Why is romance so hard to keep alive?

I have a rather uncomfortable confession to make… I’ve just discovered I’m a NY Yankee hater. Oh, not for the typical reasons one might hate a baseball team, but rather because of how it seems to steal my husband away.

That’s why when I came to the verse in Teri Wilson’s latest release, Rodeo Redemption, the verse about “enjoying the wife of your youth” made me stop and think. God wants us to work on keeping the romance alive in our own marriages. However, life isn’t a work of fiction. Happily ever after is not guaranteed. It’s hard work!

For those who are married, I don’t know where you’re at in your marriage relationship--you may be on a hill top or in a valley--but one thing I do know…God does care. He doesn’t just want us to survive in our marriage, but to thrive.

Let’s take a few moments today to pray for our spouse, our family and for those who are struggling around us~

*That God would give us love when we feel less then loving
*That He would give us words to communicate rather than just “blow off steam”
*That we would have a soft heart and tenderness towards our spouse.
*That rather than focusing and finding flaws in our mate, we would remember and enjoy the wife/husband of our youth.

I hope as the sun sets tonight, that you'll able to thank God for your spouse--baseball lover and all. :)

A Day in a Writer's Life

Good morning! Today I thought I'd share a day in my writing life. I also run a small business with my husband but I'm caught up (for once!) and I'm dedicating the day totally to writing. I really need to since I have major revisions to do on my latest novel, Violets for Vanessa.

Here's my plan for the day. I got up about 6:15am. Threw on sweats and a t-shirt. LOVE working from home days! Watched the news with my husband and ate breakfast - my usual yogurt, berries, granola, and walnuts with a glass of OJ and a vitamin. Kissed hubby goodbye as he went off to work. Now writing my blog so you could read it first thing.

I will read my devotional "Our Daily Bread" and pray over my life and my writing. I'll undoubtedly do the dishes and straighten the house, maybe toss in a load of laundry. Then to work!

Today's revisions include making my hero more "heroic." I gave him some flaws so I could show his growth. Apparently I went a bit overboard on that! My editor wants him fixed and I agree with her. Chad James is getting an attitude adjustment today. In additon, my heroine isn't showing enough emotion. She's been sexually abused and is naturally shy and reserved. Although there's plenty of emotion brewing underneath, Vanessa Gallagher is keeping her feelings to herself - and not even sharing them with the reader! So she needs fixing too. I hope to start writing by 8:00. I'll make a cup of vanilla almond tea with honey and sip as I write.

I'll take a break around noon for lunch - a week-after-Easter egg salad sandwich and an apple. I'll probably check email and switch laundry from washer to dryer, maybe fold a load of clothes as I'll need a diversion for a bit. And call my daughter who's away at college. She's coming home this weekend and we need to confirm our plans. :)

Back to work and write the rest of the afternoon. Isn't this exciting? LOL Around 5:00 I'd like to take a walk outside. I'll need some fresh air by then! Pet our outside cat and feed her supper. I'll check to see if the daffodils are blooming yet. I live in a cold zone of northeast Ohio and spring lags behind a bit up here.

Time to make dinner, and yes, I cook. Today's menu is scallops (the frozen less-expensive kind) with pasta and vegetables. I'll slice some fresh strawberries too. Wow, this sounds like I'm such a healthy eater and truly I deviate waaaay too often. Did I mention the mini-cupcakes leftover from Easter or the box of chocolates on my buffet? Or that I ate McDonalds for lunch AND dinner on Tuesday????

The evening will probably consist of the excitement of television and a phone call to my son - also away at college and coming home this weekend. Next week is my husband's birthday and we're going to dinner on Sunday.

Well, that's my writing day. Like I said, this dedicated day is unusual. Yesterday I went to NewCastle, Pennsylvania on business in the morning and wrote in the afternoon. Tuesday morning I took care of paperwork, email, and made bookmarks, had lunch with a friend I hadn't seen in years, ran banking errands, etc., and then rushed home to change and get ready for a booksigning. I sold several copies of the first two books in The Crystal Falls Series, Lilacs for Laura and Roses for Rachel. Monday was business paperwork til 6:00pm, eat Easter leftovers, rake gravel and leaves in the yard for an hour and a half, and then work on revisions until late into the evening.

Every day is different - and that's what makes life interesting! (sometimes....)

God Bless YOUR Day!

:) Dianne Miley

http://www.diannemiley.com/
Lilacs for Laura; Roses for Rachel
Available from http://www.whiterosepublishing.com/


"'For I know the plans I have for you,' saith the Lord. 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11

God is everywhere

Two weeks ago, I went to Las Vegas for the weekend. My husband and I go every year with the partners at his office as part of a trip to entertain clients. Not being a big gambler, I spend most of time on these trips lounging by the Bellagio pool or shopping – because yes, the shopping in Vegas is fabulous.

This year I wanted to try something different. Vegas is surrounded by gorgeous mountains, something I never see since I’m from South Central Texas. I thought it would be fun to go horseback riding and see some of the scenery. So, I scheduled a two-hour trail ride through Red Rocks Canyon. My only challenge would be getting there from the Las Vegas strip. If there’s one thing I dread about going to Vegas, it’s the cab rides. I remember reading somewhere that at least one pedestrian a week is hit by a car in Vegas and I believe it. Those cab drivers terrify me.

I entered my taxi that was to sweep me off to mountain paradise with more than a little trepidation. Red Rocks Canyon was a good 25 minutes away so I was in it for the long haul. But as soon as I slid across the cracked vinyl seat, a beautiful sound came to my ears.

