Love and Laughter: A Recipe for Happily Ever After by Elizabeth Meyette.
Crimson Romance Authors
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A Little Mystery, a Little History, a Little Romance Elizabeth Meyette
How romance weaved its way into my mystery.
A Little Mystery, a Little History, a Little Romance
After writing two historical romance novels, I wanted to tackle my other favorite genre, mystery. I couldn’t help it—the characters in my mystery fell in love. My friend and editor, H.J. remarked after rereading Middlemarch, “Every book is a romance.” Pretty much. We all seek to love and be loved, so one of the most compelling elements in a story is relationships. Romance seems especially fascinating.
Needless to say, there is romance in The Cavanaugh House. Jesse Graham is reeling after her fiancé, Robert’s, betrayal; her trust factor is at an all-time low, her defenses at an all-time high. Enter Joe Riley with his easy smile and laid-back charm, and Jesse feels her resolve eroding with each encounter.
I set The Cavanaugh House in 1968—a quirky time period that can’t be nailed down as historical and certainly isn’t contemporary—for…
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Welcome a M.V. Freeman
I had a fabulous time writing this story–Tanisha is a fabulous host. 🙂
Welcome my fellow Aponte Literary Author M.V. Freeman and her wonderfully enchanting short story-
Fairytale Hearts
“I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen.” Leonard slumped forward banging his head onto the dented grey metal desk before him, startling the short, squat woman with purple lipstick and pink bouffant hair sitting on the other side filling out a stack of paperwork.
“What kind of pen?” She asked in a strikingly deep voice, the kind that sent shivers up one’s spine. “The gel ones are fantastic.” She clicked hers a number of times to illustrate her point.
“I don’t know. I just put it in my pocket.” Leonard didn’t look up, but murmured into the metal surface, making his voice come out hollow. It smelled like onion rings. He hated onion rings.
“It’s not much use there.” Taking a stack of paper next to her, she slapped it next…
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Travel Inspires Romance Novels
Between my old “day job” and my inherited wanderlust feet, I’ve done a great deal of traveling–and can’t wait to get out and do some more! Travel gives me a broader perspective and helps me come up with new ideas for plots and characters for my romance novels.
Travel doesn’t have to be far. My husband and I took a walk a few weeks ago and I snapped this photo on the Bitterroot River. A romance novel could evolve from this picture. Or a romantic suspense. What if the fisherman found a dead body? Or a woman crying by the river? What happens then?
Or maybe he’s the villain in the piece? Let your imagination run wild. I know I will. Once I’m done with my California Romance series, I know I’m thinking about a series set in my home state of Montana. I’m just not sure where exactly to place it.
A traveler could break down near this hardscrabble ranch on Montana’s Eastern Front. Will she find welcome or danger? Maybe she could help the son bring the ranch back to life and discover love in the process.
A grizzly bear paw print definitely leads to romantic suspense. For the man or woman? What if its a woman and her child and the rescuer is a forest ranger? Or a nerdy scientist from the University of Montana? So many possibilities…
Make sure you always have a good book when you travel, as well as lots of paper to make notes and a camera. Take some time to stop and see, really see, the amazing world around us.
As writers, we hope to evoke the world around us or invent worlds of our own for you to visit for a while.
One of my favorite places is Glacier National Park. Sooner or later I know I’ll have a story that takes place in that craggy country. There are plenty of animals to invite into my stories, including the bull moose in the lake to the left.
In the meantime stop by and visit the land I’ve created in the California Romance series (California Sunset and California Wine). Costanoa is quite beautiful this time of year.
Finding the time to write – your secret weapon
Last weekend, I headed south to attend the North Louisiana Romance Writer’s chapter conference, NOLA’s Written in the Stars. My topic? Time management or finding the time to write.
We’re all busy. If you’re not, you should be writing. No excuses. (grin)
But for those of us who juggle day jobs, families, household chores,and an occasional workout, time is hard to come by. Or at least time when your refreshed and creative.
So here are a few best practices that came from the workshop
-Set a writing appointment with yourself. Treat this like you would your doctor appointment. Just do it.
