During my recent trip to Scotland, we visited the Royal Yacht Britannia, which is no longer in use and has been docked in the Port of Leith, Edinburgh since it was retired.

We were told that it is still furnished as it was during it’s many years of service. I. Don’t. Know. I find it hard to believe. See for yourself…

My apologies for the quality of the pictures, but some of them were taken through glass.

The Queen’s room

Prince Philip’s room

This is the room where Charles and Diana spent their honeymoon. It’s the only double bed on the yacht and we were told that Prince Charles bought it for the occasion…

The hallway where all these rooms are. You can see the two entrances to the Queen’s sun room.

This is one side of the sun room where the Queen would go to relax and supposedly is furnished by her.

The China and Silver Pantries

The estate dinning room.

Her office onboard.

Prince Philip’s office onboard.

Small drawing room next to the larger one.

The larger one used when entertaining.

Stairs to the drawing room. See the elevator doors?

A view from the stairs to the drawing room.

The Royal Barge, used to disembark.

There was much more opened to the public, including the Bridge, crew’s quarters, sick bay, laundry room, engine rooms, etc.

I found a YouTube video which has more pictures and a bit more info. The quality is not perfect though.

Last Sunday, as our pastor announced the scripture he would be preaching from, my mind wandered.  I kept thinking about what I wanted to blog about.  I thought about the importance of encouragement and the kind of nurturing needed for any kind of growth.  That made me think about the people who have been there for me to offer a pat on the back, a shoulder to cry on, or a firm shove when needed.  And of course that made me think of the Fanlit Forever writers. 

That’s when I actually glanced at the verse I had turned to.  It begins “Beloved, let us love one another…”  Talk about a light bulb moment.  Those few words say it all.  Love is where it’s at, and love is what it’s all about.  Romance writers write about love.  Maybe not exactly the kind of love the apostle John was speaking of, but still, they write about the emotion we all hunger for. 

Not only do romance writers write about love, they also share a lot of love with fellow writers, and that’s an invaluable commodity.  No matter where you are on your own personal writing journey, you will be greeted with open arms and enough acceptance to make your head spin.  And with that acceptance comes the encouragement to write , and the desire to live up to the expectations of your fellow travelers. 

So, to all my fellow writers I say thank you for being there and for writing and encouraging others to the same.  You do a great service to those in need of love whether through your words on paper or through your words of encouragement, and this old world can never have enough love.     

Okay. I have a muse with ADHD. I’d been fervently working on getting my regency historical finished, then I ended up at a road block. My muse, curse his (Yes, I said “his!”) hide, packed his bags and took the first train out of Dodge. Nice guy, really—when he wants to be.

Lucky for me, he got a substitute muse to fill in while he flits around the world. This muse? She’s amazing. I started writing this new story about a month ago. When I started imagining ghosts in bushes, I knew what was happening. Shortly after, Mr. Muse hit the highway on his adventures. I can only hope he sends me a few post cards.

But thank goodness for substitute muses. She keeps me in line. It may not be my historical, but at least I’m writing. And I haven’t written this much in a long time. As I mentioned earlier, I started this book about a month ago and I’m already pushing 20,000 words.

The bad thing about this is Mr. Muse is getting jealous. I’m afraid he may cut his vacation short and kick Ms. Substitute Muse in a not so comfortable spot. He doesn’t like to play fair. I’m clearly more satisfied with Ms. Substitute Muse at the moment, so what’s a girl to do with a jealous muse? Feed him chocolate and cheesecake and tell him to wait in line?

Lately my creative ideas haven’t been flowing too smoothly. I sit down to write and I feel hot and sleepy, my brain sluggish. To wake myself up, I drink tea and diet Pepsi (with lime) and I eat every carb in sight. None are safe. Lately it’s been mostly raisin bread and chocolate chip cookies, but I’m happy to substitute mint chocolate chip ice cream, Oreos, and Fritos. In the end, I still haven’t written that much… and I’m stuffed.

I was talking to a writer friend of mine and asked her what she does to get going on her writing day. She told me an espresso in the morning does it for her and then she’s good to go. I’ve heard some writers swear by exercise before working. Others like to write in spurts, getting up to walk around every half an hour or so to get everything circulating again. And I hear of those who depend on obscene amounts of caffeine to get that brain to do its job.