Caught a glimpse of your splendor
In the corner of my eye
The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen
And it was like a flash of lightning
Reflected off the sky
And I know I’ll never be the same

It was one of my favorite songs playing on the taxi’s radio.

“Is this K-Love?” I asked the driver.

“No, it’s SOS,” he said.

“Oh.” I smiled at him through the rear-view mirror. “This is Third Day. My favorite band.”

His eyes lit up and he turned around. “Are you a Christian?”

His question struck me somewhat by surprise. I live in the Bible belt. Texas – the land of the mega-churches. Not very often has anyone asked me if I’m a Christian. Interestingly enough, I would be asked that question no less than three times on my weekend trip to Las Vegas. “Yes!”

He turned the music up. All the way to the canyon, we talked about Jesus, even though sometimes we had to yell above the praise music. It was a wonderful ride. And when I went on the trail ride, my guide was a Mexican cowboy who told me all about his struggle to fit in and find a good Christian church in Vegas.

As we approach Easter – the original Third Day – try to remember that God is everywhere. He turns up in even the most unexpected places, even the back of a taxi cab in Sin City.

To celebrate the holiday, I’m giving away a free print copy of my Easter romance Love, Lilies & the Unbroken Straw. For your chance to win, simply visit my personal blog at www.teriwilson.net. Leave a comment on the most recent blog entry and you’ll automatically be entered in the drawing. I will choose the winner’s name at random on Easter Sunday.

Have a glorious Easter rich with God’s blessings,

Teri

Teri Wilson ~ Romancing the pet lover’s soul

Free Reads Over at The Wild Rose Press

Looking for a short, quick read? The Wild Rose Press is offering up lots of quick reads, 64 at the last count, of authors who decided to participate. I'm there along with some of the other White Roses in Bloom Authors so check us out.

Wallflower Blurb:

In her high school yearbook, Megan Dougherty was voted most likely to eat the last box of Twinkies. Ten years later, the now sleek and sophisticated business woman attends her class reunion. She discovers her former classmates haven’t changed until Kyle Green arrives. Apparently some things have changed…for the better?





http://www.thewildrosepress.com/wallflower-p-1160.html?zenid=9ced4fef778ad31a5180836db308d1bf


Blessings,
Kim Watters

Romantic Settings

I am the assistant newsletter editor for my local Romance Writer's of America group. This month we asked our members to share the most romantic setting they have been to or could imagine. As I pondered the assignment I thought about all the romantic spots my husband has taken me to - beautiful beaches and mountain retreats - I realized that nothing is so romantic to me as being at home with my sweetheart.

Here are a few of the times Stan makes my heart flutter:

 

Him on the floor wrestling with our boys.

The smile on his face when he walks in the back door.

Watching him vacuum - you can't get more romantic than that!

Giving goodbye or hello kisses.

Seeing my boys light up when it's their turn for kisses.

What about you? Please share your favorite romantic setting.

Cami Checketts

www.camichecketts.com

fitmommas.blogster.com

My First Experience with Romance.

When I say my first experience with romance, I’m referring to my exposure to the genre as a reader, of course. I’ve head tales from romance authors of the first romantic tales they began reading as girls—some of them quite scandalous too. ;) My experience was much tamer and sweeter as the first romance author I read was Grace Livingston Hill when I was in the fifth grade.

For those of you unfamiliar with this author, Grace was a Christian romance novelist of another age (called the Mother of Inspirational Romance). Her first book was published way back in 1877 and she continued writing books until her death in 1947—more than a hundred titles. She was incredibly popular in her lifetime and her books continue to be good sellers to this day. Within her romantic stories were plainly defined Christian messages, a clear cut delineation between good and evil, and an ending that brought resolution to problems both physical and/or spiritual.

She is an author I look up to and who still inspires me in my writing today. In fact, it was after reading one of her books back in 2003 that I decided to write my own for the first time. Three years later my first book was published. Authors are busy people. We get wrapped up in our writing and promotion. We attempt to make time for our families and try to accomplish some housework. It is very easy to loose track of what we really are doing.

As inspirational authors more than any other genre, we really have a responsibility to our readers. I never realized that until my first Inspirational, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Your Wedding, released. I received so many emails from readers on how much this book touched them. Then they would give examples from the story on how this situation was similar to something they experienced or that character was just like them or their daughter. Some of their stories were incredibly emotional. I was moved by the response and even educated. I wasn’t just writing for me, I was writing for them and the impact I would make.

At the end of last year, I wrote another Inspirational story, Relationship Rescue. It’s just a short story but one with great emotional drive and a dollop of humor. It’s very hard for me to write without some form of humor. This story came from an idea of—what if a couple broke off their engagement because one still hadn’t figured out what love was all about. He still had some growing up to do both spiritually and emotionally. And what if friends of theirs saw the unhappiness of this broken up couple and decided to get them back together…well, at least talking again? What would happen then?? That is the premise behind this story. It releases this September from The Wild Rose Press. I’m happy to have another Inspirational story to add to my collection. I write in several genres because I just love them all, but Inspirational is close to my heart and no matter where I go or what I do I will remain an Inspirational reader and writer. I really must thank Grace Livingston Hill for that. She instilled the love of romance and even more the Christian romance into my heart and that is something which will stay with me to the end.

****

Don't forget to check out my newest release, NovelTea Next Door (Romantic Suspense), just released from The Wild Rose Press. Visit my Website to read an excerpt.