Stacy Dawn

What winter is supposed to look like

2012-01-30T06:30:00.001-05:00

This is what winter in Southern Ontario is supposed to look like LOL.

It's been the craziest up and down weather that Saturday was the first normal day this season.

Light Bulb!

2012-01-28T13:31:00.006-05:00

I don't know if you've ever seen the movie, Despicable Me, but for one who wasn't too impressed by the commercial but went with the family to see it--LOVED IT! Seriously, GREAT story and lots of fun/funny moments and one liners. One being...Light Bulb!

Well, I had my light bulb moment at five am this morning. That moment when the one part of the story that just wasn't coming to me, just wasn't working and I didn't quite know how to validate the motive behind the actions--landed right in my brain, shining like a brigtht light bulb. The YES moment if you will.

Now, most will understand when I say from that moment on, sleep wasn't an option as other parts of the story fell into place and new scenes swirled in my mind to help fit all this new, necessary information in. But I didn't mind at all and by the time I gave up trying to stay in bed opting to go downstairs to get the notes onto my computer because I type much faster than I write long hand (and when your brain is going at light speed, it's better for me to get it down fast LOL) I ended up with over 1200 words in about 45 minutes--after fighting for barely 500 words a day for the past week! At least now I feel the brick wall I was banging my forehead against finally gave way so I can get this story done. Yay!

Oh and another favorite part of the movie...

New Cover

2012-01-26T16:35:00.004-05:00

It's always exciting to get a new cover--you never know what to expect....and when it comes back like this, you can't help but let out a big squee!

Is this dynamic or what!

The Golden Rule of Friendship: Do not covet thy best friend’s fiancée.

An easy rule for Shane Gallagher to obey when he meets Eden, as staid and business-minded as his good friend, Brad, whom she is about to marry. But when she unexpectedly blossoms before his eyes, temptation takes seed.

Eden is happy with her calculated marriage plans until she is forced to spend a day with her fiancé’s best friend—minus her fiancé—and experiences an evening far different from her usual calm and analytical existence.

Can Shane stay away from the forbidden fruit? Or will the sweetness and allure prove too much to bear?

Coming February 8th from The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

2012-01-25T16:50:00.002-05:00

Man the weather this year has been something else! Highs and lows in the same week. Tell me how you can go from -9 to +6 in the same week and not be affected by it.

For me, it's all in my head--well, it always has been LOL. In this case, I mean my sinuses. They are pulsating like an accordian with the atmospheric pressure going up and down and up and down all the time. Makes things hard to concentrate on....and I have to. There are A LOT of exciting things coming up in the next few months and I have to get things done!

I'll tell you about them all as soon as I am able!

Oops

2012-01-20T06:55:00.002-05:00

Yeah, funny how things get forgotten in the loop of life LOL.

Neglected would be more like it. I want to say that I made a resolution to keep more updated, but let's face it, that hasn't worked the last few years LOL.

Is it a goal this year? Yes. So we'll leave it at that and hope for the best as always.

For now, I'm working on a new story for the Honky Tonk Hearts series coming out at The Wild Rose Press. Fingers crossed!

I've got a few other projects going on as well--and I think that might be part of my problem. Focus. In trying to do a little bit of everything, nothing is getting finished. My goal this weekend is to finish up a few of the items on my list, while keeping to a small fraction of time saved for writing too.

Maybe it's just the Winter Blahs setting in that is keeping me a bit off and unfocused. But now realizing that and knowing what I need to do, my plan is simple--sit at my desk, take a few deep breaths and pick ONE thing to work on, and do so for at least an hour. I bet I can can get so much more done with just a little directed focus.

Here's to a little directed focus *grin*....

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T06:56:00.000-05:00

I wish all of you the very best for the holiday season and a wonderous New Year!!

Release!!

2011-12-09T05:58:00.001-05:00

AVAILABLE NOW FROM THE WILD ROSE PRESS!

Helping out in hope of reaping a veterinarian partnership, Dr. Holly Night winds up in her own version of a Christmas nightmare--Santa Claus, reindeer games, babies born in a stable. Raised in a family that didn't "do" Christmas--or family--she is unprepared for a town filled with an overwhelming holiday spirit. Add in a handsome mechanic who finds amusement in her obvious misery, and not only is her patience tested, but unexpectedly, her belief as well.

Amusement isn't the only thing Rev Johnston feels for the pretty doctor or her situation; he's been the outsider before and knows how hard it can be. Having been abandoned one too many times before, he isn't about to let himself fall for someone who can't wait to get out of town.

Can the magic of Christmas, with a little help from Santa Claus, heal these two hearts before it's too late?

Find this story and my other Noelle stories at The Wild Rose Press

Free Book!

2011-12-07T16:57:00.000-05:00

My Christmas story, Christmas on Parole, will be free for ONE DAY ONLY! I just don't know which one yet LOL. But for you it is easy to get and much more too. Just join my publisher's newsletter and you won't miss the free book day! All the details below:

Join The Wild Rose Press newsletter for exclusive giveaways this holiday season!
Free Books, Gift Certificates and more! There was a giveaway today. See what is next by joining the newsletter!
http:// www.thewildrosepress.com/ index.php?main_page=page&id=62

And check out our discounted .99 selection of books. Sale is a limited time offer.

Season's Greatings From The Wild Rose Press and the Wilder Roses!

My "little" Puppy

2011-12-07T15:48:00.003-05:00

This was one of those funny pictures that was just the right second and I didn't even know it until I looked back at the picture.

Riley thinks he's a lapdog....I don't think he actually realizes he's a 70lb bull in a china shop with that tail of his.

But he's a sweetheart and LOVES everyone.

Party!!

2011-12-03T20:46:00.001-05:00

Come join me at Sweeter Romantic Notions on December 7th for a day full of holiday cheer, great authors and wonderful stories!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SweeterRomanticNotions

New Cover!!

2011-10-24T17:58:00.004-04:00

This is the cover for my next Christmas in Noelle story coming out this holiday season....how cute is that baby!

Find this story coming soon and my other Noelle stories at The Wild Rose Press

Yippeee Skippppy!

2011-07-04T15:41:00.003-04:00

It is official, the contract has been signed so I can FINALLY tell you that the next story in my Christmas series has been contracted by The Wild Rose Press!

Oh Holly Night will be the fifth story in my Noelle, Alberta series---Christmas in Noelle...where love and laughter is always at the top of Santa's list!

Totally stoked and excited because the heroine in this story was a bit harder to write--someone who doesn't believe in Christmas or family for that matter is VERY opposite to me and everyone and everything I know, so I found it both challenging and interesting to delve deep and find out what made her tick.

Here is the unofficial blurb:

Doing a favor for her boss in hopes of reaping the veterinarian partnership she sought, Dr. Holly Night winds up in her own version of a Christmas nightmare--Santa Claus, reindeer games, babies born in a stable under the Christmas star? Unbelievable! Raised in a family that didn’t “do” Christmas—or family for that matter—having to put up with a whole jolly, crazy Christmas town tests not only her patience, but unexpectantly, her beliefs as well.

Amusement wasn’t the only thing Rev Johnston felt for the pretty doctor or her situation; he’d been in her spot before and knew how hard it could be. Strong as the connection is, though, he’s been abandoned one too many times and isn’t about to let himself fall for someone who can't wait to get out of town.

Are these two hearts too scarred for even Santa Claus Holloran to work a miracle on this Christmas?

And here's what readers/reviews have said about the previous stories:

A Cinderella Christmas

"A Cinderella Christmas was the perfect fit for a fun, romantic holiday read.
I love Stacy Dawn's Christmas in Noelle series, and reading a new story in the series is becoming one of my favorite holiday traditons."
~Kathy Adrico, Kathy's Review Corner

"The emotionally charged ending was completely unexpected. The other characters were so entertaining that at times it was laugh-out-loud funny.
I highly recommend this book."
~Brenda Talley, The Romance Studio

Christmas on Parole

"Christmas on Parole is another Stacy Dawn masterpiece. The characters are endearing and sexy, and god help me I think I'm in love with Santa."
~Johanna Melaragno, author

"There isn't anything about Christmas on Parole not to like. The premise is laugh-out-loud funny, the characters are endearing and the dialogue is perfect for the situation. Her sense of timing is super. There were more times than I can remember when I giggled while reading this. Nothing about Christmas on Parole disappointed me. It was entertaining all the way through."
~Reviewed by: Marlene, Fallen Angel Reviews

Reindeer Games

"Reindeer Games is the ideal escape. Short, sweet and light hearted, it will have the reader smiling and ready to take on the shopping crowds."
~Reviewed by Magnolia

"A beautiful look at how we can overlook love in the most familiar face. Great read from a great writer!"
~ Toni Nichols

2011-06-30T20:51:00.000-04:00

glitter-graphics.com

2011-06-27T05:12:00.001-04:00

I am a great aunt! Okay, I've been told I'm a great aunt LOL, but on Friday I became a great-aunt.

My neice had a little baby girl: Mercedes Allene

Isn't she adorable!!

2011-06-15T06:24:00.000-04:00

Did I ever mention I HATE waiting. Really don't like it.

It is now almost five weeks past the date the editor said she would get back to me on a story submission so I think I've been pretty patient--not sane or uncranky by any means but she doesn't have to know that.

But I think it's time to do that little, "hey, just touching base" email--which is almost more painful than the waiting with all the should I or shouldn't I's going on in your head.

See, only goes to prove that no matter how many books/stories/articles you have published, nothing really changes, it always comes down to the one story you are waiting to hear on right....this....minute.

*Sigh* well, here goes.....I'll keep you posted.

Okay, there is an old theme here going on....

2011-06-13T05:57:00.001-04:00

....and it doesn't help that my oldest turns double digits today. DOUBLE DIGITS!

Wow, what happened to diapers and naps? Now it's attitude and baseball....still, gotta love the kid, too cute not to LOL.

So Happy Birthday Sweetheart...love you lots!!

2011-06-09T08:47:00.003-04:00

Okay, I admit it, I think I'm getting old. And its not so much the physical signs as the mental ones.

No, I can't use forgetfullness as an excuse because--and my husband will verify--I've always been a little left of centre and I claim my forgetfulness as forgetting to come back to the real world while defining the characters and settings in my head (trust me, sometimes that world is far more interesting and less stressful LOL).

But things don't seem to bother me as much as they used to--or should I say, I just don't react to them the same way. It's easier to let certain things slide or simply say, "well, she's always been like that so why bother getting upset" type things. I still get freaked about things popping up at work that I don't know, but once I settle down, I figure it out, but other things lately I have been remarkable calm or simple shrug and move on instead of fret about them or get upset about them.

Maybe that is what it is then....with age really does come experience and knowledge--that you actually use LOL. Finally knowing that some things just can't be changed, some people will just never change, and life as you know it has never changed....you have.

glitter-graphics.com

War zone

2011-06-01T23:11:00.000-04:00

Wow...this is one of those weeks where parenthood and careers do a head-on collision.

For starters, hubby is working extra hours because of inventory at his job. As for me, both the day-job office and the home-office have exploded this week with deadlines and the, well, if-it-can-go-wrong-it-will grenades (especially at the day office). So the hours are longer at work then even later night shifts at the home office and a lot more stressful just as.....

Baseball season for the boys started. And of course my sportsaholic children aren't content just to play on the house league team that my husband and I just so happen to coach (yes, go ahead and read as he cons me into helping out every year LOL). Oh, no, my boys also made it onto the rep teams (read proud, but oh my gosh--two different age levels now)--and this year those schedules totally clash...again, another KABOOM!

