This morning, it was hair...

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When I told my sister I went to a MOPS [mothers of preschoolers] meeting this morning, but that I wasn't sure if I'd go back, that I had a good time, but felt unsettled there... she said I had the "sign of the sixth child." Maybe she's right! Is it a syndrome? Do you think I could get drugs for it? :D :D hahaha. The meeting was wonderful, the speaker did an awesome job and I loved what she had to say. But overall, I think I just wanted to be home. I'd kicked the kids out at their schools for the day... and, there was a great desire to straighten the house [before the next invasion] and to sit quietly during that morning nap time.

I remember a time when my older kids were younger when all I wanted to do was get out of the house, find something to do. And that's the purpose of this great group, MOPS. Have I really moved beyond that "phase in life?" I'm young, really...so I guess I'm surprised to have moved into this transition. But it's true, I guess. Next year my Darla [wasn't she just born yesterday?] will be 5 and in preschool during the day. And it will be just me and Jack. He'll know a different mom than my older kids knew. Because I just don't want to do that stuff anymore...

And speaking of hair...never, never, NEVER tell your fifteen year old daughter to "just cut her bangs." I swear, it was slamming doors, yelling, and all things like the world was going to end because her bangs "looked awful!" Which i highly doubt, but she had them clipped up before I could even get a glimpse. *sigh*

Yay. Now, I will sit back, enjoy the quiet of the afternoon nap time, and get some writing done for Brian and Lisa, who are about to experience a little bit of a black time.

Have a great end of the week!
With love,
Beth

Fluff

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I heard someone refer to romance as "fluff" again this week. Actually, it's been a loooong time since I've heard that term. Maybe I've been talking to a different sort of people in the last several years. Or maybe I've merely chosen to ignore what is right in front of my face.

Either way, it surprised me to hear it. Especially from someone who reads it

So the question is, what makes it fluff? Is it really the happy ending? Does the fact that the story ends with a satisfying, emotional conclusion make the story airy? soft? How about the sex? Is it the sex that makes it fluffy? I'm a little confused. Let's look at these aspects of romance that make the romance romance. Right? These are two characteristics of a book that set it apart from other genres.

Happily Ever After [HEA]
...the American Dream. Pursuit of happiness. Love that lasts a lifetime.

There's a chance--and I'm going out on a limb here--that this is what all people are looking for, whether they do it by taking up extreme sports or by dating off and on through their twenties. The goal in life is happiness, completion, purpose. Sooo clue me in, what's fluffy about reaching a dream, succeeding in a goal?

The fact that a romance novel portrays that journey to HEA is proof that it is NOT fluff.
Fluff would be..what? Making a goal and getting there without effort. Fluff would be... no conflict. Two people meet, fall in love, get married, have kids...and gah, gah, gah til death did they part. BORING.

I haven't read a romance novel like that. Honest to goodness, if a romance novel doesn't have conflict, it isn't going to sell! A publisher is NOT going to buy it.

Maybe this misconception by fluff-claiming readers is that the story ends at The End. Maybe they read to that satisfying ending and think... "that would never happen." or "Sure, like that couple is just going to live together forever and be happy for the rest of their lives." But what the romance novel shows is that Love conquers the bad. That they've made it through the worst--or something really awful--and survived. They'll do it again the next time, too. Suzanne Brockmann does a great job of showing this. Through her series, you see the HEA couple from book a previous book hit bumps in the road again. And I think that's what's so appealing about her books. The story doesn't stop.

The books I read hit on all the hot topics we find in life every day--divorce, sickness, career choices, sibling rivalry, death, morals and ethics, self-esteem... The people are just like people I know. Do we like the HEA? Yes. Do we get to the end of the story and go, "Awww." Probably. Do these reaction indicate an empty, airy, meaningless experience? I don't think so. More, it's a sign that we've come through something trying and won. That's the meat of the story. The story would be nothing without the trials, conflicts, and characterizations.

Fluff? I think not...
Wow, I just went on and on and on. For the record. I am not offended that people don't read romance. There are gobs of readers reading all sorts of books. Some like Fanstasy and sci-fi, some DIY, some memoirs and auto-biographies...some like historical or msyteries. There is so much to read these days!! We should all read whatever makes us happy. Just, don't go calling romance Fluff because it makes you feel happy and "destresses" you. Happy--no matter how you define it, i.e. getting to heaven or finding mr. right or making a million dollars--is the ultimate goal!! Would you define your own journey and goal as Fluff? I can't speak for everyone, but somehow, I doubt it.

