I went to a play on Friday night at the local community playhouse. It was called The Lady With All the Answers. This one-woman play was on advise columnist Ann Landers. It took place in 1975. Fabulous play. Before it started, the person from the theaters asked everyone to silence “all those devices that weren’t around in 1975.”

That got me to thinking of all the technology that has developed in the past 35 years. We have cell phones, computers, iPods, DVD players, call waiting, GPS systems etc.

Of course thinking of all the advances made me wonder if I had to give up just one, what would I give up? For sure it wouldn’t be the computer? Type my manuscripts on a electric typewriter or word processor? No way. Cell phone, call waiting HAVE to stay…and I have to admit I love my Garmin Nuvi (GPS). If I had to give something up it would have to be the iPod.

How about you? If you had to give something up…what would it be and why would you pick that item (as opposed to something else).

In my current work-in-progress, there is a combination coffee shop/cafe/book store etc…which is the meeting place for this small town.

I want this place to have some kind of specialty baked good, something that they’re known for. At first I thought of oatmeal applesauce bread. I found this great recipe on the internet: http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/recipes/article_0bb9c669-6b14-53a7-876a-7dd4cc4856a1.html

But then, I thought no, I’d like something other than bread (no matter how good of bread it is)….I started thinking about coffee cake….I considered perhaps coffee cake made with a touch of brandy. But maybe the specialty shouldn’t be coffee cake at all…or maybe it should. Can you tell I’m floundering?

That’s where you come in. I’m giving away two books this week, drawn from everyone who comments and suggests a specialty I might use in this boo. And if you include a link to the recipe you get entered into the drawing twice.

I can’t wait to hear your suggestions. And please know I really appreciate your help!

My friend, fellow Quill Nancy Robards Thompson and I were discussing interesting people we know…and it quickly became apparent that the people “I” know aren’t half as interesting as the people SHE knows.

My friends, family and I swear everyone I know is…well, boring. Not a colorful character among them.

This week I’ll be giving away books that I received at the Romance Writers of America conference. I’ll draw the two winners from everyone who posts about a colorful character they know. And hey, if you’re like me and live among boring people, make one up.

I’ll do the drawing at 9pm on Sunday so check back that night to see if you’re a winner!

Our county fair started today and as I was driving by the Events Center, I couldn’t help but notice all the Midway rides. Brightly lit against the night sky, the rides called to me.

Which is odd since I’ve had a few “unfortunate” encounters on carnival rides. The first occurred when I was in grade school. I was on a ferris wheel and the bar across my lap came loose! I scrunched back in the seat, worried that if I sat too far forward I would tumble out.

My second encounter of the negative variety happened again on a ferris wheel. The ride broke down when I was at the top!! But I was a teenager and nothing worried me. Beside, my boyfriend was beside me and the way I looked at it back then, the more alone time with him…the better.

The last time was on a….no, not a ferris wheel but rather at Disney World on the Tower of Terror. If you’re not familiar with this ride, it’s drops and then drops again. Well, when I was on it, it dropped…then froze. So, there we were, waiting and waiting and waiting for the chance to plummet again. Still, I’d go on it again in a heartbeat.

I’d like to hear the story of YOUR close encounters with a carnival ride. And, if you haven’t had one yourself…tell me about a friend’s adventure.

I still have plenty of books to give away from the Romance Writers of America conference, so everyone who comments this weekend will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a free book! I’ll announce the winner Sunday night, so be sure and check back to see if you’re a winner!

I’m at that RWA conference and just back from the Harlequin party at the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando. Super fun (as always)…but when I got back to my room I realized that I hadn’t set up a blog.

Sooooo…let’s talk setting. There are so many authors who set their books in a town or an area that comes alive for their readers.

For a chance to win one of the new books that I’m bringing home from the conference, please tell me about a book you’ve read where the setting was so real and vivid that you felt like you were there..and you’ll be entered for a chance to win!

This weekend (and next) I’ll be in Florida for the Romance Writers of America national conference. I have to go out early because I’m on the Board of Directors and we meet before the conference begins.

Since I won’t be around much, I wanted to issue a challenge to you. If you comment today (Saturday) before 7 pm Central Time and make your response look like you’re writing your own blog (at least 200 words) AND you’re one of the first ten people to do this, then you will win a book. Yep, as easy as that. I’ll be bringing back a lot of books from the conference plus I have a lot of new ones around.

I won’t be back in town until August 4th, but if you qualify, email me through my website and I’ll get the book in the mail!!

Here she is….no, it’s not Miss America…it’s THE RITA

As you’ve probably heard, if you’ve read other JQ blogs this week, the purpose of the RITA® contest is to promote excellence in the romance genre by recognizing outstanding published romance novels and novellas.

Today, we’re focusing on the Inspirational RITA finalists. If you’ve never read an inspirational romance, you may have a picture in your mind of sweet-as-pie books that don’t have anything to do with the real world and the issues we all face. Nothing could be further from the truth.

This is a large category with eight finalists. Today, we’re going to focus on three who were so kind to send me a brief blurb about their book.

An Eye for an Eye by Irene Hannon
Baker Publishing Group, Revell Books

Here’s what Irene had to say about this book:
Psychologist Emily Lawson loves her private practice, her weekly teen
radio show, chocolate chip frappuccinos, and a routine, predictable life
she can control. Uh oh.