So, the war zone this week involves bringing in the reserve troop of grandparents (who are thankfully on a mid-travel break) to watch the kids afterschool while I work the extra hours, get home, try desperately to fix quick yet WW friendly dinners, change for baseball practice, only for the hubby to go back to work afterwards; then do the whole thing over again sustituting practice for a ballgame (to which I am going to be lone coach as it is inventory night for him, yikes!) and rinse and repeat yet again only this time in different tanks as one heads off with one son for an out of town rep game while the other makes sure the youngest gets to his rep practice. Armour plated tanks would be good right about now--no messing with traffic, just ride right over LOL

Oh, and just for fun because yeah, I might be having a bit of trouble sleeping with everything going on...Friday night is the town's Cancer Society Relay for Life 7pm to 7am walk for a Cure...to which we are both on a team for the first time this year--I haven't done an all nighter in a VERY long time LOL....so you can kiss sleeping in the war zone goodbye until maybe Saturday night.

And I'm telling you, by then, I don't even think a grenade will be able to wake me up until very late on Sunday morning :)

So put your helmets on people....in my world, you're gonna need them this week LOL

glitter-graphics.com

Seriously.....

2011-05-23T10:39:00.003-04:00

....can it get any better than this?

This was my office this weekend....

...yeah, pretty darn cool....actually warm and glorious LOL

How do they do it?

2011-05-16T16:26:00.003-04:00

Have you ever seen Dragon's Den or Shark Tank? My husband and I like to watch it but, at the same time, we sit back thinking: How do they do it?

How do these people come up with an idea that other people buy or buy into? Sure, not every idea is great or works but there are quite a few that do--but HOW do they do it.

Now, we're not in a position to put up $20K, 50K or even 100K like some of those people do (mortgaging the house twice for a product that might or might not work is waaaaaaaay to scarey a risk factor)

Still, wouldn't it be nice to find that one idea that took your family from paycheck to paycheck to a chance to get that new roof put on and maybe a nice vacation every other year or so?

Just dreaming today.....that's the nice thing about being a writer, we dream all the time, and we can actually make it come true on paper for someone even when our real life gets a little tough around the purse-strings LOL

Whomp!

2011-05-10T14:38:00.002-04:00

Well, somehow the sky just opened up and a whole pile of pandas dropped down all at the same time! Not far off from what happened at work this week--replace pandas with documents and it's pretty close. Whomp!

Backed up again, but really, what else is new? The good part is that at some point during the day I always get to come home and leave it there LOL.

Writing wise, I've submitted the next story in my Noelle series and eagerly await a verdict from my editor. I also have a Valentine's story just waiting for the final crit from my critique partners before submission, which opens up the floor to a brand new story that has been sitting on the sea of creativity in my brain for the past couple months. I've written notes here and there and made a bulletin board on my computer--all the time just letting it stew, bubble and boil until it's just about ready to put a draft on paper. We'll see how it goes.

Hurdles

2011-05-09T05:56:00.003-04:00

Run.....jump.....run.....jump......run......jump

Every get those days....months...years LOL.

Did take time out to have a lovely Mother's Day though.....all of us, including the furry, four-footed child took a walk down at the beach. They were digging some of it up, I assume to get ready for the season later in June so their were mounds of sand dunes. How can you not go play in the sand when your children call you with their laughing giggles. Can't remember the last time I had that much fun goofing off!

New Year

2011-01-08T07:29:00.002-05:00

It's already a week into the new year...wow, doesn't take long.

I could bore you with a long list of resolutions like losing weight and writing more--but I've already been on my path to lose weight (currently at -32lbs!) so that's already established and yes, I want to write more but its finding time and discipline as usual. I want to blog more but that again is the same as the previous.

Though I did recently figure out what the slight difference to when I used to blog all the time because there is one other Canadian author whose career I've been following since she got her first contract about four years ago ( www.donnaalward.blogspot.com) and I couldn't figure out how she could blog regularly plus get all her writing etc done.

I figured it out this week--the day job changed. I used to work from home like her so of course blogging would be the first thing I did when I started up the computer, getting warmed up so to speak before moving on to the work and/or writing. But now that I work outside the house, the routines have changed. I now check email at work and deal with the immediate needs quickly, but I don't necessarily turn the Internet on on the home computer until later in the day, and usually only a few times a week until the weekend so by the time I get on....I know, excuses, excuses.

Not that I'm jealous of this other author (okay, maybe a little/lot) but hey, life sometimes dictates necessity like needing income into the house. But mainly, I so admire her because she has the main thing I lack--discipline. So that is totally my problem to figure out. And she is so inspirational to me that it keeps me focused.

So, no big resolutions, just the same goals and hopes and things to work on.

What about you?

From me to you

2010-12-23T05:52:00.000-05:00

Wishing you a very...

Hope you have...

and a very....

glitter-graphics.com

Little Helpers

2010-12-20T05:47:00.002-05:00

It's fun having kids for Christmas, they keep the excitement level so high LOL.

On the downside, they get to be real smart and finding places to hide things or having to wait until you are 100% sure they are fully, down-to-the-mat, won't twitch sleeping so you can wrap presents is getting more and more difficult. Those tricky little elves!

glitter-graphics.com

2010-12-17T06:05:00.002-05:00

Santa's Elves

How could he do this to her two days before Christmas! Ginny just found out the love of her life—and co-elf—is leaving her for another woman. Santa Holloran’s been busy matchmaking around town, but this is one holiday heart even he might not be able to fix.

Christmas in Noelle...where love and laughter are always at the top of Santa's list!

A NOELLE free read! Click HERE.

Join us!

2010-12-15T05:03:00.002-05:00

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SweeterRomanticNotions

A Cinderella Christmas

2010-12-14T06:04:00.000-05:00

Contemporary Holiday
Novella
Rating: Sweet/Sensual

Christmas in Noelle...where love and laughter are always at the top of Santa's list!

A Cinderella Christmas

Her mother's ridiculous idea to gift her with 'a man' for Christmas is driving Angie Bellini insane! Every bachelor and his brother in Noelle are asking her to save them a dance at the upcoming wedding of Santa Claus Holloran's daughter. What's a girl to do to keep her sanity and thwart a scheming mother? Date the one man in town her mother despises, of course.

Wes O'Connor doesn't like the plan Angie has coerced him into for two reasons: 1) He's still paying for the last time those big brown eyes made him do something stupid and 2) He doesn't want to 'pretend' to date the beautiful baker, he wants the fairytale to turn into a real happily-ever-after.

Their ending may not be so happy, though, when they discover they aren't the only players in their little game of make-believe.

Available now from The Wild Rose Press

REVIEWS:

5 Hearts from the Romance Studio!!
Ms. Stacy Dawn has written a great book which was a quick read that was mesmerizing. The emotionally charged ending was completely unexpected. The other characters were so entertaining that at times it was laugh-out-loud funny.
I highly recommend this book. This is not my first Stacy Dawn book and I hope it will not be my last. This is a terrific read from start to finish. You will be thrilled to read it. It's bound to be a best-seller.
~Brenda Talley, The Romance Studio

4.5 Ribbions from Romance Junkies!!
A hilariously funny read, I absolutely adore Stacy Dawn’s A CINDERELLA CHRISTMAS. Meet Angie and Wes who have to resort to extreme measures to get one up on Angie’s mother – Vita. Things go from make-believe to the real thing, but no one admits to this until hearts are broken and halos are tarnished. A CINDERLLA CHRISTMAS is a really sweet read that will have you hunting down the other books about the love life of people in this small town who believe it or not have a real life Santa Claus, who loves his sweets. http://romancejunkiesreviews.com/artman/publish/contemporary/A_Cinderella_Christmas.shtml

A Cinderella Christmas was the perfect fit for a fun, romantic holiday read.
I love Stacy Dawn's Christmas in Noelle series, and reading a new story in the series is becoming one of my favorite holiday traditons.
~Kathy Adrico, Kathy's Review Corner

I felt warm and fuzzy as I read this story of reverse psychology gone every which way it could. A sweet story to warm up a winter day.
~Reviewed by Hibiscus, The Long and Short of It

I have enjoyed a number of the different tales centered on this town by the talented Ms. Dawn of The Wild Rose Press and A Cinderella Christmas in no different. You will want a plate of cookies, a glass of something festive and a nice cozy area to read this story, if not you will be off looking for cinnamon buns, and hot dairy farmer's buns to go with them. I completely enjoyed A Cinderella Christmas and think you will aslo enjoy this fast-paced festive story.
~Tanya, Joyfully Reviewed

EXCERPT:

“But I don’t want to date you...I mean...” Wes shifted in his seat, clenching and unclenching the steering wheel. How had everything gotten turned around? Sure, at the bakery, after seeing those beautiful brown eyes flare from friendly to frustrated to hopeful all in a span of fifteen minutes, he knew he wanted to know her a little better, again. Maybe pick up where his youthful mishap had detoured them.

But this was not how he pictured getting the date. He glanced sideways at her cute little nose scrunched in contemplation—of him. Wes gulped and darted his gaze back to the road.

The zip-zup-zip of her playing with the zipper on her jacket etched into the sudden silence.
“A-are you dating someone?” she finally ventured.

“No, but—”

“Engaged?”

“No, but—”

“Married?”

“No,” he bellowed over her rapid interrogation. Geez, let a guy get a word in edgewise here.

Instead, she twisted around, leg back up on the seat again as comfortable as if she’d ridden in the truck a thousand times before. “Then what is it? Is it me? You find me ugly, repulsive?”

“No, Angie, come on!”

In truth, her position grazed her knee against his hip, sending currents of awareness straight to his chest. Repulsive? Not even close.

He focused his attention on the mid-morning street, counting the huge snowflakes to cool himself down. How had a simple delivery job become so complicated? He now realized why his father handled this end of the business. Ian O’Connor was a people-person while Wes preferred the uncomplicated company of the farm.

Slender hands latched onto his upper arm, effectively melting the snowflake theory.
“Please. I need help and you’re all I’ve got at the moment.”

With tight lips, he tried to focus on the road, but his gaze kept flicking back to her hands clenching his arm.

“For old time’s sake, Wes. Please.”

He made the mistake of glimpsing the dark eyes, big and round and rivaling any kicked-puppy-dog-look he’d ever seen. His jaw ticked tight, and he felt himself caving.

Be strong this time, Wes.

The hands around his arm pulled in small, pleading tugs while her lips quirked in a mischievous tilt. “I’ll bake you a special batch of chocolate chip cookies...” she coerced. “Three batches...better, a dozen!”

No use—the minute she batted those lashes, he was a dead-man-driving. The only choice left was to chuckle and shake his head in defeat. “Dad likes them too. Make it a dozen and you got yourself a deal.”

“Oh thanks, Wes,” she squealed. “You’re a real pal.”

His smile twitched to a wince at her euphoric outburst. Being her ‘pal’ was least on his list at the moment. They’d picked up right where they left off in high school—big brown eyes messing with his good sense. And, judging by this morning’s events at the bakery, he wasn’t finished paying for the first time.

More stories from the humorously eccentric town of Noelle, Alberta...

Click on a cover for more information

Christmas on Parole

2010-12-09T06:03:00.000-05:00

Contemporary Holiday Romance
Novella
Rating: Sweet/Sensual

Christmas in Noelle...where love and laughter are always at the top of Santa's list!

Christmas on Parole

Welcome back to Noelle, Alberta, home of the infamous Reindeer Games, Santa Claus Holloran, and a fifteen foot Rudolph monument welcoming you to town—that was, before Deke Halls ran his semi into it. Even though it was an accident, thanks to the beautiful but annoying judge, instead of heading to Bermuda for a holiday vacation, he's spending Christmas on parole.

Laney McGovern wasn't about to let the good-for-nothing trucker get away with reckless driving and decapitating the town's historical monument. She'd divorced his arrogant type before—all good old boy smiles but selfish as the Grinch. Sentencing him to community service with each of the six founding families seemed like a just punishment, but when the eccentric townsfolk begin to embrace the handsome cowboy, this judge slowly discovers not all offenders of the heart are the same. Only problem is, she doesn't know if she wants to deck the Halls or shove him under the mistletoe.

REVIEWS:

FIVE BOOKS FROM THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT REVIEWS!
Christmas on Parole is the prefect Christmas romance, sweet, light hearted, and sexy. This is Stacy Dawn's second books set in Noelle, Alberta. I smiled all the way through Christmas on Parole and laughed often - it was a real Christmas treat.

