Did I tell you about the time my Dad and I went to Santa Barbara for dinner? We ate at J. K. Frimbles by the tree, and later, we walked up and down State Street, window shopping. What about how Mom and I used to sit in the “family room” half of her bedroom at night and listen to old radio Continue Reading
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3 Reasons to Love A Ruby Glows & Why You Might Not
A cold, blustery morning—or maybe a balmy summer evening. The day of the week, month of the year, season? It never mattered. From as young as I can remember, a new book meant a few hours lost in early 20th century Brooklyn, the prairies of Kansas and North Dakota, River Heights… In short, a Continue Reading
5 Cool Life Secrets I Learned from Old Movies
The blue screen flickers—turns black, white, and innocent shades of gray. Music swells. The production company’s logo fills the TV, and a smile forms. The music always changes—sprightly for a romance or a comedy, tense and imposing for a drama. A combination for both. And then it begins… I’ve Continue Reading
Why Flawed and Pathetic Heroes Are the Best
When this week’s topic, “My Ideal Romance Hero,” popped up in my planner, I laughed. Okay, so first I gagged, but then I laughed. Look, some blog on marketing for romance writers came up with this blog challenge, so now and then, I have to expect that there’ll be something from the sap and drip Continue Reading
What I Thought of For Love and Honor
There’s a man who used to live in our town—rather average in every respect. Height, weight, hair, eyes, skin. Well, not skin. You see, he had the largest port wine stain on half his face that I’d ever seen. It looked rather like the mask worn by the Phantom of the Opera. I remember children being Continue Reading
3 Sure Fire Things That Always Make Me Laugh
Let me set the scene. Seventh grade. Twelve years old. Just rode home from school—a five-mile ride… up an overpass. Both ways. Okay, not that last part. Just one way, but the rest… So, overheated but not perspiring (because that part of my body didn’t work very well… still doesn’t), I dragged Continue Reading
Why I Think We Need a New Princess in the Line Up—One Who Is Always Late
The lights shift. An expectant audience leans forward as three young girls step forward on screen. The littlest goes first—so cute. So sweet. She looks like a medieval princess. Reading from a storybook, she sings about how she’s waiting for her prince. She’s been waiting for a whole twenty-three Continue Reading
The Tyranny of the Desire to Do All the Things
Life in the trenches—that’s what I called it, you know. In the trenches. Those days of waking up half an hour early, bleary-eyed, hoping for five minutes in the shower, five minutes alone with the Lord, and twenty minutes to make those two things happen. Hey, a girl has to be realistic, Continue Reading
Behind the Scenes by Jen Turano: my thoughts
“Cash… for the merchandise. Cash… for the button hooks. Cash for the fancy goods. Cash for the soft goods. Cash-for-the-noggins-and-the-pickin’s-and…” The opening to Music Man. My husband and I sat there staring at the screen, just waiting for something interesting to happen. The “think” system. Continue Reading
Why Traveling Alone Is Awesome + My Top 5 Destinations
South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceana. Done. Have a great day! *crickets* Oh, all right. So, maybe that’s cheating. For the curious, I left out North America since I live here (despite it being vastly broader than I’ve explored) and Antarctica for obvious reasons. I love to travel—by Continue Reading
To Dream Impossible Dreams: My Greatest Desire
No, my name isn’t Susan Boyle. No, I will not start singing. Yes, I know that she sang "I Dreamed a Dream" instead of "The Impossible Dream." Work with me here. It’s the feel… the tone, right? Something? Okay, whatever. The point is, we all have dreams, right? Some dream of travel. That sounds Continue Reading
The Best and Worst Social Media Sites for Authors Like Me
To jump right to the nitty gritty of the best and worst social media sites, click HERE “So, last night, I killed the Doctor.” How do you respond to that? I didn’t know. My cursor blinked as I tried to think of what she could mean. After all, sweet Mary who is terrified of birds didn’t just go Continue Reading