Next week, I'll speak on that oh-so-hush-hush topic in romance, Sex. But I wonder if that's even necessary, because it's one of the most powerful aspects of humanity...so, not really fluff, eh? I mean it's so important...we're told to wait for 'the one', we have to do it for marriage to be official, it speaks for men, can be used by women, and without a doubt can change the course of a person's life. There's hardly anything fluffy about sex. It's important, sacred, powerful, and, over-all, not fluffy. There. Nevermind about next week. :D

Have a great week.
With Love,
Bethanne

Work it

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I'm not one for spreadsheets and math. Excel is my Kryptonite...it takes my super powers away. But, recently, we had a family discussion.

After being asked this question at work [and knowing the best answer, of course], my husband came home to ask it of the kids.

If I hired you to work for 30 days, would you rather have $10,000 dollars a day or starting at 1 cent, earn double everyday for 30 days. I admit, I've known my husband long enough to know the right answer wasn't the obvious one. He didn't like calling it a "trick" question. Afterall it's not a trick, just math, but the kids all answered with a resounding...give me 10k a day!!

Go ahead...do the Math. [I'll wait...] Did it look something like this? [only without the cutest little girl in the world?] [and yes, my husband came on and made this Excelsheet for me!]


Sooo, this got me thinking about the writing industry and work, work ethic, longevity. With a market flooded by novels--romance in particular, I'm starting to wonder how many people are willing to take the 10K a day. 

For the really big bucks, you have to be willing to work at least 25 days; you have to be able to work for almost TWENTY DAYS before you see what you'll make in one day at 10K a day. And those first days will be the hardest to get through. Earn a penny?? Work your butt off and not see the results? Ugh. Yuck! In today's age, work for the sake of work is hard to swallow. We want results, now. 

But I really believe that the person who can see this kind of growth, who is willing to hold off on reward and just work, will see a bigger outcome. The truth is, I read a lot of books that I think could have used more work, needed more editing, or just weren't up to par--in general. So, what happened? Was the lure of self-publishing a temptation that couldn't be denied? Everyone else is doing it. Other people are making that 10K a day... 

What happened to the work? People poo-poo traditional publishing, but ten years ago most writers worked for ten years before seeing a return, before making the cut. I think we've lost some of that cut.  There's no need to get the story right, to even listen to the people who know better. The idea of 'this is my story and no one can tell me what to do' has grown out of proportion. I love self-publishing. This isn't a slam on where the industry has gone. I swear it. But...I think the loss of those dreaded gatekeepers--the agents, the NY publishers and editors, even the smallpress publishers and editors--have left the readers with no direction.

I don't want to buy another book that leaves me wanting. I guess, when it comes down to it, I hope the industry can swing back the other way just a little. Find a happier medium than where I feel it is now.

That is all!
What would you rather? $300,000 at the end of the month or $10 million dollars?
Work hard, friends. Be willing to work for nothing. Always push yourself for the sake of doing something to its best.
With Love,
Beth

Inspiration Everywhere

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Listening to Bobby Bones this morning, I heard Marc Scibilia--singer/songwriter--talk about how he woke up one morning at the age of 18, looked at his Xbox, and said, "If I keep playing video games, I'll never get good at playing guitar." He shoved that player under his bed and hasn't looked back since. He doesn't own a television, and rented one to see the commercial his voice stars in during the Super Bowl. He has an album coming out in 2015. Did I mention he's not even 30?

Um...hello.

How much work could you get done if you had the stuff this guy is made of?

...that is all.

Friday Night

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Not the show, of course...just a catchy title for a boring post.

Since growing up a bit, Friday nights have become boring. With six kids, I don't go out much on this last night of the week, eve of the weekend.  If anything, I'll go out on Saturday or Sunday night [the early bird special, ya know].

So, when I get to business and want to work on a Friday night, I find myself...stuck. No one is around. Apparently, there is a life outside of home and these virtual walls on a Friday night. I'm just not there!! hahaha. :D Forget writing sprints and challenges. Forget plotting fun or just plain old gossip.

It's a ghost town in here...


...I think maybe I'll use that as inspiration! 
And get to work.
With love, all, enjoy your weekend.
Beth

Just the thought of it

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I closed my WIP last night with an idea of where to go next. I woke up this morning and went about my business, getting the littles to school, hurrying to the dentist for a 7:30am appointment for one of the olders, which was actually at 7am. So I rescheduled, hurried them to school, then came home to get the littlest to school so i could work.

When I finally sat down, I opened the document and went back a few pages to get reacquainted with where I was in the story. An hour later, Jack was fussy and lunch at the cafeteria was started...so we took a break--diaper change then lunch. Finally I sat again with the WIP and....

For the love of Pete, I couldn't remember what I was going to do next!!!

Didn't write it down. Couldn't remember the great idea.