5 HEARTS FROM THE ROMANCE STUDIO!
This is a great fast-paced book guaranteed to be hard to put down. Ms. Stacy Dawn has written a book which absolutely mesmerized me. I loved this book and highly recommend it to everyone. It's a great read, holiday or not.
~Reviewer: Brenda Talley, The Romance Studio

There isn't anything about Christmas on Parole not to like. The premise is laugh-out-loud funny, the characters are endearing and the dialogue is perfect for the situation. I completely enjoyed this Stacy Dawn tale and plan to read more from this author in the future. Here sense of iteming is super. Her characters seem to say the perfect thing at exactly the right moment. There were more times than I can remember when I giggled while reading this. I enjoyed wondering if Deke and Laney would get together. Nothing about Christmas on Parole disappointed me. It was entertaining all the way through.
~Reviewed by: Marlene, Fallen Angel Reviews

FROM ROMANCE JUNKIES: There's a sense of wonder, hope and good will amongst the characters and really could you not love a story with a character known as Santa Claus? Stacey Dawn brings this holiday oriented town to life and instills a sense of holiday spirit - even for a grinch like me! CHRISTMAS ON PAROLE is a delightfully fun read full of situations that will have readers smiling as they read through the pages to see whether Deke and Laney to cave into their feelings for each other or not.
If after reading this story you want to spend some more time with the citizens of Noelle, Alberta, then be sure to check out Ms. Dawn's REINDEER GAMES.

Christmas on Parole is another Stacy Dawn masterpiece. The characters are endearing and sexy, and god help me I think I'm in love with Santa.
~Johanna Melaragno, author

EXCERPT :

Before she realized her legs had moved, Laney stood behind him. She gave a quick wave up to Santa Claus Holloran then folded her arms and leaned a shoulder against the back of the sleigh. "Little tall for one of Santa's elves, aren't you?"

She'd meant it as a joke but as soon as Deke's eyes landed on her, his smile disappeared.

"Judge." He nodded crisply. "Checking up on me already?"

Her hackles rose of their own accord. She tried to play nice but, obviously, he didn't want to. "That is my job," she said, digging a booted toe into the snow.

"Don't worry, I'll do mine then get out of your hair." Deke lifted another child up on Santa's lap.

His smile flickered on for the children and off for her like broken Christmas tree lights.
"Good, make sure you do."

Laney shoved off and stormed around the sleigh towards her jeep. Men! Who needed them any way? They were nothing but a pain in the ass.

The tingles creeping up from the firm hand clamped around her arm made the owner unmistakable. She had half a mind to turn around and deck him for his audacity.

"I'm sorry."

The apologetic expression beneath a lowered Stetson dissolved the angry words leaving only puzzlement on her tongue. "What?"

"Look, I'm sorry about just now." Deke's free hand gestured towards the sleigh. "I've had an unusual twenty-four hours and, well, I guess I put all the blame on you. No excuse, I know but I am sorry. This is not how I want you to see me."

Laney yanked her arm back to cross tightly over her chest with the other. "Oh? And just how is it you want me to see you, Mr. Halls?"

He didn't have to speak, his smile said it all.

Available at The Wild Rose Press

And in print from Amazon.com

More stories from the humorously eccentric town of Noelle, Alberta...

Click on a cover for more information

Reindeer Games

2010-12-06T06:02:00.000-05:00

Contemporary Holiday Romance
Short Story
Rating: Sweet/Sensual

Christmas in Noelle...where love and laughter are always at the top of Santa's list!

Reindeer Games

The annual Reindeer Games between the Holloran and the Nickles families is legendary in their little town of Noelle, Alberta. This year, however, the competition gets kicked up a notch when Jess Holloran discovers winning the games may just mean losing her heart.

REVIEWS:

FROM THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT REVIEWS--4 1/2 BOOKS!!
Need a break from all the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season? Only a few minutes to spare? Reindeer Games is the ideal escape. Short, sweet and light hearted, it will have the reader smiling and ready to take on the shopping crowds. My suggestion for Christmas fatigue - warm up a cup of tea and take 15 minutes to enjoy Stacy Dawn's Reindeer Games.
~Reviewed by Magnolia

I just finished reindeer games and I loved it. Very feel good, holiday tale.
Awesome job
signed,
RG-a new fan :}

Hey I just finished Reindeer Games and adored it! Great, sweet Christmas romance!!
-Shelli Stevens

I just finished reading Reindeer Games! Great little read! Bravo, girl
-Toni Sue

A beautiful look at how we can overlook love in the most familiar face. Great read from a great writer!
~ Toni Nichols

Sweet, funny, and heartwarming, just like Christmas should be.
~ Emma Sanders

EXCERPT:

I finally turned to address my adversary. "So, have you come to find out what I have in store for you this year when you lose?"

"Now look who's getting ahead of themselves." Sea-green eyes sparkled in amusement as he shouldered off the graying wood to come inside. "Same rules?"

"Loser has to do it, no question, no argument." Not that we really needed the clarification, the confirmations were more a part of the ritual. I tapped a gloved finger on my chin. "Hmmm. I haven't put you in a dress yet."

After the 'treetop' incident where Brent fell and broke his arm when we were nine, the Loser Deed no longer included daring feats. Fun humiliation, however, was completely within the rules. After what he put me through last year, I was aiming high on the humiliation meter.

In mock seriousness, I studied him from the top of his black Stetson to the snow-covered tip of his boots. "I kinda liked that little number your sister wore the other night at the high school's Christmas Dance. You know, I think pink could really be your color."

I laughed at the growl from low in his throat.

"Then again, I heard they still needed a Mrs. Claus for the children's party tomorrow. Maybe I'll call up Mrs. Willobee and tell her I have a volunteer who has no choice but to do it."

I squealed as two thick arms shot out and grabbed me around the waist.

"Maybe this year I'll ask you for a kiss. That's something you haven't done yet."

Available Now from The Wild Rose Press

More stories from the humorously eccentric town of Noelle, Alberta...

Click on a cover for more information

It's beginning to look a lot like...

2010-11-30T13:12:00.004-05:00

....Christmas!!!

Today, the snow is staying on the ground.

glitter-graphics.com

YIPPEEE!!! 20 is a GREAT number!!

2010-11-10T08:49:00.003-05:00

As I mentioned, I started Weight Watchers in September and last night.....

Yep, I am sooooo thrilled. Okay, yes with the weight but almost more so because now I've earned my iPod! That was my motivation over the last couple months and now I get to go get one....the newest iPod Touch with all the cool stuff that goes along with the music LOL.

Yippeeeee!!!!

I hate working out

2010-11-04T09:19:00.003-04:00

That is my biggest issue. I went back to weight watchers at the beginning of September and am doing very well. But I know if I want to get some more defined progress then I need to actually start some sort of workout or exercise routine....blech!!

And I always have other work to do by the time I get home from the day job, I then have to do the work-from-home jobs--and I'm not talking about home jobs like laundry etc LOL. So basically I go from one computer away from home to the home computer.

Anyway, everyone has the same sob stories, I know. But one thing I like about the WW meetings is that they seem to hit on just what I need when I need it. Last one was about metabolism and moving more.

Not that I haven't been, but I get bored quick thinking about all the other stuff I have to do. But one thing I have been able to keep up on is what I call driveway walking. We have a long driveway, over 80 paces door to end so 160 round trip. So, I've been going out fifteen minutes earlier to wait for the bus and doing the driveway walkabout. After last meeting, however, I've thought myself clever because NOW, I call it the driveway workout. I walk down and then on the way back up, I add some toning whether bicep curls or leg lifts or arm raises--whatever hits my fancy for the way up. I even grab the hockey stick and hold it in various ways during the toning exercises to help out.

It sounds simple and a little geeky but since I live out in the country no one sees me. I have the music going from a little mp3 player and I actually feel like I am putting some effort into a workout.

Best of all, I don't have to 'plan' out time for a specific workout because I have to wait for the school bus five days a week anyway.

So, now I deem myself the inventor of the Driveway Workout. Hey......I see a DVD in my future (not LOL)

I'm going overseas today!!!

2010-10-26T09:28:00.001-04:00

My first time overseas....well, as close as I'll get for awhile LOL as I'm blogging with Rachel Brimble today!

Please come join me talk about my paranormal story, Shadows of Moonlight and how my Class of '85 story might actually count as a Halloween story.

http://www.rachelbrimble.blogspot.com/

2010-10-25T16:29:00.003-04:00

Been in the revision cave for the past week--not pretty LOL--and not much progress.

I found that I'm more of a routine person than I thought. You see, my laptop had been out of commission getting a new fan put in (gotta love techi friends LOL) Not a problem I figured because we have the desktop plus I have a little netbook.

Still, the process just seemed to go so slooooooooowwwwww. I couldn't 'get into' the revisions like I needed to and couldn't figure out why. I was excited how the story was turning out--lots of stuff to add but the overall I knew would work but sentence by sentence was just....off.

Then I realized that I wasn't working on my laptop like normal. Something about the different laptop keyboard and that sort of 'in your face' screen really helps me get into the story I guess. That or I was just procrastinating, using it as an excuse not to delve into the hard stuff until I got it back LOL. I vote for the first because it sounds more 'artsy' LOL.

Either way, I now have my baby back and already have gotten more work done in the last two days--um, but of course it's everybody elses writing LOL.

If I can get through the pile on my desk this week, hopefully I can get back to my own stuff by next week!

Wish me luck!

Romances don't have commercials.

2010-10-18T06:48:00.003-04:00

I had an epiphany last week but hadn't had time to write down my thoughts until now, though it's been at the forefront of them ever since.

Watching Castle last Monday night, there was a very small dedication at the end to Stephen J. Cannell. He died. That alone cause me great sadness.

You may not understand if you don't know who he is or ever saw any of his shows. But, I grew up on all his T.V. shows....The Rockford Files, A-Team, Riptide, Stingray, Hardcastle & McCormack, Hunter...the list goes on and on. I enjoy Castle because it had the same elements as those--handsome hero, funny, serious, romantic, adventurous etc. And he had even done a guest appearance as himself with other mystery writers on the show--a poker game of course LOL.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that Stephen J. Cannell was a HUGE influence on my writing career. Perhaps even the catalyst to my being a writer....and I never knew until last Monday.

You see, I didn't actually start reading much until my twenties when I worked at a place that had a lot of down time between customers. I grabbed a few books off the retail rack and then followed with Harlequins etc. I guess just because by then I enjoyed reading and then the more I found other romance writers, like osmosis, I just figured I wrote romance because I read it like the other authors did....

But turns out, that wasn't true, because I was writing action romance LONG before I ever picked up my first romance book. I remember in my early teens, the first story I ever wrote was on a big black, old fashioned typewriter about a pair of detectives and the woman who came to them for help, about kidnapping and intrigue and amnesia LOL...okay, I never said it was good writing...but all were enhancements of the T.V. shows that I enjoyed. Even the ending of those shows had this little clip of Stephen J. Cannell typing on an old typewriter, and I thought that was cool--hence when I found one in the basement, I dug it out. I was just trying to learn from a mentor I didn't even realize was a mentor.

Now I understand why my stories run like movies in my head, why I am so focused on getting the details of physical placement, facial expression, punch lines etc, just right. Why one of my most favorite reviews was for my Wayback story, One Starlit Night, when the reviewer said, "I felt like I was watching a movie, the details, descriptions and facts were so vivid and real." That one sentence made me so proud, like I hit the bullseye of what I wanted to accomplish for my readers.

I also now understand a lot more about my writing and writing process. Why my first drafts read more like screen plays and why I have to then fight with the second draft to transition them to a more comprehensive, readable story format. And why I never let even my critique partners read the first or second draft, because they were such an odd jumble that only seemed to make sense to me.

Most important though, I discovered WHY it bothers me so much that I can't get what I see in my head on paper the same way--paper isn't film LOL. And of why I have issues transitioning from action to action, those times when other details need to be explained or those down times that stories need to get from one place to another.....because Romances don't have commercials. Nope, LOL, not a one. No commercials, no montages etc....that would make the transitions so much easier LOL. I'm just glad the final results always work!

