The teenager was still in a carseat when we adopted Honey. She’d wander between the Marine and the teenager crying. I tried to explain she was looking for her mom and siblings and that she needed lots of love and comfort. Each boy in turn would pet her and tell her it would be okay. She was so tiny, when she stretched up, she couldn’t see over the back seat. Less than a year later, she was jumping onto the back seat and up on the carpeted shelf my hubby had build for her in our van.

It was vacation time and we were headed to Florida. At every state line we’d stop at the Welcome Center and stretch our legs. Honey happily sniffed along the dog trail, but wouldn’t use the facilities. She’d eaten and drank water, but she wouldn’t go. Virginia… North Carolina… South Carolina… nothing. Poor thing was doing the equivalent of crossing her legs. I could see in her eyes, she needed to go, but thought she supposed to wait until she was home. After all she’d never gone anywhere else except our backyard. Finally, at the Florida line she couldn’t hold it anymore and let loose. We praised her, and when she finished she trotted along, like she had done a big trick.

Labs love the water and Honey’s proof of that. As a puppy, she took swimming lessons at a friend’s pool, that doubled as a resort for dogs. She enjoys boat rides, but quivers with anticipation when allowed to jump in the lake. When the frozen water falls – snow – she’s frolicking for hours in the white stuff.

Honey’s incredibly smart and knows her routine. Whether a walk with me and hubby, or checking out the backyard with the teenager, or a ride with the Marine, she understands who’s doing what and when it’s her turn to go. Not to brag, but she can also tell time. Every day without fail, she finds me at dinner time and licks her lips. That’s code for time to eat.

We are blessed Honey’s a part of our family. She brings joy beyond measure. Here’s to a long and healthy life for my girl.

How about you? Do you have a faithful companion who’s part of the family?

By Clarice Wynter

I’ve considered myself a writer since I was ten years old. [Yes, back in the olden days – before PCs, before Amazon, before e-mail, Facebook and reality TV.]  When I was a kid, I knew one thing: someday I wanted to be published.  I wrote and wrote and wrote, and getting words on paper was easy.  The blank page never intimidated me because I had a story to tell.  I remember being the envy of my classmates in high school English because whenever we had to write an essay or a short story, I was already putting words down while they were still moaning about having to do the assignment. Give me an idea and I was off and running with it.

As I got older, life got in the way of writing. I think that happens to a lot of us. I got married, had children, and even though I still had a ton of stories to tell, I just didn’t have the time to tell them. It was a few years into child rearing that I decided I had to feed my muse, and I started carving out little snippets of time to put words on paper again. The writing was easy. There was so much bottled up in my brain that needed to be told.  The finding of time to write was hard.

I finally came to that ‘it’s now or never’ point in my life when I realized I had to make the leap, start submitting to publishers and ‘get serious’ about my dream. I took a huge chance, quit my day job and became a full time writer. Now, finally, I had the time to write, to really write. I could uncork the bottle and let the ideas flow.  I wrote and wrote and wrote. I sold. I started getting royalty checks and one day I realized I had done it.  I’d been published, and the ten-year-old kid who’d sat down with a spiral notebook back in 19something-and-whatever had attained her dream.

And then it started to get a lot harder. The flow of words became a trickle, and for the first time in decades, that blank page was a scary place. The ideas were still there, all bottled up, but suddenly things like reviews and sales ranks stood in the way of unbridled creativity.  I was stifled by the need to constantly outdo myself and make readers happier each time they picked up one of my stories.

It’s wasn’t so easy anymore. Late in 2011 I woke up one morning with an idea that was supposed to make it easy again.  A new genre and new me and a series of stories that had formed in my head, essentially overnight.

The Spring River Valley Series is the result of that mild epiphany.  A year of romance, simple, sensual and straightforward.  I wanted to give readers stories to make them smile and characters they could relate to and root for.

I hope I’ve achieved that so far with the first five books of the series: Jilted in January, Fixed up in February, Mixed up in March, An Affair in April and Matched up in May.

Here’s an exclusive excerpt from JADED IN JUNE, Book 6 of the series – officially available June 1^st :

“You may want to ask Dr. Croft about that drooling problem.” Gillian nudged Samantha as she walked by, nodding toward the lone patient sitting in the Veterinary Clinic’s waiting room.