-Plan ahead for your writing. Plot, prepare, and set up your family with dinner before you set down for your writing time.
-Use hot tea, or a lighted candle, or mood music to get your muse in the room.
-Get up an hour earlier each day to write.
-Stay off the computer while you write.
So what are your best time management skills? Share with the group.
Lynn
Stop the Presses! Launch Day for Embracing Scandal by Suzi Love
Stop the presses!
It’s Launch Day for Embracing Scandal
by Suzi Love 
I’m very excited to be at The Ladies in Red for the launch of my second book with Crimson Romance.
Embracing Scandal is the first in my series about the scientifically-gifted Jamison siblings and is set in London in the 1840s when there was a boom in railway expansion.
My heroine, Becca, conflicts with an increasingly prudish early Victorian society when she uses her intellect, something women were discouraged from doing.Lady Rebecca Jamison, a mathematical genius, saves her siblings from financial ruin by dabbling in the London stock exchange. When a greedy syndicate kills her friend and threatens her family, Becca begs assistance from Cayle, Duke of Sherwyn, her nemesis and previous friend.As Cayle and Becca rekindle old passions, the duke uses old skills as a spy to protect his lady. He successfully defeats the illegal consortium, but can Cayle persuade a self-sufficient spinster to become his duchess?
One of the best things about being an historical romance author is doing all the research, even though I tend to get distracted by all the weird and wonderful facts I discover. This is one of the first time a steam train could be seen by the public.
For Embracing Scandal, I researched the amazing inventions that popped up everywhere using steam engines. In 1840, trains and railway lines were invading many parts of England and Europe and alongside the railway industry, there was a need for steam engines to do all sorts of work in the factories.
You can read more about Embracing Scandal at Goodreads and at Crimson Romance eBooksTo purchase Embracing Scandal, use the subscription service at Crimson Romance or go to one of these.Amazon Barnes and Noble iTunes
I hope you enjoy Embracing Scandal and my first release from Crimson Romance, The Viscount’s Pleasure House.
Related articles
- Embracing Scandal (pinterest.com)
- HH Good News & Cover Love (historicalhearts.blogspot.com)
New Month, New Goals?
February 7th. The crowds at the gym are fading out. The daily specials at the grocery store are wings and potato chips. And the New Year resolutions have all gone by the wayside.
Or have they?
Just because January didn’t go your way, doesn’t mean its time to give up. Now’s the time to dig in, find that second wind, and find a way to make forward progress on your goals.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the idea of starting over. Whether it be on your resolutions, or, like Barb, my heroine in The Bull Rider’s Manager, maybe its a complete do over for your life. Barb’s seen herself as the career woman. That’s where she was successful. Her love life, well that had always been a disaster. Now, she’s done something foolish again.
Trying to come back from life’s trials takes a lot of determination, dedication, and luck. I guess, I’m a lot like Barb. As a woman, I don’t know my own strength. But I’m learning.
So what have you let slide this last month? What are you recommitting to today?
I’m back on the eating healthy path. Maybe I’ll see you there?
Lynn
THE BULL RIDER’S MANAGER – available at Amazon/BN/and where ever fine digital books are sold…
Barb Carico’s all about business. Now that her best friend tied the knot with Barb’s new business partner, she’s busier than ever. Managing Jesse Sullivan’s career and public persona can be a handful. Add in an aging mother who goes through home health nurses like candy, Barb’s hanging on the edge.
Her one salvation? Hunter Martin, prodigal son of Martin Family Dairy and, hopefully, Jesse’s next sponsor. After his brother’s death, Hunter’s become an instant dad to his seven-year-old niece. For Hunter, the rodeo weekend with Barb is the perfect excuse to relax.
When their dinner turns into a quick trip to a Vegas wedding chapel, both Barb and Hunter agree their nuptials were a mistake Barb doesn’t know anything about being a wife or mother but she needs one favor. A favor she’ll trade her lifestyle, independence, and even risk her heart to make come true.
Ladies in Red 