It’s easy to write when the story is flowing out as fast as we can type. But let’s face it – for most of us, those times don’t happen on a regular basis. Many successful authors will tell us that writing is hard work and you have to give it regular hours even when the words aren’t coming easy. You know… plant your butt in the seat and hands on the keyboard. But that doesn’t address how to stay awake from there on out.

So, do you have any tricks for getting your brain in gear and not waking up hours later with your keyboard imprinted on your face?

Lets say you just won the lottery and they handed you a check for a million dollars. What would you do? We asked this question of the writers of the Roundtable and here are their responses:

Alice: I’d invest.

No, seriously. I’d buy myself a nice house, but not a mansion. Then I’d buy some stock, a few bonds, laddered CD’s, and if there was anything left over I’d go for some rental property, but not an REIT. The income from this mix would allow me to lead a middle class lifestyle without ever having to work again.

Sindee: I would also invest. A million nowadays isn’t really all that much money, and after the government gets their share you’re down to only $600,000. I would buy an average size home and maybe a new car. One that gets great gas mileage. I’d take a little time off work to relax and destress, but I definitely wouldn’t quit my job–Unless the lottery was like $100,000,000. That’s a no-brainer. And I’d still keep on writing, that’s for sure.

Renee: I’m not sure what I’d do. My first thought is to pay off the house, but since we owe so little, and we do need a bigger home, I think I’d sell this one and look for another one.

A good economy car would be nice and Mr. Scott needs a work van.

The kids need college and that’s coming faster than investing time allows.

Anytime I think about what I’d do IF I were to win the lottery, a vacation is always involved since we haven’t had one in our 20 years.

But, investing is always a good thing.

I always wanted to set up an inner city arts program here. I think it’s sad that only the children whose parents can afford the 15-30 dollar lessons are able to receive one on one lessons. There are so many undiscovered artist prodigies, if given the chance they would flourish.

And by the way, my type of vacation would be exactly what Maura described, but I’d add the US too. It’d be awesome if we could go from state to state and see all the natural wonders.

Maura: If I won the lottery, the first thought that comes to mind is travel. I still want to see Ireland, the highlands of Scotland, the Greek isles, and Bruges. I’d give quite a bit to the charities I care about, especially cancer research, but I think I’d blow the rest of it, invite some friends along and travel in style. I’m happy with what I make at my job and I’m comfortable with our retirement plan. Of course I’d continue writing until that becomes my day job. But winning the lottery would be like icing on my “contented life” cake. One thing’s for sure, you can’t take it with you.

Lara Lee: Sindee is right. A million dollar winning doesn’t stretch very far these days. After the IRS takes their cut, I’d buy an extended family property where dh and I, my mom, mil, and dgd and dd (if she wishes) could all have their own house/apartment. Independant but close together.

I’d really like to have enough to take a year off from work to concentrate on my writing.

It would be nice to give a larger donation to cancer research in honor of my dad.

I doubt there would be any money left over but if there is, I’d do some traveling. There are many places I’d like to visit but Scotland, Ireland, Lux/Bruges, Greece, and Egypt are at the top of my list.

Terri:
1. Part of my winnings go to charity & 10% will go into an investment fund.

2. My debts are gone and my children and their families provided for.

3. We own a house in the Caribbean and live there at least part of the year.

Kelly: This question always reminds me of the song, “If I Had $1000000″ by Barenaked Ladies.

Here’s what they would buy with $1 million:

A house
Furniture for the house (maybe a chesterfield or an ottoman)
A K car
A tree fort
A little tiny fridge to put in the tree fort, (containing pre-wrapped sausages)
A fake fur coat (because a real fur coat would be cruel)
An exotic pet (like a llama or an emu)
John Merrick’s remains (the “Elephant Man”)
A limousine to drive to the store
A lot more Kraft Dinner (and fancy ketchup - dijon ketchup - to go with it)
A fake green dress (because a real green dress would be cruel - this line is a direct reference to the line about the fur coat)
Some art (a Picasso or a Garfunkel)
A monkey

Now see, I, like Alice, would be responsible and forward-thinking and invest. But if I was struck by a sudden disease that removed my spending inhibitions and let me cut loose? I’d probably use the money to travel to all of the places I’ve never been but have always been curious about - Norway, Russia, Egypt, Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand, India, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Alaska …

Then, if there were any money left, I’d build a house, half of which would be a personal library a la Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, in which I would ensconce myself and never come out except to eat and bathe.

