally, with space running out on my dvr, I curled up with a glass of wine and a box of tissues and watched.

Hallmark movies are unapologetically sentimental and schmaltzy and this one was no exception. We have a couple (John Corbett plays the dad) who are struggling as their daughter has cancer - they also have a son and balancing a marriage and caring for a sick child and keeping things "normal" for the healthy kid is really tough. Then we have Jess, the neighbour, played by Sam Elliott, and his wife, who lost their son in an accident when he was 13. The movie is all about the two families connecting and making the holidays special for a very sick little girl. Yep - schmaltz abounds.

You could even say it's cheesy, but it's very, very good cheese, you see. At one point I was crying so hard I had to lean forward so gravity would help my nose unplug and I could actually blow it. It pulls on every single heartstring in happy and sad ways. Sam Elliot is so awesome (as usual). Tough and gruff, tender and gentle and strong as an oak. Just as you would expect him to be. It's set in a small town, so you have that close-knit down home feeling that warms the cockles of your heart (yes, cliches abound, sue me). He promises the little girl that she'll be home for Christmas, but her treatment isn't going well. When they have to stop it until she gets stronger and send her home, things don't look so good.

But as the family drives home (in November, hence the title), they see Jess's house lit up with Christmas lights. And then they drive through town and the WHOLE TOWN is decorated and lit up for the holidays. See? Unapologetically schmaltzy but it's so good you don't care. And they get to the house and all the main players from the town are there waiting for them to get home and give that family a November Christmas.

Truthfully? Some people will dismiss this kind of movie the same way they dismiss genre fiction as predictable, cliche, and stupid. But for me - this is the kind of movie that touches your heart and makes you realize that the world really isn't always a bad place. I cried buckets but cried them at tender loving moments as well as dark ones (and emptied the tissue box as my husband laughed at me).

It's also the kind of story that I'd love to be able to write someday. Deeply emotional, small-town rallying around kind of story. You can check out a trailer and more facts about the basis for it HERE.

So what are your thoughts? Do you ever watch Hallmark movies/made for TV movies like this? Love 'em or hate 'em?

How a Cowboy Stole Her Heart Hardback Cover

2011-11-02T07:15:00.000-03:00

I finally got around to scanning the cover for HOW A COWBOY STOLE HER HEART in hardcover. It released on October 21. I really like the cover - actually in all three covers I've seen so far, the heroine has had short hair - thank you art departments!

What do you think?

Winners!

2011-11-01T09:18:00.005-03:00

The winner of the Novel Trick or Treat is LINDA FARRELL ROLFE! Linda, please send your mailing address to me by using the link, and I'll get your prize on the go!

Also - the Small Blogs Big Giveaway winners have been drawn - go HERE to see if your name is on the list!

A Novel Trick or Treat!

2011-10-31T07:48:00.000-03:00

This Halloween, join seven authors for virtualtrick-or-treating! Visit me, Julianne McLean, Michelle Willingham, Deborah Hale, Diane Gaston, Darlene Gardner and Deb Marlowe to win chocolates and othergoodies to brighten your holiday.

Here's how it works - head on over to my Facebook Page and answer a question I've posted there. Leave your answer in the comments on Facebook, and then come back to my blog and find out which "house" you visit next on your trick or treat route! I'll pick a winner from those comments to win a copy of my latest book and a special Halloween treat!

The next house is Diane Gaston's - at www.dianegaston.com/blog !

Good luck and have fun!

Think Pink: Families of Those with Cancer with Eryn Grace

2011-10-30T07:00:00.000-03:00

Please welcome Eryn Grace to the blog today, to share her perspective and also details on how you can download her book for free!

I never quite understood what my husband and hisfamily went through when his mother underwent breast cancer surgery. She had it before I met him, and she’d beencancer-free for years. It wasn’t untilmy sister was diagnosed with uterine cancer in the early 2000s that I reallyunderstood. It was devastating. I lived in Kansas at the time and my sisterlived in Pennsylvania, near my parents. Every time I’d call home, I’d hear the latest news, all eventually spiralinginto the horrifying word of terminal. But my sister put on a happy face and didn’t share a lot of the newswith her coworkers at the school where she taught. Even her principal didn’t understand the tollon her, assigning my sister to parking lot duty about a month before she died,which really left my sister with no energy for quite a few days.

My family was angry. Not only was this disease taking my oldest sister from us, but thegeneral public didn’t seem to understand the front my sister was putting up toothers, just so she wouldn’t get pity. Sheeven made a tape to be read at her funeral. She said ‘find out your mission and get it done. You’re stronger than you think you are.’ So even at her own funeral, she put on afront to the rest of the world, telling everyone to get their mission done inthis world, because time is short. Sheimpressed my younger sister so much, that she became a celebrant (eulogist) inLos Angeles, so that everyone could have the funeral they wanted. (The minister at my dying sister’s funeraldidn’t allow many of her wishes allowed in the funeral.)

The entire experience brought my family closertogether. While I was snowed in up herein Wisconsin, my brother and two other sisters went to Pennsylvania to see myoldest sister. She was diagnosed ashaving only weeks to live on her 49^th birthday, in February. It was heart wrenching, but my sister took itin stride, surrounded by the rest of my family while I was on the phone withher.

Cancer is a horrible silent disease, no matter whatkind it is. My wish is for that diseaseto be cured so much, that future generations don’t even know what it means, ona personal basis. I hope for all cancerpatient caregivers not to have to endure the physical and emotional toll ofwatching their loved one go through chemo and radiation, seeing doctor afterdoctor for treatment, or even having to sit in on that meeting where the doctortells the patient they have cancer at all.

To give everyone hope for life after breast cancer, Iwrote ‘Whisper a Prayer,’ where the main character, Pam, is a breast cancersurvivor who’s hunting for her real parents. She’d been adopted as a child, and finds herself in Austin, Texas, witha private detective named Jake. Jakewants to date Pam, but she considers herself ‘damaged goods’ because of thechemo. Jake won’t let that stop him,because his sister-in-law has had the disease. He’s ready for the challenge, if the cancer returns, and doesn’t evenconsider that a hurdle for them to date, surprising Pam.

The book is written for the Christian market, butit’s what I call ‘Christian lite’ with very little religion in the story. However, I suspect that many cancer patientsdo get closer to their faith, as did my oldest sister.

Ifyou’d like, I’m offering a download of this book, free, on Smashwords. Go to www.smashwords.com/books/view/96940. Use coupon SJ92K when checking out.

Bless you all,

Eryn Grace

Think Pink: Bev Clarke

2011-10-29T07:00:00.000-03:00

One of the things I love about eharlequin is how I'm able to meet authors, aspiring writers, and readers all in one place. I met Bev Clarke through a thread called I AM CANADIAN, and so when I thought about posting Breast Cancer stories, I wondered if she'd care to share hers.So here is romance reader Bev, with her experience with Breast Cancer. Thanks for being here Bev!

My mother had cancer, and she died in 1946 after an operation. I am lucky my Dr. kept a good watch over me. I'm also lucky that I got cancer at a good time in my life and times. My Dr. said at it might not be very agressive at my age. I get a mammography every year and still do.

In June 2007, the mammography showed there was a mass. I'm not sure why I didn't panic, I just became resigned I guess. In July I made an appointment for a needle biopsy. My daughter drove me up to that. The technician said she could see cancerous nodes with ultra sound. After the radiologist did the needle biopsy she went over my breast with the ultrasound. She seemed sure there was no cancerous nodesso I chose to have a lumpectomy instead of a full Mastectomy.

When I saw the surgeon after the operation he said, "There is good news and bad news." There was a margin around my lump that means he couldn't find cancer in the rest of my breast. But, they took out 8 lymph nodes and found 2 cancerous. After that I went through a battery of tests and exrays for about a month.

The upshot of this told them I didn't have any cancer in my body. (Good!)I then went to the oncologists who would look after me. I have two - a medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist.

The medical oncologist gave me percentages. I took the percentage that had the highest forecast - 22% in ten years or hopefully not at all. The apparently couldn't be sure if the nodes had something there they couldn't see.

I started Chemo. It went on for 6 sessions, a session every 3 weeks. In my first session I developed fever and I had to get myself to the ER. It was discovered that the white blood cells in my body had gone down. That required a week in hospital and a nurse to come to my house 24 hours after each session to give my a shot. I also (through my own stupidity) didn't drink the right types of liquid and ended up with a problem there. During the first 3 sessions I was really very ill.

I could work quite easily around the house. My big problem at the time was my husband, Des. He knew what was happening but because of his own illness I couldn't look after him properly. His judgement was off and it was necesssary to have him go to nursing home.

During the first three sessions they removed all the medicine that I was taking. The seniors took me to the sessions, because they weren't sure how each patient took the Chemo. Whle I was away those three sessions my friend Marilyn would look after Des for me. During the last three sessions they changed medicine. This medicine took my taste away Everything that I ate tasted like dry stale bread. They also put cold mitts on my hands to help my nails. Although that didn't help much my nails are in very bad condition.

My friend Marilyn would come over occasionally and take me out to lunch. I couldn't eat a lot and she knew it but she would do it any way. I have had good friends. She is one of the best. I went down to 140 pounds then although you wouldn't know that now. I have to say I also lost all my hair during the first week. I lost every bit on my body except a small piece on my eyebrows.

After the treatments are finished you go ring the bell. I did it but I tried to get out. Some have people there to take your picture.

After the chemo I started into my radiation treatments. That was everyday except weekends. My radiation oncologist said "we are going in after those lymph nodes."The radiation isn't very bad. I was only on the table for a few minutes at a time and they pointed the rays where they needed them. I now have 5 tattoo dots on my breast area but I can only see one. How anyone would want to get a tatoo is beyond me. It hurts!I still see my Drs about every six months and I take tamoxifen once a day for five years. I'm 4 years clear and I cross my fingers when I say that.

When you have a disease like this your friends are your help. Des died 3 weeks after I finished everything. Marilyn, my seniorsgroup and my friends at the Canadian Legion got me through a year - and still do.

Think Pink: Courtesy of the Harlequin Blog

2011-10-28T15:24:00.002-03:00

A tweet sent me to the Harlequin Blog, and I couldn't resist sharing here. After all, I'm all about educating people about Breast Cancer Awareness this month. I was so keen to learn all I could from this video that I watched it TWICE. Now THAT'S dedication.

So here you go - your public service announcement for today. Be sure to do a self exam. These guys will give you the TLC.

Word.

A Halloween Trick or Treat

2011-10-28T08:03:00.001-03:00

Stay tuned: On Monday, I'm participating in A Novel Trick Or Treat.

On Halloween Day I'll be posting instructions on this blog, telling you to go to my Facebook page and answer a question. One winner will be selected to win a book and some great chocolate!

Then I'll direct you to the next "house" (blog) on the Trick or Treat list.

There are seven authors participating: Deb Hale, Julianne McLean, Michelle Willingham (the head witch of our coven), me, Deb Marlowe, and Darlene Gardner.

Small Blogs, Big Giveaways - Win Books!

2011-10-26T12:38:00.000-03:00

Countdown Creator Progreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

I'm featured over at Small Blogs, Big Giveaways today and there is a chance to win my current releases, OFF THE CLOCK and HOW A COWBOY STOLE HER HEART! There are TONS of prizes to be won, actually, so head on over and see what's what!

Currently I'm just working away on my WIP and finishing a book that I'm reviewing on Thursday...and smelling the pulled pork that's cooking away in my crock pot. Oh YUM!

Last Chance to Cast your Vote!

2011-10-25T10:30:00.004-03:00

The voting for the New Voices competition second chapters ends TOMORROW. I am trying not to get too nervous for my mentee, after all she is probably already biting her nails to the quick waiting for the results of the top four. I really hope she makes it through - she was a delight to work with and I loved both her chapters.

So please go have a read and vote! The final four are based on reader votes and editorial ranking so every vote counts. You can read her chapters on the New Voices Site - it's Temptation Finds the Rancher by Vanessa Eicher!

And I'm a little late putting this link up but believe me it was a major highlight of my week last week! USAToday's Happy Ever After blog reviewed HOW A COWBOY STOLE HER HEART! WOW! And it was a GOOD review - after all you see the link and there's that moment of holding your breath wondering if it will be good or bad.

I let out that breath when I read the opening paragraph:

What do you get when you throw a lonely bachelor rancher into the path of a stubborn cancer survivor? With Donna Alward's latest, How a Cowboy Stole Her Heart, you get a moving love story showcasing characters who inspire sympathy and admiration, conflict that's genuine, and a resolution that refuses to be taken for granted. You also get to put another box of tissues on your grocery list.

Check out the whole review at the USA Today blog: How A Cowboy Stole Her Heart Review

And that's it for me today! I'm a bit chilly so I'm going to spark up a fire, maybe make a cup of tea and some serious word count. :-)

Think Pink: Cancer's Silent Victims with Nancy O'Berry

2011-10-24T07:00:00.000-03:00

Today we have another special guest on the blog! Please welcome Nancy O'Berry with a special post from a different perspective - and she's also giving a copy of her book, Stormy Weather away so read on! Thanks for sharing with us, Nancy!

