March 2021

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Sunday, March 21, 2021

#WeWriWa: The Bed She’d Made . . . An Untarnished Hero


Taking a stand to make a point comes with its own risks. You have to be willing to do whatever it takes to defend it if that point is challenged. But what if it’s simply . . . ignored? Which would bring the greatest regret for the heroine in my romantic suspense WIP?

He’d told her with soul baring honesty right from the first that what he saw when he looked at her was everything he’d ever need.

Was that still true?

It was for her. No denying it, no escaping it, no avoiding it. Jimmy Redbone was her past, present, and future . . . and tonight she’d remind him in case he’d forgotten.

Hearing the front door creak open and close below, Willa pressed palms to her belly to stop its quivering. Tonight was only about tonight, a time to reconnect and reawaken all the things that worked so well between them. Tomorrow, they’d sit down for that long overdue conversation to make a path for the future . . . together.

With a deep inhale and shaky gust out, she climbed under the covers and waited.

And waited.

No sounds from below. No bootsteps on the stairs. Nothing.

The house settled into a sigh of silence while she lay on her back, wide-eyed and awake.

Alone in the bed she’d made for herself.

Pride is a funny thing. It clouds what’s really important, what’s ultimately at stake if push comes to shove. My frustrated heroine is spoiling for a fight to confront all the wrongs and fears she’s endured for six long, lonely months. No confrontation means no answers, just a lonely bed and another lonely night with temptation just a floor away. But a reckoning is coming whether she’s ready for it or not.

I’m MORE than ready. I’m just finishing up my last read through before AUH is off to my critique group for BETA reads. While I’m waiting, biting my nails, I’ll be research avenues of publication (EWWW!). I’ve got a long, enjoyable week, staying with one of my critique partners (both of us are fully vaccinated!), to get things figured out and to start deciding on a next project. And maybe an agent/editor . . .

Hope things are brightening up for all of you on these longer, warmer days. I, for one, can’t wait to start basking on the patio.


Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.

Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.

Sunday, March 14, 2021

#WeWriWa: What Did She Want? W-I-P


Just finished the edit of my contemporary suspense, AN UNTARNISHED HERO and am getting ready for the hard swallow that precedes sending it to BETA readers. While I’m waiting, I need to research markets and whether I want to go the agent route or self-pub. Decisions, decisions. But mine aren’t nearly as critical as those my heroine has to make when her long absent husband returns home without any explanations.

Well, Willa asked herself as she stalked about the bedroom, wrestling blood-stained sheets off their big bed, wasn’t this what she’d wanted? He was here, within arms’ reach, so tempting her sports bra could barely restrain a lunging heart. Injured pride was a small price to pay for the soothing stroke of his voice and low music of his laughter. Dignity too high a fence to put around a body needing the security of his embrace wrapped tight around her.

Linens clutched to her heaving chest, wadded up as tight as her emotions, she paused to slow those jerking breaths.

What was she going to do about Jimmy Redbone, errant husband, and man of her every good or bad dream?

Willa forced an achy inhale, releasing it in a fragile shiver.

What did she want from him, from their relationship moving forward, not looking back? If pride had its way, she’d march down the narrow hall, throw clean linens on one of the extra beds, and toss his sparse clothing into distant dresser drawers. That might soothe the hurt prickling beneath her indignation, but it wouldn’t ease the empty pain of nights alone.

I’ve had such fun taking my sparring yet made for each other couple from tense reconnection to that ultimately satisfying HEA. Now comes the hard part – the business end of writing. It’s like going from music to math . . . Thank goodness it’s a drinking holiday week (not that I indulge in anything stronger than caffeine!). We’ll need it after losing that hour of sleep here in Michigan.


Ahhhh, St. Patrick’s Day! A bittersweet reminder of that longed for vacation to the Emerald Isle, now rescheduled for the fourth COVID extension to three weeks in September. Sigh. This time, I’ll go even if I have to walk . . . well, maybe not ALL the way there. I’ve been teasing myself with packing lists and new travel accessories now that I’m twice vaccinated as well as passported. Those five months will just FLY by . . . but not without me, this time! What dream destinations have you been pining for?

Off to visit your pages!

Go Green, fellow Warriors and Happy Writing!!


Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.

Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.

Wednesday, March 03, 2021

#IWSG: The Reading Spice of Life - Variety!

Our Insecure Writers Support Group question for March is: “Everyone has a favorite genre or genres to write. But what about your reading preferences? Do you read widely or only within the genre(s) you create stories for? What motivates your reading choices?”


I started picking out books from our local Bookmobile as soon as I was old enough to have a card. My mom’s only codicil was that I could read whatever I could reach (the children’s books being on the lower shelves). Silly Mom. There were step stools! Though I started out with all the Black Stallion books, I quickly branched out to The Hardy Boys and Trixie Belden mysteries. Then a Folklore phase when I devoured the stories and legends from every country I could find. Georgette Heyer Regency romps were followed by Alistair MacLean’s thrillers and Ray Bradbury mindblowers, all the way to Stephen King and Dean Koontz horror and anything suspense. There was never enough time to get between the pages of everything I was dying to read.


Actually, I voraciously read every genre except what I finally started out writing: Romance. I blame Kathleen Woodiwiss for changing that.

Even while writing romance, I enjoy paying homage to the genres I cut my teeth on, adding in action, adventure, suspense and the paranormal. Everything I was tall enough to read and eventually able to add onto my Kindle gets sprinkled into the huge, ever boiling pot of plot ideas, bringing spice, heat, spooky times, and variety to the expected love story in genres from that first historical Regency and western historicals to category suspense, vampires and shapeshifters.

Variety is more than the spice of life. It’s also the spark I look for when I read and what keeps my titles, now entering 70+, interesting enough to keep me at the keyboard.

I can’t wait to find out what motivates you?


Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time.The awesome co-hosts for the March 3rd posting of the IWSG will be Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen Jacqui Murray, Chemist Ken, Victoria Marie Lees, Natalie Aguirre, and JQ Rose!

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Twitter hashtag is #IWSG