Sindee: A monkey and John Merrick’s remains? ermmmm….

Kelly: It’s a really funny song, Sindee. The line after “I would buy you a monkey” is, “Haven’t you always wanted a monkey?” Go listen to it. The song never fails to make me smile.

~*~*~

What would you do with your million dollar lottery winnings?

The wonderful thing about traveling abroad is the chance to appreciate different cultures and discover things that for a writer may enhance or add depth to a manuscript. My experiences with color coded cuisine and stabs at the native tongue certainly have provided fodder for my writing life.  They are however only a portion of what has formed a three part blog entitled Travels in Okinawa. Here is part one:

GRANDDAUGHTERS ARE GEMS AND DON’T EMBARRASS YOUR SON BY ATTEMPTING THE NATIVE LANGUAGE.

I arrived overseas July 8th to be greeted by sweltering heat and the most beautiful gem in the Okinawa Prefecture, Lily Nicole Heitz. Okay, I’ll revise my statement to avoid an international incident. Gentle Reader my I present the newest and most beautiful baby in the world my granddaughter, Lily.

I could have sat all day with her in my arms, observing the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed, tickling those full, round cheeks to get a smile. (And don’t even start with the chipmunk comments). I committed her coos to memory and watched amazed as she made stretching into an art form.  

Lily also proved to be a sturdy little tourist. We took her along to botanical gardens, an Okinawa shopping mall and a terrific snorkeling beach. She managed to sleep through everything, even the adventure known as, local cuisine. 

If you are an American in Okinawa and don’t speak the language, beware of the mom and pop places. These are the out of the way joints most either rave about or warn you off of.  The menus are all basically the same: billboard rectangles hanging down from the ceiling. Cooks and employees mill about in front of your eyes.  No one waits on you. Instead you study the color coded pictures of the food and try to determine what looks safe. (In my case that wouldn’t be anything Andrew Zimmerman, from Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods, might find appealing.)  The next step is committing the kanji figures under your item to memory and heading to the vending machine with your yen. There you compare the kanji and the color code on the menu to the buttons on the machine.

With luck you actually order the food item you think you are ordering. After punching the number a ticket is issued and it’s time to take a seat and wait. Soon one of those employees brings out a heaping plate to your table and you grab the chopsticks (no forks).

This picture was taken at a typical mom and pop place off the main drag.  We felt adventurous and dining Japanese style seemed like a fun idea. It was too, with the exception of the food. Jason and Shelby ate their lunch with gusto. Me? I don’t know what I ordered but let’s just say Andrew Zimmerman probably has this place on speed dial. I soon put away my chopsticks and opted for peanut butter back at Jason’s. 

The next day we snorkled. 

This is Tori Beach and the picture doesn’t do it justice.  The waters were clear, the coral teeming with sea life and the beach filled with shells and sea glass.  Once again, the baby slept through the fun under the shelter of a cool umbrella in her mommy’s arms.  We only snorkeled for an hour, which was enough and a lovely outing.

As for the botanical gardens, lush, rich, dramatic, are words that come to mind. 

The pictures say it all don’t they?  

This is Shuri Castle. Shelby and I decided we wanted an afternoon to ourselves and left the baby home with Jason.  The castle is a rebuilt structure taking into account historical records. The original was destroyed several times and bombed during WWII.  By the early 90s, they had managed to reconstruct the castle and opened for tours. There is a tremendous amount to see at Shuri; however, the heat was oppressive and we decided to tour the main building only. 

By the time we left, we were both leaving puddles of sweat in our wake. Cooking was out of the question and Jason took us out to dinner—not another mom and pop place either. 

We dined at a wonderful restaurant called Jacks, a steak house on Kadena Airforce Base.  We had a super evening, enjoyed nice cool air-conditioning and delicious food.  On the way home, we approached the gate to Camp Shields and I decided to wow the Japanese security guard with my grasp of the native tongue. 