To hear that your mother, sister, oraunt has breast cancer changes your outlook on life. It's not a singlediagnosis, but an all-encompassing crusade that a family and a family memberwill wage for the rest of their lives. In that fleeting first moment, that onesentence, "you have cancer," will change everything and nothing youever do will be the same. In that instant, the burden is shifted to yourshoulders to become their pillar of strength. In that second breath, yourealize how quickly your odds at hearing the same words have increased.

The word cancer is a gamechanger. You are speechless. Thoughtsrush through your brain. How did this happen to my mother? She went to church,to synagogue, to confession every week. She is a perfect example. How could Godbetray them this way? How could this be happening? Surely, there is a mistake.But, there is not. You sit beside them as the doctors explain the diagnosis,the treatment, and you wonder what will happen next. You think about the picturesof women without hair, the IV's, the hospitals. You reach out. Your hands touch. Fingers intertwine and you hold on -for life.

In many ways, the family of thecancer patient are the silent victims of this disease. I know, because I am oneof the hundreds of thousands who have lived through this scenario not once, butthree times. You see, my mother and her sisters, all three were diagnosed withbreast cancer. All three went through mastectomies and while breast cancer didn'tclaim them per se, side effects or the disease mutating to other forms did. Thegolden lining in this is that my mother and her sisters showed me that toovercome cancer's attempt to ravage not only one's body, but your character ,makesyou become a far better person than even you imagine.

Psychologists give you seven stages ofgrief. Cancer families go through each one of those almost with every doctor'sappointment you make. The shock and disbelief never goes away. You pray that this is the one trip where thingsturn out better. You deny the existence of the disease praying that maybe itwill have gone away. You bargain with God asking for it to be you instead, orsay if you take this away, I will be better. You glance at your loved one andfeel guilt because all you can do is provide love and support. You cannot takethis burden away. You - the family- become that silent victim. This is thereality of Cancer. Having the disease is a family affair and fighting it takesso much more.

Anger and frustration set in but youcan't show your family member this. It has to be held within or expressed whenyou are not within hearing distance of your loved one. You are furious thatthis disease has taken your bright tomorrows, their ability to feel secure, andtheir physical appearance. Worse, youcan't stop it. You have to rely on the intangibles, drugs, surgery, radiationto stem the tide of this black plague. Your power 'to make things all right' isnow null and void. You suddenly find you need your own support system so thatyou can maintain that level of strength your loved one needs. It is hard tosmile through the cascade of tears that seem to never stop inside. A familymember can drown in the sea of overwhelming helplessness that engulfs cancerfamilies.

Then how do you cope? The answer issimple; often many of us cope through laughter. We find that deep strengthinside our own selves we never knew existed. The Martina McBride song, I'm gonna love you through it, is anexample of the strength, the support, the laughter families struggling toovercome cancer go through. In that video, we see a gentleman with a tattoo,Cancer Sucks, on his arm. He probably wouldn't have gotten that had a familymember not had cancer and he needed a way to show support. In that video, youhear the desperation in voices. You know they are reaching out and need to finda way to show support.

In October, we celebrate the goodfight, the winners against the greatest evil. Go to those walks for life andwatch. You will see survivors, becausethey can be there. You willalso see behind them others - because their loved one can't. The acceptance ofthe spirit to survive when the body can't is the hardest part for the silentvictims of cancer. It may come to you to have to lean down and whisper,"It's okay, I love you, but it's okay to let go."

Inside, every memory you have playsitself out as you watch. You hold their hand, you stroke their brow, you feeltheir last breath, and you understand they have transferred their courage toyou. It takes big shoes to pick up that banner and become the new face ofcancer - the face of hope. They have taught you the steps and put in your handsthe will to carry on the fight. You will not let them down.

So join the battle. Support Susan G.Komen for the cure. Stand up, become a voice and remind a loved one to get thatyearly mammogram. If you know a person or a family struggling with the disease,remember not only those fighting but those standing behind who need yoursupport as well.

I will pick a commenter at randomtoday to win a print copy of my tribute to survivors of breast cancer Stormy Weather. Let's all step up and work for a cure!

http://www.amazon.com/Stormy-Weather-Nancy-OBerry/dp/1604358610/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318608913&sr=1-1print at $8.99
http://www.amazon.com/Stormy-Weather-ebook/dp/B003WJRH5C/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318609012&sr=1-1-catcorrEbook at $2.99
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-stormyweather-412924-148.htmlebook for $2.99

Think Pink: Day Leclaire and the "Blessing" of Breast Cancer

2011-10-20T07:12:00.000-03:00

Day Leclaire is a legend and for me the kind of author who comes with a "the" in front of her name - THE Day Leclaire. This past June I had just returned from sightseeing in New York with Fiona Harper and we got a text from Jennie Lucas saying "meet us in the bar". When I got there I noticed a very relaxed, very lovely woman sitting a few seats away. I'm not sure who did it but someone said, "Donna, this is Day Leclaire."
I was so thrilled to meet her in person and was delighted to discover she was the sort of woman with whom I was instantly comfortable. I switched chairs and we had a great chat. And then I met up with her several times during the week. I am so very glad we got to meet. I'm happy that I can list her among my friends. :-)

When I first thought about having special guests on the blog this month, Michelle Styles said why don't you ask Day? I couldn't believe I hadn't thought of it before. I knew very well that Day had gone head to head with the disease. I don't think Day would mind if I say I simply forgot. Because Day isn't the kind of person to let breast cancer define her. And as you read on, you'll understand my relief when she assured me that I didn't stare at her boobs when we met...

Thanks for being here, Day. :-)

The“Blessing” of Breast Cancer

So, one of thethings you hear when you’re diagnosed with breast cancer is “the blessing ofcancer.” Apparently there is one. People keep claiming there is. But I’ve never found it. As far as I’m concerned, there is no blessing to having cancer. There is fear. A lot of it. There is pain. A lot of it. There are endless doctors’ visits andtests. A lot of them. And then there’s fear. More of it.

For a long timeI lived from test to test, making promises that if I could only get anall-clear on this test I’ll eat better, live better, be better, anything andeverything if only I managed to survive the latest test without a reoccurrence. The euphoria that comes when I’d get thatall-clear is mind-blowing…until the fear creeps back into my life again as thenext test draws closer.

My body isn’tthe same since cancer. And when I tellpeople I’ve had breast cancer, the first place their eyes flash is to mybreasts. Are they both still there? (Yes.) Are they the same size. (No.) Are you dying? (News flash: We all are.)

After 6 longmonths of treatment, I tried to get back to “normal” again, which is totallyridiculous since I never had it to begin with. My creativity dried up—for three full years. And people would act pleasantly surprisedwhen I’d show up at writing conferences. Since I wasn’t at last year’s, maybe I bit the dust. They lean in and whisper, “Are youokay?” This would be annoying if Icouldn’t see from their expression that they were utterly sincere and totallyconcerned. That they cared.

Something elsestrange happened to me. I startedmeeting people who’d gone through what I had and would offer me comfort andadvice. I started meeting people newlydiagnosed who were afraid and didn’t know what to do or how they’d get throughthe experience, and just wanted someone to tell them that they could and wouldsurvive the “blessing of cancer.” Ifound I could talk about it, when before I just wanted to pretend it had neverhappened to me. I met people who’d hadclose calls. And after a while theyweren’t people anymore, but friends. Little by little I discovered that I could share my experiences withthem and it actually helped them deal with what had been, what was happening,what would come. And it helped me cometo terms with the “blessing” that had been dropped on me.

Over time myfear diminished and I began to learn more about myself, my body and what Iwanted out of life—even more importantly what I didn’t want. I chose how tolive my life versus allowing life to simply happen to me. I became closer to the people who meant themost to me, quietly closed the door on people who were simply users andtakers. And I celebrated each day thatbrought me further from what was and closer to what is meant to be.

I’ve now beencancer free for ten years, eleven months and one week. Most days I don’t even think aboutcancer. I think about life and livingit. I’ve changed in those eleven yearsand I think it’s been for the better because I’ve been so much more aware ofwhat life has to offer and how special—and fleeting—every moment is. I love more completely. I hug more exuberantly. I cherish what I have and chase my dreamswith more determination and enjoyment. And I’m happy. Truly happy.

Huh. I still can’t say cancer has been ablessing. But it sure has brought manyblessings into my life. Who knew?

Clearly Day's creativity is back in full swing! Here's the cover of her next release - isn't it gorgeous? And I love the title. You can visit her site at www.dayleclaire.com.

What Am I Up To This Week?

2011-10-19T14:27:00.003-03:00

I've been tidying some odds and ends that needed doing, and today I re-started IN THE LINE OF DUTY since I wrote over 16k and hated it. I read it over and it's not that it was bad, it just wasn't...me. It also wasn't what I wanted this story to be either, so I abandoned the file and opened a brand new one. Wrote nearly 3000 words on it today and I love it. I realized that it's good to write something different but if you go too different it might not work at all. Anyway I'm liking where it's going and feeling good about it. I made peace with the delete key long ago.

And the other thing I've been doing this week is working with New Voices finalist Vanessa Eicher on her second chapter of Temptation Finds The Rancher (you can read the first chapter here). I'm so excited for her. It's been fantastic working with her, exciting and fun and it's a delight to realize that after two chapters I want to know what happens next! She's got her chapter 2 ready to go and now we're waiting - rather anxiously I think - to see which four of the 21 finalists go on to the next round.

Fun Numbers

2011-10-18T12:07:00.002-03:00

So I'm late putting this on the blog (as I instantly squeed about it on twitter etc) but on Friday I sold my 15th Harlequin Romance and my 20th book overall. They are fun numbers, right? It's just over 5 years since I sold my first book, so I'm pretty happy about that when all is said and done. :-)

The sweetest part is that this is the first time I've had a book go through without revisions. This week I'm taking it a bit easier - doing some admin/website buggy stuff, and being at the beck and call of my New Voices mentee. :-) I'm enjoying working with her so much. Yesterday was also the beginning of volleyball season with the first game, and the other kid had choir and so there was much running around - dinner came in a crock pot last night (though when we arrived home at ten to five, my husband was making baking powder biscuits that were delicious!).

Anyway the books, as far as I'm aware, will be released in North America next May and June as the Cadence Creek Cowboys duet. The first book is called The Last Real Cowboy - and I'm waiting on the title of the second book that was just accepted.

But my rest will be short-lived - I'm working on a novella at the mo and then it's right into the next story that is due first of February, and will be out next November. :-)

Think Pink: Life After Breast Cancer with Jennifer Haymore

2011-10-17T07:00:00.001-03:00

I remember the day Jennifer went public with her diagnosis. I didn't know her, but it didn't matter. Romance Writers are a community, and so it meant, to me, that this was happening to One of Us. I admired her bravery, her humility, and also watched an outpouring of support heading her way. If positive attitude can lick this thing, Jennifer is set.

So I'm so pleased that she's here on the blog today, talking about her experience and what life is like now that the treatments are *mostly* over.

Thank you, Jennifer. For being here, and for offering up a prize of your "cancer book", Confessions of an Improper Bride. We'll pick a winner from the comments - please leave contact info so I can get in touch with the winner.

Life After Breast Cancer

I went public with my breast cancerdiagnosis almost a year and a half now. I have to say, the past months havebeen the most intense, difficult, yet amazing months of my life. Difficult andintense because of the treatments and the overall stress of having cancer.Amazing because I developed a new appreciation for the kindness of humannature. So many people came forward to offer me help, it was incredible. I’m sothankful and appreciative for all the people do for cancer patients out of nomore than than the kindness of their hearts. I could not have writtenCONFESSIONS OF AN IMPROPER BRIDE (which was completed during chemo andradiation) without the support of so many friends, family, and acquaintances.

Now that my treatment is over (except forthe drug, Tamoxifen, that I will be taking for another 4.5 years, and theconstant check-ups), I’m trying to getback into life, but I realized long ago that my life is permanently altered--itwill be never the same as it was before breast cancer.

Treatment definitely is tough, and chemo iscertainly no cakewalk, but for me, the major struggles came afterward. Here Iam, technically well but still healing from the physical effects of the drugs,and with a new appreciation for life, family, and friends. Like the heroine inDonna’s HOW A COWBOY STOLE HER HEART, I want to embrace life and live it to thefullest, and I don’t want to think about cancer anymore. Yet the cancer isalways there, at the back of my mind. Not a day goes by that I don’t wonder ifa single cell escaped and is now multiplying like crazy somewhere in my body.That’s a scary thought. Petrifying, at times. And…well, the internet doesn’thelp!

Yet I don’t want to live life in terror ofrecurrence of cancer. So I fight it. Itry to push it to the back of my mind and continue on living my life. That’sthe challenge I face every day. But it’s only been a year, after all…and lessthan a year since the treatment ended. It will get easier--I’m sure of it. Inthe meantime, I continue to embrace the beauty of life, enjoy my family, andappreciate my career.

For those of you out there who have been acaregiver for someone with cancer, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Youare truly the unsung heroes. For those of you struggling with cancer, I wishyou the very best, and if you ever need someone to talk to or a shoulder to cryon, I’m always here. You can contact me over at my website,jenniferhaymore.com.

Thanks so much, Donna, for having me here!

Leave a comment for a chance to win Jennifer's latest!