Picked up the littlest and drove home. But the light shined down on me as I drove, and it all came rushing back. Now I'm home, getting ready for the weekend, and very excited about the next scene...
Copyrighted work, borrowed
from FOW.

Mayhem.
Madness.
...a little magic.
and questions on Maxim.

[you better believe I worked for that last one!! lmao]

It's going to be a great, long weekend with nothing on the schedule but Saturday afternoon basketball practice for the Oldest. Plus, warm weather, open doors, garage time... going to be awesome.

Have a great one.
With Love,
Beth

Happy New Year!!

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New Year.
Perhaps a better year...or maybe not better but different. 
I had one focus last year--grow baby, have baby...do little things on the side. Like publish the first of my Lawrence family books.

This year is definitely going to be different.
1. Focus on the writing--time to push myself to write more.
2. Determine to exercise--the summer before I got pregnant, I ran alot. Time to start that up again. twenty-five pounds this year will put me at 130. A sweet spot. A whole year. Looking forward to working, without worrying. I'm always anxious to get it done quickly, but this year I'm not going to think about that end number. Just running whenever I can...we'll talk again in December. I seriously am not going to pick apart my motivations, emotions, etc. I will lose some. I might gain some. I might lose again. That's life.
3. Strive to love--the kids, the man, the writing, the friends, the housework, the taxi-driving... It's okay to do stuff, but it's worthless without love.

That's it.

PS maybe i'll try to blog more this year. :D LOL

New Year--Blog Hop

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It's the Last and First round of Just Romance Me Blog Hops! I love how that works... a nice circle in time. The blog keeps going, don't forget to click the link to visit the next blog in line. Life surely doesn't end on 12/31 nor does it really start on 1/1. We just get to keep going...



I'm ending my year thinking, where am I going?
After doing the same thing for the last two years, part of me wants to start the new year differently...

New Genre?
New Publisher?
New schedule?
Maybe an agent?

I've thought I wasn't very goal oriented, but maybe it's not that exactly, maybe it's just that I need new goals. Instead of the usual write three books, sub to this company, sub to that company, write a novella, and do two crits a week--all fine and good--I want my end of year to reflect what I'm doing during the year. 2014 didn't really do that for me.

So, on to 2015...
Tomorrow I'm doing a drawing for all my Newletter subscribers. One copy of Letters From Home, my Christmas story, and a ten dollar Amazon Gift card. So find that little subscription form in the sidebar and sign up. :D <3 It's going to be a great year. Why not start it with a great book?




Letters From Home

An Army doctor, Lena Rodriguez has always been too busy with school or the Army for romance. But the letters she received during deployment have captured her heart. Back home for the holidays, she awaits Christmas morning to meet the man who has turned her life upside down.

When Zack Benson watched his best friend's sister Lena leave for Afghanistan, he knew he had to tell her he loved her. So he sent her anonymous love letters. Now that she’s home, he realizes he's made a tactical error. Lena has fallen for the man in those letters but still thinks of him as a brother. He has to convince her otherwise because if he succeeds, he’ll get the best Christmas present ever. But if he fails, he could lose her for good.




Excerpt:

Now the weekend was upon them. Another tradition checked off. Another day closer to Christmas. She’d always loved the winter carnival, so it had been easy to agree when he’d suggested it. He’d made it clear this was a date. There was no way in heaven or hell she could pretend he didn’t mean a real one this time. Two people, holding hands, eating cotton candy…riding the Ferris Wheel.
“I’m so embarrassed, though.” Lena pulled her jacket closer to her body as the night air took another dive toward freezing.
“Why?” Zack took her hand and pulled her toward the line for the Ferris Wheel.
“My mother is match-making.” She’d been horrified speechless at the realization. “I feel like I should apologize.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary.”
“Of course not. You’re the one who kissed me.”
He shrugged. “Not going to apologize for that, either. Besides, you kissed me back.”
He made her heart pound and her head forget all about the letters. And she wanted to kiss him again, too. Now that she’d had a chance to get used to the idea, she wanted to do a lot more than kiss him. But she’d known him for so long. He was like a brother. A really good-looking, muscley—she shook her head to banish the thought and cleared her throat. Not going to go there.
“I have three years left of my commitment, Zack.” Lena got in line behind another couple then turned to him. “How the heck am I supposed to start a relationship now?”
He lifted a brow. “Are you serious? Isn’t that what you plan on doing with letter guy?”
Heat rose on her cheeks. “Oh, well. That’s different.”
“Why?”
“Because we already have a relationship going.”
“No you don’t.”
“Yes, we do!”
“No.”
She opened her mouth to answer, but just as quickly he grabbed her, circled her neck with his arm, and covered her mouth with his hand. She couldn’t help grinning. All the combatives training she’d done over the years weren’t going to help her against Zack, who’d had the same training, was twice her size, and at least eight inches taller.
Instead of fighting, she put an arm around his waist and tucked her hand into his pocket. She really liked the feel of him at her side. He slowly lowered his hand from her mouth, but his arm stayed at her shoulder. She leaned her head against his chest and soaked in the joyful atmosphere as the crowds slowly dwindled and the night grew dark. Yeah, she could get used to this.