In Okinawa good evening is pronounced, kon ban Wa.  As I handed my passport over, I let out a cheerful, “Obi Wan”.  Jason cringed. Shelby giggled. The security guard said, “American Star Wars.”

Once we were safely away, Jason informed me that I’d forfeited my light saber privileges.  At least I didn’t call the guard something vile in his native language. 

Till next time when I temporarily leave Jason and Shelby’s place to give them a break from mom and take in the island on my own, well semi on my own … me. 

Oh and here is one last picture of Lily. It’s the background on my computer.  

When I was young, my mother often told me to be careful not to “wish” my life away. On the surface it seems this phrase suggests a morbid kid who thought too often about death, but my mom didn’t mean that at all. It’s just that I often had the bad habit of beginning a week on a Monday and wishing it were already Saturday or beginning a new school year in August and counting the days till the Christmas holidays. Instead of the carpe diem I was taught in school, I didn’t–seize the day–I wished for a day that might be just a little better.

I think many people do the same, and in doing so, days go by and turn into one weekend after the next. Weeks go by and turn into one month then two.

And years go by.

Then, we wake up and wonder where all the time went. In effect, instead of counting the blessings of each and every day, we’ve “wished” our lives away.

This past summer was going to be all about writing for me. I convinced myself that if I could just make it to June, I could put all my energy into my writing. Sadly, this wasn’t to be, and looking back I realize I waited so eagerly for the summer days to come, I didn’t take advantage of the days I was given.

At my father-in-law’s funeral this past week, his nurse and friend shared something special with us. My father-in-law wanted his friends and family to know he had completed all of his goals. He had finished what he’d set out to do. He knew he had very little time left and he hadn’t wished away a second.

His words reminded me that every single day is a gift. And today and tomorrow and the next day my question will be: What can I accomplish in this one day? What can you?

Last weekend, I wasn’t around to respond to the comments on the review Maura and I wrote for A Dangerous Beauty (thanks, though, for stopping by!), because I was in the process of traveling cross country to attend a wedding. I seem to be at the stage of my life when the only times I get to see my friends are when someone gets married. Last weekend happened to be a family wedding, which simply meant that aside from a few people I share blood (or at least blood relatives) with, there were a lot of strange (in many ways) people who I’d never met before and will likely never see again.

As I sat in the third pew, watching my cousin commit his heart and soul to the woman he’d chosen to spend his life with, I couldn’t help but marvel at what I was witnessing. The happy couple opted for a very traditional ceremony, and the words were those that we’ve all heard time and again.

I take you to be my wife, to love and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do us part. This is my solemn vow.

Simple words. Familiar words. But powerful, nonetheless. It’s one person saying to another, no matter what the future may hold for us, you are the person I choose to love, to stand next to forever.

I’ve heard these words more times than I can recall - in churches and fields of wildflowers, in films and books and songs, in conversations with our girlfriends and in our dreams about the past or the future. The words may vary slightly, but we all know the gist of it and could recite most of the wedding liturgy off the top of our heads. It’s part of the ritual, the ceremony, that symbolizes the joining of two hearts, two families, two lives together for as long as they remain committed to one another and the vows they’ve recited.

Ceremony is a crucial part of our existence. In the last year, I’ve attended weddings and ordinations and funerals. I’ve watched Olympic champions receive gold medals for athletic excellence, and my brother graduate from college for academic and artistic accomplishment. Friends of the Roundtable traveled to San Francisco as part of an annual event to recognize excellence in our chosen profession. Each event has been commemorated with some kind of ritual that barely deviates from the ones that have come before it.

And yet, we as human beings seem to require a ceremony for every milestone in our lives. As I bore witness to my cousin’s passage into a new phase of his life, I wondered why that must be. After all, rituals have existed for as long as man has known up from down. But why? Do we need validation that our accomplishment/choice/progress means something? Is it a way to ensure we actually remember the moment when we succeeded at our goal? (If so, I think I need a redo of my college graduation, since all I remember is that it was 95 degrees in December, and I had to pee. Badly. Through the entire 2.5 hour ceremony.) Is it to give us the chance to show off our excitement, delight, and yes, even our superiority to everyone we know?