New Voices - A little tough love

2011-10-14T08:58:00.004-03:00

There's a lot of buzz still going on about the New Voices comp - the top 21 were announced yesterday and I've already chatted to my mentee, Vanessa, about her first chapter, what's coming next, and all sorts of other things. Before I go any further, let me just say two things. Vanessa is absolutely lovely. And so is her chapter. I read it and seriously had some writer envy going on. Her voice shines through, she's got conflict, both external and internal, distinctive characters, sexual tension, and spark. No small feat for 3000 words or so.

So it frustrates me just a bit when I read comments that put down the finalists, or cast criticism on the judging team and the company that sponsors this contest.

Mills and Boon doesn't have to hold New Voices. Believe me, there is enough slush passing through their office that they don't need another 1000 plus chapters. It's an immense undertaking, from coordinating to maintaining the site, providing a community, and of course, judging the entries and narrowing it down to 21. That 21 represents a mere 2% of entries. Naturally there are going to be a lot of good entries that don't make the cut.

For the most part the response AFTER the announcement has been positive - of COURSE people are going to express disappointment and even frustration. But most have been VERY supportive of the top 21 and wish them the best.

And yet there are the others. Sigh.

Yesterday I unfollowed someone on twitter simply because while I enjoy half of their tweets, the other half are venomous attacks on a celebrity. It blows my mind that someone passes judgment and dislike on someone they don't even know and who has no effect on their day to day life whatsoever, and then feels the need to spread it around the net. Negative energy - they haz it. And I'm out.

So here's the deal. I'm a firm believer that you get back from the universe what you put out there. There are a few sayings I like to adhere to - one being on the net for the most part it's usually in your best interest to smile from the wrists down. Not always easy, mind you. And the second being - don't post what you wouldn't want on the home page of your website. I thought about that as I considered writing this post, and then I decided yes, I have something important to say. Something that I hope helps writers in the trenches trying to break into publishing. Heck, trying to accomplish ANYTHING. Because anything worth having doesn't come easily.

And the truth is - you need to focus on what you can control.

This is not a business where you can afford to have hurt feelings. Because it is, first and foremost, a business. I think people forget that because it's also creative and especially with Romance writing it is based on emotion. But every publisher out there is in it to make money. So if your feelings are hurt because you didn't make it, it's not Mills and Boon's job to hold your hand. If it stings to feel you're not good enough, fine, but it's not their place to make you feel better. Truth is - you weren't rejected. Your story was. That is an important distinction. So what are you going to do about it? Take your toys and go home? Well, if you can, go for it. Paula Graves (Harlequin Intrigue) said once that if you can quit, do it. I agree. This is a tough business. I came close to quitting lots of times, but in the end I wanted to be published more than I wanted to be right.

So if you didn't make it - that's out of your control. What IS in your control? WHAT YOU DO NEXT. Michelle Styles always says it's what you do after the rejection that counts. So if going on a public forum and telling the publisher that they know nothing about their brand and they didn't make it clear what they wanted is your way of handling it, so be it. However, if you take the feedback you received and rework your chapter and submit it the usual way - and then finish the book - and then start another - if you understand what M&B is looking for by reading within the line you're targeting, joining a critique group, reading tips from authors within the M&B stable - well, in my books that's the road to success. Which one seems more productive to you?

I'm definitely not saying it's not okay to feel badly about it. Of course it is. Lord, that's what stocks of wine and chocolate are for, and sappy movies, and a bit of a wallow.

But going at the publisher and sour grapes is not doing you any favours. It is what it is. You need to decide what YOU are prepared to do. I used to say Don't Get Even - Get Published. One of my favourite biographies is David Foster's Hitman. Two things that stuck with me and I think nearly every day - because even after publication this is not easy (hah! I see pubbed authors nodding!) - is 1)the road to success is straight, and 2) look at everything as an opportunity.

The road to success is straight is what reminds me to focus on the prize and not get distracted. Everything I do should be intended to get me closer to that goal.

Look at everything as an opportunity. THIS HAS GREAT POWER, PEOPLE! It takes a negative and makes a positive. What did you get from this contest? Feedback? Meet someone who can be important to your road to publication? How are you going to take what's happened and work it to your advantage? Because you can. I promise you, you can. As Tony Horton says - you just need to get your head right.

And be gracious. I can tell you after writing 20 books now that editors know what they are doing. Every book I've ever written has been improved by my editor's keen eyes. The top 21 are there for a reason and nothing should take away from their success.

Get your head right. Mourn if you need to - it can be an important part of the process. And then - if you really want it - pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep going. Truly - the romance community is a fantastic place. You'll have lots of support - if that's what you put out into the universe.

Best wishes to all of you.

Think Pink: Misty Evans and a Very Special Book

2011-10-13T07:00:00.000-03:00

Today author Misty Evans joins me at the blog with a special post about how she's been affected by Breast Cancer. She's also got a copy of a book to give away - a very special book with the proceeds going to charity. Thanks for being here today Misty, and for sharing your story!

In my teens, I lost an aunt to breastcancer. I watched my cousin, only a year older than me, lose her mom and thatexperience changed me forever.

During my business career, I worked inpublic health and was thrilled to manage a breast and cervical cancer program, assistingwomen who had no insurance obtain screenings and treatment. At the time, I was surprisedto find many women who needed the screenings but refused to go, even though theprogram paid for all of the testing and treatments. I couldn’t understand theirthinking and repeatedly belted out statistics and hard facts, sure that mylogical approach would convince them they needed to have an exam.

Meantime, I walked at Susan G Komen events,wore my pink ribbon pins with pride, and passed out breast self-examinationcards everywhere I went.

My own scare with breast cancer came rightafter my twins turned four years old. It had been a rough summer. Myfather-in-law passed away after a five-year bout with a rare type of bloodcancer. One of my sons starting having separation anxiety, afraid to let me outof his sight for fear I’d die too. There were issues in the family that werewearing on me. My writing career had stagnated and I had a growing stack ofrejections from agents staring me in the face.

And then I found a lump in my right breastone morning in the shower.

All the other problems disappeared. Atfirst, I didn’t believe there was really a lump. I kept checking the area,thinking it was just breast tissue. I tried to reason with the nagging voice inmy head that kept telling me to see my doctor. I tried rationalizing it away. I’ll give it another day, I told myself.I’ll have hubby check it and see if I’m crazy.

He did and I wasn’t.

Still, I was terrified to go to the doctor.For some reason, not having the lump confirmed by my doctor seemed lessfrightening.

I confided in a couple of close friends andone of them went with me the doctor’s office. Once he told me it was indeed alump, another friend went with me to my first-ever mammogram. In the end, thelump turned out to be benign and my friends celebrated with me. I was lucky,and I finally understood why those women in the health program had sometimesrefused our free service. It wasn’t about the money or insurance or lying onthat cold, sterile exam table. It was about knowing your life was about tochange forever.

Last summer, one of my childhood friendsunderwent a double mastectomy, chemo and radiation. She’s doing okay now, and Ipray for her every day. Another friend and fellow author is a ten-yearsurvivor. Yet another author I know is fighting a very tough battle againstthis disease even as I write this. All of these women inspire me. They make mewish I could write breast cancer out of our world.

I encourage all of you to do self-exams andhave regular mammograms. If you do find a lump, remember it’s normal to bescared. Normal to wish it away and want to ignore it. I’ve been there. Iunderstand. Please, though, for me, stomp on that fear and see your doctoranyway. Take a friend. Take me in spirit. We’re stronger together than we areindividually.

Which brings me to Entangled, A Paranormal Anthology. This book is a prime example ofwhat women can do to help other women. The anthology features stories fromeleven different authors, including two of the women I mentioned above andmyself. All the stories have a Halloween theme, and ALL of the proceeds go tothe Breast Cancer Research Foundation.For $2.99, you can support BCRF and thousands of women struggling with breastcancer. Because BCRF gives 90% of its donations to research, you might in fact,help find a cure. You might save future women the scare of finding a lump.

Thank you to Donna for having me heretoday. I appreciate you letting me share my story and I’m giving away a free ecopyof Entangled to one lucky commenter.Has cancer touched your family or friends? Even if it hasn’t, join me anyway inspreading the word about breast cancer, self-exams, and research. We’re all inthis fight together.

Buyfrom Amazon: http://amzn.to/r9voje

Buy atBarnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/q8uXmZ
Buy atAll Romance eBooks: http://bit.ly/occN8B
Buy atSmashwords: http://bit.ly/rq9KEo

Misty Evans writes romantic suspense, light fantasy and darkparanormals. Her story in Entangled, SWEET DEMON, is theprequel to her new Kali Sweet urban fantasy series. She likes her coffee black,her conspiracy stories juicy, and her wicked characters dressed in couture.When not reading or writing, she enjoys hanging out with her husband of twenty-twoyears and their twin sons. Learn more and sign up for her newsletter at www.readmistyevans.com. Like her author page on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.

And don't forget my current release, HOW A COWBOY STOLE HER HEART, my latest Romance set in Larch Valley and featuring Meg Briggs, a breast cancer survivor heroine. It's on shelves now.

New Hair

2011-10-12T09:11:00.002-03:00

Yesterday I got a new haircut. Shorter (just to my shoulder), lighter (I have insanely thick hair) and darker (very close to my normal colour). I love it. I can still put it in a ponytail for working out, but it's light and swingy.

A haircut should not be that big of a deal, but it's a huge pick-me-up! August and September were so insane, and I went right from the last deadline into working on a new novella and trying to keep tabs on two new releases. My next few months are going to be very busy - revisions, a new book for Harlequin Romance, mentoring the New Voices competition, and having all my *out of town* Christmas stuff ready for the 11th November when I will see my Mom. My eldest made the volleyball A team yesterday so I'll be chauffeuring practices and games until mid-December. My youngest has district choir rehearsals and concerts leading up to Christmas. Truthfully - I'm looking forward to when everyone is off over the holidays and we can hang out in our jammies all day and play Rock Band (which was how we spent last Christmas).

Sometimes 2 hours out of the house having your hair done is just what the doctor ordered. The only thing better would be a massage, but I'm waiting until next month for that to happen. :-)

Meanwhile - OFF THE CLOCK is out if you haven't had a chance to pick it up yet. It's the first of my First Responders novellas (I'm working on number 2 right now!). It is available wherever you like to buy your e-books, but here are the links to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Samhain's Store.

And don't forget to come by tomorrow as there is a very special guest coming!

Turkey Brain - and around the web

2011-10-10T14:19:00.000-03:00

I have a severe case of turkey brain. We just got back from celebrating Thanksgiving at my Mother-in-Law's. I need to double my walks and workouts this week, oh my goodness. We had Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday - turkey, dressing, potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, coleslaw, carrots, sweet potatoes and squash. And of course PUMPKIN PIE. It was soooo good. We did the turkey on the barbeque and it was delicious. The weather was fantastic all weekend (I wished I'd packed shorts, it was mid-twenties!). Yesterday we had hot turkey sandwiches which were so scrummy. And this morning we drove back home with our car packed full of leftovers and pickles that we made on Saturday afternoon.

However, I *AM* around the net today. You can read about my "word of the month" at Petticoats and Pistols and you can visit me at Romance Book Paradise - huge thanks to Nas Dean for hosting me this week!

I'm off to mow the grass since it's still very summery and it does need at least one more mowing.

Shop for a Cause!

2011-10-08T08:00:00.000-03:00

Need to do some shopping? Here are a few ways you can support Breast Cancer Awareness!

Get $20 off any purchases $80+ at ProHealth.com for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Valid 10/1 -10/31.

During Breast Cancer Awareness month, Save 15% off orders $75+ at ExclusivelyWeddings.com, Coupon code: AAJRG

Inhonor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Bejool.comis offering 15% off with coupon code BCA15. Valid for the entire month ofOctober.
Offer valid: 10/1/11– 10/31/11

Save up to 30% on Cardstore using this link -

Think Pink - Did you know that 40% of Pink Card Sales go to BreastCancer Research?

And check out these deals from SEVENTEEN! Lots of companies donating proceeds to the cause!

Around the World

2011-10-07T07:02:00.000-03:00

It is funny how foreign releases are like feast or famine - and the last few months have definitely been more of a feast, which is fantastic! Here's where I am in October:

AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND
How a Cowboy Stole Her Heart is out down under! I love this cover. Love that so far I'm 2 for 2 for short hair on covers...well done art departments!

SCANDINAVIA:
The Rancher's Runaway Princess is out in Sweden, Finland, and Norway. :-) It's my first time in Sweden and Norway which is very exciting!

TURKEY:
Proud Rancher, Precious Bundle is out in Turkey! What's cool about this is that I'm paired with the only other Canadian author for the Romance line, Cara Colter. :-) It's a beautiful cover too, I think!

I wonder where I'll turn up next month?

Think Pink: Special Guest Julie Hilton Steele

2011-10-06T08:00:00.000-03:00

One of the things happening on the blog for Breast Cancer Awareness Month is Special Guest Thursday. Today welcome Julie Hilton Steele to the blog! Thanks for being here, Julie!