So, in short, my recent, historic epiphany is that I never started writing because I enjoyed romance, I started writing because I enjoyed clever screen writing and bigger than life heroes--handsome men who whisked me away once a week on episodic adventures.

And to be honest, I'm still not sure how I feel about this epiphany. In one light, it explains so much, I sort of feel....together now. Does that make sense? Like I finally understand who I am as a writer, which I never really did before, always thinking myself a bit on the outside and loose cannon.

On the other hand, though, it still saddens me, because just when I discovered this new and exciting insight...my distant mentor is gone.

Just another example of how strangers can affect your life in funny little ways, and how you don't know how important or influential a person is to you until they are gone.

So, my epiphany is also my small tribute to an amazing writer: Stephen J. Cannell...

You won't want to hear this....

2010-10-15T12:26:00.002-04:00

....but I'm in a Christmassy mood. Yep, I've got the tunes running through my head and screech with my sister when the word is mentioned.

Some stores now have Christmas items out and some are soooo cuuuuuutte!

But that's not the main reason. The main reason is because I'm working on the next story in my Noelle, Alberta series: Christmas in Noelle....where love and laughter are always at the top of Santa's list.

This is such a fun town to come back to. I'm on the second draft of the fifth story and I have to keep reminding myself to add in details like snow, christmas carols and even a jacket or two--that's the only thing about writing 'off season', you don't want the story to sound like it's in the tropics (unless of course it is a Christmas in the Tropics type story LOL)

But the more I work on it, the more I'm seeing red and green all around and in a merry mood. Yes, it helps that it is a romantic comedy. So, here I am, happy happy happy even though the scene I'm currently working on isn't working the way it should...and I have A LOT more to add than I initially thought.

Note to self: stop rushing through a first draft and adding cryptic notes that I can't figure out on the second go round. (What's worse is when I come to one of my notes that say, "Yuck, fix that.")

Pop on over!

2010-10-09T14:46:00.002-04:00

I'm blogging with the cool Liz Arnold and she's got some great questions on board!

Pop over and visit with us!!

https://lizarnoldbooks.wordpress.com/2010/10/08/welcome-fab-romance-author-stacy-dawn/

2010-10-07T17:55:00.004-04:00

Wow, what a great discussion on critique partners below! Thanks to all who participated and I hope those looking will get some good hints, cautions and enlightenment.

So, I'm sitting here sucking back a small handful of Wonka Nerds (one of my favorite vices) and totally putting off what needs to be done--the second draft of my next Noelle story. I guess I should start thinking of a blurb for it soon, just to give you an idea of the next event to happen in the eccentric town....a BIG but very little event at the same time *wink*

On the homefront....we discovered that our children can't float.

No, we didn't throw them in the lake and wait LOL, we enrolled them in swimming lessons. I guess they inherited their mother's heavy backend though LOL. It's quite an interesting experience watching a lesson. They love the water and have fun (which is the whole reason for the lessons for safety) but...well, they just don't float LOL. I think a few family lessons are in order to practice the basics.

glitter-graphics.com

Critique Partners

2010-10-04T05:34:00.002-04:00

The best advice I can give to newer writers--other than to keep writing and keep studying--is to find a couple GOOD critique partners.

By GOOD, I don't mean multi-published authors or english professors, no I mean as in a GOOD FIT.

I like to think of finding a good critique partner as that of finding a good husband. Some are lucky and they meet their future prince early while others have to go through quite a few dates and relationships to find Mr. Right.

When I first started looking for a critique partner, I met up on an eharlequin loop with a couple. They were very nice and we talked and exchanged chapters etc, but something just wasn't right. Part of it was because we wrote very different genres and had very different styles. Now, this isn't necessarily an issue, but we also just didn't click. She didn't take kind but honest critisism well and relashed back for one thing. Chock it up to equalling a really bad date LOL.

This being another point--not that I did, I honestly was kind and encouraging, but you couldn't even mention a plot hole without an argument--not pretty. Yes, I was discouraged but knew I needed someone because no one in my family nor group of friends or community wrote...I was all alone. So, I persisted.

I think I went on about seven 'dates' before I found a small group of ladies who, even though we live all around the world, have become great friends who I can count on when I need them. Who are honest but encouraging and make me laugh all the time....even when the R's roll in--and they still do, not as often thank goodness, but they still do. To have others to help you through those times and to celebrate when a contract comes in is truly priceless!

And here's some tips for the type of critique partner you want to find and you want to be: You want a kind but HONEST critique partner, not to mention you want to be honest and KIND. Don't start pointing out every little comma, every missed modifier and horrible plot hole. You need to really listen, first to what they are looking for--if it is a final read proofing before submission then sure, help them with that modifier. But if it's their first draft and they are looking for overall or general comments, then start by giving them those. And second, find ways to point out the parts that stand out to you without being painful. It doesn't help them or yourself if you are praising what you know has holes, yet, at the same time, it does no one any good to be too brutal about it either. Take a paragraph or few pages and give examples, give praise but be honest, and especially let them know you are there for them whether to work things out, brainstorm, reread and reread again. Critique partners are there for support, a second set of eyes, and hopefully a lifelong friend with the same interest in writing as yourself.

So don't get discouraged, go on a few dates and feel them out. Like finding a husband, if you are lucky, you WILL eventually find the right person to help make your dreams come true!

A couple of us did meet on the eharlequin boards and joined our small band to two others. Eharl is a good site as well as a number of others like The Wild Rose Press and Romance Divas as two that come to the tip of my tongue at the moment.

For those with critique partners...how many 'dates' did you go on before you found them, and what keeps you working together? Any other advice for those looking?

Congratulations to....

2010-10-01T20:01:00.002-04:00

...the winners of my Celebration Contest:

Kat1

Tonya C.

Marion G.

Susan L.

Knicole

Janinne G.

Each of them won a party loot bag full of author stuff from myself and my collegues plus a special little gift in there too!

Check out the contest link on this side to enter this month's contest.

LAST DAY!!

2010-09-30T08:52:00.002-04:00

Today's the last day to enter my Celebration contest!!!

You can find all the details here:

http://stacydawn.blogspot.com/2010/09/its-party-time.html

I'll be picking winners to announce tommorrow!

Oh no....here it comes....

2010-09-28T08:45:00.002-04:00

Fall...winter....those cold seasons that seem to last twice as long as spring and summer.

The weekend and last night were, well, just plain cold. The kind of cold where my thoughts turn to the woodstove. I've one of those husbands who thinks the furnace shouldn't come on until the 1st of November and get shut off the 1st of March.

Um, honey, we live in Canada....ain't gonna happen and never has LOL. But, to appease him, I do try to wait as long as I can--usually mid October if the weather cooperates....but it isn't.

I have a hunch this will be the weekend I vaccum out all the vents and prep for that furnace to roar to life and blessed heat!

A little giddy warmth did come, however, from the latest review for Corvette Confessions--5 HEARTS from the Romance Studio!! You can read it here:
http://theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/corvetteconfessionsdawn.htm

Party Time!

2010-09-25T07:12:00.003-04:00

Yep, got a lot going on today....starting with the children's bowling league meaning I had to get up early anyway on my Birthday.

Just wanted to make sure you get a chance to share in the 'loot' with me! Scroll down two below and find out all the info so you can have a chance to party with me today!

Playing Hookey

2010-09-23T12:04:00.005-04:00

I was a 'good girl' in school, I regretfully admit. I paid attention in class, did my homework, got good grades and never thought to miss a day unless I was really sick etc etc etc. Pathetic I know. I can say I was trying to please my parents or all sorts of things but more than likely, I was just a shy overachiever.

Looking back now, the one thing I regret is not taking the occasional day to play hookey. It wouldn't have affected my grades or my social status (actually, it might have helped that because I had none LOL) and it wouldn't have put me in a public detention centre either....but I never did and if I took any day off for an appointment or something other than illness, I always felt guilty.

Yes, maybe I have a nice job now and am proud of an escalating writing career but still, all my memories of school are of a few close friends, tests, projects and homework...very few 'fun' moments or memories to tell my children.

So now, as a mother, I get a tiny do-over and have the opportunity to let my children have the occasion 'just for fun' day off. Take today for instance, they get to play hookey to go into an afternoon Blue Jays baseball game in Toronto with their dad (yes, do take note that I am here at work on my meger lunch break telling you this while all my boys are having fun LOL).

Point being, they won't remember what they did in class today (they hardly remember the day of when I ask anyway) but they will have the memory to tell their own children that "yeah, we used to get to go with my dad to the Blue Jays games on a school day and had so much fun," and maybe they'll even make it a tradition with their own kids.

Don't get me wrong, though, I'm still a mom. These days only happen on the condition that they do well in school of course. Luckily, we've been blessed with smart, sociable, sporty, and might I add cute, children (though how the heck they got that from our genes, we'll never know LOL).

Did you play hookey or let your kids??

And while you're here playing a little hookey from whatever you are supposed to be doing LOL, don't forget to read the post below and enter my contest for some great 'loot!'

It's Party Time!!

2010-09-20T12:40:00.005-04:00

I've got so much to celebrate this September that I'm bursting at the seems!

a) I celebrated my 12th anniversary on September 12th (LOL I just realized that matched)

b) my new story, Corvette Confessions, just released at the Wild Rose Press and is getting GREAT reviews

c) I totally revamped my website and blogs last weekend and love the outcome. Check out http://www.stacydawn.com/ and tell me what you think!

AND

d) it's my BIRTHDAY on the 25th of September!

Soooooo, to celebrate all the great stuff going on in my life, I've got 6...thats SIX over-stuffed party loot bags to give away filled to the brim with author loot from my author friends and myself....and each one will have a special gift inside!

All you have to do is go to my website, http://www.stacydawn.com/, and find the three party dancing hamsters. When you find them in their party hats, email me at contests @ stacydawn.com (no spaces) with the page of my website you found them on and, on September 30th, I'll be picking the six lucky readers to send the loot bags to!

Come on then, what are you waiting for.....come celebrate with me!!

Driving with Pink Fuzzy Slippers on!

2010-09-17T05:41:00.000-04:00

It's my turn as part of the Class of '85 reunion authors to blog at the Pink Fuzzy Slipper Writers today!

Please (yes, I'm not opposed to begging) come over and visit today and let me know if there was one boy in your high school past that might have been the one that got away!

http://www.pinkfuzzyslipperwriters.blogspot.com/

Reviews are RACING in!

2010-09-15T06:40:00.000-04:00

I am so extatic at the wonderful reviews that have been coming in this last week for my Class of '85 story, Corvette Confessions...

4 Tea Cups from Happily Ever After Reviews!

"Ms. Dawn's characters are delightful and well grounded as the story unfolds in the front seat of the corvette, which is as much a character and personality in it's own right. I loved the description of the memories being kept in the box, which is gradually prised open as the conversation moves over the last twenty-five years. Written in the first person from AJ's pov, we still get as much emotion from Greg from his actions and expressions, as we do from AJ. A quick read, it is a powerful a story as some longer ones."

~Happily Every After Reviews
http://hea-reviews.blogspot.com/2010/09/review-corvette-confessions-by-stacy.html

"The class of '85 series can add another gem to the homecoming queen's crown, Corvette Confessions is a witty, whimsical, fun read."
~Donna Bolk, an Amazon.com review
http://www.amazon.com/Corvette-Confessions-Class-85-ebook/dp/B0042AMI86/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AZC9TZ4UC9CFC&s=digital-text&qid=1284319608&sr=8-1

"Corvette Confessions is part of the Class of ’85 Reunion Series. This story really brought home the feelings associated with never acting on a feeling and regretting it, but given a second chance you can rectify it. A very real story."
~Emily, Single Titles
http://singletitles.com/?p=4829

Come join the fun!

2010-09-13T05:39:00.001-04:00

As you can see, I've been doing a bit of renovation--see the blog before this and you'll see the mess I made of my own computer but I think my blog and website turned out pretty good. I was aiming for that leisurely feel of romance. You can check out my matching website at www.stacydawn.com !

