I’m not a very outgoing person. I mean I can be funny and the life of the party with people I know but with strangers I’m very quiet and shy.  A few glasses of wine has been known to make me more outgoing but that’s the exception rather than the rule.

Look at this lady in the picture behind us–my daughter calls this photo bombing. This so unexpected and funny. I smile each time I see her in my picture. I don’t know who she is but she is making me laugh!

I am by nature someone who likes routine and things in their place so by rights this stranger in my picture should bother me but it doesn’t.  One of the mom’s I knew when my son was in second grade told me a story about how when she was new in town every day this crossing guard would smile and wave at her.  She said she expected that he did that to everyone but as she knew no one in town that little gesture just made her feel a little better about moving to some place unfamiliar.

Have you ever had something unexpected just make you smile?

I saw this game on Facebook and thought it would be fun to play here since we love authors and books. The Rules: list fifteen authors (poets included) who’ve influenced you and made an impression. Don’t take too long to think about it. List the first fifteen you can recall in no more than fifteen minutes.

Here’s my COOL FIFTEEN list:

VICTOR HUGO – For LES MISÉRABLES alone Hugo will always be on my best-loved list.

EMILE ZOLA – Nineteenth century France is one of my passions. So many things about that period speak to me – the Impressionist painters, post-Haussmann Paris, the literature… One of my favorite writers is Emile Zola. Like Hugo, Zola provides a vivid window into this world.

JANE AUSTEN – What’s not to love about the original romance writer and her body of work?

F. SCOTT FITZGERALD – Nick Carraway had me at chapter one. When I reached the end of GATSBY, I was hungry for more Fitzgerald.

ALICE HOFFMAN – She’s brilliant with magical realism.

SYLVIA PLATH – The way she weaves words and turns phrases brings me to my knees. In my book, she’s a literary goddess.

JK ROWLING – Harry, Ron and Hermione are like personal friends.

DOROTHEA BENTON FRANK – She speaks to the southern girl in me. I want to be her when I grow up.

TRACY CHEVALIER – The beauty of her smart books takes my breath away.

NORA ROBERTS – Nora is the one who made me want to write romance. Her well-crafted storied still sweep me away.
As an author, one of the perks of the job is meeting other writers and getting to know them beyond the pages of their books. It’s only natural that some of my favorite authors have become my friends. I dedicate this portion of “15 Cool Authors” to them:

KATHERINE GARBERA – Kathy was the very first published author I met…way back when. We became acquainted through our local RWA chapter. Since then, she’s became one of my very best friends. I’ll never forget the day I met Kathy. It was my first RWA chapter meeting. I was nervous and unsure of why I was even there. It just happened that on that same day, Kathy walked in with the cover of her very first book (THE BACHELOR NEXTDOOR wasn’t even out yet and she’d just received the cover flat). I was awe struck. Standing right in front of me was a living, breathing author, who was so talented, yet so personable and approachable. She made me feel as if I’d always been part of the chapter. Her smart, sassy prose hooked me from the get go and her sweet personality has made her friend for life.

CINDY KIRK – Cindy and I met at my first RWA conference. Synchronicity had a hand in our friendship when by chance we found ourselves at the same luncheon table two days in a row (amid 2,000 women and no assigned seats). We were both unpublished, but dogged determined to change that. We became fast friends and corresponded over the years – mind you, this was pre-email, back in the prehistoric days of the telephone and letter.  Now, Cindy is not only a good friend, she’s my plotting and brainstorming partner. Her books are fun and heartfelt and I always look forward to reading her next release.

CATHERINE KEAN – Catherine writes rich, beautiful historical romances. I’ve always described Catherine’s books as “jewel boxes” full of exquisite treasures. Her beautiful touch has influenced my work, too, since she’s been my critique partner for fourteen years.

KATHLEEN O’BRIEN – Kathleen is the wise woman in my life. She has such a poetic soul that radiates from the pages of her books. She was an established author when I met her. Now, I am so very fortunate to call her a friend and brainstorming partner.