Breast Cancer is the reason I read romance.Yes, you read right. Sure, I had alwaysread books with romantic elements but never a Harlequin or a mass marketdyed-in-the-wool romance. But seven yearsago, my mother, a five year survivor, suffered a reoccurrence and died ten daysafter she was diagnosed. I turned to my love of reading for solace but unfortunatelyread two books with unhappy endings in quick succession. I can show you thedents in my wall from where I threw those books at critical moments in thestories. I didn’t trust myself to read for pleasure anymore. Life had handed meenough bad endings at the time. But I missed reading. I heard romance authorswere required to give the reader a Happily-Ever-After. I picked up a few, found them fantastic, and aromance fan was born.

Julie's mom

My mother and my mother-in-law were thereasons I worked for a while at Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a non-profitdedicated to breast cancer education, research, and helping women who can notafford preventative measures and treatments get the care they need. While mymother’s situation was a worst case scenario, my mother-in-law’s experiencewith breast cancer was at the other end of the spectrum. She is a thirty yearbreast cancer survivor. Thirty years! She was diagnosed when diagnosis washarder and treatment more severe but has thrived. Today, mammograms, annual visits to doctorsand self-exams detect breast cancer in many women at an earlier stage. Butthere are many women who don’t know where to go for education or who cannotafford medical treatment. I worked for Komen because I wanted to do my part tomake sure women (and men, yes, men get breast cancer too) had the hope, thehelp, and support they needed.

Julie's daughter - because as Julie says,
"breast cancer education and fundraising
arefor all generations"

In this day and age, it is hard to miss allthe October breast cancer awareness messaging appearing in the news, magazines,blogs and social media. But breast cancer is a year round disease. A woman mayremember to schedule her mammogram with the October prompting but what if shefinds out she has to have a biopsy or a close friend is diagnosed in January? Whatif a person, like me, just wants to do something to make sure the disease iseradicated from the face of the planet or help women who are too poor to getthe help they need when diagnosed? Hereare just a few suggestions of places to go for information and assistance:

1) Check out the Susan G. Komenfor the Cure website, http://ww5.komen.org ,a one-stop shop directing you to help based on your needs. Buttons at the topof the website lead you to the resources for persons diagnosed, if you knowsomeone who has been diagnosed, if you want to know about early detection or ifyou want to advocate for the cause. You can find out information about programsin your area receiving grants to provide mammograms for women who can’t affordthem or university medical centers receiving money for research.

2) If you like your informationstraight up or are a medical science geek, The Cancer Institute through theNational Institutes of Health gives basic information about the disease,statistics, and news about medical trials and research. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/breast

3) During October, be sure towatch for stories on the local news about organizations in your area. Theseinspirational stories will be appearing throughout the month in your newspaperor on the television or radio. People often hear about a program or person whomay be able to give them support through the media.

4) Better yet, become thestory. Hold your own fund-raiser inconjunction with a local agency. Participate in a fund-and-awareness-raiserheld by others. Celebrate survivors withtheir own day of pampering or celebrate your own survivorship.

5) One important note: There are alot of stores, organizations and individuals that “go pink” in October. Pinkshirts, pink mixers, pink shoes and much more, all with the promise a portionof your purchase or your donation goes to support breast cancer research orprograms for breast cancer patients. Jars for donations may appear, a certainpercentage of a service may supposedly go to a breast cancer organization, orsomeone may appear at your door. I have learned to ask questions and do myresearch to make sure my money is well spent and supporting the cause. Check www.charitynavigator.org for largerorganizations. Call local offices directly if you want to make sure afundraising organization is working in conjunction with a breast cancer serviceprovider.

I am thankful to Donna for asking me tocontribute this month. It is one smallway I can give back to the world of romance for helping me through a rough timeand honor those authors who are survivors.

Think Pink - Proctor and Gamble

2011-10-05T07:16:00.000-03:00

Today's Breast Cancer Awareness post is brought to you by Proctor and Gamble.

		1 Play = $1 (up to $30,000) We're giving $1 to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation every time a Get Up to Something Good video is played. Throughout October we'll be posting a series of hilarious videos starring Canadian comedians. When you click play and watch the video we'll give $1 to the Foundation – it's as simple as that. Rise & Shine At P&G, we believe in helping women start their day with the confidence that comes from looking their best, while taking pride in supporting a cause they care about. That's why in addition to our Get Up to Something Good video views, we're giving the Foundation $275,000. That means our total contribution can reach $300,000. Visit facebook.com/riseshinegift to watch and share the videos.

HOW A COWBOY STOLE HER HEART - And Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2011-10-04T07:18:00.000-03:00

Today is the release day for HOW A COWBOY STOLE HER HEART and there are some very special things happening all month long to celebrate - and to hopefully make a difference.

First of all, my official launch is happening at SEEKERVILLE today! I'm thrilled to be joining the wonderful ladies there and would love it if you stopped by. There is an exclusive exerpt, a little behind-the-book information, and prizes to be won!

It wasn't planned but the release of HOW A COWBOY STOLE HER HEART also coincides with Breast Cancer Awareness Month - and the heroine of the book, Meg Briggs, is a breast cancer survivor. All month long, then, there are going to be posts on the blog to honour those who have done battle to the disease. I have some very special guests lined up, as well as educational posts and others that may give you some info on how you can help. It's going to be very PINK around here!

So to get you started, I'm going to keep it simple. Please do a self-exam and see your doctor if you discover anything that causes you concern. And if you're over 40, please get a mammogram. Early detection can make such a difference.

For information on how to do a proper self-exam, check out this link at BreastCancer.org.

Now, come on over and join the launch party!

And if you missed me over at Leah Braemel's blog, you can still pop over for a visit. Today also marks the release of OFF THE CLOCK from Samhain Publishing! You can snag it at the Samhain Publishing store, or your favourite e-book store, including amazon. :-)

Pimpin' the Peeps

2011-10-03T07:21:00.000-03:00

Before I get started - just wanted you to know that you can catch up with me at Leah Braemel's blog today! Thanks Leah for having me over to visit!

Our monthly RWA chapter meeting was yesterday afternoon amid a downpour courtesy of Hurricane Ophelia. Tons of rain as she spun her way offshore. Anyway - I am always so proud of our chapter. We are smart and fun and prolific. Deb Hale did "mini" workshops on Character Arcs and Hooks and High Concept. I say "mini" because believe me both sessions were complete and chock full of lightbulbs. I scribbled several notes on a 3 book series I'm working on, and made major breakthroughs in structure AND the missing linking element for the third book that ends up tying it to both book one AND two. Deb rules.

I also wanted to give some shout outs to my chaptermates who have books out this month.

First: one of my favourite authors ever and ever - Julianne MacLean who is sharing a release date with me (Oct 4). Her latest is the conclusion to her Highlander Trilogy, SEDUCED BY THE HIGHLANDER!

IN LOVE AND WAR

The fierce and powerful Laird of War, Lachlan MacDonald has conquered so many men on the battlefield—and so many women in the bedroom—that he is virtually undefeated. But one unlucky tryst with a seductive witch has cursed him forever. Now, any women he makes love to will be doomed for eternity…

IN DANGER AND DESIRE

Lady Catherine is a beautiful lass of elite origin—or so she is told. Suffering from amnesia, she is desperate to find the truth about who she really is…or, at the very least, meet someone who inspires an intense memory or emotion. When she first lays eyes on Lachlan MacDonald, Catherine has a sixth sense that he can unlock the key to her past—and maybe even her heart. But how could she know that the passion she ignites in this lusty warrior’s heart could consume—and destroy—them both?

Next up: Jennie Marsland with a book I've been waiting for ever since she said she was going to write it. This one is set during the Halifax Explosion - a time and event I've been intrigued with since reading Barometer Rising. I'm so excited that I won a copy yesterday at our meeting! Here's the blurb for SHATTERED:

Liam Cochrane no longer belongs. He lost his youth and his brother at the Battle of the Somme. Now he's home in Halifax, Nova Scotia, dulling his pain with liquor and the occasional willing woman. The only thing Liam can call his own is time.

Alice O'Neill has never belonged. Able to read notes, but not words, she dreams of escaping from her life as the family housekeeper to teach music. She also dreams of Liam, who's held her heart for years and never known.

In that fall of 1917, Halifax is on a collision course with fate. On December sixth, the most powerful man-made, non-atomic explosion in history will occur in Halifax Harbour. What will be left for Liam and Alice when their world is shattered?

Chapter Member Bev Pettersen has released COLOR MY HORSE, her 2009 Golden Heart Finalist. Bev is an amazing member of our chapter, always so upbeat and supportive. If there's anything that needs doing behind the scenes, she's got her sleeves rolled up and is ready to go.

Desperate to prove her worth, a pampered heiress swaps her credit cards for a pitchfork and shovel. But at the track, she must earn the respect of an uncompromising horse trainer who has little tolerance for greenhorns, especially one he’s been forced to hire.

Mark Russell never expected his cocky new groom to have the smarts or spunk to last at his race barn. Or that she’ll drive him wild with desire. But as the attraction between them sizzles, manipulation and murder threaten not only the horses but also their forbidden love.

And the first ever YA to come out of our chapter - Renee Pace has OFF LEASH coming to readers. This book was a semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest and after reading a portion of it (can't wait to read the rest) I can tell you that it is unique and unlike anything I'd ever read before. The other cool thing about it? There are ALTERNATE ENDINGS. Cool, huh!

When life knocks you flat on your back, and you know you've had enough, try telling that to a dog demanding his walk.

Jay Walker is a fake. He's full when starved and happy when angry. How else is a guy who has a dead beat for a mother and a sister battling cancer supposed to feel? And isn't walking a pet just a chore? Too bad the dog doesn't know that. The dog lives in the now, embraces life to the fullest and gives his whole heart when offering love.

Off Leash is a coming of age story, where a boy experiences the nitty gritty side of life through the eyes of a dog, and discovers that maybe, just maybe, life is really worth it.

Didn't I say we were a prolific bunch?

Don't forget to come back tomorrow - It's launch day for BOTH my books and I've got a special cyber-launch party happening!

FREE READ!

2011-10-01T08:16:00.000-03:00

Today's big news is that for two weeks, SOLD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER is a FREE READ on Amazon and Barnes and Noble! WHEEEEE!

If you haven't had a chance to try my writing, this is a good one. You can grab SOLD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER if you like your romance a little on the sexy side. And if you like your romance a little sweeter, my Harlequin Romance HIRED BY THE COWBOY is a free download at www.tryharlequin.com .

My only question now is, what the heck are you waiting for?

Something new...

2011-09-30T10:20:00.001-03:00

Are any of you watching new shows this year? We've started watching a few, which is kind of fun as by 9 p.m. both of us are ready to kick back and veg. So far we're still watching the faves of Castle and the NCIS's, and also The Big Bang Theory. But we've begun watching 2 more "cop" shows that are a little bit different - Unforgettable with Poppy Montgomery and Person of Interest with Jim Caviezel.

I was particularly happy to see Jim Caviezel hit the small screen. Person of Interest is a different show and after the first episode I wasn't quite sure what to think about Mr. Finch. But after watching the second show I realize we're going to see the layers of Finch bit by bit (as opposed to knowing more about John Reese from the get go).

What really struck me last night though was finally getting the proper hero casting for my new novella, IN THE LINE OF DUTY. I've been struggling with getting this just right for a while. Ben Rogers is older than the heroine and more experienced. He's a former cop who now does personal security. He's also the one person the heroine, Kendra Givens, trusts when her career is on the brink of destruction.

It just works, at least in my head. So happy Friday - here's a glimpse of my hero casting. :-)

Housekeeping

2011-09-29T11:48:00.000-03:00

Still feeling kind of meh here, boy this is a bug who moved in and made itself at home despite sleep, meds, and vitamins. :-) Another day or two should set it to rights - my eldest is feeling much better now so five days seems to be the trick.

So I'm doing housekeeping tasks today - some promo stuff coming up in October to mark my 2-release month, and another request for info, and dealing with some interesting e-mails that mean some fun things for next year's schedule. I've also started work on a novella as I wait for my editor's verdict on the book that just went in. Fingers hugely crossed.

What do I REALLY want to be doing? Finishing THE DUKE AND I by Julia Quinn. I love it. Tortured hero, spunky heroine, scandal and a deliciously wonderfully drawn family...I'm going to end up glomming the whole Bridgerton series, I bet.

Like my TBR isn't big enough already.

Speaking of - you can find me over at The Pink Heart Society today with my Pink Heart Picks review of THE HEART OF A HERO by Barbara Wallace. Fab book. Seriously great. And I also announced what I'm reading in October, so check it out.

Secrets Uncovered

2011-09-28T08:34:00.002-03:00

If you're thinking of entering the New Voices competition, or even if you're simply working on writing a romance and want some great tips, Mills and Boon have a free e-book available now called Secrets Uncovered. It's full of tips from the editors and several Mills and Boon authors. There's even a bit from Fiona Harper and me - condensed from our workshop we did in New York in June.

You can download it on the Mills and Boon site - just scroll to the bottom of this page and look at the right sidebar. It's in epub format, by the way.

Positivity

2011-09-27T12:28:00.003-03:00

I'm medicated and thankfully no longer feverish, and taking a break from edits so I thought I'd post a quick blog while I contemplate whether I want tasteless soup for lunch or tasteless toast (Everything is pretty much tasteless at this point, sadly).

