Hi, guys!

I’m writing to say I’ll be MIA for a while. I have revisions due, a deadline on another project and a conference coming up so things around here are piling up! I’ll check back in in a few days and see what’s happening.

Until then, have a SAFE July 4th weekend! Enjoy the fireworks and remember independence isn’t free. Our soldiers have fought and died for our rights and we need to respect the sacrifices they’ve made, whether we agree with the politics or not.

Have a great weekend!

Kay

I’m gearing up for Romance Writers of America’s National Conference and can’t wait–but first, I have to get a boatload of work done or at least mostly done, which means–I’m freaking out! Don’t get me wrong, I knew revisions were coming for the last book I turned in. I had issues with the book when I sent it and just could NOT put my finger on what was wrong with it. My fabulous editor nailed the problem/issue and now I’m on my way again and LOVING the changes but time is definitely an issue because there just doesn’t seem to be enough of it.

On a good note, I spent the day shopping, talking, plotting and frantically taking notes with my CP yesterday as she purchased things for a trip to Ireland (Oh, I’d so love to go!) and me for conference. (We will NOT talk about how my clothes from last year are SNUG.) I swear, I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t bounce ideas off my CP. She asks the perfect questions to enable me to truly grasp my characters. Fabulous! WHY couldn’t I think of these things the first time around????

So, I’ll be spending the next few weeks writing my fingers to the bone so I’ll probably be scarce. Just can’t keep up with it all.

Anyone going to the national conference? The Superromance party? What are you doing for your summer vacation?

Kay

Hi, guys! I’m working my fingers to the bone but wanted to pass along a link I hope you’ll check out. Barbara Vey emailed to say one of her WW gals reviewed a book I’d sent a while back.

Here’s the link I hope you’ll check it out and post a comment.

But before you go tell Barbara what you’re reading, how about you tell me? Read any great books lately?

Kay

I have a beautiful plaque on my desk that is titled The ABC’s of Life and I thought I’d share it with you.

Accept differences
Be kind
Count your blessings
Dream
Express thanks
Forgive
Give freely
Harm no one
Imagine more
Jettison anger
Keep confidences
Love truly
Master something
Nurture hope
open your mind
Pack lightly (Love this one! LOL)
Quell rumors
Reciprocate
Seek wisdom
Touch hearts
Understand
Value truth
Win graciously
Xeriscape
Yearn for peace
Zealously support a worthy cause

Not a bad way to learn the ABC’s eh?

I don’t have a lot going on right now except I’m trying to get as much work completed before conferences and the like. Sorry I’m so quiet (and boring! LOL).

So, if you could add an extra something to the letters above, what would it be?

I think mine would be an extra “B” - Be gracious. Now you– come on, what letter would you add?

Kay

Father’s Day is special to most people. It’s a day to step back and appreciate the dad who was there for you. My dad is no exception. I didn’t always think he was the coolest or the smartest or the most whatever, but now that I’m older and a parent myself I realize the sacrifices he made for us kids.

When I was seven, my dad had surgery. At the time he was quite literally a guinnea pig for for this new thing called “open heart surgery.” Yup, that surgery that’s so common today. Back then, he was in the third “test trial” of patients considered qualifiers. Basically, it was kind of a last resort. There wasn’t such a thing as Lipitor etc and my dad had suffered several small heart attacks and was warned “the big one” was coming. So, the surgery.

Post surgery, he was given 1-3 years. Well, 33 years later, I’m still wishing my dad Happy Father’s Day. Still kissin’ his bald head. And I’m soooo very thankful for the man who, according to doctors, wasn’t supposed to be there for me growing up. He bought me my first car, he gave me away at my wedding, he teases and kids with my children to this day. Thank God for healing prayers. We don’t always know the whys of things, but I believe my dad was put on this earth to show and teach me and my siblings the measure of a man. My dad overcame his lack of education, overcame his issues with health, and he gave his family his all. He still does, despite being an “old man” who is supposed to settle down and relax. LOL My dad doesn’t know the meaning of that.

I know not all of us have a dad like mine in their lives. I’m so sorry about that. The world would be a much better place if there were. No-account dads are hard to swallow. All the more reason to appreciate the dads who step up to the plate, you know?

But there’s something else. Every hero I write, every book that has a man who is flawed but good, hurting but moral? They’re based on the men in my life. My dad, my husband, my father-in-law. People give romances a hard time and consider them trash but the thing they all have in common, what makes them sooooo very attractive to women especially, is that each and every romance contains a hero with a hero’s heart. Even heroes with bypassed hearts are still heroes LOL

Anyway, HAPPY FATHER’S DAY to all the guys out there. I hope you’re all blessed to know a good one like mine.

Kay

My dh had a stretch of days off and since I have very little writing time with him around (until evening), we’ve worked on everything from our landscaping to dejunking to giving the house a good cleaning. We went to a tree/shrub auction and found some amazing deals. We’ve planted trees down one side of our driveway (the other has water lines), by our porch, planted flowers and shrubs along the front, decluttered the entire house and made a trip to Good Sam and cleaned until the floors shine. It’s amazing what a clean, somewhat neat space can do for your muse. Not only is my house sighing in relief, but so am I! LOL As I wait for revisions on the last Tulane book, I’m working on a project I’ve been dying to do for a while. I spent my evenings working on a new project and now that the dh is back to his regular schedule–I can dig in and explore a new set of hunky, gorgeous, heroes. I’m looking forward to it!

