Tag: inspiration

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#WriteWed Inspiration for UNDER THE BOARDWALK

I was born on an island: Cuba. I grew up on an island: Long Island. I work on an island: Manhattan. Plus I’m a Pisces so you can kind of say that I have an affinity for the water.

But once I moved out to New Jersey, work and family obligations kept me from exploring the amazing Jersey Shore. It wasn’t until a birthday celebration weekend at the lovely Beacon House in Sea Girt that hubby and I discovered that part of New Jersey.

Once we discovered it, there was no turning us back from moving there and I am so glad that we did. I love taking long strolls on the boardwalk and spending summers reading under my umbrella. Even the winters months are great and the flavors of each of the towns in our area are unique and special.

My love for this part of the Jersey Shore is what inspired me to set UNDER THE BOARDWALK in Asbury Park and Ocean Grove. Today I’m sharing some photos from those towns and I hope you will get to visit one day and come see me if you do! P.S., my daughter’s shop – OG Surf & Skate – is right in the heart of Ocean Grove.

UNDER THE BOARDWALK is available in the SUMMER HEAT Box set which is specially priced at 99 cents for a limited time and is now available at:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1SXcNjW
BN: http://bit.ly/1VIZ7qJ
iBooks: http://apple.co/1Ovw5MB
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1XPUCvS
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/20CGJBa
SummerHeatAuthors.com: http://bit.ly/1oI4s7c

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#TeaserTuesday Cooking with the SUMMER HEAT Authors #FreeRead

CookingGood morning! It’s Tuesday and this morning I have not only many teasers, but also a free cookbook loaded with outstanding recipes from my fellow SUMMER HEAT Box Set authors.

All of the recipes are connected to our stories in the anthology and they all look incredibly tasty. The cookbook is a perfect way to find out more about some of the things that inspired our stories.

You can download the free cookbook at these various online retailers:

Hope you all have a fabulous Tuesday!

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#WriteWed Always a Bridesmaid Series Inspiration

I am so so excited to say that I’ve accepted an offer from Sourcebooks for a new contemporary romance series – ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID. The series is about the last three unmarried friends and what happens as one by one, they possibly find the man who might provide the Happily-Ever-After.

The series was inspired by my daughter and her friends since they are all in various stages of dating, getting engaged, and getting married. I thought it might be fun to explore that moment in time and what happens as friends’ relationships change.

Another fun thing – the stories have a hometown feel even though they are set in different parts of New York City. I really love sharing the unique neighborhoods in New York so the stories will move from upscale places like Chelsea and Gramercy Park to more blue collar neighborhoods in Spanish Harlem and Brooklyn.

The stories will also show the diversity of New York City with the first story being about very wealthy old money families to the second story about an up-and-coming Latino family and finally, the third story highlights a big boisterous Italian family!

I am so excited about this series and about being part of the Sourcebooks family. If you’d like to know more about them, visit the Sourcebooks website and also, the fabulous Casablanca Authors website with so many wonderful Sourcebooks authors.

I’m having a little fun with the announcement this morning, so here’s a banner for you! Nope, this isn’t the cover! We haven’t even gotten to that stage yet! I will let you know as soon as we’ve decided on a release date for the series.
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#WriteWed When Inspiration Disappears . . .

So sorry to have missed you yesterday, but it was a hectic day since my daughter, one of her friends and I went to see Jimmy Fallon. I had to finish a lot at work before I could go, took them to lunch and then went over to 30 Rockefeller Center to line up for the show. Along the way my daughter got interviewed for one of the skits and we can’t wait to see if it made it into the show. Here’s a picture of us waiting in line!
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But back to reality. What happens when inspiration disappears? I have to confess I’ve been struggling with what to do this year and when. I have a new proposal and just got back some comments from my new agent! Yeah. That’ll get me going, but what really got me going was attending my local writing group’s meeting last Saturday. You can check out the Liberty States Fiction Writers here along with their awesome March conference that has both readers and writers tracks.

We had a wonderful speaker – Anne Frazier Walradt – a dear friend and amazing lady. I talked with others about what they were doing and I mapped out a schedule for me for the year. That seemed to open floodgates in more than one way. Suddenly I had some ideas for a new story and then another dear friend asked me to join another box set for mid-year. It has to be new material so . . . have to think about that story as well.

Friends inspire as do fellow writers. Much like Weight Watchers or AA, there is something about being with people with common goals and ambitions and yes, problems, that makes you feel not so alone and can help you keep on moving in the right direction.

I guess the morale of the story is – When inspiration disappears, find like-minded individuals to help you keep on the path if you feel you are drifting away from your intended course.

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#WriteWed Recipes for the Romantic Soul

I’ve been stuck on the next scene for EMBRACE THE NIGHT, but had a revelation this morning about it! Yeah. I’ll write it on the way home and hopefully have this story ready for you in early September. I’ll also have a new book for you with a baseball hero – ROOKIE OF THE YEAR. This is a contemporary romance revolving around a fictional NJ baseball team. The sequel to it – A WINNING SEASON – will be out in October.

Today’s Write Wednesday inspiration is all about recipes. You know I’ve been sharing them with you and I’ve decided to put them all together into a cookbook. I’ve been searching for the just right image for the cover and in truth, it occurred to me that just one image would not do it. I like the idea of a collage for the front cover of the book. RECIPES FOR THE ROMANTIC SOUL will not only have recipes, it’ll have stories about my family, friends and/or scenes in my books that inspired the recipe.

For now, if you’d like to try out some recipes, please visit the Cook’s Treat section of the website!
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#WriteWed Summer & My Little Balcony

My favorite time of year is the summer! I look forward to long strolls along the boardwalk, time spent reading romance novels on the beach, fireworks, and last but not least, writing on my little balcony.

It’s not big in size, but it’s immense in the peace it brings me as I sit out there writing or just hanging out with my hubby, enjoying a summer day.

I write a lot more on that little balcony than I do during the winter months when I’m trapped indoors by the cold. Brrr. Winter is so not my favorite time of year.

This morning I’m sharing with you some photos from that special space and hoping I can go out there again soon!

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#WriteWed Our Inspiring Warriors

I’ve always loved reading stories about our military men and women and that inspired me to create the Take a Chance series. It’s been a challenge to explore the many facets of military heroes and their struggles in the battlefield and off, but I so love giving them their happily-ever-after.

What’s truly inspiring is the way so many veterans have dealt with the wounds they’ve suffered while serving our Nation. People like Daniel Jacobs who didn’t let the loss of part of his leg, remaining foot, and a few fingers keep him from trying out for the Detroit Lions.

Or Noah Galloway, a double amputee whose goal it is to inspire other other veterans!

Please click here if you cannot see the Noah Galloway video.

Noah will be on this year’s Dancing with the Stars. Here he is sharing some info on his journey for that show. Thanks to Noah’s Facebook Page for this!

Post by Noah Galloway.

Then there are my friends at the RomVets, romance authors who have served in various military branches. And let me not forget my buddy Kim, from the wonderful SOS ALOHA Blog who is the wife of a military man and helps organize so many wonderful things for our military men, women, and families with the help of RT Book Reviews.

So that’s my #WriteWednesday inspiration and God bless each and everyone for their service and sacrifice.

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