We were watching the Big Bang Theory reruns last night and Leonard told Sheldon that he'd catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Sheldon's response was, "Well you'd catch more flies with manure, what's your point?"

I've used the flies with honey comment lots over the years. If you look at trying to motivate people, it's far better to be positive and upbeat and encouraging rather than negative. If you're a boss, it's the difference between people resentfully working for you/being scared of you and people WANTING to work for you.

I try to be positive. I try to be easy to work with. I'm sure there are times I am not - I'm human after all. I get tired and frustrated and annoyed like anyone else. But on the whole, I try to stay upbeat and take the attitude that everything will work out. Maybe I do it because the concept of it NOT working out is too scary to contemplate. But I think I do it because being negative is a waste of energy. Being negative means you're only moving backwards, not forwards.

That's not to say you shouldn't stand up for yourself. Being easy to work with doesn't mean being a doormat, either. It means you pick your battles. It means you have to analyze what is really worth taking a stand about and what is just...annoying. It means you take care of business but you do it with a smile.

And before you know it, that positive attitude nurtures positive relationships. I'm a writer, so the positive relationships I want to nurture are the ones with my editor, my agent, my readers, other authors, and anyone I work with at my publishers. I try to bring enthusiasm to my work. I strive to be on time and reliable. And I work at communicating in a positive way so that if I DO run into snags, everyone is in a happy frame of mind to come up with a solution.

I also think that positive energy is catching. There's nothing worse than going into a room and asking someone how they are and you get a "meh," and a laundry list of how much their life sucks. It takes all the positive energy out of the room. Negativity is EXHAUSTING.

Of course I'm not positive all the time. As I said, I'm human. But I do believe in catching flies with honey. I do believe that if you're positive and flexible and easy to get along with, opportunities will come your way. I do believe that if you view things as a series of opportunities rather than roadblocks, that's what you'll get.

My short blog post turned into something kind of long, but positivity is something I really believe in.

It never fails

2011-09-26T08:59:00.000-03:00

It never fails - the moment a book is done and I relax, I get sick. This time I can sorta blame my eldest, who got up Saturday morning feeling like crap with a virus. Neither of my kids are nappers, especially at this age, so for her to go back to bed and sleep for another few hours, and then fall asleep again in the afternoon, it's a significant thing.

I got up this morning with my throat feeling like I'm swallowing glass and no get up and go whatsoever. I've been up for nearly 3 hours already; I really should eat something and nothing sounds appealing. So ugh. Thank God the book is written, because at least now I'm down to editing and I do feel a lot less pressure than I did on Friday. Friday, by the way, was a crazy writing day. But the closer I got to the last scene or two the more I knew I couldn't stop until it was all there. Endings are like that. :-)

Eldest, at least, is at school, with mostly a little head congestion but all other symptoms gone.

Now I'm off to hang out laundry - despite having this bug the weather here is like summer - sunny and supposed to go to 25 today. And then maybe I'll put something in my stomach other than throat lozenges and coffee...

Friday Quickie

2011-09-23T10:26:00.002-03:00

There are groceries in the house. All curriculum nights are done. It's FRIDAY and I'm *this* close to the end - well, within 5k or so. I want to finish, and I have already warned the husband that I will probably work tomorrow if I don't finish today because leaving a book over the weekend with ONE scene to write will drive me crazy. When I get this close to the end - so close I can taste it - I pretty much eat, sleep and breathe the book. Every time. And since there is nothing going on this weekend other than the normal clean/cook/laundry routine, I may just lock myself away for a few hours and pound out those last satisfying pages.

And then next week I can work on layering things together, knitting up motivational and conflict threads, cutting repetition, and hoping for the best.

Before I run, I do have 2 smilies - okay, 3 really - to share. First of all a neighbour toddler who is adorable makes me smile every day at the bus stop. He gets so excited to see the bus and watches his brother get on. Then when everyone goes their separate ways, he offers a cheery "Bye!" about a half dozen times. You can't help but smile. Then during the dog walk, I saw the cutest little girl - less than 3, I'd guess, retrieving the paper at the bottom of her driveway in her little blue undies and flip flops. That made me smile.

And finally, since yesterday was grocery day, yesterday's lunches were a little "thin" so I gave the eldest $2 to buy some fruit or yogurt at the cafeteria to go with what I'd packed. This morning when I got home from walking, there was 75 cents in change on my desk and a note that said, "Change from the toonie you gave me yesterday. Thanks. Love you. :-) ".

How can you not smile after all that?

Have a great weekend.

Pinpoints of light in a crazy week!

2011-09-22T09:29:00.000-03:00

I love back to school. I love having my office to myself all day long and only needing to feed ME at lunchtime and the quiet of this time of year which is only interrupted by crickets, the dog snoring, and the cat chasing a housefly.

That being said, the beginning of the school year does tend to be a bit...hectic. This week there have been some "housekeeping" things with school that are taking some time - school pictures came back for one kid, hot lunch orders came home, last night was Curriculum Night at the eldest's school and tonight it is at the youngest's. Monday the youngest started a district choir which meant a parent meeting, tonight the eldest begins badminton club, and we have a science project due tomorrow which required a shopping trip earlier in the week and will require about 15 min of help on my part this afternoon.

And I'm into the last 10,000 words of my book due...end of next week. It has been INTENSE around here people - and that's not even mentioning that I was gone most of last weekend to a workshop and the fact that we're basically down to one vehicle because the husband is working on getting mine back into shape - in between teaching, prepping, and marking tests.

I am SO glad we started making wine.

Anyway it's actually been quite fine, with just a few moments of panic cropping up here and there. I've been making tremendous strides on word count, kept up with the laundry, kept people fed and watered, and even had time to enter the RITAs yesterday and socialize a bit on twitter for the sake of my sanity.

And the pinpoints of light? Well, thanks to my October book being up on NetGalley, I've gotten a few more reviews than usual and for the most part they've been great. This book is one of those "special" books - I'd wanted to write a cancer survivor story for a while, and I'd also been looking for the right girl for Clay Gregory for a long time too. I loved returning to my Larch Valley setting.

So here are a few snippets from the latest reviews to come through! It's only a few more weeks until release day in North America, and it'll be out in November in Australia! Unfortunately those in the UK will have to wait until March to pick it up, unless you snag the NA edition in e-book. :-)

From BookWorldTravels (4 stars) : "a story so full of emotion and one so beautifully written that I couldn’t help but fall in love with the characters and the author’s writing."

Cataromance.com (5 stars!) : "Keep your hanky close, Donna Alward works her story telling magic to tug at our heartstrings with HOW A COWBOY STOLE HER HEART."

Siren Song Reviews (5 stars!) "Alward writes consistently beautiful romance novels and How a Cowboy Stole Her Heart is no exception – make this one for your keeper shelf."

Judging The Book By Its Pages (4 fairies) : "...a heartfilled story filled with the struggles that many woman go through on a daily basis."

Maldivian Book Reviewer : "Light hearted and fluffy is certainly not what this romance is about, but engrossing and a good deal of emotion it certainly delivers and I would recommend this one for fans of Donna Alward."

Unpredictability, and a word about feedback (or two)

2011-09-20T09:07:00.000-03:00

So I mentioned in yesterday's post that Senior Exec Editor Birgit Davis-Todd visited our chapter on the weekend and gave us a gold mine of tips and info about this crazy business. One of the buzzwords many of us heard in New York at the RWA National Conference was UNPREDICTABILITY. So one of the questions put to Birgit was what is unpredictability and why is it so important?

As I've been reading through the New Voices entries, I've seen several chapters that are "by the book" so to speak. There are reasons why tried and true hooks work. But at the same time, it's quite obvious when you read other chapters and see how the author has taken the tried and true hook and twisted it with something special and different to, well, make it stand out. They do something unpredictable, and that is what editors love and will tell you makes a story fresh and innovative. Oh yes - in addition to unpredictability, there's also an editorial saying that goes "Innovate, don't imitate".

There is absolutely nothing wrong with writing a marriage of convenience, secret baby, runaway bride, marriage in jeopardy story. It's what you do with it that matters. A few years ago in Washington at Nationals, editors Joanne Grant and Kim Young did a presentation on Cliches. As they were going through their slides, I had a sinking feeling those cliches sounded familiar. Why? Because I think I'd done seven out of the ten of them. BUT the difference is - and they did point this out - is that when you take a cliche and twist it and add something different and fresh, it works. It's all in the execution (Speaking of cliches...I seem to be full of them today).

So getting back to Birgit's talk - she mentioned several books that twisted the usual themes and made the books unpredictable. I wrote down 3, because the authors happen to be personal friends of mine and I was super-pleased to hear them mentioned. I'll give you a basic reason why each was unpredictable, too.

Claimed By The Highland Warrior: Michelle Willingham, Historicals: Marriage in jeopardy story. The hero and heroine have been separated by circumstance without consummating their marriage. When they reconnect, he's still a virgin. She isn't.

Molly Cooper's Dream Date: Barbara Hannay, Romance: Very current with the addition of texting and e-mail and using social media and a romantic medium.

Surf, Sea, and a Sexy Stranger: Heidi Rice, RIVA/Presents: Hero is not your typical Presents Alpha with an abundance of sexual prowess. In fact, he's got impotence issues.

Even when I sold - more than 5 years ago now - I was told that one of the reasons Hired By The Cowboy worked was because I took a secret baby and marriage of convenience story and twisted it (the baby is not the hero's). If you care to read it as an example of taking a stock theme and making it your own, you can download it for free at www.tryharlequin.com.

Anyway, as you're writing, keep in mind ways you can twist your plot/theme to make it different and stand out. It can be scary - heck yes! Taking risks is always a little scary because sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. BUT taking risks is important, too. My first HQ editor once told me, it's far better to take risks and have editorial pull you back than write something unspecial and predictable.

Now - a quick word or two about feedback. I KNOW all you entrants in New Voices are hungry for comments and excited or discouraged. Boy do I get it - for those of us published that stuff comes in the form of reviews. And you can get 20 wonderful comments but it's the one bad one that sticks in your head and makes the self-doubt demons come out to play. I get it - I've had some absolutely wonderful reviews for my October book BUT I had one recently that wasn't so great and it is the one that is sticking in my mind, of course.

But at the end of the day, you need to do one thing. You need to shut out the voices. You need to forget the comments, forget the reviews, and tell your story. So many people are stressing over comments and ratings and forgetting to do the most important thing - work on getting your chapter two finished and polished. And if you're truly serious about pursuing publication - finishing the book. This contest is wonderful but in 2 months it'll be over. Look at the big picture. Look at where you want to go. Stop sweating the small stuff, roll up your sleeves, and get to work. And have fun.

For more about that, you should read the fabulous Kate Walker's Pink Heart Society blog about worrying about the right things.

Fab weekend and using the knife

2011-09-19T09:20:00.000-03:00

This past weekend was a busy one - we had Harlequin Senior Executive Editor Birgit Davis-Todd in town to speak to our chapter and it was a wonderful day! We kicked it off with dinner at Ela on Friday night - yummy Greek food and lots of fab conversation. Then on Saturday we got together at the Future Inn where we'd booked meeting rooms for the day.

The sessions were fabulous as Birgit talked about compelling submissions, career management and Harlequin's role in a digital world. After lunch Birgit spent the afternoon taking pitches from our members while those in the queue did writing exercises in the main meeting room. I was on stopwatch duty to make sure we stayed on schedule. It was all hugely exciting and the energy in the air was incredible. We have a fantastic chapter here, and I was really proud of everyone who was brave enough to walk into that room. It's not easy but it's good experience and everyone seemed thrilled with the feedback and advice they received.

After the session a few of us stopped in the bar and had a quick drink with Birgit before going on our way. I finally confessed something that had been weighing on me for a few days - that the part of my WIP that I was writing didn't feel right and that I was feeling rather insecure about it. Saying it out loud helped. So did knowing that if it isn't right my editor will tell me and we'll fix it. Anyway, I was driving home when the solution hit me.

On one hand this is really exciting. It felt RIGHT. On the other hand it's disheartening as it means deleting a really big chunk - like over 4000 words worth. On a tight deadline this sucks. I was so happy that I'd hit the 35k mark. Now I'm back to just under 31k.

But if it's not right, it's not right. And actually, this works better because the replacement words will mark a big turning point and set up the last 1/3-1/4 of the book. It will put the focus back in the right place - on the romantic journey and the character arcs of Ty and Clara.

At the same time...OUCH. It still stings.

So now it's off to turn on the crock pot, start the washing machine and get set up for my first #1k1hr of the day. Here goes nothing...

Friday Reads Roundup!

2011-09-16T08:01:00.000-03:00

The last time I did a #FridayReads was ages ago, so here's what I read over the summer! I've stopped the reviews at the end of August, so next week we'll see what I've read since the first of September! Here we go:

THEN COMES SEDUCTION: Mary Balogh. A good read, but I didn't enjoy it was much as the first book in the series (First Comes Marriage). I did love the ending though and how Clarrie got his comeuppance. :-)

AT LAST COMES LOVE: Mary Balogh. The third in the Huxtables family series - this time Margaret's story. I REALLY enjoyed this one. I loved how Duncan was "not handsome" at all when she first met him but as bit by bit she gets to know him, tells him that he is beautiful. The "unwrapping" of Duncan's character is beautifully done and well-paced so that at the end you can't help but absolutely love him.