And....

The lovely ladies at the Pink Fuzzy Slipper Writers Blog are hosting the Class of '85 authors this month. I'll be up later in the week but would love to see you come out and join the party and other authors and see what wonderful crop of stories this series is producing!

http://www.pinkfuzzyslipperwriters.blogspot.com/

Well....crap!

2010-09-12T07:20:00.002-04:00

I should know better, I really should. But with all the cleaning out and purging I've been doing lately, I figured I'd add my computer to the list.

Well, after sorting and backing up all my files, switching things around so we no longer have three different log in pages (one for family, one for me and one for work) and thinking I was being so smart to sort ALL the files first, putting them on flash drive and then changing the computer around....I forgot about the 'on computer' stuff...namely my iTunes.

Yep, somehow, I totally wiped out my iTunes except for what was on my little ishuffle. Worse, I'd been using the iTunes regularly as a background radio since my husband swiped my radio from my office. And I was rather liking the system too.

Crap.

Now I'm hoping that I have most of it on my little shuffle but it doesn't hold much (and Santa Claus has yet to bring me an iPod to story more LOL) Not that this is a humongous loss in the comparative world of iPod users who have 1000, 2000 or more songs, mostly downloaded. Nope, my meeger file only had 250 songs and maybe 30 of those were bought and downloaded. I should even be able to recover half of that thirty when I sinc my shuffle back on (or so I hope)--so that is at least the silver lining.

But still, that's not only money wasted but good songs down the drain of the cyber world.

Crap.

It's Here!!

2010-09-08T06:51:00.001-04:00

I am so excited about my new release that is now up in the Wild Rose Press bookstore!

Not only that, it already have a 5 DIAMOND REVIEW from Gemstone Reviews!! "Stacy Dawn weaves a great story." "I enjoyed this book and would definately recommend it to all."

You can read the review out here: http://www.gemstonereviews.com/site_page.aspx?pageid=43

Thenead into the drive-through window at WRP and check out my story here: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/corvette-confessions-p-4210.html?zenid=a4210e9eb48bc2ea4a37127583a440bf

Class of '85 Series

Have you ever been in the right place at the wrong time?

Dumped at the senior spring dance, AJ, who’d always been more into softball and shop class than cheerleading and pep squad, escaped the crowd to mope in the Corvette on loan to the class for the semester. When Greg Roberts unexpectedly joined her, his attempts to cheer her worked—too well. She might have even confessed her love that night if Greg’s longtime girlfriend hadn’t come looking for him.

Twenty-five hard years later, forced to come to the reunion by her best friend, AJ escapes back to her favorite class, only to find the exact Corvette—a little worn and faded—sitting right where she’d left it. Fond memories turn into reality when Greg shows up at her driver’s side window again—and déjà vu takes on a whole new meaning.

And keep your eye on my blog! I've got some special things coming up this month!!

RELEASE DATE!!!!

2010-08-18T17:16:00.007-04:00

Not only did I just get a gorgeous cover, I also now have a release date for my Class of '85 Reunion story: Watch for Corvette Confessions coming to The Wild Rose Press on September 8th!!

Corvette Confessions

Have you ever been in the right place at the wrong time?

Dumped at the senior spring dance, AJ, who’d always been more into softball and shop class than cheerleading and pep squad, escaped the crowd to mope in the Corvette on loan to the class for the semester. When Greg Roberts unexpectedly joined her, his attempts to cheer her worked—too well. She might have even confessed her love that night if Greg’s longtime girlfriend hadn’t come looking for him.

Twenty-five hard years later, forced to come to the reunion by her best friend, AJ escapes back to her favorite class, only to find the exact Corvette—a little worn and faded—sitting right where she’d left it. Fond memories turn into reality when Greg shows up at her driver’s side window again—and déjà vu takes on a whole new meaning.

Yippie Skippie!!!!!!!!

2010-07-16T06:03:00.003-04:00

I am super excited to announce that I received a contract for my Class of '85 short story Corvette Confessions!!!

I absolutely can't wait to find out what the cover looks like. You fill out a sheet with details about the story and characters but you never really know what the artist will evolve that into a cover so it's like Christmas present sitting under the tree for a week that you take in every angle and contemplate with excitement but you just don't know until you unwrap it!

Oh, and the names in my story have changed slightly since I gave you the blurb a few weeks ago. Just before I submitted it, I did a final read through of the series details from the loop and found out that someone had already been contracted with a story with a character named Deny--who was a druggie LOL. So I figured I'd be safe and change her name LOLOL.

You'll all be one of the first to get updates of a cover and release date!! Coming soon to a blog near you!

Whoa

2010-06-10T19:01:00.002-04:00

Crap...I thought I was doing better at blogging regularly until I just see now that I've missed a couple weeks again. Where does all the time go?

Okay, don't answer that because I could give you a list but that would take me most of the night to write it LOL. Top is baseball for the boys and work (which has yet to get easier but man, can I fake it good LOL)

The good news is that I have finished a story! It's been over eighteen months since I've completed anything which only proves that life got far too in the way. Writing is a release for me and I never knew how pent up I was until I started forcing myself to the laptop at least a few times a week. I need that feeling of accomplishment to help tone down the other harried areas of my life that make me feel...less.

Anyway, the story is the twenty-fifth class reunion I mentioned earlier. Man, I LOVED the eighties!!! School--not so much LOL. It was okay but I can't say any wonderous event happened that would make me want to go back LOL. Not like in my story....how's that for a follow through teaser LOL.

The story is hitting the cyberspace road as we speak, off to my wonderful critique partners.

Oh crap, about to tell you the premise of the new story, I realized that I have yet to write a blurb for it, which I will need for the submission letter. I love blurbs, synopsis I can live without LOL. Okay, give me a minute and let me see what I can come up with--I'll be right back!

Okay, back LOL. It still needs work, but it will give you a good gist:

Have you ever been in the right place at the wrong time?

Dumped at the senior spring dance, Deni, who’d always been more into softball and shop class than cheerleading and pep squad, escapes the crowd to mope in the Corvette on loan to the class for the semester. Unexpected, her classmate Greg Roberts comes in and joins her. His attempts to cheer her work, and Deni might have even fallen in love that night if not for Greg’s longtime girlfriend coming to look for him.

Twenty-five hard years later, forced to come to the reunion by her best friend, Deni escapes back to her favorite class, only to find the exact Corvette—a little worn and faded—sitting right where she’d left it. Fond memories turn into reality when Greg shows up once again at her driver’s side window—and déjà vu takes on a whole new meaning.

Is Real romance dead?

2010-05-18T06:43:00.002-04:00

The past three years have not been good for a number of our friends--well, I guess that depends on which one you ask LOL.

I think we are now up to four couples whose marriages have ended in the last three years. And I'm not talking the under five year percentage either. I'm talking the over 15 and close to twenty years married percentage.

And we never saw any of them coming.

To be fair, we don't live close to any but have been in constant contact and/or the occasional visits so no, we don't know the day to day grind they went through, but still no mention during weekly telephone calls or anything. The last one just happened this weekend (hence the blog).

I know things like this usually have a 'build' for quite awhile--that's the part we don't see but still, it makes you worried. Is Real romance still alive or does it fade out and fizzle as life progresses? Do we marry with the blind thought that yeah, I'd like to make babies with this guy for awhile or sure, she'll do for now??

We're going on our 12th year of marriage and I'll tell you right now, if my husband came up to me and said it was over, I would be totally blindsided. We're not perfect, but still, we seem to work things out and accept each other for who we are etc etc etc. We have similiar thoughts and theories on raising our children, family etc and those haven't changed (although I think this baseball season is might affect that LOL as both boys are on house league and aiming for the rep league too, meaning most night this summer will be on a ball field)

I'm not overly worried at the moment though, not when my husband comes up to me in the kitchen, turns me around, stares me straight in the eye and says, "I love you. No, I mean I really love you," and gives me a big bear hug just before announcing the demise of the most recent friends' marriage.

I feel bad for them, I do, but I can't help being thankful that romance, at least in my home is still very much alive!

Old Movies and New ways of thinking

2010-05-13T14:43:00.005-04:00

I saw a movie on TV when I was young, it was a 1950's or 1960's movie--sort of the Doris Day era. I don't remember the title but it was a romance (of course LOL) The gist was that this woman complained about her dates or finding the right man so her mother gave her a book--A How to Train Your Dog book--and suggested if she thought about men in the same way as training a dog, they would be 'lapping' at her feet. And it worked like a charm...until the boyfriend found out about the book and started a little 'training' of his own.

Needless to say, it was a hilarious movie and has stuck with me even ions later. And over the years, I found that the concept can be usefull sometimes, not necessarily the dog training (although, truth, that works too LOL) but mostly the looking at something that is driving you crazy from a total left field perspective.

For me right now, it's more of a three ring circus.

So I took that theory and went with it today. Instead of letting things control me, trying to perform acrobatics, climb through hoops and keep my balance on the tightrope, I hopped off, and started playing ringmaster. I smiled (ie previous post LOL) and kept things focused and moving in one direction--in one ring so to speak--before I let the light shine on the next ring.

And it worked--for the most part. I'm not saying I'll play ringmaster every day but for today, I came home without that shoulder-clenching stressful frustration. Without thinking of what I missed or didn't know, and instead with what I caught and what I was able to discover on my own--and the whole time making it look like I was in control LOLOLOLOL. But isn't that the secret to life right there--fake it to the best of your abilities!

STRESSED!!!

2010-05-11T19:01:00.002-04:00

Okay, that sums up the new day job, let's talk about something else, okay?

I'm already about half-way through my first draft of the Class of '85 story I'm writing. Tentatively titled Corvette Confessions. It's fun because things are still popping up about the era--take this moment for instance.

Our family loves music and we were just watching the top ten countdown on Much Music. What do they advertise for the next show--the Daily Show is having an all '80's day. Yep, the debate from my previous blog lives on--coincidence or the universe's amusement.

Not that I'm talking about the first subject again but I did read an article yesterday that in times of stress if you smile whether you want to or not, the endorfins in your brain or whatever chemical mystery the article talked about would alleviate the stress automatically. I'm not saying it works, but let's just say I was smiling A LOT today for no reason whatsoever.

So, everyone....keep smiling!

Flashback!

2010-05-04T14:44:00.002-04:00

Sometimes I wonder if the universe really sends signs or if we are just more in tune to our environment at certain times.

Take this past week for instance. I've started working on a story for my publisher's series Class of '85. Well, I was the class of '88 so the time frame works for me. It's a fun story intermixed during an '80 dance at a reunion.

I've heard and/or seen more things from the '80's this past week than I have in AGES! I'm talking movies on TV, music on the radio and music stations I've watched for weeks on end without one Madonna video LOL. Yet, all of a sudden, there they are.

Is it the universe a) telling me that, yes, it is time to write this particular story and b) keeping me 'in the atmosphere' or is it simply my mind is so focused on that time period that I'm noticing it more?

I guess the answer lies with your choice of logic. Are you an open minded person or does logic run your life?

Of course, I'm a Libra so my scales of logic vs metaphisical imagination are always toppling one way or the other.

For now though, I like the thought that the universe is giving me the high five sign.

Primping

2010-04-30T06:33:00.001-04:00

First, I haven't walked off the job yet so that's a plus. In reality, I'm learning a lot the hard way so when the easy stuff actually comes, I'll wonder why it's such a breeze LOL. Truthfully, I'm enjoying it, I only wish (as most everyone in offices) that I had more time to focus on one file at a time at this point so I can learn what's needed for the next instance rather than three or four very different things at once.

I've also discovered another thing this week--dressing up every day is a pain LOL.

Don't get me wrong, before the husband and kids, I worked full time in a field that I had to dress up daily for too. The only thing I can think of is back then, I was also dressing up for potential dates LOL--you know, to catch the eye of this or that hunky guy who passes by every day. Hmmm, now that I think about it, I eventually caught him too LOL.

