I had the chance to attend the MERWA (Maine Romance Writers chapter) retreat this last weekend and, as I’ve mentioned before, I love conferences. I love going to workshops to hear from other writers about how they work and why they tell the stories they do. And I love learning something new — a new process, a different way of looking at things, a way to develop story ideas, or something that will strengthen or improve my storytelling.

Power Panel at MERWA

Oh — and I love coming home with a list of books to find (both more writing and/or research books as well as new romance authors recommended during those conferences and workshops!

But really, I think it boils down to the fact that I really REALLY love writers.  Leave us alone and soon we’re talking about people who aren’t real, situations that will be the catalysts that incite the characters to move and change and even ways to kill people!  So many interesting conversations about factoids and details. So many chance encounters that will help or entertain me. So many special moments meeting and getting to know more writers.

Denise Robbins

Even though this was a small conference, more like a retreat, focusing on some basic workshops along with writing (or chatting) time, it met or exceeded my expectations!  Denise Robbins led us through a characterization workshop and I will never be able to say or think the name ‘Raphael’ without sighing. A panel made up off bestselling authors Tess Gerritsen, Kathy Lynn Emerson (aka Kate Emerson), James Hayman and their agent Meg Ruley answered lots of questions about how and why they write, the business and the secrets of the universe  — Meg even  reminded me  during an informal reception that the meaning of life is 42!

And lest you think conferences like this are all work and no fun, you should know that the MERWA group even. . . ahem. . . arranged. . .er. . .participated in an upclose look at how firemen work — a surprise field trip event happened in the middle of the night when the fire and evacuation alarms went off, forcing us to seek safety outside the hotel. And, in those confused, somewhat frightening moments, inspiration of a different kind — but inspiring nonetheless — it gave us all a chance to observe how people react in emergencies.  . . and to watch the fire department respond, too!

Inspiration comes at the weirdest times, in the most unexpected ways and even when we’re not prepared — or when we look like this >>>>>>>>>>>>

How about you? Where do you find inspiration – for writing, for your work, for your passion? Do you find it reading books? Talking to people? Watching hunky firemen answer the call in the middle of the night? What’s your inspiration in life?

   Terri is busy at work on a new project (another Highlander story!) and awaiting the release of TAMING THE HIGHLAND ROGUE (in August) and THE HIGHLANDER’S STOLEN TOUCH (in September). She’ll be presenting workshops and signing throughout the summer. Visit her website for more info about all that!

Terri will be speaking to the Rhode Island RWA chapter on Saturday, June 2. Here’s more info....

Terri will be speaking at this weekend’s (May 18-19,2012) Maine RWA chapter retreat and conference. FMI – visit here!

Those of you who know me know that I am a procrastinator. Why do something in advance when you can do it last minute? So, it shouldn’t surprise most of you that I tend to write my blogs at the last possible moment…as I’m writing this one just before midnight….

Tonight though, my heart is heavy and I find it difficult to write something light and funny.  So let me tell you about true love.

Maureen and Len married 37 years ago and Len would proclaim to everyone who would listen that Maureen was the love of his life.  Every six months when they came into the dental office where I’ve worked for the last 20 years, they would continue to talk to each other across the office even as their appointments continued. They ALWAYS scheduled appointment together and rarely came without the other. Len usually began his conversations with ‘my wife Maureen’ and then would go on to tell anyone who would listen about the wonderful woman he loved and had married.

They raised three daughters and Maureen taught school for almost 3 decades, in a struggling school system and never talked about retiring until the year before she did. Len had already and they had lots of things they were going to do together — because that’s how they always did things. Together.

Then, just after retiring ( I would run into them at the local health club pool — spending time together in the exercise pool and class), Maureen was diagnosed with lymphoma. Through it all, Len and the girls were at her side, encouraging her and supporting her through all kinds of treatments and were optimistic when the docs thought her through the worst. And hopeful when she went into remission.

We got a call today at the office letting us know that Maureen died suddenly last week – a powerful infection struck her down and she went from recovery to ventilator to death in only a few days. Len called to apologize for not letting us know that his wonderful wife, the love of his life, had passed away. I happened to take the call and all I could do was cry as he told me once more about the special person she was and how he could not imagine how he would live without her.