Or maybe it’s just yet another way that we reach out to our fellow man to share a little bit of the achievement with the ones we care about.

Regardless, this ceremony was truly moving, and I hope that when my time comes, I’ll be equally blessed to have my family and friends share in such a special moment.

The winner of our last round of Fiction Friday was:

Sandeflay by Linda Mooney.

Congratulations Linda.

Alice:When ever anyone asks what my favorite movie is, I generally answer ThePrincess Bride.  It’s one of the few I have voluntarily watched more than once.  The problem is that I don’t love it so much that I have memorized it.  You’d think this was no big deal, but so many other people I have meet online DO have it memorized, and seem to think I will be able to spout the next line if they throw one out.  Unluckily, all I can remember off the top of my head is, “Hello.  My name is Inigo Montoya.  You killed my father.  Prepare to die.”  Still, if I have to claim a favorite, I’m sticking with The Princess Bride.

Maura:  I have a whole list I watch over and over again.  I’m weird that way.  My favorite on any given day depends on my mood.  If someone asks me the question, I instinctively say Gone With the Wind.  I love it, but I don’t usually have four hours at my disposal to sit and watch it.  Some others I’ve watched again and again–Ever After, Under the Tuscan Sun, Dirty Dancing, The Cutting Edge, The Holiday, Titanic, Pride and Prejudice, Becoming Jane, Circle of Friends, Serendipity, For Love of the Game . . . oh, the list could go on and on.    And yeah, I do have lines memorized from all of them.  Just think how much actual knowledge I could have in my brain if I didn’t have so much trivial stuff packed in there.   LOL.

Renee:Oh wow, now I have to think. Like Maura, there are several that I’d watch over and over. Stand By Me, The Sandlot, Dirty Dancing, Ghost, Ever After, Thelma and Louise, Braveheart, The Patriot, Mad Max, Waterworld, The Jerk, all of the Indiana Jones, The Goonies, The Lost Boys, and Cutthroat Island, I love Geena Davis in this one and the hero kind of reminds me of The Princess Bride, which is also a favorite, in fact the entire family loves it.It’s so hard to narrow it down.

Kelly:  I don’t so much have a favorite movie as a Top Ten list of favorite films. They’re movies that speak to me for various reasons - whether I need to laugh or cry, wrap myself in romance or have the satisfaction of watching things explode, these movies always deliver. Some of these movies are so brilliant, they meet multiple needs. And yes, I can quote most, if not all, of each of these movies. In no particular order: Grosse Pointe Blank, The Princess Bride, Gone With the Wind, My Man Godfrey, Hello, Dolly!, When Harry Met Sally, Stardust, The Great Race, The Philadelphia Story, and A League of Their Own.  Each is perfect in its own way, and addresses some need deep inside me that has me coming back time and again.
Laria Lee:  There are so many wonderful movies out there that it’s hard to choose just one. It got me thinking though and I made a list. I’m sure that I’m forgetting some but these are most of my favorites:

Man! I don’t know how you do it. I mean really, how in the world do y’all find time to work and write? Let me tell you I’ve been blessed for the last 19 years of my life-I haven’t had to work. Yeah, I stayed home and changed a few poopy diapers, watched Price Is Right, and ate Bon Bons (ok the last two, not so much after I turned 21), but that is nothing compared to what many of you have been doing day in and day out.

I’m seriously trying to find balance. I know I haven’t been the best blogger and I’ve been an even worse critique partner. Working on my manuscript has fallen to the curb as well.

I vow to get back on track. To be all that I can be. To force time into my daily schedule to not only visit my favorite blogs, but to also respond. To completely finish all revisions and polish on Hellion’s Haven and to begin making progress on current works in progress.

I had several blog topics that I wrote, but I chose to share with you what I’ve been up to this summer. I hope you all enjoy the pictures and appreciate Mr. Scott’s craftsmanship. I’m very proud of his work.

The sign is up outside and the roof is fixed. I guess it’s time to lay the carpet down.

This ottoman was built from scratch. We received the box, the fabric, and the cushion. I cut, but I didn’t sew. The lines have to match perfectly and I’m just not up to specs. *g*

This was one of the first pieces that came into our shop. Sometimes we get them like this when they come directly from the wood finisher.