So what about you? While I’ve been scarce, what have you been doing?

Kay

The dh and I went to a 50th wedding anniversary this weekend. Fifty years. Can you imagine? And while I know the couple well and they’ve had their aggravations and irritations with each other, they’ve never stopped loving each other.

Today’s society has a throw away attitude. Doesn’t work? Throw it away. Hole in it? Throw it away. Loses it’s shine? Throw it away. What happened to dedicating yourself (as BOTH partners) to making it work? Where divorce (Now you realize we’re not talking/including abusive relationships here, right? Love shouldn’t hurt.) is simply not an option? When two people put that much dedication and hard work and stubbornness into a marriage, that much faith in the vows they’ve taken and the faith they have, how can it fail?

In my family tree, I have quite a few relatives with multiple marriages. Why, some uncles and aunts have had five and six divorces. I’m the only one of my siblings who hasn’t been married and divorced. But I also told my now-husband when we were dating and discussing marriage, that I wanted fifty years or nothing. He had to be serious, committed to us and to our marriage, or he wasn’t to mess with me like so many twenty-something’s out there today do.

We’re heading toward 18 years of marriage, and twenty-one years of dating. Time has gone so fast. If we’re almost to our twenty year mark, I can only imagine how quickly thirty years, forty years and fifty years will go.

As to my question for the day? What do you think is the problem with marriages that end after a few months or a year? Is it immaturity? The lack of a marriage example growing up? (My parents celebrated 55 years in March. The dh’s parents 40 years.) A society of short attention span kids who get married, lose interest and want the new toy?

Kay

I received a request from a friend to VOTE for the elementary school in my hometown so they can win a $10,000 prize. Now, my hometown is SMALL, lacks major funding etc so this is a major opportunity to win money for our kids! I have nieces and nephews and cousins at this school and know they can use your help.

You can vote three times per day until July 12, and I’d sooo appreciate it if you’d bookmark the spot and take just a minute (it only takes the time to load the page, and click, click, click) to vote for McKell Elementary School in South Shore, KY. We all know how badly schools need funding, especially those in towns as tiny as my hometown. Please vote! (And feel free to forward to support a LOCAL school.)

Here’s the link and remember McKell Elementary in South Shore, KY.

Thank you, thank you!

Kay

I have a lot going on right now. I’m tweaking some projects I’ve already discussed with my editor, working on something entirely different that I’m getting ready to pitch, and also working on a project synopsis that I’m so excited about I’m squirming in my chair. Why? Because there is such a sense of excitement and anticipation. That feeling you when you discover something new, something different, and you can’t wait to dive in. Sort of like finding a new author to read and there’s a whole backlist of books to keep you occupied for weeks to come, or facing a set of doors when you’ve never been on the other side to see what treasures might be there. Yup, that kind of excitement.

What gives you that sense of excitement? Is it when your baby or grandbaby smiles? Struggling with something only to get it right on the fifth try and really feeling that sense of accomplishment? What new thing have you discovered recently that makes you really SMILE?

Kay

We’re all readers. If you weren’t, you wouldn’t be reading this blog! And romance??? What’s better than getting together with other people who love reading romance novels as much as you do?

I love going to romance events with readers and writers alike. And this weekend I attended a great one! For five years now Lori Foster and Dianne Castell host a reader/author get together in West Chester, Ohio. It’s casual, it’s fun–and attendance set a new record this year with about 350 people and 150 raffle baskets!

Here’s a shot of the room. I was at the midway section toward the front so you’re only getting one side.

WOW. Even better, I won two prizes! Lucky me won beautiful hand-made cards created by Daphne Wedig, and a gorgeous necklace and earrings set made by Kay Sturm. Beautiful! Best of all? The raffle sales made over $6,000 for a local charity for children. That rocks. We had a blast and supported a great cause. Isn’t that what it’s all about?

I also met up with friends I only get to see once a year or so. Here’s a pic of some of us. I first met this group of ladies through Lori’s Bookjunkys group and then in person at this event. Over the years we’ve become great friends. The lady by me? That’s our own Marcie, an eharlequin reader and aspiring writer who hangs out with us over on the Superromance discussion board. So good to see you, Marcie!

I met sisters Jaime and Ashley two years ago at a different event and this year they took my advice to come join the fun. Sitting with these girls and chatting reminded me of why I love events such as this. So many readers hesitate to approach an author for one reason or another, but the reality is we’re friendly, shy ourselves and LOVE talking to our readers. So, don’t be shy! Come chat with us when you can.

Aren’t they adorable? Jaime is now an aspiring author and Ashley is showed her support by attending the event with her big sis as well as encouraging her sister’s raffle ticket addiction!

Lori did something a little different this year and hired a videographer to come tape the event. Here, Michelle Buonfiglio from Romance: B(u)y the Book is taping a segment for the video. We’re lined up as official Bookjunkys to send a message to those who were unable to attend. The message? “We wish you were here!”

And last but not least, here is a shot of the Superromance raffle basket. Inside were lots and lots of Superromances (33!), chocolates and more. The winner was soooo excited! I had a shot of her with her prize but it didn’t turn out so the basket will have to do.

The Superromance authors are putting together a FABULOUS get together at RWA’s National Conference in Washington, DC. It’s the second year we’ve done this and we’d love to see you there! Do you attend reader/author events? Booksignings? Would you consider going to an event if your favorite authors were there and accessible? What holds you back? What would convince you to come and join the fun?

Kay