But, after years of wearing clothes yanked from the dryer and that washed easily because of spit up, spills and grimy hands--not to mention working at a job that was just down the staircase and only needed a warm pair of trackpants and sweater as a uniform--its a challenge and time consuming to curl my hair and put on make-up EVERY day LOL, and this is just the first week. I know it sounds whiny but I was literally standing in front of the mirror this morning wondering what to do with my unrully mass that was sooooo not cooperating. Then, with barely five minutes before the school bus, was tossing my arms into a blouse and hunting for shoes.

What's the word I'm looking for? Oh yeah, time-management. Guess I have to work on that one again LOL.
[I wonder if there is an LOL sign addition for hysterical laughter...maybe HLOL or <:{} ]

New Job or Boiling Oil...tough choice

2010-04-27T18:03:00.003-04:00

I think I now better understand the term 'baptism by fire.'

Nothing like showing up on your first day at a new job to a MAJOR MESS left by the former employee.

Needless to say, stress levels were WAY over the roof. Thankfully, the women in the other office were very understanding and a GREAT BIG help.

So, summary of first day--I didn't quit on the spot and made it home to tell you all about it:

Me - 1
Fear - 0

That's gotta count as a good day somehow LOL.

I'm sixteen again

2010-04-23T06:26:00.003-04:00

And no, unfortunately it's not my birthday LOL.

Today is the last day of my current job and I start a new one next week. I feel like I'm sixteen and walking into my very first job. Back then it was a Kmart cashier, this time it's an administrative assistant to a lawyer--yikes!

Why is anything new as scary as it is exciting? It's a good job, the hours let me put the kids on the schoolbus and get home just before they get off, and obviously the pay is better LOL...

...But I feel a little out of my element. Don't you sometimes wish you can bypass that awkward phase of a new job--learning the routine, not stepping on your own toes let alone someone else's etc, that all the things you need to know could be miraculously implanted in your head. Hmmm, that's probably not as far off as we thing. Then again, for YEARS my author friends and I have been trying to figure out the prototype to take the story in our heads and, SHAZAM, there it is perfectly on the paper ready to submit. Yeah, still working on that one too LOL

So I'm nervous and scared and I know I will fret about it all weekend because that's what I do. My friend reminds me that I wouldn't have gotten the job if I wasn't capable and able to handle it and that I'm a pretty darn smart chick--so why can't we think of ourselves that way?

Hmmm, maybe that will be my mantra next week--You're a pretty darn smart chick. I like it!

Feel free to borrow it if you're having any of those 'sixteen' moments again too.

Happy Earth Day!

2010-04-21T06:07:00.005-04:00

I like that our community gets involved.

My son's grade one class will be going 'on an adventure' with a high school class to plant trees today.

Our small office--including the lawyer--goes every year for a couple hours to the town hall to get garbage bags, recycle bags and gloves and then we go clean up around the Ganny (The Ganaraska River) that runs through downtown. It's such a pretty place to work there with old building and architecture and so it irks me more that people litter there. And just for a fun note, the town runs a race down the river every year to commemorate a flood that happened in 1980--the raced is called Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny. Yep, it's hilarious because along with kayaks and canoes, there is a race for those who create their own water crafts. They dress up in costumes or goofy things and try to float on anything from cardboard to tires to old doors even LOL.

Oh, and if you want to see just how pretty the downtown where I work (which is so quaint and old fashion) is, just watch Happy Town on ABC coming at the end of the month. This new thriller/drama series was shot up here for the town scenes and the clips look sooooo cool! I even was stopped coming out of the parking lot because they were doing a scene in the park and on the street in front of the town hall. I was sooooo neat!! I'm gonna have to write a story about that someday LOL.

Oops, okay, focusing again, Earth Day. Everyone should do something to help!

Why is cold tea...

2010-04-19T14:07:00.002-04:00

....not the same as ice tea?

I've been working for a couple hours and upon taking a sip of my tea, realized that it must have been a while in between sips LOL.

All my boys got back home safe and extremely happy from the Blue Jays game yesterday. Okay, maybe not extremely as their team lost BUT, they did have someone toss them up a couple batting practice balls to keep not to mention picked up their yearly media guide with all the statistics on the players etc. Now, you need to understand, this is something scouting and media use for their jobs so there aren't a lot of pictures and the numbers and details are numerous and small type--not something normal kids would look twice at let alone a lot of adults, yet this has been going on for YEARS (and they are only 7 and 8 years old now LOL) and my children literally learned to read, print, and math reading these and sports cards. So, when I say I fully believe in the theory that if you give them something they are interested in they will learn better and faster, I've got two tawny haired pieces of proof.

As for me, the day was lazy yet productive....so I consider that a very good day on both counts LOL

Take Me out to the Ballgame!

2010-04-18T10:30:00.005-04:00

Baseball season has started and my husband has taken the boys to their first game of the season today. Guess you could call it a guy day LOL. And it's a big adventure because they got to go in the truck instead of the family car, they get to ride the GO Train into Toronto and hang out at the Rogers Centre watching batting practice etc before they grab a dog and chips for lunch and settle in to watch the game with dad.

Best part, my husband didn't tell them until the very last minute. It was great.

Once or twice over the course of the season, I head down to the game with them but for the most part, the four or five times they go is just the guys.

Which isn't such a bad thing for mom either. It's rare that I get a day totally to myself and last night my husband even suggested I do the hot bath thing too--yes, he's great LOL.

So since today is a 'me' day, I plan to do a little shopping and then some writing out on the back porch in the sunshine and have just an all around relaxing day.

Hope you're having a great weekend too!

I'm that kind of mom

2010-04-15T15:58:00.002-04:00

Yep, I'm officially that kind of mom. The kind that welcomes my boys' friends over after school, makes them some cookies and juice, then watch them head outside and play baseball in the backyard.

I totally had anxiety of sending my children to school and on a big school bus alone because I had always lived in a city and walked the short distance no matter where we lived. The kids, of course, didn't care, heck, they love every minute of it. But they had something I didn't...a small rural school and continuous friends.

I was trying to figure out what word to use there and 'continuous' was the only one that sort of fit. You see, we moved a lot. I think I went to seven different public school before staying in one highschool for the four years straight. Nothing ominous like hiding from the mob in the witness protection program LOL, just dad moved for his job a number of times across province or across country and/or mom got the itch for a new house so we made friends, but then had to leave them behind--and at that young age, they are hard to keep long distance. Don't get me wrong, I had a great childhood, I just didn't have those lifelong friends that you literally grow up with from day one in school.

Now my boys do and it just fills my heart every time I think of it. I love on the odd days I pick them up from school and their friends smile and say hi or joke around with me. And my husband and I don't plan to go anywhere. We bought this, our first home, with the full thinking that it would last us a very long time.

This was the very first time my son had come up to us and mentioned that he and his friend were wanting to get together after school or on the weekend to play baseball. I asked him to get their telephone number, called up the other mom and we happily arranged it....so here I am, watching them all out the window in the big side yard, goofing off, hitting balls, laughing and having fun.

Just the way childhood should be.

Yep, I'm gonna like being this kind of mom.

BICHOKing Today

2010-04-11T18:29:00.002-04:00

Yep, gotta get some serious work done and since I've moved the other computer to the better side of the desk, lets hope it works. I'm still working on my next Noelle Christmas story and it's turning out longer than planned--which in this case isn't a problem as it gives me more time to delve into Holly's lack of Christmas cheer. The hero, Rev, knows where she's coming from but isn't sure he can bring her around--don't worry, the eccentric town is helping LOL.

Length of story is an interesting thing--for me, usually the characters decide when the story ends. I've often planned it but then they surprise me and things change, shorter/longer sometimes I never know until the end. Attempting to try my hand at catagory again will be different as I will have to make sure the word count fits the line but that the story also fits the length. The first draft is always fun to find out how much more I have to play with or how much I need to tighten up.

Oh and update...my youngest and his team placed fifth in their bowling tournament this weekend!

All Clean!

2010-04-09T20:23:00.002-04:00

I'm hoping to get some writing and other work done this weekend. At the same time, I kept looking at my office thinking my desk needed a major overhall, a cleaning out so I have some space to move the mouse instead of just shoving things an inch to the side. I figured that I'd come home after the boys' bowling tomorrow and tidy it all up first to 'cleanse' my area for good thoughts LOL--but I also knew that it would dig into my work time to do it-->hmmm, a good excuse for procrastination, ya think?

Well, doing a last check of emails before I shut down ended with me cleaning out my inboxes. As I shut down to go make supper, I looked at my desk and thought why not do the cleaning tonight because I usually take Friday nights as a free night.

So, that's what I did. I moved things around, put things away, filed and re-organized. I also shifted the desktop over to the brighter, good corner of the desk because, on dial-up, the laptop works much better. This way, the laptop is now in the farther darker corner of the table at which I also left the uncomfortable chair, whereas the good chair is in front of the other computer....do you see where I'm going with this? Yep--I set up the non-internet computer in a better spot so I start using it more to work on and thus, hopefully, better avoid the distraction of checking emails or finding easy reasons to procrastinate.

I think the theory is good, but I'll let you know if it actually works LOL.

It's Friday? Already?

2010-04-09T14:32:00.002-04:00

That's a good thing right? Of course, it's also almost the middle of April already. How is it that January goes so slow and then all of a sudden it's April? I'm sure I'll be saying this again for September too LOL.

I revisited some old friends yesterday at eharlequin. I'm thinking of giving catagory a go again, hoping that all I've learned over the last number of years will make my stories stand out. Of course, first I need to do some planning, like which line, what story etc etc etc. I've a couple in mind so we'll see what happens. I'm going to take it slow though. I've a project or two to finish up first but I thought I'd get my feet wet on the forums again to gain some good info and support. At least that's the plan.

The plan for the weekend is simpler...bowling for the kids--regular league on Saturday and then my youngest has another tournament but only about an hour away this time.

Where's my Stickies??

2010-04-07T07:32:00.006-04:00

Okay, I admit, my brain isn't as focused as it used to be--between the kids, school outings, writing, appointments, dinner, two jobs, family, friends, housework, writing....sometimes I forget things--okay, more often than not I forget things LOL.

But is it right for my husband to thoroughly enjoy and abuse this little quirk?

Case in point, I was out one evening recently doing some grocery shopping on my own (a very unusual thing as we normally do it as a family but this particular week was wild) I slipped into the little shop next to the grocery store for fun and ended up finding this really cool sticky note pack. Little pads and about ten different coloured arrow ones all in a nice compact black case--sorry, wiping the drool from my stationary-junky chin. And it was on sale!! Well, without anyone there to restrain me, of course I bought it LOL.

So, I get home and, because it was sooooo cool, decided to show my husband rather than him finding it on my desk and asking me questions a month later, which is what usually happens. I left the pack with him while I went to unload groceries and get supper ready.

Five days later, I'm lying in bed at 2 am and it occurrs to me, "hey, didn't I buy a pack of sticky notes?" Yes, I did say five days later, and yes, 2 am in the morning. {Now you understand the sensibly insane moniker :)}

That morning--at a more reasonable hour--I asked my husband where he put the sticky notes that I had bought. Well, he gets this little grin on his face that instantly sets the alarms ringing. Then has the gall to actually try to bluff it off with a "don't know what you're talking about."

Yeah, riiiight.

As his smile grows, his glance drifts to the boys who are also trying a little too hard to look busy all of a sudden. So, I go for the weakest link and ask my youngest son about them. I have to give him credit, he lasted longer than I thought he would LOL.

Once the giggles stopped and I could actually hear what they were saying, turns out, my hubby figured if I didn't see them, I'd forget about them [which, I hate to admit is usually true--like vegetables in the fridge, if they are tucked into the appropriate draw and not out in plain site on a shelf, I totally forget I have them until they are shrivelled oozing brown things.] Turns out, 'they all thought it would be funny to hid them until Mother's Day and then give them to me as a gift--because the stickies were indeed, very cool and would make make a perfect gift for me--even though I was the one that bought them.

Ha.