SEDUCING AN ANGEL: Mary Balogh. Book 4 in the Huxtable Series and very good! At first the heroine, Cassandra, doesn't seem very sympathetic, but the author does a good job of showing the "other" side of Cass - the one who will do anything to protect her "family". Stephen notices that her house, while slightly shabby, is a home with love and acceptance.

I love Stephen. Was he flawed? Perhaps slightly. But really, Balogh kept him fairly perfect and built the conflict around it. Stephen is optimistic, honourable, handsome, does the right thing. Doing the right thing is what causes problems a good part of the time, and he forces Cassandra to shed her mask by just being himself.

The scene before the betrothal ball was swoonworthy!

A SECRET AFFAIR: Mary Balogh. The 5th and final Huxtable book.I really didn't think I was going to like this book. I was pretty sure I didn't like the heroine at the beginning and that's a big deal, right? My impression of the Duchess of Dunbarton was the same as that of the ton. I did not think much of her at all and certainly not deserving of Constantine.

I understand WHY it was written in such a way - so the reader could change impressions just as the rest of Hannah's (the Duchess) world did. BUT personally I would have been on side with her faster IF the good parts had been easier to see in private. There is a big difference between what other characters need to know and what readers need to know.

HOWEVER. Once the walls around Hannah start tumbling down, I ADORED her. AND Constantine was just....gah. Constantine made me cry in SEVERAL PLACES. Particularly in a crucial scene that did not even involve Hannah. And again at the end.

The tougher they are, the harder they fall - and Constantine fell big time. It was glorious. Who knew someone referred to as The Devil could be such a romantic and soft touch?

I've given it 4 stars rather than 5 simply because of the opening. I'm really glad I read the whole series and apparently there is a new series on the way...

SELF-EDITING FOR FICTION WRITERS: Dave King and Renni Browne. I really didn't need to read this - because my CP has. She told me that a lot of it would be stuff I already knew and she was right. She's been critiquing me for years using a lot of the terminology in this book - like talking about beats, RUE (resist the urge to explain) and 1+1=1/2.

I'm not sorry I read it, but it was more reinforcing things than lightbulbs going off. That being said, the first chapter on Show Don't Tell and the last chapter on Voice were really worth reading and I think all beginning writers should read them.

WE ARE NOT ALONE: THE WRITER'S GUIDE TO SOCIAL MEDIA: Kristen Lamb. Read this on the recommendation of my CP, Michelle Styles. There were some real gems of info that I highlighted to "organize" my strategy (I read this on my kindle for PC. Love the highlight and notes thing). There are also a lot of basics that I agree authors need to do to kickstart their presence.

But I did have issues with some of the info. The assertion that Myspace isn't dead is perhaps true, but the stats (60 million users) are from March 2010 - a year and a half ago. And I also wondered if the 60 million users are active users or have left and just not deleted their profiles. I may rejuvenate my myspace profile, but I'm not sold that it's as great as Lamb has made it out to be.

Another example is tweetdeck being used to manage twitter. I used tweetdeck. After a lot of frustration I switched to hootsuite which I like so much better. But Lamb never mentions hootsuite. It seemed that she mentioned the utilities that she personally uses rather than presenting other options.

She also mentions going to where the readers are and finding groups - but then fails to mention reader communities like goodreads or shelfari, etc. I know about these places but someone new may not. I've also had the benefit of several digital online workshops courtesy of Harlequin's team that other authors may not. It makes a difference, and since the book spends a considerable amount of time on HOW to set up profiles, it presumes that people are reading it who are not overly savvy.

That's not to say it's not a worthwhile read. It is. As Michelle says - for the cost of a latte it's good information (especially the strategy part for me). But I tend to look at it like I look at all advice - you take what works for you and leave the rest.

PROMISE CANYON: Robyn Carr. Part of the Virgin River Series. I really enjoyed this book! Clay and Lilly are great characters, and while I haven't read books leading up to this one, I never got confused with characters etc. who were part of this long-standing series. That is really tricky to do in a series built around a town and cast, so well done! I even had a little stinging in my eyes at the end which took me by surprise. I also wondered the importance of secondary plots as they seemed so unrelated to the core story, but in the end it all really did tie in together. It was lovely.

The only thing I noticed occasionally was when the author wanted to make sure that the reader understood certain terminology, and kind of jumped in to TELL it. One instance was explaining what colic is - it read like an author inserting a definition rather than flowing within the dialogue or emotional beats of the story.

But that's a minor thing and I have 2 other of Robyn's books on my TBR - and I'll be digging them out soon. :-)

THE BABY PROJECT: Susan Meier. It's been a little while since I read a book by Susan - the last I read was the Christmas duet she did with Barbara Wallace. I loved this book. I knew a bit about it as Susan and I share an editor AND I knew she'd picked some tough conflict for her heroine.
But she handled it so well it was a marvel. A true lesson in how to have a heroine face a tough conflict and STILL be proactive and sympathetic! I read it with awe as I've been dealing with handling my own heroine in my WIP....

The hero was lovely and she totally did a great set up to the next 2 stories in the trilogy without letting Darius's brothers take up too much story time.

And the attraction literally dripped from the pages even though the characters never take it all the way...

Thanks Susan for a fab read - all your hard work and hair pulling was SO worth it!

MAPS AND LEGENDS: READING AND WRITING ALONG THE BORDERLANDS: Michael Chabon. The back cover says "Maps and Legends is a love song in 16 parts - a series of linked essays in praise of reading and writing...Chabon energetically argues for a return to the thrilling, chilling origins of storytelling, rejecting the false walls around "serious" literature in favour of a wide-ranging affection...written with characteristic verve and wit."

I had to skim the last 100 pages because the word that comes to mind is "laborious". For a book rejecting false walls around 'serious' literature, this was seriously literary only without a compelling plot to pull me along and an entertainment factor of 0. And while I realize this is NON fiction, I also think that a writer's voice has to have something in it to connect to the reader. I had zip.

IMO, do yourself a favour and read Stephen King's ON WRITING instead.

SOLDIER ON HER DOORSTEP: Soraya Lane. This is the debut from Romance newcomer Soraya Lane. It's a lovely, heart-rending story of a soldier-come-home, his friend's widow, and a very special little girl. I zoomed through the last 50 pages and loved the scene with William's parents especially, wiping a tear from my eye.

The setting is both spectacular and different and it is a fantastic launch to what I'm sure is going to be a wonderful career.

Pre-Order

2011-09-15T07:15:00.000-03:00

It's only a few weeks until the release of my novella, OFF THE CLOCK, and so I should mention that you can pre-order it so that it's delivered to your device on release day (Oct. 4).

You can pre-order it at the Samhain site, or you can pre-order it from Amazon and have it delivered to your kindle.

Right now I'm swamped work-wise - with copy edits to finish up, a deadline, a special event weekend and trying to keep up with the fabulous New Voices entries. So I'm blasting off to tackle some jobs - how did it get to be Thursday already, anyway? Tomorrow I hope to be back with a #Fridayreads round-up - I haven't done one of those in a while.

Inside Romance

2011-09-14T07:21:00.000-03:00

So the THIRD piece of good news I had this week came in the mail box. As many of you know, Harlequin puts out a newsletter called INSIDE ROMANCE every quarter. It highlights new series, special projects, and some of the upcoming books as well as listing all the category releases during those months in the back. It's fab.

So the great news for me is that my October book, HOW A COWBOY STOLE HER HEART, is spotlighted as the October Classic Bestselling Author. Which gave me a whole lot of squee in case you didn't notice. :-) Isn't the page pretty? The cover is stunning - I love it! I can't wait for this one to come out. I've got some great release stuff going on here at the blog in October as well.

Anyway I thought it was lovely. You can view INSIDE ROMANCE on eharlequin. Right now it's still the summer edition (and the linked page also has a thingy about my July book and a link to my free online read at eharlequin). I'm sure the fall edition will be online soon, and it should also turn up at the Harlequin display racks of your local bookstore.

New Voices is LIVE!

2011-09-13T09:48:00.001-03:00

Today is September 13 which means that the Mills and Boon NEW VOICES competition is now live and writers can upload their first chapter. Readers can rate and comment, and an editoral team will select 20 finalists to go on to the next round.

I mentioned last week that those 20 finalists will each be given an author mentor and editor to help them through the next round(s) and that brings me to the second piece of good news that I've been sitting on for MONTHS - I'm honoured to be one of the author mentors for the competition! (I found out last spring and was sworn to secrecy.) I'll be helping one of the finalists polish up their second chapter and then hopefully a pivotal moment as well (for the top 4).

You can read the first entries, the mentor bios, and also hear from the editors involved as they chat about the competition and give a little bit of info about the authors on their team. You can find a little about me by watching Carly Corcoran's video.

It's all very exciting! I've already read a few really great entries! The judges are going to have quite a job on their hands! There will also be some top tips on the site as the first round continues, and I'm guessing those blog posts are going to be really fab even if you're not entering.

Now...word count waits for no man - or contest. Time to get to work!

HIRED BY THE COWBOY for FREE!

2011-09-12T11:21:00.002-03:00

After lots of anxious waiting....I can now tell you that my debut Romance, HIRED BY THE COWBOY, is now a free read at www.TryHarlequin.com!!!!!!!!

All you have to do is scroll through the titles, click on the cover, and you'll be taken to the download screen. It's in PDF, but it should show up at places like amazon etc. in other formats as well.

Just a note too - the blurb that accompanies it is incorrect, but I've sent a note off to my editor about it. I did download it and it IS the right book, so never fear! This is the book that won the Bookseller's Best Award for Best Traditional Romance in 2008.

I have more news to share tomorrow, but since I'm in dreadline mode, I intend to keep the glow going by spreading out the good stuff as much as I can. LOL.

Now back to the word count...made myself cry this morning which is usually a good sign.

Gearing up for New Voices?

2011-09-09T09:44:00.001-03:00

Four days remain until the big kick off of the Mills and Boon New Voices competition. Last year Leah Ashton won and joined the ranks of the Harlequin Romance line (and we're thrilled to have her!). I got to meet Leah in New York this summer and she's absolutely lovely. Not only that, two other authors have been bought as a result of the competition: Lucy Ellis and Louisa George! (Interesting how all three start with the letter L!)

It's a fun, crazy, whirlwind time that was hugely successful last year, and this year is geared up to be even better. Jodie Prenger is the celebrity judge for this year, as well as a judging team from Mills and Boon. 20 first chapters will be selected based on criteria of voice, content, and overall writing skills.

Each finalist will be assigned an author mentor and an editor to help them through the next stage(s) of the competition. Cool, huh? Those 20 finalists will then upload a second chapter, and then the field is narrowed to 4 finalists who will be invited to upload a "pivotal" moment, and then narrowed to the final winner. The prize? A publishing contract!

Rather than put all the Terms and Regulations here, you can read them on www.romanceisnotdead.com . The site is going to be updated soon with tons of new info. And please note - while the competition begins on September 13, you have until October 10 to upload your first chapter.

I thought it would be fun to give a bit of advice to those who are entering or perhaps sitting on the fence wondering if they should enter.

Some people have wondered if it is worth it. Last year there were over 800 entries. Well, M&B receives thousands of queries every year. The truth is - good stories are good stories no matter how big the field. Someone has to win it. Why not you? What do you have to lose? Nothing! You stand to gain at the very least knowledge from the experience. At best a publishing contract. If you're vascillating, don't. You can't worry about someone else's story - just your own.

Watch the rules and guidelines, but don't sweat the small stuff. I know it's easy to panic about if your formatting gets screwed up, or you forgot quotation marks somewhere, or stressing about word count. What is REALLY important is STORY. So - as long as you've accounted for under 10,000 words for all THREE stages, don't worry about length of chapter one. And as long as you proofread, you'll be fine (though please do proofread. It sometimes is glaringly apparent who hasn't). Last year's winner had her formatting mess up. It was not the end of the world. She did win, right?

When it comes to chapter one, a common mistake I see is too much set up. So much time is spent explaining who the characters are and what led them to where they are. But you want to engage the reader in the story right away so throw your characters right into the action. Don't show your heroine going somewhere (like on a bus or a train or driving in her car). Put her at the destination. If the hero is there messing things up, so much the better. Give them an immediate problem. For example, if the heroine is going to a party and she shows up half an hour late, put her at the door or on the steps. Tell the reader why being late throws a monkey wrench into EVERYTHING. Throw in a hero who complicates the whole works and we've got action and sizzle.

Make sure the hero also has a problem to solve. He needs to have his own conflict too. So if showing up half an hour late is problematic for the heroine, show how it's effecting the hero, too. If she's the baker bringing the cake and she's lost the engagement ring that's supposed to be cushioned in the buttercream, show how losing the ring is the worst thing that could happen to the hero. What's his deal? Maybe he's the potential groom's brother or best friend, in charge of ordering the cake and making sure the family heirloom ring is in place.