I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely intrigued. And what a fabulous cover!

Breach of Trust by Diann Mills
Tyndale House Publishers

What did DiAnn say about her book when I asked?
Librarian Paige Rogers had more exciting days dodging bullets in Africa, until she made a decision to bring a corrupt politician to justice.

Yes, she’s got a librarian heroine, but I’ve read this book and Paige is anything but sweet-as-pie.

The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper by Kathleen Y’Barbo
Random House Publishing, WaterBrook Multnomah

In twenty-five-words-or-less here’s what Kathleen told me about Miss Eugenia Cooper’s confidential life:
Buckskins and boots or diamonds and Worth gowns? With New York socialite Eugenia Cooper, it depends on the day. Then there are the
dime novels…”

This weekend, I’d like to know what characteristic you like to see in a heroine…or what characteristic turns you off. On Sunday night, I’ll draw one name from everyone who has commented this weekend and that person will win a copy of Kathleen Y’Barbo’s RITA finalist book: The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper

Thank you, Kathleen for your generous donation!

So, congratulate these finalists and comment for a chance to win. Then check back on Sunday night to see if you’re a winner!

Thanks for all who posted this weekend….and congrats again to our Inspirational GH finalists!

FIVE who commented won a copy of my June 2010 Silhouette Special Edition, IN LOVE WITH JOHN DOE.

Those winners are: KRIS, ANGI, GILLIAN, CYNTHIA AND SUSAN MASON.

Ladies, please contact me through my website www.cindykirk.com and let me know your full name and snail mail address. I’ll get that book in the mail you you right away.

Stop back next week when we feature the Inspirational RITA finalists!

We’ve all experienced moments in our lives when something wonderful happens. Winning a spelling bee in grade school. Getting picked for select team in middle school. Getting chosen for the lead in an all-school play. Moments that are forever seared into our brains. Usually we can remember where we stood when we heard the news. Often what we were wearing. And who can forget the excitement and sense of joy that surged through our veins.

The three women that we’ll showcase today experienced this happiness when they were notified they were Golden Heart contest finalists in the Inspirational category.

First you might wonder…what is the Golden Heart Awards®? Romance Writer’s of America’s Golden Heart Award honors excellence in unpublished romance manuscripts. It is considered to be THE premier writing contest for unpublished writers.

More than 1,000 manuscripts were judged in 10 categories. Winners of the awards will be announced July 31, 2010, at the Heart Awards Ceremony to be held at RWA’s 30th Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida.

I reached out to the three finalists in the Inspirational category and caught up with two of them. I asked them what it was like to get that call, notifying them that they were a finalist in this prestigious contest.

Unforgiven by CJ Eernisse Chase

Violets and Violins by Keli Gwyn

Here’s what Keli had to say about her GH call:
I awoke at 6 a.m. and dashed to my computer. I loaded the RWA® website and two blogs where Golden Heart® finalists were shouting out their news as they received it. I wanted to see which of my writer pals had received The Call. Since I’m in California, the sites were already hopping. When my phone rang at 8 a.m., I hoped the caller wasn’t chatty because I wanted to watch for my friends’ names. To my surprise, Terri Reed was on the phone telling me I was a finalist. I owe her a big hug in Orlando.

I think most can identify with the experience. You’re hoping that your friends will get picked, get chosen, have their happy moment and you find yourself being blindsided…by joy!

Here Comes the Wedding Planner by Kristin Leigh Wallace

For Kristin, third time was the charm. Here’s what Kristin had to say about the call she received:

This was my third time entering the GH (with the same manuscript). This year I didn’t change one word. I’d always come close, but one score knocked me out. I actually forgot that the GH calls were supposed to go out. I always get the date mixed up. Then around noon I was at work and got a weird email that say only “rwa” in the subject. I couldn’t imagine what RWA wanted. All it said was someone’s name and “call me as soon as you can”. I still didn’t get it so I wrote back and said I’m getting back to you. Then I FINALLY looked at the calendar and my heart started racing. So then I called, still telling myself that it was probably something stupid. But it was about the Golden Heart. It’s been a wild ride so far and I’m looking forward to Nationals.

Everyone who offers their congratulations to these finalists and mentions something good that happened to them (at any time in their life) will be entered into a drawing to win a copy of my June release In Love With John Doe. I’ll be giving away five copies so your chances to win are good!

Congratulations to CJ, Keli and Kristin. We think you’re all winners!!

Years ago I heard it cost $200,000 to raise a child. On the radio this week they were saying $500,000. Yikes!

I do know that everything cost more now. Whether you’re just starting out, raising a family or looking forward to retirement, I think a lot of us are looking for ways to save money. After all, if you can get what you want for less, or save money on one thing so you have more to spend on what you really want, who wouldn’t want to do that…right???

I thought it might be fund to pretend we were coming up with a list to give a friend who was feeling the money pinch…and each of us could give one (or more) helpful money saving tips.

I’ll go first and everyone who comments will get a glass of cyber champagne.

My hint: Try to plan your daily driving excursions to be maximally productive. Make a list so you’re not backtracking to complete your errands. Not only will you save gas money, you’ll save time.