Sam shook herself out of her daydream and transferred her gaze to her coworker. “Are you talking about the Basset Hound scheduled for four thirty?”

“No.” Gillian smirked and lowered her voice to a whisper. “I’m talking about you. You haven’t taken your eyes off Barkley’s dad since they walked in. I was about to get the mop so I’ll be ready when you melt into a puddle of goo.”

Cheeks flaming, Sam turned her attention back to her computer screen. The other receptionist was right. She had been a bit slack-jawed since Aiden Cole had come in with his Golden Retriever for the dog’s yearly check-up. Barkley was a gorgeous dog, but Aiden, broad-shouldered and athletic, with sun-streaked blond hair that didn’t quite match his darker eyebrows and intense green eyes the shade of summer mint, had her weak in the knees. She would have died before admitting she’d been lost in a naughty fantasy in which he had her pressed up against the wall and was running his strong, capable hands up and down her body. She needed a cup of cold water—preferably to pour over her head—but the water-cooler was out in the waiting room, and she’d have to pass right by him to get a drink. “I’m perfectly solid, thank you.”

Gillian snickered. “I’m not judging. In fact, if I weren’t an old married lady, I’d be asking you to take this outside so we could settle our claim. He’s one hot property.”

“Gillian.” Sam hissed her co-worker’s name through clenched teeth, though she was secretly grateful the other woman was, in fact, happily married. She had no doubt there was plenty of competition for the attentions of Mr. Cole outside the Clinic. She wouldn’t want to have her office mate as a rival. Not that it mattered. At the moment, Aiden only had eyes for Barkley, who also stared at him adoringly, and for the television set playing in the waiting room to keep the human patients entertained while they waited for Dr. Croft.

“Go out there and talk to him,” Gillian whispered, holding a file folder in front of her face as a screen. “Tell him you’re available.”

“That’s unethical.”

Gillian rolled her eyes. “It’s only unethical if you want to date the dog. I can’t understand why a pretty girl like you is so shy.  If I looked like you…” Gillian sighed. At fifty-six she had the sweet, softened features of middle age, with laugh lines and a few strands of gray in her dark brown hair. “Well, I did once, and I used it to my advantage to snag a man. Get out there and make your move.”

Sam wanted nothing more than to go for it, but was it really proper to hit on a clinic patient? Okay, so it was a veterinary clinic. The human companions weren’t technically patients. And Dr. Croft didn’t have a no-fraternizing policy. She could just casually jot her phone number on Barkley’s bill when the visit was over. That seemed much safer and less…brazen.

“When we come back from the break, our next guest, Dr. Eliza Fraser, will be asking the question, can you make a ‘friends with benefits’ relationship work for you?”

Sam turned to glare at Gillian who had just turned up the volume on the television. “What have you got on out there?”

“It’s the talk show with that psychologist—you know, the guy who’s always asking people…oh, what’s his catchphrase? How’d that turn out? I love him. His next guest is a sex therapist who thinks it’s okay to have casual sex. She says it’s actually good for people. I have to hear this interview.”

Sam glanced at Aiden who hadn’t seemed to notice the change in volume.  He was scratching Barkley’s ears, and the dog was yawning in that way dogs did when they were actually more nervous than tired. The goldie shivered a little, but be was behaving remarkably well, considering he was definitely smart enough to know he was in for a shot in the rump before the day was over.

Gathering her courage, Sam rose from her seat and headed into the waiting area. She snagged a sturdy canvas toy from a basket she kept under the counter, having found that agitated pets sometimes calmed down if they had something to chew on. Despite her wobbly knees, she strode over to Aiden and held out the toy. “Hey…Barkley looks a little anxious. Would he like something to play with while he waits?”

Those green eyes flicked upward to meet hers, and she could have sworn her heart stopped. Up close, with a five-o’clock shadow darkening his square jaw and his muscles bulging beneath a Spring River Valley Athletic Club T-shirt, he was devastating. “Thanks.” He reached for the toy, and his fingertips brushed hers. “He’s more of a wreck than usual today. I think he can’t wait to go outside and play.”

Barkley whined, pleading for attention with big brown eyes.  She knelt down and buried her fingers in the dog’s mane-like fur.  He bowed his head and wagged his wispy tail. “Well, he can keep that for later. We found that some of the bigger dogs have a much easier time if they have something to concentrate on.”