And finally - dig deep. What I've described thus far is only the hook - it's not really the conflict. The conflict is the deep down WHY - the characters' deepest desires and goals and why the other person is the worst - and best - person to make it happen. It's the heart and not the head. Maybe your heroine's goal is to be a high end pastry chef or baker to the rich and famous. But why? Perhaps she is determined to be independent so she doesn't have to rely on anyone. Who did she rely on in the past and how did they let her down? How has she decided not to ever let that happen again? How does the hero threaten that? Clearly the heroine would have to learn that sometimes it's okay to trust someone - to rely on someone - to trust LOVE, right? But you have to get to the root of that emotion and insecurity. THAT is your conflict. And the same for your hero. Why is it so important to do this job right? Does he want to marry his younger brother off so there is less pressure on him to keep the family line going? Why is he so determined not to get married (again?). What secret desires does he have and how does the heroine turn it on its head?

That's what's going to make your entry come alive. Sparkling characters launched right into the action.

If you haven't already, check out Liz Fielding's latest blog post. It has some great succinct info for crafting that first chapter. And beginning next week, there will be loads more information and advice for entrants on polishing up those chapters! Just keep checking www.romanceisnotdead.com and also join in the chatter at the New Voices Facebook page.

Hodge Podge

2011-09-08T13:08:00.001-03:00

Today is a hodge podge post - I'm taking a few minutes to blog while I'm waiting for my lunch to cook. I've already managed about 1500 words this morning, so I'm taking a break to shake out the cobwebs before getting back to the story - another 1000 words would make me really happy and on track to hit the 25k mark tomorrow.

I spent the first 2 days this week working on the first 3 and a half chapters again. I was seriously put out with my heroine. She was driving me crazy. Because of her backstory, she's sweet and has ISSUES. Problem was the issues were too much. She was not proactive, but reacting to everything. I didn't like her very much. I didn't see her taking control of situations. Ugh Ugh Ugh.

So I had to go through and sort of put her in a different mind space. It wasn't always easy. Sometimes, though, a simple change to body language helped. It also helped to actually come out and state what her goal is - independence. I also had to shift the why and how she feels afraid. Once I figured it out, it was a lot easier than reading through and just thinking Ugh Ugh Ugh. LOL Now I'm writing new scenes and really loving it. Ty is such a great hero.

News that totally jazzed me yesterday: Scott Foley is joining the cast of True Blood!!!!!!!!!!!! Huzzah! Made me want to break out my UNIT dvd's.

It's also only a few weeks until premieres of my go-to shows of CASTLE and the NCIS's. And the dh and I found another series we LOVE (but man, the epis seem to be taking a long time to air!). We're watching STRIKE BACK and I have a serious thing for Philip Winchester.

Being back in a regular schedule has been good too. I finally got my eating back on track, and the workouts too. After a few weeks of craziness and little workout time, my body was feeling it. After 3 days of being back in the saddle, I feel better already. I'm on my last week of P90X, then I'm going to take one week of easier workouts before doing my second round.

I did try an old workout dvd the other day and after 10 minutes I had to shut it off. I couldn't stand the woman leading the session. I do think the Beachbody products have spoiled me for other programs. I like Tony's chatter and wacky sense of humour even if it is corny at times. Even in an hour long workout I'm not bored. I also discovered that I'm far more about muscles and fitness than weight loss. When I look at celebrities it's rarely the thinnest, graceful types that I find most attractive but those in the best shape. I kind of like the kick ass girls too. So Rutina Wesley in True Blood, Katee Sackhoff as Starbuck (her decline pushups jazz me to no end), and Daniela Ruah in NCIS LA (though I can't do anything about the height. That girl has legs to her neck). For me it's strong strong strong. That's what makes me feel good!

And the toaster oven just dinged, which means my chicken breast is ready to put on top of a yummy salad for lunch! Then another writing session, and on to Kenpo X to burn some goo.

Have a good'un - I'm doing fine organizing my time so far but as deadline draws closer, the blog could get quieter! I do find that focusing for chunks of time is working great for productivity.

Goodreads Giveaway for HOW A COWBOY STOLE HER HEART

2011-09-07T07:15:00.002-03:00

Goodreads Book Giveaway

How a Cowboy Stole Her Heart

by Donna Alward

Giveaway ends October 04, 2011.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Back to school, and new reviews

2011-09-06T07:32:00.001-03:00

Today it is back to school for the whole family - the kids, their dad is back teaching today, and I'm back to work on the WIP with a vengeance.

It does feel good to be heading back to a normal schedule. I am a creature of routine!

A good way to kick off the first day of school is with some positive news, so here are two new reviews for my upcoming novella from Samhain, OFF THE CLOCK, which is releasing on October 4:

Joyfully Reviewed says "The push and pull of Carly and Gabe’s relationship kept me on the edge of my seat in Donna Alward’s Off the Clock. The chemistry between them simmered throughout the book even as the events forced them to work out their issues. In typical man fashion, there were times that Gabe seemed really dense regarding Carly’s feelings toward him but his heart of gold easily soothed Carly’s fears. Off the Clock is a book you want to curl up with when you are in the mood for something light and sensual."

And SensualReads.com reviewed it as well: "A story about second chances, I really liked that this was completely believable. It always amazes me how unspoken words can create a detour in the life you were meant to have. A short but delightful read."

I have some release date news as well. First of all, an adjustment. HOW A COWBOY STOLE HER HEART is out in October in North America, and in Hardback in the UK in November. However, the paperback UK edition won't be released until March 2012.

And I have release dates for the duet I'm finishing up - May and June of 2012 in North America. The first book is called THE LAST REAL COWBOY - isn't THAT going to look fab on a cover????

Right - back to school means blank pages, and it's time I went about filling them.

Going International

2011-09-05T12:01:00.000-03:00

I'm thrilled that I have several foreign releases this month!

The Soldier's Homecoming is out in France beginning on the 15th! :-) Surprising as this was my third ever release and I love the cover! Here's the link on amazon.

Proud Rancher, Precious Bundle is out in Italy.

And it's also available in Mexico and Argentina.

For right now, I'm enjoying the Labour Day holiday with a swim in the pool and a barbeque later! Happy long weekend!

The Heroes are not all gone

2011-09-03T19:37:00.001-03:00

Ralph Alward: 1940 - 2011

The blog has been terribly silent simply because for a number of days I was not able to "smile from the wrists down" as Kate Walker puts it - and I didn't want to drag the blog down with negativity. You see, my husband's dad has been very ill since the first of June. Almost 2 weeks ago he took a turn. He stabilized somewhat, but only briefly. My husband was called back to be with his family while I stayed here at home, waited for news, and worried. Worried about my father in law, and worried about my husband, his mom, and his siblings as they dealt with what I think we all recognized - but didn't want to believe -was an inevitable outcome.

When the call came, my husband said, "The suffering is over." It was a relief and heartbreaking all at once.

My husband came home last Monday, after the worst of Irene had blown through, and we all went back to Moncton last Monday afternoon (we live a few hours away). Monday night the brothers and sisters were all together with his mom. There were some tears and also a lot of laughing at funny stories and remembrances as everyone gave input on the eulogy. On Tuesday we had visitation at the funeral home. I was particularly dreading it - I have not very nice memories of visitations to be honest - but I should have known that it would be fine. My inlaws are not the long-faced, quiet kind of family. It was more informal, with lots of talking and laughing and hugging. And the more the week went on the clearer it seemed to get - Ralph was the heart of the family, and even in his death he had a way of bringing everyone together that was just beautiful.

My sister in law gave the eulogy, and in keeping with the vibe of the week, there were laughs as well as tissues required. A close friend of ours flew in from Calgary and we made our own little unit: my husband with his arm around me and my head on his shoulder, our youngest in my arms, and my eldest being hugged by our friend. We hadn't realized but his sister ended the eulogy with a bit my husband wrote. He, by the way, continually amazes me. Julie had said in her words that the heroes are not all gone. She is right. Ralph was one. And his son is one, and I'm so very, very fortunate to call him mine. He did something so incredible at the burial that it still makes my heart swell up.

One thing was abundantly clear - the path isn't always smooth, but his family loves each other and stands together, so much stronger together than they ever are individually.

My mother in law was a brick. After the summer she's had, the worry and the wait and the uncertainty, she managed to put up with close to 30 people running through her apartment at various times all while dealing with arrangements and grief. The day after the funeral we took a drive to a very special place for a final goodbye. It was quiet and peaceful and perfect. They spent 50 years together. They had five children, several grandkids and 2 great grandchildren. They, as Julie said in the eulogy - personified love. Their marriage was very special, and it is hard to believe that Ralph's blue eyes won't be greeting us at the door anymore. For all we will miss him, hers is the greatest loss.

So now we are all home; catching up on laundry, putting groceries in the fridge, carrying on. And yet something is different and always will be, I think. Not just in the missing, though that goes without saying. But how we learned things about each other over the past week.

And how, by his death, we learned a lot about living. And loving.

Rest in peace, Ralphie.

It's only Wednesday?

2011-08-24T09:04:00.001-03:00

In some ways this week is flying by and in other ways...I want to say is it over yet?

It's been a bit of a roller coaster here in Casa Alward. The good news is I've focused my energies on getting a lot of work done to keep my mind occupied. And I've taken the kids on some nice walks with the dog. Hopefully tonight my husband will be back home after a bit of a family emergency on Monday. Circumstances being what they were, it was better if he went alone but I did spend some time waiting for him to call or text with updates.

Today my mom is having minor surgery and last week my step dad went in hospital for an operation, so there's been plenty of worry and also plenty of chatting between my sister and me. We're related on both sides of the family as we married 2 brothers so one of us is usually in the loop about one thing or the other. We always have a laugh about something, and it brightens my day.

And good news for my youngest who went back to the doc on Friday, finally got some meds and is already doing better after a summer of being mostly miserable and exhausted. The last time she was in they suggested letting nature take its course. Nature kind of goofed off and went on holiday, I think. So this time we hit the pharmacy.

But you know, despite it all I'm thinking we're all kind of floating along and doing okay. I've really enjoyed the time home with the kids and other half this summer and the weather's been great. We've done some odd jobs and spent some time in the sun. The kids have had friends over and on the whole it's been fairly relaxing, other issues aside.

And now I've gotten a lot of stuff done that was outstanding for this fall, meaning that when the house is empty again in a few weeks, I can knuckle down and focus on the book due October 1.

The other thing I'm really looking forward to? The Mills and Boon New Voices competition starting September 13. It's going to be hectic and fabulous! If you're an aspiring romance author, check out www.romanceisnotdead.com for deets on it all.

For now I'm going to go walk the dog while the good weather holds!

Four stars

2011-08-23T09:48:00.000-03:00

Just a quick blog to share the first review for HOW A COWBOY STOLE HER HEART - I found the RT review last night and I'm very pleased with the 4 stars! Here's what the reviewer had to say:

Megan Briggs survived breast cancer, and now she must fight to keep her family ranch operating profitably. Clay Gregory has always thought of Megan as his best friend’s little sister. Now he realizes that she has grown into a beautiful and courageous woman, but he may have come to this realization too late, because Megan doesn’t seem interested in anything other than saving the ranch. Great characters bring life to this beautifully written story that explores trust, friendship and hope.

I really couldn't ask for a better first review!

Tick Tock

2011-08-22T07:00:00.000-03:00

Time is running out on a few contests, so I thought I'd issue a quick reminder!

My Summer Contest will close on the 31st of August and I'll be drawing a winner on September 1. Here are the details:

The winner will get a tote bag filled with goodies: a Donna Alward mug, notebook, magnet, keychain and pen; signed copies of my 4 2011 Harlequin Romances - PROUD RANCHER, PRECIOUS BUNDLE, HONEYMOON WITH THE RANCHER, A FAMILY FOR THE RUGGED RANCHER, and HOW A COWBOY STOLE HER HEART, an ARC of my upcoming Samhain print release BREATHE, and a Samhain gift card valued at a free book ($5.50).

To enter, e-mail me at donnaalward@hotmail.com with the subject line of Summer Contest and tell me the name of the series of my October Samhain Publishing release. Good luck!

And my Goodreads giveaway also ends August 31:

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Breathe

by Donna Alward

Giveaway ends August 31, 2011.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Good luck!

The old and the new!

2011-08-20T19:39:00.001-03:00

The very first early review of OFF THE CLOCK, coming from Samhain in October, popped up on the LibraryJournal.com site!

Guilt and misunderstandings create dramatic tension in this novella that launches Canadian author Alward's "First Responders" series. Set near Halifax, NS, the story focuses on Gabe Brennan, a former scholarship football player who was a bystander when his teammate and friend Brandon overdosed at a college party. Now a paramedic, Gabe witnesses a hit-and-run accident that injures Brandon's newly divorced and pregnant sister, Carly. Family secrets are revealed and tender love builds as Carly adjusts to being a single mother and her blossoming relationship with Gabe.

Verdict A satisfying read combining all the right measures of apprehension and reconciliation.

And BREATHE has also been reviewed (out in ebook now, coming in Print from Samhain in December) and this totally made me smile! Check out Romantic Rose's Bookshelf:

One thing I find I really enjoy about Alward's novels is her ability to write real problems and conflicts that are well-written melodrama. However, instead of feeling like the characters are being cheesy and going over-board in their hurt, I find that I really enjoy how truthful and honest the characters are about how much hurt they suffered. In comparison to many other romance authors, Alward seems to be exaggerating the emotions in her story - but I find that she can really make it work. Alward writes some of the most human romances I’ve ever read, and I truly appreciate the realistic edge to her books dealing love in life – instead of love in fantasy.