Isn’t it beautiful? I hated the fabric when I was cutting because it felt weird and it stretched. I got to sew the cord for this one.

This was one of my favorite chairs. The fabric was easy to work with. I didn’t have to match a bunch of silly patterns. I guess I moved up on this one, I did most of the sewing.

One of the perks of owning an upholstery shop-antique furniture.

Um…these were a pain in the…in the…well let’s just say I threatened to quit and then threatened to move out of the house until they were completed and gone from the shop. You can’t see it from the pictures, but the pattern was 1-inch diamonds, and Mr. Scott is such a perfectionist everything had to match. That’s good for the most part. The problem with the fabric was that it puckered a lot and if you even so much as got a drop of sweat on the fabric it was done for. It was one of those tiptoe projects.

A tiny little chair with 29 tiny buttons.

Sorry about the quality of the picture, Mr. Scott took it with his cell phone since I had returned the camera back to my mother. But I wanted to share these. I hated them from start to finish. In fact, once I was done with my part, I conveniently left the shop and pretty much stayed away until he was done. Where the orange chairs were a pain for him, these were double the pain for me, especially since I’m fairly new to this cutting intricately detailed designed fabric. The fabric was covered in tiny white diamonds and white zigzag thingys, plus it was real similar to that stretchy polyester that was worn so much in the 70’s.

This is my current project. Obviously this is the before picture. I cut and did most of the sewing today, while Mr. Scott worked on a set of dining chairs.

Of course these aren’t all the projects. In between pieces there’s also been cornice boards, valances, ottomans, padded walls (don’t ask), as well as a few other pieces of furniture. These were the best of the best and the worst of the worst, so far. Our journey has only begun.

Today, as I was measuring one of the bolsters on the green love seat, it came to me, upholstery has many similarities to writing. I have to look at the piece of furniture and the fabric to find the best fit, much like I have to look at my plot and my characters. I have to make a detailed cut list, just like I should make a detailed outline of my story. The furniture is my main character, the buttons, cord, pillows, and word work only add detail, similar to how subplots, supporting characters, and setting add to the character’s story, moving it along. Sometimes, we build pieces from scratch, but more often than not, we get a piece that needs to be stripped to the bare bones, so we can build upon its foundation and bring it to polish, very much like painful revisions.

Renee

I heard the ending blurb of a commercial this morning that caught my attention.  It went something along the lines of “you can stay cool while still looking hot,” which reminded me of another commercial I heard yesterday assuring the viewer that everyone likes getting “those looks.”  The sad part of the whole thing is that I think they’re right, even though it makes us sound kind of pathetic and needy.  We need to be noticed.  We need to be verified, certified, and quantified by the public at large.  We need someone to say we’re okay.

Now, I can almost hear some reader out there saying “That’s not me you’re describing.  I’m fine with who I am.”  To you I say “congratulations.”  I’m jealous of your self-confidence, your self-value, your self-worth.  Too bad we can’t all be like you.

What I’m talking about are the rest of us poor schmucks who deal with self-esteem issues way too much and way too often.  To this group I say “I feel your pain.”  If you could wear mirrors out by simply looking into them, I would have gone through my share, and then some, in all my years on the planet.  Funny thing is, just looking never changes the view.  Sure, you can wash your face, brush your hair, apply a little makeup, even lose fifty pounds.  Those changes are effective for the short term, but things change, stuff happens, we all deteriorate, even with the best and most industrious upkeep.

So, what to do?  Does anyone remember Stuart Smalley from Saturday Night Live several years ago?  His Daily Affirmations were corny, and deliberately so.  It was supposed to be funny after all.  But as with so many things, including gossip, myths, legends, and jokes, there is usually a kernel of truth buried deep within. 

So the next time, you feel “less than,” think of Stuart, and yes, it’s okay to talk to yourself.  If not, would I be doing it?  Just look yourself in the mirror and repeat after me:  “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!”

See, don’t you feel better already?

Can you believe we are already over halfway through the year? Recently, one of my critique partners sent out all the goals we had set for July. And I wanted to cry.  I did not meet any of my goals! I was not very pleased with myself at all. So I decided it was time for a goal refresher. This is from a blog I did at th beginning of the year on my personal website. Because it’s never too late to set goals, right?

