Live to Love on the Edge Blog

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Worldbuilding Workshop

I am so excited to do a workshop for the Aged to Perfection chapter of the Romance Writers of America. Join me on Saturday, April 22 at 9 AM PDT for Worldbuilding: You’ve Got the Whole World in Your Hands. I’ll be discussing how to build your world whether you’re writing contemporaries, small town, paranormals, or fantasy. I’ll also provide a number of helpful resources and recommended reading for you during the workshop. The cost to attend is $5 for ATP members of $10 for non-members. You can register at https://bit.ly/ATPWorldBuilding.

writing workshop

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Wellness Walks With Wildlife

My life has been so very different since I retired from my one full-time job and devoted myself to writing full-time. Of course, there was less stress from deadlines, office politics, and commuting to New York City. I still have some deadline stress when a new book is due, but it doesn’t compare. More importantly, I have more time to take care of myself and my family. As part of taking care of myself, I am trying to lose weight as you know. Part of that involves getting in a daily walk which I love mostly because of the nature around me. It’s just so beautiful. On Monday I was able to watch a whale breach several times as it ate feeder fish. Occasionally I can catch sight of a bald eagle or an osprey flying away with a fish in its talons. For the last few weeks, the swans have been nesting on the island in Silver Lake again. They come back every year and usually have five or six babies that hang out for a little while before mama, papa, and baby cygnets fly off. There is something so relaxing and re-energizing about being surrounded by nature. The Japanese have a practice called shinrin-yoku or “Forest bathing.” It involves taking a walk in a forest, but in reality, any walk in nature where you pay attention to your surroundings, skip the smartphone, etc. can be helpful. The mindfulness of appreciating your surroundings can reduce stress, boost immunity, lift your mood, and improve your mental health in general. So if you’re feeling a little down or anxious, take a slow walk in nature, breathe it in deeply (literally), and it may help you feel better.

swans silver lake wellness walk with wildlife

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Exciting Teaser from Brickell Avenue Ambush

I love Ricky Gonzalez from Brickell Avenue Ambush. He’s an everyman who has to rise to the occasion when he meets Mariela Hernandez, a woman who was emotionally and physically abused by her ex-husband. Mariela has stumbled across a plan by her ex that may endanger the lives of hundreds and when she is attacked, South Beach Security steps in to help protect her and stop her ex from carrying out his plan. It’s an exciting and action-packed story, but also a very tender romance as Ricky deals with Mariela’s fears about relationships given her past. Today’s excerpt is from the first attack in the book, when Ricky has to find his inner hero in order to protect Mariela. You can find out more about Brickell Avenue Ambush and the rest of the books in this romantic suspense series at https://amzn.to/408wOZK.

Excerpt

MARIELA STRUGGLED AGAINST the masked man who had assaulted her as soon as she had closed the door.
He had an arm wrapped around her waist and his gloved hand covered her mouth, muffling her screams and cutting off her air until black circles danced in her vision.

At the crash of someone breaking down the front door, the man reacted, loosening his grip slightly, and she bit down hard on his hand. The leather kept her from breaking skin, but her vicious bite made the man yelp and loosen his hold enough that she could elbow him in the stomach.

He let out a rough “Oomph” at the blow and released her. She rushed toward the front door and hopefully safety, but the man was on her again, tackling her to the ground. The weight of his body drove the air from her lungs, but a second later that weight lifted off her.

Rolling onto her side, she saw Ricky Gonzalez tossing the masked man away from her. The man stumbled back, but then regained his footing and whirled to attack again.

Ricky faced him, standing between her and her attacker. Protecting her with his body.

The man rushed at Ricky, throwing punch after punch as he tried to reach Mariela. The blows landed with sickening thuds against Ricky’s face, arms and occasionally his midsection.

Ricky took the brunt of the violence, defending against the wild, almost haymaker punches of her attacker. But when their assailant paused,

Ricky fought back with almost surgical precision, landing a sharp blow to the man’s face that snapped the man’s head back. The man reeled from the jab, but then struck out again.

Mariela screamed, “I’m calling the police.”

romance novel

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Sexy Billionaire from Biscayne Bay Breach

I wanted a different kind of hero for Mia Gonzalez, the baby of the South Beach Security family. In Biscayne Bay Breach, Mia is reunited with soon-to-be tech billionaire John Wilson who has written a computer program that he feels could be dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands. John has come to SBS to safeguard the program and along the way, it becomes apparent someone is trying to eliminate all the SBS members of the Gonzalez family. It was fun to create this second chance at love story as well as John and Mia, reluctant heroes who truly rise to the occasion to solve the mystery and keep everyone safe. This is how I pictured John from the book, maybe even having breakfast with Mia at the News Cafe! You can find out more about Biscayne Bay Breach and the other books in this romantic suspense series from Harlequin Intrigue at https://amzn.to/408wOZK.

tech billionaire

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Feeling Good 27 Pounds Lost

I am so so excited that my lifestyle change is yielding good results, namely 27 pounds lost! That means I’m halfway to my goal. Woo hoo! I have been keeping to being more active, but still haven’t gotten into regular strength training and I should. More muscle helps burn more calories plus it’s important to build core strength to maintain posture, bone density, etc. What has been working for me? Here are my five top tips:

1. Drink more water. It helps flush toxins and can help you feel fuller so you don’t overeat.

2. Eat slower. I’ve always been a fast eater and now I am taking smaller bites and being mindful as I chew and swallow.

3. Be more active. I’ve been doing a daily walk in the a.m. and also 45 minutes on the elliptical in the afternoon.

4. Eat healthier. Eating way more fruits and vegetables. It’s been fun mixing them into my traditional recipes for things like pasta or frittatas.

5. Keep track of calories. I use my Fitbit app to track what I’m eating and make sure I’m sticking to my roughly 1200 daily calories.

One other thing that I do is to not deprive myself of a nighttime treat or sweet or carbs as a whole for that matter. I’ve done the whole no carb thing and it just creates a vicious rebound for me. So I am eating carbs, but limiting them. As for the treat, I think that if you’re too restrictive that only makes you resent what you’re doing and because of that, you eventually give up on it. Also, if you learn what is an acceptable treat, namely a small cookie or two, versus what isn’t, like an entire box, it will create a mindset that you can maintain for the future.

weight loss

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Happy World Dolphin Day!

It’s World Dolphin Day! I am always so happy when I am able to see dolphins in the ocean. Last year we had a lot of them as well as a lot of whales. Sadly, in recent months there have been a number of whale and dolphin deaths along the Jersey Shore. Although the authorities are denying the connection, the deaths coincide with recent sonar use to map out locations for offshore wind turbines. It makes me question why no one is bothering to have a moratorium on this while investigations are conducted, especially since both dolphins and whales are affected by undersea noise pollution. On top of that, wind turbines leak oil and coolants. Where will these leaks go? Into the ocean? On top of that, wind turbines change the environment around them by bringing warm air down to the ocean’s surface, heating it. That changes the kinds of fish in the area. Let’s not even talk about the damage to existing fish and shellfish areas when they pile drive the columns necessary to support the turbines. Do environmentalists not really care about this? As someone who cares deeply about the ocean and all the things that live in it, I’m worried about the silence on what’s happening now with the whale and dolphin deaths and what will happen to the environment from leaks, water warming, etc.

whale dolphin

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Happy Throwback to Baby Years

My daughter and I are best buds. I love spending time with her. Like any mom, I sometimes love teasing her so here goes… This is a picture of my daughter when she was a baby. I believe we had been playing peek-a-boo and she had the toy bucket over her head and when she took it off… SURPRISE! What a cutie, right?

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