All in all, Alward has written a true winner that will pull on your heart-strings, curl your toes, wet your eyes, and remain in your memory for a long, long time.

Exquisite. Simply exquisite.

BUT WAIT - There's more!

Fast-paced and completely absorbing, this book with captivate you from start to finish.

Thank you Rose May for the fantastic review!

Nas Dean also reviewed BREATHE:

Donna Alward brings her trademark tenderness, warmth and sensitivity in telling this story. I had grave doubts about how the issues would resolve and how she would manage to get this two characters together for their happily ever after, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Donna Alward has written a spellbinding tale of powerful secrets, new beginnings, redemption and hope that will make readers chuckle as well as wipe away a tear or two. A poignant story about letting go of the past and seizing the day, BREATHE is another first-rate keeper by Donna Alward!

Thanks Nas!

Summer stuff

2011-08-17T10:54:00.000-03:00

I realized I haven't updated since last Friday! That's because I've been running around doing fun stuff. On Saturday I did the day long workshop at Prescott House Museum - it was lovely, the weather was great, the staff was fab, and when it was done my friend Kelly and I hit Blomidon Estate Winery, Noggins Farm Market and Fox Hill Cheese.

I got home to find supper on the go - and a clean house. Plus we celebrated my birthday a day early with fave foods like my husband's barbequed ribs and fresh corn and cake. Yum!

That meant Sunday was a lazy day of reading and walking the dog with the neighbours and swimming in the pool.

Monday my eldest started volleyball camp so there's earlier starts and extra driving. She is having a marvelous time. My youngest and I also took Monday as a "girlie" day - we went shopping for jeans and indoor sneakers, made a trip to the library AND the bookstore, and I took her for a proper sit-down lunch that was delicious. Yesterday we made 2 kinds of muffins together. This morning we (youngest, the husband and me) went to a nearby park to walk the dog. I'm going bike riding later.

Summer is coming to a close soon - the end of next weeks marks the first of "us" to go back to a regular work schedule (the husband goes back on the 26th) and the kids follow soon after. On one hand, I'm looking forward to the fall schedule and fall IS my favourite time of year.

But on the other, summer has gone very quickly and I'm not totally ready for it to be over.

Taking the day off

2011-08-12T12:31:00.000-03:00

I wanted to get to 15k this week and I surpassed 16, and THE SUN IS OUT. This is big news. It has been completely dreary and dismal ALL WEEK. All of us have been grumpy. And I did work more during the yucky weather. So this morning it was foggy when the husband and I went to the grocery store and it was blue skies and sun when we came out.

I could work this afternoon, but tomorrow is a "work" day as I'm giving a workshop at Prescott House Museum for most of the day. So this afternoon I'm going to enjoy the sunny reprieve and work in the yard. First things first - walking the dog and going to my neighbours to collect my load of laundry and hang it out. Our new washer won't be here until next Wednesday or Thursday, so I'm doing the odd load at her house to get us through. :-)

It is amazing how a little sunshine can make someone's mood do a total 180. I was tired and really unmotivated this morning. Now I'm ready to kick Friday's butt! This is very good news indeed.

Have a great weekend - this is birthday weekend for me so it means cake on Sunday and there is a rumour that the husband is making me barbequed ribs and fresh corn for dinner.

HOW A COWBOY STOLE HER HEART available on NetGalley

2011-08-10T12:42:00.000-03:00

If you're a book reviewer, I have good news. My October Romance release, HOW A COWBOY STOLE HER HEART, has just become available on NetGalley.

You can request it here: http://bit.ly/nzYVFt

Right now Harlequin is putting up one book from each line as a trial run, and I'm thrilled that Clay and Meg's story has been chosen!

Day Camp, Schedules, Candles and Word Count (not to mention washing machines)

2011-08-09T14:09:00.000-03:00

I've been nose to the grindstone the last few days, and I kind of like where my story is going right now. Today was all about adding a scene as the one I had needed something before it. And the one that I had is going to be extended too - into a first date scene (I think by chapter 3-4 they've earned a date, don't you?). So yay - I'm up to over 14,000 words now. And I'm really loving Ty.

I've been blogging around though - so first of all you can catch my post from yesterday at Petticoats and Pistols. It's all about childhood dreams and horses. :-)

Then you can venture over to The Pink Heart Society where today I talk about how a fun day of candle making turned into one requiring several bandaids (and a few choice swear words from yours truly).

And at Tote Bags 'n' Blogs I chat about how my usual "scheduled" way of life changes in the summer and how I've been handling that (hint - there's fun involved).

As far as the washing machine thing goes? We're waiting to hear on parts costs. It is not looking good. We have only had this washer for maybe 6 years? And it was not a cheap one either. I rather suspect a new machine is in our future. It may be time to do some creative accounting...

New words and Friday Reads

2011-08-05T13:41:00.000-03:00

I finished galleys yesterday and so today it was back to work on the WIP. I took my editor's input and made changes to the first chapter, which meant making a chapter break earlier on at a POV change which works really well, I think. I also realized that the scenes that I had that weren't working don't have to be deleted - they can be adjusted and fixed and so I've added them in and to my wondering eyes I saw a word count total of over 12,000 words! Wooo! It's a great start, and puts me a lot further ahead than I expected. I'm sure some of those words will be cut and replaced but that's okay. It gives me something to work with.

I wonder if it's enough to keep my CP from cracking her whip so much? (ouch!)

Have a good weekend - I'm off to do some weeding. Exciting, yeah? And then I'm going to indulge in some reading. I'm reading SEDUCING AN ANGEL by Mary Balogh right now, and I'm going to review all five books in the series here when I've finished them (this is book 4).

Goodreads Giveaway for 3 ARCS of BREATHE

2011-08-03T19:30:00.001-03:00

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Breathe

by Donna Alward

Giveaway ends August 31, 2011.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

New excerpts and stuff

2011-08-03T16:56:00.000-03:00

I've done my August website update, and so now you can go to my site and read blurbs and excerpts for my 2 books coming out in October.

Pop on over and see the stunning cover for HOW A COWBOY STOLE HER HEART, releasing on October 4 in Canada and the US (and in November in the UK).

Then you can also go to the page for OFF THE CLOCK, my novella releasing from Samhain Publishing also on October 4, and read an excerpt from a story I set in one of my favourite places, the Annapolis Valley here in Nova Scotia.

Right now I'm working on galleys for BREATHE (coming out in print on December 6) and going to start a hot chicken curry for supper.

Very Cool Things

2011-08-01T09:35:00.001-03:00

I have found with foreign releases it is feast or famine for me. After a few "dry" months I had a release in France mid-July. And this month I have 2 more that are exciting.

First up is Turkey and HONEYMOON WITH THE RANCHER. It's out in a 2 in 1 with Rebecca Winters.

And then there's Japan. This is my FIRST Japanese edition and I'm THRILLED! How cool! It's HIRED: THE ITALIAN'S BRIDE.

Now I'm going to hang out clothes, stain my front steps, and work on updating my first chapter with my editor's fab suggestions. Have a wonderful Monday!

End of an era...

2011-07-31T19:13:00.000-03:00

We went to see Harry Potter on the weekend as part of the youngest's birthday celebrations. It was, in the words of the eldest, EPIC. Really, really good. As we got to the end I was very clappity in a quiet way of course as I knew what was coming. And my favourite line was when Mrs. Weasley took on Bellatrix and said "NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!" Mrs. Weasley spent 7 movies being the stable, nurturing one. It was great to see that Mama Bear spirit manifest in a duel. Wooo!

I really wish Ginny had been drawn with a more colourful brush. Harry LOVES her. And while the story is really about the trio of Harry, Ron and Hermione, Ginny was very, very strong and ends up under the radar. Luna has her quirks to make her stand out. Neville is the underdog we all love. But Ginny is just...Ginny. Which is a shame because she is strong, loyal, brave, and it's got to be hard to love someone as famous and as MARKED as Harry but she does it and without a lot of fuss. My fave scene with her was when Harry returns to Hogwarts and she comes in and they just look at each other across the room. It is a look that says a lot. Ginny never demands, and I love her for it.

I teared up in a few places (and saved the napkins for the eldest who is a crier and did sniffle a bit) but to my surprise the moment I cried - and I still well up - was the moment it cut to the end credits. It was suddenly ALL OVER. All of it. No more stories, no more movies, no more Voldemort.

In a lot of ways we grew up with Harry. I started reading the books to the girls when the youngest started Grade 2 and I didn't worry about them frightening her. We read every word of them OUT LOUD before bed. And as you probably know, the books get longer as Harry gets older. The girls got older too...and the reading before bed no longer happens. I miss it.

But there was always the movie to look forward to, right? But now it's over and done and when those credits popped up on the screen I had a real moment.

Thank you, JK Rowling, for writing such splendid adventures. And thank God for DVD's. We're already talking about our first HP marathon. :-)

Kickin' the weekend off right

2011-07-29T20:33:00.000-03:00

It's the youngest's birthday today, so a good portion of the day has been birthday celebrations. Like tubing on the lake and a barbeque for dinner. Tomorrow we're going to see the new Harry Potter.

Lots of other good things happened today too. First of all, I woke up to this review - a fantastic review for Sold To the Highest Bidder on Romantic Rose's Bookshelf. It is lovely and a "keeper" review!

Then late this afternoon I got word from my editor that my 14th Harlequin Romance has sold! Woo! This is part of a duet so no word on title or date yet. I expect we're waiting to have both books lined up before making anything official.

She also read over my new first chapter and gave it the go ahead - with some brilliant adjustments. The opening for this story was giving me fits, so I'm very pleased that on the whole it was fine and my direction wasn't way out in left field. Next week I'm going to work on getting the partial into shape!

Have a good weekend!

Hard time getting inspired during the summer?

2011-07-27T07:00:00.000-03:00

I'm giving a fun workshop with my RWA Chaptermate Michelle Helliwell next month - just the thing to get you back in the groove of writing. And the setting is beautiful. I don't know about you, but I find summer the hardest time of the year to write. If you've misplaced your muse, you might just find her (or him) here.

Writers Workshop -Finding Your Muse

Prescott House Museum, Port Williams NS

August 13, 2011

Join local romance writers Donna Alward and Michelle Helliwell for a day of inspiration

Admission
$10 lunch included, please pre register

For additional information:

Diana Baldwin

902 542 3984

baldwidj@gov.ns.ca

http://www.prescott.museum.gov.ns.ca

Blurby Goodness

2011-07-26T09:34:00.002-03:00

So I have the blurb for HOW A COWBOY STOLE HER HEART and I love it. I also found out that it will be available on NetGalley for reviewers, and when it goes up I'll be posting a link.

Without further ado:

From best friends…to bride and groom?

Clay Gregory’s known Megan Briggs her whole life, and he’s been plenty worried about her while she’s been getting medical treatment. Now she’s back home and hiding away on the family ranch.

Knowing the stubborn cowgirl won’t accept his help willingly, he invites her to a family wedding to help him avoid his aunt’s matchmaking!

He plans to remind Meg she’s still the girl who can beat him in a horse race! But as she steps out in her curve-hugging red dress, her skills on a horse are suddenly the furthest thing from his mind.…

Back to Work

2011-07-25T09:50:00.000-03:00

The great thing about vacations is that it usually doesn't take me long to feel like I NEED to write. In this case, 10 days. I am back to work today on the next story and I'm glad.

But there are challenges. Everyone is home now until school goes back in. EVERYONE. And there are times I don't WANT to work. It would be easy to shut off the computer and go outside and work in the yard and what not. As I'm typing the husband is out washing the siding. There are weeds. It's a gorgeous day.

So the plan of attack is to chunk write - 2 chunks each morning, leaving the afternoons free to work in the yard/swim/hang with the fam. 2 chunks is 1500 words, so it's not a huge output but it is enough that it will add up consistently.

Yesterday we had company over and I ate wayyyyyy too much. We had crackers/cream cheese/wine jelly, wings, and tortilla chips and nacho dip for the SNACK. And then barbequed burgers and had salads for supper and our neighbour brought 2 chilled pies - a cream cheese strawberry and a mojito pie which were delicious. Thank goodness there was swimming in the pool, a game of 500 up and some badminton in the yard to counteract all the food. Because I didn't mention that the margarita maker was in service either, did I?

How's your summer going?

Do we know how to vacation or what?

2011-07-21T18:20:00.000-03:00

Today's vacation activities included taking our bottles into the bottle depot and our electronics recycling to the depot. When we got back, the kids had packed a picnic so...get ready for it...the next event was taking a truckload of stuff to the dump. Exciting, yes? We had a great drive, and after we got rid of our stuff we stopped at a park, ate our yummy picnic lunch (salad with chicken for me) and let the dog have a swim in the river. It was a real treat for her!

It's all high class around here.

It was really fun though, and even a trip to the dump can have a sense of occasion. :-) After we got home we had a swim in the pool and a quick visit from my niece and her husband who are just back from their honeymoon.

I am not even going to venture a guess what tomorrow will bring!