Yeah, that one will haunt me for the rest of my life I'm sure. Knowing my husband, he won't let the opportunity to pass to find amusement in reminding me, often--probably on sticky notes.

Hopping Along

2010-04-05T13:15:00.002-04:00

Sorry, couldn't resist as we're at the end of a busy Easter Weekend and everyone is staring at a beautiful early spring with the weather we've been having at least.

My sportsaholics are excited because today is the first day of Baseball season and, not only is their Toronto Blue Jays team is playing, but it's a holiday from school so they will get to watch the game.

As for me, I got more of the new bathroom worked on and have taken my DYI tendancy to plan out a new shelving unit for the laundryroom--now I just have to wait until the next payday for another field trip to Home Depot LOL.

On the writing front, I've pushed past the block on the next Noelle story (I dunno, maybe it was the sunshine LOL) and am working avidly on it to get it done. I've got so much lined up waiting to be written that it's nice to finally get a move on with this one so I can do so. I'm not good at the initial writing of more than one at a time although I have before and will if deadlines start crunching in. If they are in different stages like initial draft and final drafts, that's not so bad.

Other than that, I'm planning to head out into the sunshine later with my little laptop and see how much more progress I can make in both writing and my work.

Field Trip!

2010-04-01T06:36:00.002-04:00

That's what I call anything (other than going to the outside job) that gets me out of the house and home office for a little while.

Today is exciting because the destination is HOME DEPOT! Who says only men can grunt when excited to go there.

We put in a bathroom upstairs and it's been basically a frame with a toilet and sink since September. Over the past month, we've painted and put up this tilish panelling and today I get to go get the materials for shelves and a little cabinet that I'll be making for it (to hide all the pipes etc)

Now, you know by now of my sportsaholic boys (yes, that includes the biggest one) so I somehow got suckered into making this a 'sports' bathroom as it's upstairs where the 'sportsroom' is. Don't get any fantasies of grandeur though, we live in an old farm house with a very small upstairs--all with small rooms and slanted roofs. The 'sportsroom' basically squishes all my husbands memorabilia on the walls and a chair, futon and 19" Tv. If we ever win the millions, boy does he have plans LOLOLOL.

As for the bathroom, it had to be blue and white for most of their teams are such. I'll paint a few logos on the walls, hang some hockey cards up etc and they'll all be thrilled. Meanwhile, I'm just happy because no longer do I have to treck all the way downstairs in the middle of the night in the FREEZING winters LOL.

I'll post pictures of the themed rooms when we're done.

So, I'm off to be DYI lady today!! (because sometimes it's just easier to do it yourself than wait for your husband to get around to it LOL)

Weekend Getaway for Parents

2010-03-30T12:35:00.004-04:00

Remember when your relationship/marriage was younger and you actually took occasional weekend getaways with your partner--long walks, candelight dinners and some special 'couple' time LOL.

Now, our weekend getaways (which are very few and far between) involve bowling or baseball tournaments, McDonalds and long walks to keep the other child busy while the first is playing their sport.

I am proud to say that my youngest son made the provincials with his partner in the PeeWee division of bowling. Since it was also his birthday weekend (and my husband was unable to get Toronto Maple Leaf tickets like he'd hoped {but to which our bank account is thankful}) and it was a bit of a distance away, we decided to get a hotel room overnight. We lucked out with a good deal and a pool! Right there made the whole weekend for the family LOL--yes, we're very simple people LOL. The beds, however were about four feet off the ground. Being a little on the shorter side myself, the boys and I had to jump for it every time we wanted to get on. My husband was the only who simple had to climb. I put chairs on either side of the boys' bed because I was afraid they'd break something if they happened to accidently hoof the other out of bed during the night as they're not used to sharing a bed.

My youngest came out #15 out of 16 teams but he had fun--and we had a great family weekend and that's all that counts anyway, right!

And since it was Earth Hour and the lights were out, then you can sort of count that as stealing a bit of a romantic setting for the parents too.

Finding Me

2010-03-25T07:32:00.002-04:00

It's hard, you know--finding things like a new spring purse or new blog template that is 'you.'

I wanted something fresh, a little funky-artsy yet homey and inviting enough for readers to come back too. I kinda like this one but who knows, it may change over the course of the day or the week as I procrastinate every once in a while on what needs to be done to surf the web LOL.

As for the purse, I did find that last night. Something that can handle all my junk but is funky, bright and reflects Spring--which is good because the sight outside my home-office window today doesn't. BUT let me tell you one thing, never go purse shopping with three males. Yes, silly me looked while with the family shopping for rainboots and mud-pants for the boys--big mistake. I'm surprised they didn't just whither away right there on the spot LOL. I'm not a overly girlie girl so I don't do a lot in the makeup/perfume section, jewelry, clothes etc but I do seasonally like a new purse especially in the spring. They just don't get it.

Is there something you love but is best to go shopping for without the peanut gallery?

Time

2010-03-22T13:38:00.003-04:00

Time
is going by
so much faster than I...

Our family loves Nickleback and that just seemed an appropriate line for me lately. No matter how much I try to get done, even on the days when I can sit down at the end of the night feeling that I did accomplish something, within days, time has bypassed me again and the piles grow--piles of laundry, pile of dishes, pile of manuscripts, pile of notes for other manuscipts etc. All to the point that I feel guilty if I take a little time out for myself--the whole time I think I should be doing something else, trying to get caught up or, if lucky, ahead of schedule (rarely).

Still, I welcome the days like today where I actually get some things completed to a point where I feel content and get to sit and wait impatiently for my boys to get home from school, to hear about their day and spend some good quality time with them...because, especially where children are concerned, Time moves VERY fast and pretty soon ol' mom won't be so important when afterschool sports, friends and...eye roll...girls come along LOL.

New Digs

2010-03-12T09:59:00.002-05:00

I've been a baaaaaaddddd blogger haven't I?

Well, procrastinating on the things that have kept me away from blogging regularly found me looking at my site going hmmmmmm, maybe needs a little renovation to spike things up a bit.

So, what do you think? Maybe I'll get back to this desk more often now LOL

Valentine's Day Comes Early!

2010-02-09T12:11:00.001-05:00

VALENTINE’S DAY WAYBACK STYLE

Join 8 Wayback authors today at

http://www.autumnjordonsnotes.blogspot.com

where their cowboy heroes surprise their ladies.
including Eight free reads to warm your heart!

Nominated!!

2010-02-01T13:25:00.000-05:00

ONE STARLIT NIGHT

When Elizabeth O'Leary meets up with the cowboy she's been avoiding for over two years, she doesn't know whether to trust her heart or her head. One tells her Grey Wulfsen just might be The One, the other tells her it doesn’t matter because he'll never forgive her when he finds out what she took away with her on that one starlit night.

Available now from The Wild Rose Press!!

REVIEWS:

From Mistress Bella Reviews:

I enjoyed all three of these stories. I love anthologies and the way they all tie together somehow, but tell a story all there own. The authors all did a great job with keeping a common theme. Under a Rodeo Moon was such a touching story. I loved the characters so much in this story. I was really happy with the ending that they got. After the Rodeo was another great read. I loved the overall plot with this story. But my favorite was One Starlight Night. I just felt so involved with this story. I felt like I was watching a movie, the details, descriptions and facts were so vivid and real. And ladies…and some men…who doesn’t love a cowboy? If you do, than this is an anthology you must check out.
http://mistressbellareviews.blogspot.com/2009/07/finding-their-way-back-wayback-texas.html?zx=4b2a9528d6747e68

5 Ribbons from Romance Junkies!!

Stacy Dawn really pulls at the reader's heartstrings with One Starlit Night. Elizabeth and Grey seem to be perfect for each other but fear, misunderstanding and misconceptions could potentially destroy any hope they have for a future together. Ms. Dawn does a brilliant job of bringing her characters to life so that they feel like long lost friends.

2009-11-20T10:06:00.001-05:00

I'm over at Mamawriters.com today talking about Seasonal Writing. Come on over and join me!

www.mamawriters.com

Awesome Review!!!

2009-07-22T06:30:00.000-04:00

Reviews are coming in and they've been praising Finding Their Way Back--three brand new, never been read before stories of Wayback, Texas!! Including mine!!!!

From Mistress Bella Reviews:

I enjoyed all three of these stories. I love anthologies and the way they all tie together somehow, but tell a story all there own. The authors all did a great job with keeping a common theme. Under a Rodeo Moon was such a touching story. I loved the characters so much in this story. I was really happy with the ending that they got. After the Rodeo was another great read. I loved the overall plot with this story. But my favorite was One Starlight Night. I just felt so involved with this story. I felt like I was watching a movie, the details, descriptions and facts were so vivid and real. And ladies…and some men…who doesn’t love a cowboy? If you do, than this is an anthology you must check out.
http://mistressbellareviews.blogspot.com/2009/07/finding-their-way-back-wayback-texas.html?zx=4b2a9528d6747e68

ONE STARLIT NIGHT

When Elizabeth O'Leary meets up with the cowboy she's been avoiding for over two years, she doesn't know whether to trust her heart or her head. One tells her Grey Wulfsen just might be The One, the other tells her it doesn’t matter because he'll never forgive her when he finds out what she took away with her on that one starlit night.

Available now from The Wild Rose Press!!

Mamawriters Fun Family Activity!

2009-07-21T12:57:00.002-04:00

I'm over at www.mamawriters.com today telling about a hilariously fun family activity I did with my boys last week.

They got to come into my storytelling world while I drove into their sports world LOL. Come on over and see!!

Life is built on....

2009-05-25T09:03:00.000-04:00

...good intentions. At least it could be LOL.

Seriously, where does the time go? I remember summers as kids lasting a lifetime and now the months fly by like a minute.

Join me for a brief glimpse at www.mamawriters.com today for more.

2009-05-11T13:46:00.002-04:00

Every have one of those weeks where EVERYTHING goes haywire?

And the funny thing is, it's not big huge distressful haywires, it's the constant, little annoying ones. Things you thought were right that turn out to be wrong and ways of doing things you have always done that suddenly doesn't work.

Yep, that's where I am right now LOL.

Thank goodness I believe there is good in every situation, sometimes you just gotta really dig to find it--if I didn't, I'd be crying right now instead of sharing philosophy with you LOL.

Being a Mama today....

2009-05-08T07:38:00.002-04:00

Catch me over at www.mamawriters.com today comparing writing to.....

(oh evil woman to do that to you LOL!)

Spring Cleaning Winner

2009-04-29T13:17:00.002-04:00

Congratulations Hwela Lyn who won the relaxation pack.

Email me at stacy (at) stacydawn.com to claim your prize!!!!!

Thanks all who popped in yesterday!

Spring Cleaning the Prize Vault

2009-04-28T05:11:00.008-04:00

Is there honestly anything better than a fresh clean room! (Okay, maybe one you didn't have to slug and mod and dust and clean yourself LOL)

What is the one thing you would LOVE someone else to spring clean for you? (Mine is the bathroom and I wish they would come in once a week to do that LOL)

So, I was spring cleaning out the promo boxes and it's about time I got rid of some thing....lucky for you!

Anyone who comments today will get their name in a draw for a relax pack to relieve the stress and aching muscles of spring cleaning. Relax back against the bath pillow, scrub away the dust and dirt and then lose yourself in a good book!

Oh, and I found something cool in my boxes for the grand prize winner of the A Tisket, A Tasket Blog extravaganza. This is what I'll be sending to them...a DAY/NIGHT Journal. One side to write your daytime thoughts and flip it over to write up those sensual night-time dreams!

Want in on the grand prize package donated by a good number of blog-hopping authors? All you have to do is follow the blog links--you can find where to start at the beginning of my April posts....and if you're already on the path, your next stop will be tomorrow [29th] at http://www.annecarrole.blogspot.com/.

Good luck and happy cleaning!

I'll be announcing todays winner of the on tomorrows blog!

Spring Cleaning

2009-04-20T08:38:00.006-04:00

I need to find a symbol mark for a music note LOL, it will make the occasional titles make much more sense LOL.