Aiden kept his gaze on Samantha’s. “I appreciate it. Sorry about all the shedding.”

She waved a hand. “They all do that when they’re nervous. Poor Barkley…you’re a good boy. You can go home soon.” The dog gave her his paw, and she dutifully shook it. “He’s a sweetheart.”

“And we’re back with Dr. Eliza Fraser who’s here to tell us why you need a friend with benefits relationship in your life. Dr. Fraser is the author of Getting Serious about Casual Sex—” Applause interrupted the host of the talk show, which Gillian must have turned up even louder because it seemed to echo in the small waiting room.

Sam gulped and glared over her shoulder at the screen. “I’m sorry about that. Gillian’s watching it.” She hoped the heat crawling up from the neckline of her scrubs shirt wouldn’t set fire to her clothes.

Aiden laughed, a deep, genuine sound. “Getting Serious about Casual Sex? Sounds like something a guy would write.”

“Yeah…” Sam couldn’t look at him. Were they really having this conversation in the clinic waiting room? Thank God there were no other patients on hand to witness her embarrassment. “I’ll tell her to turn it off.”

“No, that’s okay. I can’t say I don’t like the idea.”

She snuck a peek at his face while pretending to be very interested in Barkley’s left ear. “Ha. Typical guy opinion.” Oh God, there you go, Sam. Insult him.

“Yeah, but listen to her. She’s making some sense.”

Sam struggled to hear Dr. Fraser’s words over the pounding of her heart. The woman spoke with the conviction of someone whose opinions made her a lot of money. “We’ve been conditioned to think sex equals commitment, and generations ago, that was important because pregnancy was almost inevitable, so having an emotional connection with your partner meant you had a chance to create a lasting family. Now, things are different, and women can finally admit that sometimes they crave the physical release of sex without the emotional burdens.”

Applause drowned out the doctor’s next sentence, and she sat with the show’s host, smiling politely while he tried to calm the audience reaction down to a dull roar.

“We really should turn this off,” Sam raised her voice so Gillian would hear, but her co-worker was busy with the last patient who was settling up his bill before leaving the office.

“So the idea of casual sex makes you uncomfortable?” Aiden asked. His expression was guarded, like maybe he was interested in her answer but afraid she might be insulted by the question.

She fought to keep herself from shivering at the thought of casual sex with him. Hmmm. “Um…no. Actually, I think she’s got a point. Women…uh…have needs just like men, and we aren’t always ready for commitment. Why shouldn’t we enjoy…you know…and not scare a guy off because he assumes once he’s slept with you you’re already planning the wedding?”

His eyes widened. “Seriously? I haven’t met too many women who really feel that way.”

Sam leapt for the bandwagon. “Seriously. Sex can be just for fun, like going to the movies or skiing.”

“You’re putting me on. You actually believe in sex with no strings attached?”

“Sure, why not?” Had he noticed her voice shake a little? No-strings-attached sex with Aiden would still be sex with Aiden, which…oh God…had to be delicious. “I’m twenty-four. I’m not looking to settle down yet, so what’s wrong with having fun? Safe sex, of course…but I would love to meet a guy who isn’t going to get all weird and assume I’m hauling out my hidden stash of bridal magazines the moment he goes to take a shower. I’m so not.”

The sparkle in his eyes made her stomach do a little flip. He looked like he was just about to say something when Dr. Croft came out of the exam room. “Hey, Aiden…and Barkley, why don’t you guys come on in?”

Aiden’s darkening gaze lingered on Sam for a second, but whatever his response might have been to her wanton confession, he never voiced it. He rose, a half grin on his lips, and tugged on Barkley’s leash. “Come on, boy, let’s go see the doctor. Um…thanks for the toy. I’m sure he’ll chew the hell out of it when we get home.”

“Yeah, sure…” Sam made a beeline back to her desk and flung herself into her seat as Aiden and his dog disappeared into the exam room with Dr. Croft. She dropped her head into her hands and moaned. “I can’t believe I just did that.”

“What? Did you ask him out?” Gillian hovered at her shoulder, her grin reflected in Sam’s computer screen like a Cheshire cat’s.

“No. Thanks to your sex talk show, I just basically told him I’m a horny slut.”

