Sylvia McDaniel asks: Is Love only for Virgins?

I’m hard at work finishing up my new Christmas novella. This one is a little different. I went back to my best-selling western series, The Burnett Brides that I had written years ago. The series, set in the old west, is about a mother who has three very stubborn sons who have not gotten married. She wants grandchildren, and they’re not even married. So she pulls some tricks and by the time the third son is married, the children wanted to return the favor of finding her true love. I never wrote that book until now.

Eugenia Burnett (be careful what names you choose in books because they stay around a long time) has sworn never to remarry. She doesn’t need a husband or want one. She’s a free spirit doing what she pleases and doesn’t need a man to boss her around. Yet she’s not given up her matchmaking ways either. Now she’s moved on to the people she knows, and she’s putting widows and widowers together. Until one widower, Wyatt Jones (think John Wayne meets Maureen O’Hara) lets her know in front of a crowded restaurant that he’s not interested in any of the women she keeps sending him except her. He wants to marry her.

I’ve had a lot of fun with this book. The story just seemed to write itself with me hanging on for the ride. I love it when books are this easy to write. But this book is special because it’s about an “Older” heroine.

BLOGGING: IS IT ON LIFE SUPPORT? By Kathy Ivan

I keep hearing blogging is dead. Can this be true? I read as many blogs as I used to, I just don't have the time. I rarely have time to write a comment, either. The number of blogs I read has gotten smaller, but I still read some. Especially ones by people who post things I enjoy reading about.

VARIETY: I like a variety of topics when I'm blog hopping. Yes, I want to know about your new book when you have a new release. But don't overdo it. Share it at couple of places, and I'll check it out. But not 20 or 30 or 40. There's only so much information I want to know about your book. If you give away too much, then what's the point of reading the story? I'll know most of it from seeing so many blog posts.

ENTERTAIN ME: I like to be entertained. If you tell me a little bit about yourself or something that you’ve been participating in, or someplace you've visited, chances are good I'll hop over to your blog and check it out. Tell me about your dog or your cat. Tell me about your closet full of handbags (Vicki). Give me a reason to keep coming back to your blog.

PICTURES: Definitely put up pictures on your blog. Break up all the paragraph after paragraph with pictures pertaining to your subject matter. If you've been on a trip, stick a couple of photos up. It makes what you've said come alive visually. After all, don't they say a picture is worth a thousand words?

The Plotting Princesses Welcome Jerrie Alexander!!

Welcome Jerrie Alexander to The Plotting Princesses! I already know Jerrie is an amazing writer. Being my critique partner, I get to read every word she writes. I wanted to know more about her than I could find in the pages of her dark, gritty romantic suspense books (which have kept me up late way too many times because she keeps me on the edge of my seat). She was gracious enough to answer my questions and share a bit about her new release with us.


Q - If you could be one of the Greek Goddesses, which one would you be?

A - Aphrodite, Goddess of love, beauty, desire, and pleasure! She immediately popped into my head. My only issue with her is she's usually depicted naked, and I'm not brazen enough to bare all. But if I'm the Goddess, I can change the rules. Right?

Q - What is your favorite quote? 

A - That's a tough one because there are so many. But one I really like:  “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” 

-Mahatma Gandi