As I thought on all he’d said, all he’d ever said about his Maureen, I realized I was hearing true love. Through the good times and the bad, through decades of married life and raising children, into retirement and through trials, they were always together. They were soulmates — the other half that was never far away. And even now, I know their love will remain strong between them….how could it not?

And, as I grieve tonight for the wonderful man who lost the woman he loves, I know I was privileged to see real love in action. Not the fictional love I create in my stories, no, this love was true and deep and abiding and won’t end just because she’s passed away.

So, help me celebrate this true love by sharing a story about a true love you’ve witnessed. Your own? A family member or friend? Please post it — I’ll appreciate hearing about true love during this sad time.

Terri is working on a new proposal for Harlequin Historicals, another MacLerie Clan story, and recovering from her recent month on the road for various work assignments. Visit her website for more info about her upcoming books and events.

Covers are the bane of any author’s existence. .  and the bliss, too, when done well. Nothing gives an author more reasons for angst (well, other than titles, reviews, editing, synopsis-writing, and so on) than waiting to see how their publisher’s art, marketing and editorial departments envisioned their story. Did they pick up on the conflict? Do the hero and heroine actually LOOK like they’re supposed to? Hair color? Age? Body type?  Sometimes they’re spot on and sometimes, well, they’re not at all.

Last year, I put together a presentation for an event about the mysteries and possibilities of romance novel coverart and I collected examples of many — some beautiful, some questionable and some downright horrendous covers to show to my audience. I talked about author branding, marketing concepts, reader/story expectations and the one thing that the attendees could simply not believe was that authors have little or no control over covers.  It’s true but after having input on the four covers of my recently republished books, I can say that I think I’m grateful for not having been involved in all those others! LOL!

Actually, that’s not completely true — working with the cover artist/graphic designer on my covers forced me (FORCED!) to sift through dozens and dozens possibly hundreds of photos of gorgeous young men. It was a terrible experience, comparing their eyes and faces and . . . other bits, trying to find the perfect representation for my heroes. As I explained to my husband who was wondering why I was looking at gorgeous young men for hours and hours, it was my responsibility to find the right one from among all the wrong ones.

So, back to the other covers — the ones designed and created by my publishers. I have been blessed with mostly fabulous covers over the years. Lovely ones, gorgeous ones for the most part, across time periods, with hunky Highlanders, Saxon maidens, Regency duchesses and earls, and a few headless women, too. More than a few headless people–LOL!  To capitalize on the trend for my books to feature headless heroines (THE COUNTESS BRIDE, MAID OF LORN, THE BETROTHAL, THE CONQUEROR’S LADY, and all of my Bravas) then headless heroes (THE NORMAN’S BRIDE, TAMING THE HIGHLANDER, SURRENDER TO THE HIGHLANDER, etc), I even held a website contest to guess what the next cover would be!

Well, today I got the first peek at my next Harlequin Historical’s cover and I am blown away by it! I think it’s the best one yet — but I may be biased. What do you think?

When you look for a romance novel, in stores or online, what do you like on the cover? Are you partial to clinches? Hero-only? Heroine-only? Naked manly chests? Images not people?  And which of mine (found here ) do you think is the best? This new one or one of the others? Post a comment and I’m going to choose two people who will each receive a signed book (from this weekend’s Desert Dreams Conference in Phoenix AZ).

Terri is on her way to the Desert Dreams conference this weekend where she’ll be presenting a workshop and signing at the conference bookfair. The bookfair on Saturday is open to the public.  Stop by if you’re in the area!

You know the old saying…..the mice will play.  Well, there’s a huge romance readers-writers convention going on this week and lots and lots of my friends are going — gosh, even a bunch of the Jaunty Quills will be there, too. But, due to real life working demands, I can’t go….waaaaaaaaaa! For those who don’t know, I’m talking about the RT (as in Romantic Times) Booklovers Convention that’s happening in Chicago.

I’ve attended it a couple of times — twice as a ‘reader’ and twice as an author so I’ve had both sides of the experience — and it can be wild. Though if you’ve heard my stories about helping out in the dressing rooms of the cover model contest (which did involve helping the guys get dressed — and some help with smoothing out the oil they used to glisten on stage!!)  and meeting Fabio and just having a great time overall. My times as an author were fun, too, meeting tons of readers and other writers and spending the better part of a week feeling very special.