“So you just made yourself irresistible to him.” Gillian laughed and put a hand on Sam’s shoulder. “I’ve been married for thirty years, hon. And I’ve been very happy, but I don’t think I would have been if I hadn’t had a little fun beforehand…and that was back when having that kind of fun wasn’t as easy as it is today. Live a little.”

Samantha fanned herself with a file folder. “Live? I just about died out there. I’ve never been so embarrassed. My brain had no idea what my mouth was doing.”

Gillian shrugged. “Trust me, I was watching. That young man knew exactly what your mouth was doing, and he was loving every naughty word you said.”

The SPRING RIVER VALLEY Series can be found at:

Amazon.com

http://tinyurl.com/bbl8n45

 Barnes & Nobel.com

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/clarice-wynter?store=allproducts&keyword=clarice+wynter

 Smashwords

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ClariceWynter

All Romance eBooks

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Clarice+Wynter

And Kobo

http://www.kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=%22Clarice+Wynter%22&t=none&f=author&p=1&s=none&g=both

Find out more about the series at  www.claricewynter.com

You can follow Clarice on Twitter at @ClariceWynter

I’m not a television viewer. I prefer reading. In fact in the past twenty years other than movies, I’ve only watched three televised dramas: E.R., True Blood and Game of Thrones.

But I kept hearing about this hot, sexy series on ABC.  My sister talked about it constantly, my stylist raved about it, and my friends on Facebook commented incessantly on it. I decided to check it out. It was only one hour of my time. Right?

Fast forward one week, and five episodes of Season 2 later (courtesy of On Demand), and I’m searching out Season 1 on Amazon. I’m hooked on Scandal.

What is the draw of this drama? Well crafted scripts full of emotion and plot twists, complex characters, fast pace and conflict, conflict, conflict. Sounds like what we as writers strive for and we readers long for.

Five brilliant lawyers work for one, Olivia Pope, a crisis management consultant-a fixer- in Washington D.C.  She protects the images of the American elite and their secrets. But she can’t fix her own secret.

 Olivia and the current president of the US have a history. A romantic history. He’s married to a manipitative b***h and fighting for a second term in the oval office. He loves Olivia, but choosing her will cost him that term-something he desperately wants. Olivia will not be his second choice. Each episode brings new fires for Olivia and her team to put out. She tries to keep her distance from Fitzgerald Grant, the president, but it’s impossible because of her work.

I can’t believe I’m hooked on a series, but it’s smart, full of twists and something about forbidden loves reels me in. The most important thing is it’s getting my creative writing juices flowing.

Is there anything on television this season or in the past that’s had you glued to the set?

By Susan Carlisle

I’m currently between writing contracts. (I hope I haven’t been fired. Afraid to ask…) So I’m catching  up on all the stuff that has gone by the wayside.

I’ve made a dust ruffle for my son’s bed, working on finishing a headboard that is long overdue, dare I say a year. I’m also working on a cornice to go over his window.

I’ve made a dress for my daughter to wear in a wedding. Best of all I’ve learned to pleat so that I can smock outfits for my grandchildren. I bought a used pleater from a friend and a monster as emerged. Come back next month and I’ll show you what I’ve made for the twins and how cute they were dressed up for a wedding in a barn. I promise you will be impressed.

I’m also working on new story ideas in the hope I will get a new contract. I’ve manage to write a few articles that I’m looking forward to seeing in print. The old writing gene hasn’t completely gone stale.

I have had some fun. My husband, mother and I took a trip to New Orleans, Mobile and visited with family and friends along the way. We all had a good time.

Soon it will be time for me to  buckle down to work  again but until then I’ll finish up my list of to-dos and hopefully be rested and ready to go again.

Oh yeah, I also cleaned out the freezer. Yucky job. All clean now.

Do you have a project or two waiting on you?

Like all cities and towns in the south, each has its own unique character and charm which leaves a mark on the soul of its visitors. Way beyond the southern character of polite friendly manners, spicy cuisine, sweet tea and the importance of family and history, it can be hard to find one city that just stands out among the rest. But to me, there is actually a place I would recommend that gives its visitors a little bit of everything of what the south is and was even today. Welcome to Savannah, Georgia!

Before I even stepped foot in Savannah, I was in love with the city. Introduced to its people and visual character by Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, this rare southern gem was always on my ‘must see’ list, and I wasn’t disappointed when I took a solo trip there not too long ago. Savannah has a little bit of everything – charm, beauty, and a easy way of life, that once you step foot on one of its narrow streets, you can’t help but feel the frantic ‘Yankee’ pace of life slow down to a stroll.

