DH and I decided to escape the smoke a bit and go to the movies. We chose “Wind River,” set on the Native American reservation for the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho (traditional enemies) Native American tribes in Wyoming. It is an excellent movie, but definitely not a romance. The … Read More
Talk It Out: The Key to Relationships
Recently my newly married personal trainer asked me, “What’s the key to making a relationship work?” After I wrenched my mind from concentrating on rolling my thighs on the hard foam roller (painful relief …), I gave him the one word answer I always do, “Communicate.” There is so much … Read More
Why Legally Blonde Is Important
A few weeks ago, I watched Legally Blonde again. This sort-of romance shows the accomplishment of a woman to remain true to herself and yet grow up enough to make a difference in the world. Although we’re both blondes (okay, my blond hair has gone a tad silver), the resemblance … Read More
Hurricanes, Love, and the Greek Definitions of Love
As I write this, our southeast coast is bracing for Hurricane Mathew. It will be another test of how much we can love one another. Not romantic love–although that’s always possible–but the human being to human being caring. We’ve seen it before. Times like when the towers came down, earthquakes, … Read More
Montana Music and Small Towns
A chunk of the story, Christmas in Montana, that I just finished, takes place in a small Montana town–Phillipsburg, population 840. This past weekend, my DH and I swelled that population to close to 4,000. The occasion was the 2nd Annual Aber Day Kegger Reunion, a classic in the Montana … Read More
Romance at the Altar
Thirteen years ago today, I married my best friend. Through the good times and the bad, we’ve stuck it through. It’s been worth it. Almost every romance has the promise of happily ever after, usually with a glimpse of wedding bells, although the actual day isn’t always shown. I like … Read More
Independent Book Stores and Romance
I love independent book stores. I hate that independents have a thing about romance. “Our customers don’t read romance,” they say. Even down 11% from the previous, romance readers bought 30,885 thousand copies in 2014, higher than any other Adult Fiction category except General Fiction which sold 36,314 thousand copies … Read More
Inspiration from Books
Every writer thrives on inspiration from books–others’ words and our own.. Some times it seems like an elusive chimera. Other times words just flow. Most writers encourage each other because we know the hard work it takes to turn inspiration into something worth while for readers to absorb. You see, … Read More
Independence Day: A Romance Writer’s Thoughts
As I write this, it’s Independence Day. While it can mean parades, fireworks, and barbecues, it seems right to examine what I need (or don’t need) to achieve independence. Of course, independence means different things to different people, and some of it depends on the circumstances of your life. For … Read More
A Mile in Another’s Moccasins
In my 20s, I worked as a teacher on the Blackfoot Indian Reservation in Montana. I’d heard the expression “walk a mile in his moccasins” attributed to Native Americans. Today, I learned it came from a poem by Mary Lathrop: Just walk a mile in his moccasins Before you abuse, … Read More