KRISTAN HIGGINS – Kristan is fabulously funny and talented, and she has one of the most generous spirits of any writer I’ve met. Her Rita-winning novel “Catch of the Day” was the one that hooked me. Now, I count the days until next Kristan Higgins release.

So, there you have it…my Cool 15. I’m dying to hear who’s on your list. Since I’m celebrating being part of a group of six more very cool authors who have each crafted books in the latest FORTUNES OF TEXAS series (I’m book five out of the six-book series – book one launched this month. My title FORTUNE’S UNEXPECTED GROOM will be released in May 2012), I will give away the first two titles in the FORTUNES OF TEXAS series: Karen Templeton’s FORTUNE’S CINDERELLA and Marie Ferrarella’s FORTUNE’S VALENTINE BRIDE to one lucky person who posts their own 15 Cool Authors list.

I’m a little late to the actual world of fashion designers. I like clothes and shoes and handbags but I buy on instinct based on what I like and what looks good on me. I’m not tall and my body is pretty much 50/50, meaning my legs aren’t super long. So over the years I’ve learned what I can and can’t wear. I’ve never looked good in khakis and a polo shirt. Despite knowing this I have attempted the look many times, but then I grew up in the 80s so might have an excuse!

While browsing in Waterstones (a UK book chain that’s similar to BN in the US) I found a book that looked intriguing…Parisian Chic. My husband and son were both still in search of a gift for moi so I grabbed it and handed it them before turning away so I could be surprised on Christmas morning!

And I was. I have read and re-read the book a number of times. The fashion advice from Ines de la Fressange is almost simple and as soon as I read a number of things I could easily see how even though I didn’t know these “rules” I had already been instinctively doing some of the things she suggests. I wish I did it as well as she does but then I’ve never been the face of Chanel so I think I might be excused.

To bring this blog into focus a bit, I will say that reading this book reminded me of writing. The first manuscript I ever wrote had mistakes and plot holes and was very contrived but the bones of the writing craft were there. This fashion book felt the same as writing does to me. It was like I knew the basics but not the right way to apply them. And for me the practice of writing every day honed what I knew and I still learn things from my own writing process and from reading the books of others.

My question today is a two-parter: Have you ever stumbled onto something that was new to you and found you knew more about it than you had suspected? And if so, what was it?

I’m giving away a copy of His Royal Prize to three lucky bloggers today!

Kathy

I know that not everyone is a goal setter, but I am. There’s nothing I like better than making a list of things to do and then checking them off. Its a sickness really–I will make a list for any little reason. I love them. But I really use them when I’m feeling out of focus or tired and rundown.

Every January I make a list of goals for the year and I feel refreshed and like anything is possible. A few years ago while I was in the midst of lots of troubling and challenging times, I made a list in August as my kids started back to school. I just couldn’t wait for January to get back on track–I needed it then.

And it worked.

I read some place that there is magic in writing things down and for me that’s always been so. Once something makes it onto my list, which I hang next to my computer monitor so I can see it everyday, I always accomplish it.

I don’t fill my list with impossible tasks or things I know I won’t do. I mean I’m never going to write “go to the gym everyday” on my list. I hate doing that and the thought of it makes me unhappy. But I will write “walk everyday”. I like doing that and it gets me up from desk and it doesn’t feel like exercise.

I also try to put things on the list that there never seems to be enough time for. Things like go on a date with my hubby, reconnect with old friends, talk to my sisters more often and listen to my kids. If you’re a parent you know how sometimes they are talking and your mind is going over what still has to be done. I’ve missed some important things by not paying attention.

Lastly, I’ll include writing goals for projects I want to start and new ideas I want to explore.

What about you? Do you like lists and set goals for yourself? If so what’s your number one goal for the New Year?

This is my first Christmas in a foreign country and its interesting to see the traditions that are the same as mine and the ones that are different. One thing that is different for me is the food, but I think that is down to my Italian-American roots. We always have lasagna on Christmas with braciole, meatballs and spicy Italian sausage. While over here most people have turkey or some kind of four bird roast. I’m intrigued by this roulade of meat that I think has turkey, goose, duck and chicken(?) in it. It reminds of the year my good friend Eve’s husband made the Tur-duck-en (turkey stuffed with a duck stuffed with a chicken) but those were all bone in and I think he deep-fat fried it.