1. WRITE DOWN YOUR GOALS. It’s easier to remember and evaluate them that way.

2. MAKE THEM REALISTIC. Do not overestimate what you think you can accomplish. Instead, you should estimate, then cut that estimate in half. That will make it more realistic. My goal of 1,000 words a day has been downsized to 500 words a day, however if I do more than 500, that’s fine

3. MAKE THEM SPECIFIC. Don’t say “I want to be a better writer.” What does a “better writer” look like? How will you know if you’ve become a “better writer?” Instead, set a goal like “I will work on eliminating passive voice from my writing.” That way you are being more specific with what you need to work on.

4. MAKE THEM MEASURABLE. Keeping track of your goals is a great way to stay focused and motivated. “I will take one workshop on showing and telling” gives a numeric value and makes the goal measurable. Stating you will take some workshops is not.

5. MAKE THEM FLEXIBLE.  All tasks, including our efforts to accomplish goals, rely on “real life.” For example, let’s say you make a goal to finish Manuscript B, which you just started to write. Then you get a request for manuscript A, which isn’t finished. You need to adjust and flex. Adjust your goals to work on and finish Manuscript A , then move back to Manuscript B. That way you aren’t driving yourself crazy trying to finish two manuscripts at the same time.

6. REVIEW YOUR GOALS MONTHLY AND QUARTERLY. It is easy to get sidetracked and forget what we are striving for. Other times, it is possible to discover that the goal we aimed for wasn’t the best, and we can adapt it to better serve our needs. Someone once said, “If you aim for nothing, you will certainly attain it.” Review keeps us aiming for the right thing.

7. GET FEEDBACK FROM YOUR PEERS. You may think a goal is perfect for you, but you can be blind to your weaknesses and limitations. Getting feedback will help you set goals that are more realistic, measurable, and suited to your needs.

8. CHANGE YOUR GOALS AS NEEDED. Using review and feedback, you can change your goals. Remember that change isn’t failure; it’s just correcting your course. Allow yourself to change and grow.

Feel free to add any suggestions that have helped you reach your goals!

Cheers!
Sindee

It is August already and summer is more than half gone. The Roundtablers have been busy this past month with family illnesses, a new business, moving, vacations, and two sick laptops that had to go to the computer hospital in Texas (making it a challenge to write and leaving their owners without scanty internet access!).

So, we don’t have many new writing successes to boast of. We do, however, have a great schedule:

Fiction Fridays will be twice this month, on the second and last Friday (August 8 and August 29). The last one had some wonderful excerpts and two really fun serials (Suzie anyone?). If you would like to add a link to your excerpt, please contact Alice.

Guest author, J.K. Coi, will be joining us on the roundtable Monday, August 25 and Renee will be reviewing her new release on Friday, August 22.

On Thursday’s this month, we will have some crazy group posts. And on Thursday, August, 28, our own Siskel and Ebert, Kelly and Maura, are giving us one of their fabulous book reviews.

So please join us this month to celebrate this last, lazy month of summer!

As those who know them well can attest, Kelly and Maura have similar tastes in books, movies, music–the list could go on and on.  So, when Kelly suggested they read and review one of Sophia Nash’s books, Maura was thrilled.  The time between releases of their favorite authors’ books seems too long and both Kelly and Maura are always on the lookout for a new “fav” author.  Although, Nash’s latest release, The Kiss, hit the bookstores in March, it continues the story of the members of the delightfully unconventional Widow’s Club.  Both Kelly and Maura knew they had to begin in order with the first of the Widow’s Club series (another quirk this so-called Siskel and Ebert pair share J), thus explaining this month’s review of a book that came out last year.  

Although she is “new” to Maura and Kelly, Sophia Nash has been published in romance since 2002 when her book A Secret Passion was named a Golden Heart finalist.  Since then, this RITA award-winning author has gone on to publish many more books to critical acclaim.  Although she was born in Switzerland and raised in France and the United States, she claims that “her heart resides in Regency England.” For more about the author and her books please visit her webpage http://www.sophianash.com/media.php 

And now we give you our review of A Dangerous Beauty.  