Founded in 1733, Savannah has played a major role in the molding of the United States. As a strategic seaport on the Atlantic coast, the city was one of the leading locations for ship building during the 19th century due to a species of oak that was needed for ships. Even more fascinating, the city is one of the few southern cities that still possess its pre-Civil War architecture dating back to the Revolutionary War. This historical oddity is the outcome of Sherman’s famous 1864 ‘March to the Sea.’ Instead of destroying the city of Savannah as he did on this path across the south hoping to show a psychological capacity to wage war, he decided instead to offer the city as a Christmas present to President Lincoln.

The city’s downtown area is one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts in the US. Its center and outlaying areas still possesses the original square grid incorporating 22 squares with their own park. Surrounding these squares are also a number of historic homes that have been preserved, especially those that have connections to two its most famous residents; Juliet Gordon Low’s Birthplace (the Founder of the Girl Scouts, here original Girl Scouts Headquarters is also available for touring) and the Mercer-Williams House once owned by the family of song writer Johnny Mercer (who penned Moon River) and made famous in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Did you know Savannah is considered the most haunted city in the United States? From cemeteries, like Colonial Park an early graveyard dating back to the English colony of Georgia, to Bonaventure, a former plantation with its moss covered trees and final resting spots for famous and illustrious Savannahians, ghosts are a big business. There are dozens of ghost tours from haunted pub crawls to home tours, that will allow visitors a new experience each night in learning the personal and tragic history of the city’s inhabitants or even meet up with the city’s resident voodoo priestess.

But if there is truly one thing that makes Savannah easy to visit is that beyond its history and charm it is a walking city that feeds all of your five senses. From the smell of the gardens blooming in the neighborhood squares; the touch of water spraying off the fountain in Forsyth Park; the sight of sandy beaches along Tybee Island, to the taste of an ice cream cone from Leopold’s Ice Cream Shop or a meal at Lady and Sons with Paula Dean, you will taste what a true city of the south really is and fall in love with it for life.

Bio:

Juliet Martini is an aspiring romance writer in the contemporary and romantic suspense genres, seeking fame and publication (hopefully), in the near future.  Currently, she is working on her second book, the first in a three book series centered on passion, wine and Italy.  By day, she hides out as Margaret Hren, a marketing and fundraising consultant, and when time permits, she is building her author website and planning her next exotic travel get away.  She also hopes to also launch her travel blog, The Travel Savvy Chick, later this year focusing on travel tips and personally acquired destination information.

Love to shop?  Looking for that unique gift?  Need to find something for that person who already has everything?  Here’s your best source–the annual Brenda Novak Auction for the Cure, my favorite shopping spot and a fantastic fundraiser for diabetes research.   But it ends on May 31st, so that means your shopping days are limited.  Let me illustrate why you should be reaching for your credit card while you click on this link:

UNIQUE ITEMS

1. An opportunity to bid on a hike with #1 NY Times bestselling author (and one of my favs), Douglas Preston in the actual landscape that inspired his book, Tyrannosaur Canyon?  Check it out HERE!
2. And for those of you with something more sedate in mind, go bid on afternoon tea at the St. Regis, with Harlequin medical author and Petit Four blogger, Susan Carlisle.  All the info is HERE.

1. Johnny Depp, anyone?  Okay, how about an autographed and framed picture of him? Check HERE.
2. Or perhaps I could interest you in things like autographed footballs, Harry Potter cast autographs, items from Adele, Beyonce, and other musical favorites?  Check out the entire celebrity category HERE.

ITEMS FROM THE PETIT FOURS AND HOT TAMALES

28 Harlequin Books & Mug

Here I can’t just single out two things to highlight.  PFHT has a wide range of items that include: Items from Yellowstone Park and Mt. Rushmore, Coach products, books in all genres, a ticket to the annual Barbara Vey Reader’s luncheon, and gifts for pet lovers.

Check out all our items HERE

ITEMS FROM ME

 I have items in both the PFHT category AND the Love Inspired Authors since I write inspirational fiction.  Check out my critique offer, the group Kindle Fire with mine and 25+ other authors’ books, and all the other great donations from Love Inspired HERE!

