Mindful Banter

Turning the Tables #MWTease #BadBoysGoneGood

August 6, 2014 by ReeseRyan

It’s time for the Mid Week Tease ( #MWTease ) hosted by the lovely and talented Sandra Bunino. I’ve enjoyed sampling stories from a variety of genres through this fun weekly event, including Sandra’s book, The Colors of Us, which will be available this month. Last week, Jamie met Miles at the restaurant where she works. Miles is intrigued by the beautiful, bad ass bartender. She finds him attractive, but doesn’t believe he’s her type.

Jamie’s dark past has taught her few people can be trusted. She can be a bit gruff, but Miles doesn’t scare that easily.

<==EXCERPT FROM LOVE ME NOT==>

The guy might be goofy and slightly aggravating, but he had the potential to be a good tipper. No matter how irritated she was, she knew better than to fuck that up. Jamie took a deep breath and gave him a dead-eyed smile that skirted civility without encouraging further interaction. “Maybe you’ll feel better if you tell me about it,” she said. “After all, isn’t that why you came here?”

“Hmm…I’ll bet you get that all the time. Rich bozos sitting here whining about their wives, mistresses and tennis elbow.”

She choked back the laugh rising in her chest before it could escape her lips. Covering her mouth, she cleared her throat and managed a straight face. “My customers are not bozos.”

“How politically correct of you to say so.” He tapped the bar lightly with his index finger. “But I have an idea. How about we turn the tables tonight? Tonight, why don’t you tell me what’s bothering you?”

This guy was really beginning to bug her. Since when did a complete stranger give a damn about what was bothering her? Where was this guy from anyway, Mayberry?

A regular came in and sat at the bar. She was glad for the distraction. “I’ll be right with you, Pete,” she told him before turning back to the man who’d managed to get under her skin. “Excuse me—”

“Miles.”

“I’m sorry…?”

“You called him Pete, right? Well, I’m Miles. Miles Copeland. It’s nice to meet you.”

She cleared her throat, her jaw tight. “I’ll be back to check on your order in a few…Miles.”

<==END OF EXCERPT==>

Thanks for stopping by this week. This week I kept it short and sweet. But next week we get inside Miles’s head and see what he is thinking and feeling. Now, grab a cup of coffee or your favorite adult beverage and visit some of the other authors on the list below.

PS: Get yourself a fan. You’ll need it at a few of these stops. 😉

Note to self: Publication is a journey, not a destination

August 5, 2014 by ReeseRyan

This month over on the Contemporary Romance Cafe the topic is: the road to publication.

I turned that thought over and over in my head and I just couldn’t come up with anything. Sure, I have my basic story of how I came to be published, but it didn’t feel like it even began to scratch the surface of the real story.

Publishing has changed dramatically in the past few years. While stories of the road to publication fit the old model of publishing, they only tell the partial story of what it’s like getting published and then staying relevant in the digital age where e-books rule supreme and publishers are consuming each other faster than Ms. Pac-Man gobbled up those darned power pellets.

While many authors are still going the traditional publishing route, there are other treks available. Small publisher. Digital-first publishers. Indie publishing.

Best of all, we aren’t obligated to take one trek or the other. Many authors have found great success going the hybrid route, whether it begins with trad publishers or as indie publishers. All of this is empowering for both authors and readers.

Yet, my basic “road to publication” story didn’t cover any of those exciting nuances.

Then, this morning, it hit me. Like happiness, publication isn’t a destination, it’s a journey.

Signing that first contract, seeing our first book in print (or online), that’s only the first step. Like reaching the first check-in point on a long-distance trek. There are many, many more peaks and valleys ahead and the geography is constantly changing.

I invite you to hop over to the Contemporary Romance Cafe where I share my journey of publication. I’d love to hear yours.

PS: The cover on display is from my first foreign language edition, Una stagione eccitante, recently released in Italy.

Ciao!

Rough Night #MWTease #BadBoysGoneGood

July 30, 2014 by ReeseRyan

Happy Wednesday, gang! You survived the roughest part of the week. Things should get easier from here. Just in case you could use a little something extra to get you through the day (sorry I can’t refill the liquor flask you keep in your purse), we’ve got just the thing: the Mid Week Tease, hosted by the fabulous Sandra Bunino.

The Mid Week Tease is a fun, multi-author event that gives you, dear reader, the opportunity to sample a morsel of our novels and novellas. My tease this week is from Love Me Not. In this scene my heroine, Jamie Charles, first meets the delectable Miles Copeland. Only Jamie isn’t quite as taken with Miles as he is with her…

<==EXCERPT FROM LOVE ME NOT==>

“Rough night, huh?”