But this week, I’m working…actually visiting Grand Rapids MI for a couple of days. And I’ll be watching lots of FB postings and blogs to see what’s going on in Chicago. And hoping I can get there next year….

So, have you ever attended a readers convention? Or writers convention? Do you want to? Why or why not? Will you be following authors on their FB pages or tweets? Let me know! I’ll be looking for an exciting souvenir from Grand Rapids to give to one person who posts today about readers conventions or which authors they’re following at RT — I’m sure there’s something exciting in Grand Rapids, right? LOL!

Terri is on her way, on a baby airplane that hasn’t grown up yet, to sunny Grand Rapids today but she’ll be checking in and searching for that exciting souvenir, too!  Visit her website for more info about her books ( her latest republished title is THE QUEEN’S MAN!) and her upcoming events.

MISTRESS OF THE STORM by Terri Brisbin was named the Best Book of 2011 in the Erotic-Historical Fantasy/Paranormal category at The Romance Reviews!!

We all know that women are the target audience for many markets and in politics, too. Sure, sex sells, but it’s usually been directed at men — just think about godaddy.com for example….. Enough said?  But, everyone wants our votes and our spending dollars.  I think that maybe advertisers are beginning to tap the romance reading audience because I’ve noticed new and more commercials aimed at being. . . well, romantic or sexy.

Have you seen this one?

(I especially like the clanging skillets on his manly belt! LOL!)

Or how about this one:

(I can guarantee you that only women can remember where he drops each piece of clothing as he makes his way to the deck!)

Or this one where the irrepressible bad boy uses his roguish smile to entice even the most-hardened noble  and saves the servant girl with a lift of his brow:

And of course, the recent ongoing tv and internet battle between the old Old Spice Guy and the new Old Spice Guy even used one of the best known faces (and bodies) of romance novel history :

The New Old Spice Guy:

versus the Old Old Spice guy:

Have they missed anything in trying to get a woman to buy this product for their man? LOL!

So, clearly they are aiming at the hearts and experiences (and reading memories) of romance reading-women…have they won yours?

Have I missed any that you’ve liked lately? Any that you didn’t? Let me know!

   Terri is head-down, deep in the midst of deadline mania and binge-writing her way to THE END as fast as her fingers can type. This video-based interlude was her attempt to blog. . . with pictures because all her words belong in THAT DA*N BOOK!  She’ll be back among the rest of us soon — in the meantime, visit her website or FB page for more info about her!

Terri has sold 3 more books to Harlequin Historicals — she’ll be returning to her very popular HIGHLANDER series for a ‘next generation’ trilogy. The first will be released in September 2012!

Long, long ago, in a galaxy far, far . . . oh sorry! Let me try again –

Long, long ago, in a very small town in southern New Jersey, I discovered a magical place where I could spend hours, days really, losing myself in other worlds and other times and other places. This was a legal place for a kid to visit and so I spent countless hours there, reading my way through any book I could get my hands on (and that at my reading level!).

The library in Mt. Ephraim was a small building — it would probably fit into my living room and dining room now — but it didn’t matter. It was filled with a seemingly endless supply of books for my hunger to read. I became a fixture there and it wasn’t long before I was allowed to borrow more than the maximum books others were limited to. And I read fast — returning and borrowing more books.

The librarian during those years became a friend, quietly placing books on the table where I sat reading that she thought I would like whenever she found them. She knew I was a sucker for Nancy Drew and then The Black Stallion and The Three Investigators and would reserve them for me. My friends and I would take turns reading the books and then talk about them for hours. My BFF and I even planned to buy horses and have a horse farm after reading The Black Stallion series!

  Needless to say, I am very excited to be visiting the Public Librarians’ Association’s 2012 Conference tomorrow (Thursday) in Philadelphia. Can you imagine a meeting filled with people who love books?! And who are there to recommend and offer books to patrons day in and day out? Wow…….

So, as the librarians descend on Philly this week, what memories do you have of your local library? Was it big or small? What books did you like to read as a kid in a library? Or as an adult! LOL!  I’ll pick up a couple of books tomorrow and send them out to one person who comments about their love of libraries.

   Terri is thrilled that her time travel romance, THE QUEEN’S MAN, is now available to readers in digital formats! Visit her website for info about how and where to purchase it and for info about her upcoming releases and events!