I’m also really missing Pillsbury break-and-bake cookies and I can’t find a single can of rolls over here to make some of my favorite easy-to-bake dishes. But I’m excited to try their Christmas pudding which I think is some kind of fruit cake that you pour brandy over and then when its served you light the brandy for a flambe affect. It sounds fun and I already know I’m going to give it a try. Its the one thing my fourteen year old is looking forward to helping me with since he thinks setting a cake on fire sounds like fun!

What are you most looking forward to in your Christmas meal? Have you ever spent a holiday away from home and if so what did you like most about it and miss most?

You know how sometimes you just hit on something at the right time and suddenly everything else just starts clicking around you and its like magic? Well that's happening to me right now. I'm working on the second book in a series I'm doing for Desire next year and the characters are just so much fun. In part I was inspired to write this story by the great classical romantic comedies of the 30s and 40s.  I know that I'm not anywhere near as talented as Dashiell Hammett, but I have always loved The Thin Man and I am getting the same feeling from my characters--Nichole and Conner as I do from watching those movies.

Real fun guy vs girl stuff--both of them using every asset at their disposal to best the other one.  The dialogue is snappy, the characters are bold and just this side of too outrageous. It doesn't happen all the time when I'm writing but it has happened before. Its like I'm not even writing the book, the words are flowing as if they are already there. Its all finished in my head and I'm just doing time at the keyboard everyday, enjoying the ride and ready to get back there the next day.

I didn't realize it when I started writing this book (I'm calling it Indecent Proposal) that it would be as much fun as it is.  Basically its the second book in a series and it was the weakest idea of the three that I had.  Originally I wanted to do something very dark like Absence of Malice but that wasn't in line with the rest of the series and as I was tweaking I decided to write a couple of scenes with the characters and voila, magic.

I'm reminded of Amadeus and the way they portrayed him writing music. I'm even dreaming about the characters and hearing snippets of their conversation as I'm doing the school run or dashing into the grocery store to pick up dinner ingredients.   There is something about this story that reaffirms for me why I'm a writer.   A lot of times writing is really hard work and my parents would say that's because anything worth doing takes effort.  And I agree but when you get a book like this one--its just a gift and I couldn't resist sharing!   Its such a high to be doing something that I love as much as I love writing.  I guess today I just feel like I'm a genius!

Seriously though I love it when everything comes together and writing can just be fun! I hope that whatever you do, today is magic for you!

Yesterday on the morning news show the weatherman said it was going to be blustery. I have only ever heard that word in the wonderful world of Winnie the Pooh. And it tickled me. Its a word I hardly ever get to use and I have to say I over-used it all day yesterday. :)  Its odd because the wind kept gusting but it was a beautiful sunny day.

Another word that I love is assuage. I just like the sound of it as it rolls off my tongue. There aren't a lot of chances to use it in everyday life. Both my husband and my son roll their eyes when I get on my ooo, I love that word kick. So I sometimes sneak it into manuscripts.  Yesterday while listening to Former President George W. Bush read a letter that Lincoln had sent to a widow who had lost five sons in the civil war, he used this word.  It was magnificent and brought tears to my eyes.  Here is the sentence...I pray that our heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement.

There just aren't enough instances in every day life to use words like that but when they come along I can't resist.

What about you? Are their words you love to use? I get vexed when I can't use my favorites! Just kidding.