Don’t miss out on some fantastic tax deductible shopping and providing hope for diabetes research for the cure!

Debbie Kaufman is a card-carrying member of the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog group.  She writes inspirational historical romance for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Historical line.  The fact that some of her books contain cannibals should be understood as an element of adventurous romance stories and should never misconstrued as a sign of a warped mind.  Debbie insists she is as normal as everyone else.  To decide for yourself, visit Debbie on

  or at her WEBSITE

by Alan Cupp

Revenge.  It’s one of the oldest motives in our history, right up there with jealousy and greed.  An act of revenge can be a spontaneous reaction or a carefully calculated plan of retaliation.  Both can serve as a detriment to the person carrying out the payback.  Sure, the initial target recipient of revenge may get what’s coming to them, but often times the individual seeking vindication ends up sharing in the suffering as well.

We all want to see justice.  We long for it in the books we read, the movies we watch, the news stories we hear about.  Our desire to see justice is so overwhelming, we have the
potential to get fired up and consumed with stories of injustice that have absolutely no effect on us personally.  Do you ever find yourself becoming borderline enraged, or at the bare minimum, extremely annoyed with a TV, book, or movie villain who appears to be getting away with some atrocity they’ve committed?  Perhaps you notice your heart rate jumps to a higher level and you just feel irritable.  The fact that it’s fiction doesn’t matter because we all want justice; even in our world of make believe.  Revenge is merely the act of someone trying to achieve some level of justice on his or her own.

Spontaneous revenge is the kind in which we, as everyday members of society, most likely will find ourselves involved.  It’s usually the small stuff like speeding up to cut off
the person who just cut you off two miles back on the highway.  What is it about us that drive us to such action, risking a car accident, speeding ticket, or God-forbid, an actual altercation at the traffic stop ahead? An attitude of revenge can make us shortsighted and use poor judgment, especially in the heat of the moment.

Then there are those rare individuals who feel so offended and victimized by another person or group, they are willing to invest a significant amount of the time and energy
in getting back at their offender.  Unable to focus on anything else, their lives are soon wrapped up in one thing; revenge. This is the circumstance in my new novel, Malicious Masquerade. The unfortunate thing about this type of scenario is that often it’s not just the target of the revenge that ends up suffering.  Private investigator, Carter Mays, finds himself caught up in the path of destruction left by someone seeking revenge.  Deception dictates a series of calculated moves, all designed to bring about some significant justice for a past wrong.  Stuck in the middle are Carter and his new beautiful client, Cindy Bedford.

Those who follow the long road of revenge often discover that it requires such a deep level of commitment to carry out; the consequences prove to be even more costly than anticipated.  Frequently when the quest for revenge begins, little thought is given to the potential collateral damage inflicted upon the innocent who happen to live too close to the intended recipient.  Even the avenger is vulnerable to suffering in terms of happiness, integrity, and self-respect sacrificed in the pursuit of so-called justice.  Here’s the ultimate question.   Will the justice achieved be worth the cost?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alan Cupp loves to create and entertain, whether it’s with a captivating mystery novel or a funny promotional video for his church, he’s always anticipating his next creative endeavor.  In addition to writing fiction, Alan enjoys acting, music, travel, and playing sports.  His life’s motto is, “It’s better to wear out than rust out.”  Alan places a high value on time spent with his beautiful wife and their two sons.  He lives his life according to his 4F philosophy: Faith, Family, Friends, and Fun.

WEB: www.alancupp.com

To purchase Malicious Masquerade:

http://www.amazon.com/Malicious-Masquerade-Alan-Cupp/dp/1938383281/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1363805622&sr=8-2&keywords=alan+cupp

Do you text? I have texting capabilities on my phone, but I never use it. Sorry. I do IM, though. However my IM texting “vocabulary” is limited to LOL, ROFL, and emoticons

( , , , ,  you get the idea.)

Guess what?

Five years ago the preceding paragraphs wouldn’t have made a bit of sense to any one of us! It’s pretty startling to think how much our language has changed due to the various technologies floating around–some of which we tend to avoid, even while we use the jargon!

So is texting destroying our language or enhancing it?

American linguist John McWhorter has an interesting take on this revolution that might surprise you. I’m not sure I agree with everything he says, but it sure makes me stop and think. If you have a few minutes, have a look at the video below and tell my what you think.