Maura said:

Sophia Nash is a new author to me, so I was thrilled when Kelly and I decided to review her novel A Dangerous Beauty.  With an endorsement from Julia Quinn on the cover, I anticipated a great read.  And I was right.

Young and foolish, Rosamunde Langdon Baird has been taught to glory in her unconventional passion.  She just never imagines that her innocent actions will cause her to lose all she loves and, in the end, even herself.  Left with few options, she finds she must take advantage of the Dowager Duchess of Helston’s invitation to join the secret Widow’s Club.  Yet, accepting the invitation means returning to a place she swore never to lay eyes on again.  Never in her wildest imagination can she know that her destiny has always connected her with Amberley.

Luc St. Aubyn, the latest Duke of Helston, is better known for his “love-em and leave-em” ways.  He never hides the fact that the heat of the night enjoyed in the arms of another will cool with the morning sun.  He swore to himself long ago never to allow his emotions to take control of his body, his mind, his heart.  He just never counted on this particular dangerous beauty to walk through his door.

Rosamunde must overcome her less than savory past to rediscover the passion and vitality our hero, Luc St. Aubyn, sees in her from the moment they meet.  Luc, known as Lord Fire and Ice, has demons of his own to face, but he finds his heart drawn to Rosamunde as it has been attracted to no other.  Theirs is a true meeting of kindred spirits.

A Dangerous Beauty has intrigue, passion, self-discovery, and rebirth of belief in one’s self.  There are rainy horseback rides, musical exhibitions, near drownings, mysterious illnesses, and near engagements to the wrong person.  And in the end, a twist that puts a new take on the big misunderstanding.  The story of these two lovers packs it all.

Although the story begins with a great deal of back story, I found myself intrigued with Rosumunde’s plight and I loved her interaction with Luc.  Luc is a delicious hero, who claims to have a dark side, but we see from the beginning he is a kind and intelligent and generous man. 

As a writer I could highlight the various “so-called” rules Ms. Nash seems to break, but as a reader I still believed in her characters and wanted to go along with them as they found their happy endings.  Although, some readers may find this book contains too many distractions from the love story and some plot devices that force them to suspend their disbelief, I thoroughly enjoyed the connection Sophia Nash creates between Rosamunde and Luc as together they find their happily-ever-after.

Kelly said:

After reading an excerpt of The Kiss, the second installment in Sophia Nash’s Widow’s Club series, I just knew that I had to start reading from the beginning. That she would be one of my new must-read authors. I suspected that A Dangerous Beauty would be a beautiful wild ride through Regency England, with rakish heroes, feisty heroines, and heart-melting romance.

I wasn’t far off the mark.

Rosamunde Baird’s fall from grace leads her into a life of deprivation and self-castigation – a cycle that not even widowhood can break. A spirited woman determined to punish herself for a minor offense committed long ago, she tries to resist the temptations the new Duke of Helston pushes into her path when desperate circumstances force her to take refuge in his country home. Yet despite her resolution to press on with her bland and isolated future, her true nature yearns for the pleasures Lord Fire and Ice offers.

Luc St. Aubyn is a man with more than a few secrets. Yet he is uncommonly talented at getting to the truth of the matter – any matter. And uncovering Rosamunde’s suppressed passionate nature has suddenly become a priority for this blunt and unconventional hero. But once he succeeds in freeing Rosamunde from her unseen fetters, how will he ever be able to walk away from the scandalous widow?

Rosamunde and Luc are refreshingly unconventional protagonists, both strong-willed and stubborn, but each deeply vulnerable as well. Luc’s wit is well-matched to Rosamunde’s practicality, and both characters are wonderfully likeable, even though deeply flawed. They love deeply, not only one another, but their family and friends, and their loyalties to others, above and beyond their own needs, are nearly as damaging as they are endearing.

Though a critical subplot received barely cursory attention, and the reader is occasionally required to suspend belief for the sake of allowing the plot to progress, this is a deeply satisfying read. Ms. Nash has a beautiful Regency voice, and it was easy for this reader in particular to lose herself in the Austen-esque language of the day. Even my mother, who is not the speediest reader and doesn’t especially like romance novels, plunged through this book in a matter of days, and was hungry for more. If that’s not a ringing endorsement, I don’t know what is!