Making Ice Cream

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Doesn't matter than we're having the coldest week of winter so far. When you get an ice cream maker for Christmas, you make ice cream! And for my Lactose Free kid, that means, finally, ice cream that isn't plain vanilla or butter pecan. I mean, really. Could we get some variety in the lactose free version???

 

My husband made a gorgeous frame for our family portrait...


And, I'm so happy with this pair of gloves my Aunt bought for me...just so I could write in my office and not freeze  my fingers off. :D :D :D


Now tell me what you recieved this year. I want to hear all the fun details. :D
With Love,
Beth

Christmas Food

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Well, I did it... made the cookies I saw HERE. Curiously, I saw it first on a webpage called TheGunnySack, but in a matter of a day, that site is down. Perhaps too many visitors? Once a link goes viral, there's no telling what can happen! Anyhoo....

So, I made the Hot Chocolate Cookie Cup....and it's as cute as suggested on the Pillsbury webpage. A few things I had to adjust. Being in high altitude, I added a quarter cup of flour to the Pillsbury sugar cookie dough... the recipe calls for a tablespoon of dough in each mini muffin cup, but that was waaaay too much. You can see how the dough was over the edges, by a long shot, making the cookie as a whole stick to the pan.(also, I didn't actually measure my flour in the first try, which lead to some gummy, uncooked cookies b/c of the altitude problem)



Second try! Added the quarter cup of flour and used half a tablespoon of dough per muffin whole. A few of the cups were a little short, too short to use, but over all the outcome was a success. So I began the MOST. TEDIOUS. part of the entire process. The pretzels. Suggest, use LOTS of white chocolate and after melting the chocolate, wait a minute or so until it cools a bit...still soft, but not liquid. Oh, and be ready to use lots more pretzels than anticipated. Breaking pretzels is harder than it looks!! I only got one good handle per pretzel. In the end, I used the extra white chocolate to make a pretzel/white chocolate brittle. (YUM)


Then the ganache... my only suggestion here is that you could half the amounts they tell you to use. Because I ended up with double the number of cookies, I doubled the ganache...and now have about a cup and a half of chocolate ganache that I might have to eat... ;) By the way, ganache--so easy to make!


Last but not least, I don't know where Pillsbury got their teeny, tiny marshmellows, but I couldn't find anything like it so I used the little cake decorating pearls instead. Ended up being pretty perfect, if you ask me. :)

 

Social Media

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Another social media network popped up on the radar this week. The news came through my writing groups, my publisher... and it seems to have exploded in my writing circles.

But I have to ask myself, "Do I need another social media outlet?"

And, as it stands, who am I reaching out to? My fellow authors, for the most part.

Did I sign up? Do I have a page? Yes.

But I'm on the fence about actively pursuing it. I'll take it if it means exposure and getting my books out to a new audience. For now, it's not that.

Speaking of social media...

Has anyone seen the movie, You've Got Mail? Do you remember that first scene with Meg Ryan's character and Greg Kinnear when they are talking about technology and how it was the end of western civilation as we know it. And Greg's character kept bringing back typewriters to the apartment. I have to admit, he was right. That was the beginning...

Now it's not just, "You've got mail," it's sooo much more! :D

But where does it end? Have our online relationships lessened the value of our real life relationships? Or have they merely expanded what would otherwise be a small circle of friends?



Tasty Book Blast -- Unwanted Vows

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And then there was Jack

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August 18 was three days after the birth of my son. Sooo, long time ago. :P

And now it's December 2, 2014 and I am sitting here contemplating all the things I need to do before the year ends. Finish revision on my story, A Perfect Confidence. Finish revisions on my story, Unnecessary Vows. Christmas shop. Clean house [again, not the fun kind]. Fix two very important appliances... the oven and the ice machine.

Thank God for this crazy year.

It's a long story--this past year--and maybe some day I'll tell it to you. But for now, that old saying about rejoicing always comes to mind. Because there's been good, and there's been bad.

2015 will be welcomed in tentatively....but with much hope.

...and also a ton more writing. Must keep it up.
I do hope you all have a wonderful Advent season followed by a joyous Christmas season.
With love,
Beth