Kathy :)

It’s back to school time again and I’m not ready for it. It could be because this time my daughter is starting her second year of college and I know I shouldn’t be as concerned for her because she’s already got one successful year under her belt, but I am. I’m worried that she’ll think she’s got college all figured out and start making stupid mistakes.
I worry about this because I can vividly recall being 19 and know the kind of dumb things that I did. I have always wanted better for my kids and to be honest I still do, but I especially want more for her at this age. I think I look back on my cusp of being an adult and see all the avenues I didn’t take. I’m not someone who looks back on the past with regrets but I think I could have chosen an easier path and that’s what I truly want for her.
Plus I’ve moved and this year I will be five hours ahead of her instead of three hours behind her. I was living in California and now I’m in England…she goes to school in New York. I was lamenting to her, how will I know you are back in your dorm safely? I made her call and talk to me any time she was walking back to her dorm and she said I will text you and I will be fine.
And she will be. I just have to trust her to make all the right decisions even in the midst of those dumb mistakes that are bound to happen at her age.
The thing that I remember most about that age was that I thought I was more mature than everyone else my age and that my parents just didn’t get it. Its so sobering to see my daughter do the eye roll thing that I know I did to my mom when she was trying to give me advice at the same age. I warned her she will become me as I am slowly becoming my mom but she doesn’t believe it.

What about you? Did you know it all when you were an “adult” and maybe make a few mistakes? Or did you really know it all? If so, don’t tell me I don’t want to think I was the only one who didn’t have a clue!

Happy Reading!
Kathy

My latest release from Harlequin Desire is The Rebel Tycoon Returns. It is the second book in the Texas Cattleman’s Club (a long-running Desire mini-series). Macy and Chris both grew up in Royal, Texas and if I learned anything from the five years I spent living in Texas its that life there is different. Macy was the head cheerleader, beauty queen who only had to whisper a desire and her father gave it to her. Chris was the son of a wildcatter from the wrong side of the tracks but he had the smarts, the good looks and the football playing skills to wow Macy and for a short time she and Chris were one hot item. But then Macy in her shallowness dumped him because he didn’t have enough money to run in her circles. But that’s the past and present day Macy is dealing with body image issues and Chris has more money than Midas.

These characters were so much fun for me to write because I share something in common with each of them. The first one is Macy and I have battled my entire life with my weight and have been heavy and thin by different turns but it doesn’t matter what’s on the outside, inside I always feel like the fat girl. Macy’s issue is beauty because she was once a beauty queen but a horrible car accident left her scarred and though her daddy’s money paid for the best plastic surgeons so that she is that pretty girl once again–Macy still sees the scars when she looks at herself.

For Chris he grew up poor–something i did as well. And though he has enough money to hold his own with the wealthiest residents of Royal, he still feels he’s lacking and that makes him just a bit arrogant and edgy being back home.

In both of these characters cases they are dealing with not feeling like the people they present to the world. That’s something I think many of us deal with everyday. I’m not sure about you, but I always try to look the part when I leave my house. If I’m doing an “author event” I like to look like a successful writer. If I’m going to a PTA function, well then I try to look like the picture perfect mom and the burden of looking right falls to my husband and kids as well. But at home is the only place that I’m really me. Crazy curly Medusa hair, jeans and a ruffly blouse (its odd how much I love ruffles!)

What about you? Do you wear a “mask” in public? Where do you feel most comfortable?

I used to be in choir when I was in high school and in college and the first time I sang that song I fell in love with it. It would have been nice if I’d heard it prior to singing it, but really that was a mixed blessing because if I’d heard the original in all its soulful beauty I’d have known we were bound to fail to live up to it, but I didn’t know about it, and thankfully our version was pretty darn good!

In writing I think I’ve had the same experience. When I wrote my first book I had no idea what I didn’t know and blissfully wrote a story that involved the things I liked in books. Some suspense (with an obvious bad guy), great clothes for my heroine, and hot sex with the hero! That first book was so easy to write. I guess my writing voice was dying to get out and I produced 30 pages a week easily.

But there was so much I didn’t know. Like question marks which I slighted and never used. Can you imagine? One of my critique partners flat-out asked me what’s your deal, why do you hate question marks?

I learned so much from that book and I was hooked on writing. After that I knew I had to keep writing because I loved it so much. And each new manuscript I produced made me learn more. But I never felt inadequate to the task and two manuscripts after my first attempt I made a sale.

I still think there is a lot I don’t know about writing but I also get really close sometimes to something beautiful and I’m so thankful for the journey each book sets me on.

Have you ever done that? Tried something without realizing how much you didn’t know?