It might make you LOL (whatever that means).

Any place you visit will generate a story. In these newest segments of my ‘Off the Beaten Path’ series, I want to share some destination perfect for inspiring writing and as potential backdrops for your next book. We all know from writing romance, just as it is with traveling, if you walk down an unknown street, turn left instead of right when driving, or even revisit a vacation spot of your childhood, inspiration can be found everywhere.

If you’re a fan of the romance/time travel movie “Somewhere in Time” with Christopher Reeves and Jane Seymour, you’re already familiar with one of my favorite places on the planet filled with both spectacular beautiful, and a romantic feel all its own. Welcome to Mackinac Island, Michigan!

Growing up in Michigan, I spend many summer trips on this resort island. Located just off the eastern tip of the Michigan mitten on Lake Huron, this emerald island is slice of a Victorian New England village with its own Midwest flair. Visitors will need to take a 35 to 45 minute picturesque ferry boat ride to its shores where they’ll be greeted by a extraordinary surprise.

Mackinac Island is one of the only locations in the U.S. that doesn’t allow cars. Say hello to walking, biking or hopping on a horse-drawn carriage as a means of transportation during your visit. Another unique treat for visitors is the Island’s most popular main export thanks to the thousands of tourist who buy by the pound – fudge. Mackinac Fudge is famous all over the world and because tourists buy so much of it, they’ve been nicknamed ‘fudgies’ by the local.

Throughout history this 3.8 square mile island has played an important role in the U.S. and its history. Beginning as a prehistoric fishing camp for Native Americans; a French fur-trading outpost; use as a major military installation with the building of Fort Mackinac; its role during the American Revolution and the War of 1812; to its discovery after the Civil War as a tourist destination for Michigan residents and the wealthy industrialists of the Gilded Age, this island offers an abundance history and historical attractions.

Closed and cut off from the mainland during the winter, Mackinac Island opens for business when the ice melts on Lake Huron and the ferry boats can dock. Along with its reputation for beautiful hiking and bike trails, clean sandy beaches and water recreations, you can relax in a calming environment to unwind, or enjoy paradise at any of its bed and breakfasts and resorts. Yet, a visit to Mackinac wouldn’t be complete without taking a couple hours to visit or stay at Mackinac’s most famous location – the Grand Hotel.

Sitting on the shore overlooking the water, the Grand Hotel, a registered historic national landmark built in 1886, was a summer retreat for railroad employees and their families. Along with its breath taking water views of the Straits of Mackinac, golf course, pool, beautifully decorated rooms and five-star dining accommodations, the Grand is also famous for possessing the longest front porch in the world at 600 feet. Guests visiting the hotel can sit and relax on one of the porch’s rocking chairs, visit its gardens and swimming pool, stroll along its walking promenade or do a little romantic flirting on the ‘flirtation walk.’

So consider something different and off the beaten path for your next vacation or story’s setting. Mackinac Island has everything from the historic to the recreational. Consider all the fun of relaxing and inspiring your muse into a relaxed frame of mind as you dream of all the possibilities and the next road to creativity.

by Carol Burnside / Annie Rayburn

Yes, yes, I know it’s several months away yet, but if any of you see me posting about possibly doing NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) later this year, remind me that I wrote this post, okay? Point me back here and make me read my own words.

I’m serious! I’ve done NaNo three times now and failed miserably each time. Each time I did it pretty much on a whim, full well knowing that I had way too much to do in November to accomplish such a task. So, I only feel a little sheepish for signing up in the first place.

Why doesn’t it work for me? 

For one, I don’t write that fast. Ever. Second, I like to plot and write and edit / tweak as I go, not spend the next three months in edits while trying to make sense of something I’ve dashed off in a hurry. I’d rather take the three to four months to write it the way I want it. So let’s face it, NaNoWriMo just isn’t for me. 

Even if the two reasons above weren’t true, I usually host Thanksgiving at my house for family, so that means quite a bit of prep work on the house, plus cooking and guests for several days that curtail the number of days I have available for NaNoWriMo. So, again – not for me. Yes, I’m trying to drum it into my own head because every year NaNo rolls around again and I start thinking… I’m a writer. I like to try to stretch my productivity, so I should do it, right? No, no, no! Just say no, Carol!

Have you ever tried NaNo or something similar? Did you succeed or not have a prayer?