Ah yes, Monday again and drizzly with rain in the forcast....just perfect [Not].

But, you know what? That's okay with me today. I had a major breakthrough yesterday on a WIP and my writing process in general--at least something I plan to attempt to see if it will work for me.

We've also been spring cleaning this past weekend--when the sun was shining brilliantly. Rooms got dug out and piles were made for recycle, donations etc. Maybe that's how I came up with the idea for my writing because I was horded up focussing on the same thing and maybe the spring cleaning got a few cobwebs out of my head too LOL.

It also got me realizing that I need to keep a better routine, especially online and my blog. I want to blog more not just to keep in contact with all of you but I find that getting my thoughts down or stuff that bugs me, makes me happy, or befuddles me seems to keep the mind free from storing them up for too long.

So, I figured hey, why not just run with that on the blog. So, for instance, for tomorrow, I'll let you know about this writing process I'm going to try. It's not new but I've adapted it to what I think will work for me.

And you know what, I think that is what writing is all about. Not following someone's guidelines, or a book or a process perfectly, but adapting it to your own style, your own voice for we don't want to sound like others do we, we need to find a way that lets us work and express our unique selves, right? (what do you know, there's another good thought that just got dusted off as I was typing this--spring cleaning really does find the dirt hidden deep LOL)

Do you spring clean your home....your mind??

A TISKET A TASKET, PUT ROMANCE IN YOUR BASKET

2009-04-01T09:32:00.002-04:00

Spring is in the air! Bees are buzzing. Children anxiously await the big morning where they can graze on candy all day. What about mom? We've got a treat for you!

Come join a group of romance authors in celebration of spring. Enter to win a prize a day as well as enter to win the grand prize. All you need do is begin at Silver James' blog on April 1st at http://www.silverjames.com/. Silver will host the day's contest and provide the link to the next day's location. Don't forget to enter to win the grand prize!

Grand Prize:
To enter to win prizes from the authors donating treasures to the grand prize (see each day's post for what an author is donating to the grand prize), find the four Easter eggs in the A TISKET A TASKET, PUT ROMANCE IN YOUR BASKET blog event. You will be searching for the above egg. Just visit all of the authors' websites, locate the 4 eggs, make a list of their locations by pasting the urls to the website pages in an e-mail, then send the entry to http://us.mc542.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=happyendings2007@aol.com by midnight CST on May 1st, 2009. The winner will be randomly drawn and announced May 2nd at http://blog.skhyemoncrief.com/.

Tip #1, subscribe to http://blog.skhyemoncrief.com/ to learn if you're the winner! And don't worry. If you start in on the blog event late, just head back to Silver James' blog on April 1st at http://www.silverjames.com/ to begin your website search for the Easter eggs. Don't miss the fun! See you next to the burgundy tulips. ~Skhye

Yep, I'm participating too so keep an eye on the blogs and follow the bunny trail and see what magical romances and fun treats you might find along the way.

Invisible Inbox

2009-03-24T06:26:00.001-04:00

Want to know what I'm talking about? Check out my post today at www.mamawriters.com!

Kiss Me by Moonlight

2009-03-23T11:33:00.002-04:00

I'm excited for my critique partner's latest release!

Available now from Johanna Riley and The Wild Rose Press!

hot Hot HOT

2009-03-16T19:50:00.004-04:00

This summer is going to sizzle.....

Get lost this June is an exciting Anthology that is sure to heat up the start of your summer! Get lost....so you can find your WAYBACK!

Stay tuned for more details!

Scaaaaarrrrrryyyyyy....

2009-03-09T07:42:00.002-04:00

It's coming........are you ready?

Click HERE to find out what I'm talking about **shudder**

Winner!

2009-02-25T17:33:00.002-05:00

Congratulations, Willow!! You were the randomly chosen winner from yesterday's blog contest.

Email me at stacy @ stacydawn.com (no spaces) for details. Thank you so much for playing!

And thanks to everyone who commented. I love to hear true romance stories!

Romance: More than a Month

2009-02-23T05:54:00.003-05:00

Just like Christmas isn't only one day, just the word February is the epitome of Romance for the calendar year. Sure, the 14th might be over but at the same time, I know a lot of people who don't even celebrate simply for the fact that they show their love and romantic side all year long.

My husband is a great example.

Long story short, a few weeks ago our car caught fire in our driveway during a snowstorm. Yeah, I'm still figuring that one out myself. It was scary, especially since it was parked so close to the house but the firemen made it through the snowy country roads and all was good--except for the car of course. Needless to say, it was a rather stressful time as our finances didn't alot for purchasing a new vehicle and being an old though really good car, the kilometers killed us on the insurance.

Sounds romantic, huh? Well, in the midst of all the figuring out a rental car, insurance, finances and worry etc, my husband comes to pick me up from work one night--with a bouquet of spring flowers. He simply said because it'd been a rough week. Yeah, I teared up.

He does that, just out of nohere will come home with some spring flowers (my favorite) or a hug or a kiss for no reason but we were standing in the same room. To me, that is romance...and I'm blessed because it lasts all year long.

So, don't let romance only come one day or one year....you'd be surprised what an impromptu kiss or favorite dinner, or simple entwining fingers while you're grocery shopping can do not only for yourself, but your loved ones.

I've a special romance for one person today, a copy of my shorty story, A Matching Fancy. Love can last a lifetime.

Leave a comment on what you love about your significant other today and tomorrow (Mon and Tues) and on Wednesday morning, I'll draw a winner!!

And for those playing along on the Romance February Blog event, continue the ride tomorrow at http://lianalaverentz.blogspot.com/

For those of you just jumping in today, you don't know what you've been missing!! Here's a recap...

ROMANCING FEBRUARY!

28 romance authors invite you to participate in a month-long event of love and laughter. Each day starting Feb. 1, 2009 an author will throw a romance party at her blog and host a contest with a prize. The link to the next day's blog location will also be provided at each location. Just drop by and enter the contest. And get ready to heat up the cold wintery days of February!

You could win a prize a day! On February 28th, one person will be awarded the grand prize of a $75 WRP gift certificate. All you have to do to enter the grand prize contest is make a list of each author in this blog event and name one title she has available. Submit your list to Christmasrideblog@live.com by midnight CST, February 27, 2009. The winner will be announced on February 28th--just in time to warm up that person's February. Visit http://www.amberleighwilliams.blogspot.com on February 1st to begin.

Hunky Hero anyone?

2009-02-16T15:51:00.002-05:00

I'm over at Helen's Heroes today talking about one of my personal favorites....sexy, hunky, funny, baby blue-eyed Jay from my romantic comedy novel, Wanna Make a Bet?

Come join me and find out why a man good to his dog just might be the right man for you!! Click Here to join the fun!

Come visit me today as I blog with....

2009-02-09T05:48:00.000-05:00

My topic is one all mothers know: Guilt

Please come and tell me if you feel the same way...

www.mamawriters.com

Come Join us!

2009-02-02T10:30:00.003-05:00

The Mama Writers Community is officially launched!

Come join the Mama Writers as they blog about writing romance, raising kids and everything in-between. Look for our special pages of mama tips, writing resources, forums, and more!

Meet the Mamas: Renee Knowles, Jeannie Ruesch, Kris Kennedy, Eliza Knight, Melissa Mayhue, Tiffany James, Stacy Dawn, Tina Gerow, Viola Estrella, Ashley Ludwig, Helen Hardt and Allie K. Adams.

Don’t forget to leave a comment—with the launch of our new site we’ve got a fabulous and oh-so-perfect $50 Universal Spa gift card (can be used at over 5000 locations worldwide!!!) along with some Mama Writer’s goodies!

In addition to the Mama Writers blogging daily, we have a spectacular line-up of weekly special guest authors—who also happen to be moms! Here’s a sneak peek at who will be visiting with us: Roxanne St. Claire, Brenda Novak, Eloisa James, Allison Brennan, Monica McCarty, Jill Sorenson, Carrie Lofty, Delilah Marvelle, Christina Katzs, and many, many more.

And the fabulous Faith Bicknell-Brown, kicks off the guest line-up on February 4th.

Don’t miss out!

Raising Kids. Writing Romance.

It's all about the love.

http://www.mamawriters.com/

1st Review!!

2009-01-26T14:23:00.000-05:00

Stacy Dawn’s Karaoke Cowgirl brings to you a tale of accepting yourself for who you are. I really enjoyed this short story, it was well written, the characters likeable and the plot interesting. For me it had an underling message of be who you are and not what you think others want you to be.
~Reviewed by Sandie, WRDF Review
http://blog.lyndacoker.net/2009/01/25/wrdf-review-of-karaoke-cowgirl-by-stacy-dawn.aspx

Karaoke Cowgirl

How far would you go to attract the man of your dreams?
Ally Standish re-invents herself every Saturday night to sing for her cowboy. But when they come face to face in the light of a normal day—and he discovers the real Ally—will he let her sing him more love songs or will the music die for good.

Available now from The Wild Rose Press

New Release!

2009-01-21T03:45:00.000-05:00

Karaoke Cowgirl

How far would you go to attract the man of your dreams?
Ally Standish re-invents herself every Saturday night to sing for her cowboy. But when they come face to face in the light of a normal day—and he discovers the real Ally—will he let her sing him more love songs or will the music die for good.

Available Now from The Wild Rose Press

EXCERPT:

Ally pulled Nick closer, hiding her face against his neck for fear she’d blubber all over him. Classy? Not by half!

Further proof jumped out before her eyes as one of her fake nails dislodged and tangled in the thick waves at the nape of his neck. “Oh no!”

Nick pulled back slightly at her quick intake of breath. She held his neck tighter, moving the small distance with him so her nail wouldn’t snap right off.

“Alexandra? What’s wrong?”

Her full name on his lips paused her panic for a moment. No one ever called her that anymore. She’d only given Nick the name because she thought it matched her fancy false persona much better than plain old Ally—not to mention she loved the way he said her name with a breathy reverence.

“N-nothing,” she finally stuttered, shaking off his magic spell. Using another finger to slide the broken nail back in place, she made a fist to hold it there. “I just realized...uh...how thirsty I am. Yes, I’m so very thirsty.”

Slow but steady

2009-01-13T14:09:00.002-05:00

Well, look who's laughing now--him. Can you believe it? My husband actually slipped that little sucker right in and look who is on the internet on the new computer :)

Now, unfortunately, I discovered the difference between a laptop and a desktop...that being the even slower speed of dial-up. But beggers can't be choosers and I figure this way I get the best of both. If I want to IM, I'll dial-up the laptop but if I just need to do cursory checks of email or research information than this baby works just fine. Yay!

What the...?

2009-01-12T15:39:00.003-05:00

Is it seriously me? Am I that far in the stone-ages or just that far in the country.

You see, we bought an inexpensive computer this weekend, nothing fancy, just one that will work and can be used by the whole family vs my laptop which I've horded for the last couple years for fear someone would crash it and lose all my work (I do keep extensive backups but I'm paranoid LOL) So this will be a good back-up and dependable computer for me and also one the whole family can use.

But it doesn't come with a telephone modem?? What? Seriously. Of course, we didn't find this out until we had it all set up and was trying to hook up to the internet through our dial-up. It has a telephone hook-up in the back and wants to get to the internet but it took me a bit to figure out that the error was because of no dial-tone. So I put in every variation of modem, set up dial-up etc into the computer, looked at tons of dialogue boxes I had no idea what they said, and still couldn't get it to work figuring the computer's internal modem just didn't work--we'd bought a broken computer.

Then my husband read the box. Modem: None.

Yeah, we're real brainers in this family LOL

So we called around and found two types. One that you open your hardrive and install, and the other an external one with a USB. Since the internal one was A LOT cheaper (since we just spent all the money on the actual no-modem computer) my husband bravely said that he could install the little computer board into the harddrive no problem.

Stay tuned to see if I stopped laughing long enough to let him do it. Even these guys know more about computers than he does.

Does your computer have a built in modem, are you lucky enough to be wireless or did you have to do an install too?