Jamie looked at the man who’d taken a seat at the bar. He wasn’t one of the usuals. She’d never seen him before. But he was the type. Tahlia’s wasn’t a dive bar, like the ones she’d worked at in the past. It was an upscale bar and grille that catered to affluent tastemakers. In fact, the only reason they’d given her a shot, with her jet-black hair, penchant for black leather, tattooed arms and nose piercing was because Tahlia Vega was a friend of a friend of Ellie’s. She’d landed the job because she was good.

The man flashing his brilliant white teeth at her definitely fit the bill. Ridiculously gorgeous—like every line of his face had been precisely chiseled from stone by Michelangelo himself. A nose befitting a Greek god. A faint moustache was perched above his upper lip and a barely there beard crawled its way along a jawline with just enough of a pleasing curve to prevent it from being described as square. His hair—a sandy brown just a shade or two shy of venturing into blondiewood—was slicked down on the sides, with the top longer in a fairly conservative faux hawk. But those eyes…they were the color of pristine Caribbean waters. So blue they made a girl want to get naked and go for a swim in them. He was wearing a navy linen blazer with a crisp white shirt beneath it. The large face of the stainless steel TAG Heuer on his wrist nearly matched the color of those eyes.

Rich, gorgeous and probably spoiled. The only thing missing was the rail-thin model-type hanging on his arm. He was definitely the Tahlia’s type. He just wasn’t hers.

“Everything’s great,” she said to him. “I was just thinking about…I was making sure we had enough lemons, that’s all. Can I get you something?”

“You take your citrus inventory very seriously, I see.” An animated smile spread across his handsome face, and his eyes flickered with amusement as they followed her movement. “Well, I for one appreciate your dedication.”

She bit her lip and wiped the counter with a rag. If she’d still been working at Chuck’s Biker Bar, she’d have told this guy to go fuck himself. But at Tahlia’s, the customers were far more delicate. They didn’t appreciate being cursed out by the help. “If I can get you anything, let me know.” She turned to walk away.

“Wait. Actually, I would like something. I’d love a Satan’s Whiskers. It’s—”

“One ounce gin, one ounce orange juice, half an ounce of dry vermouth, sweet vermouth and Grand Marnier, a dash of bitters and a twist of orange peel. Or would you prefer it curled rather than straight?” Teeth clenched, she pressed her lips into a hard smile. Maybe she didn’t look like the dainty little bartenders he was used to, but she knew her shit.

“I apologize.” He ran his hands through his spiked crown, giving his hair a tousled, just-tumbled-out-of-bed-and-I-wasn’t-alone look. “I didn’t mean to imply that—”

“Forget it. Anything else?”

“You guys serve food, too, right?”

“Absolutely, would you care for a table? I can—”

“Actually, I’d like to eat right here at the bar, if that’s okay—” he leaned in closer and squinted at her name tag, “—Jamie. I think I’d prefer your company to eating alone.”

Don’t do me any favors, buddy. She surveyed the man, struck by how his blue eyes danced when he smiled at her. Her knees wobbled slightly. She was glad he couldn’t see them.

“If that’s what you’d like.” She reached behind her and handed him a bar menu. “Just let me know when you’re ready. Would you like your drink now or with your meal?”

“With my meal, please. Until then, how about a glass of water? I’ll take it with one of those lemons.” His devilish smile widened.

Was he making fun of her, or just trying to piss her off? If it was the latter, it was working. “Coming right up.” She forced the words through a smile so fake it’d give Barbie a run for her money. She grabbed a glass, dumped in a scoop of ice, filled it with water then put a lemon on the side. “Here you go. Just call me when you’re ready.”

“Sure thing.” He pulled out his phone. “But I’ll need your number first.”

The overwhelming desire to punch the dude in the face subsided the moment she saw that big, stupid grin. He was a harmless flirt. She could deal with that, no problem. “Ha-ha.” Her face remained expressionless as she tucked the rag into her apron.

He laughed. “Okay, that was pretty corny. I apologize. I’m usually far more clever than this, but today…I got nothing.”

“Rough day, huh?” She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.

“Touché. And yes, it has been a challenging day.” Lifting his chin slightly, he stroked his beard, regarding her with amusement. “But things are beginning to look up.”

<==END OF EXCERPT==>

Thanks for reading this week’s tease and allowing me to introduce you to Jamie and Miles. Want to take a peek at more steamy stories? Check out teases being offered by the fabulous authors listed below:

Getting Down and Dirty with Your Characters via the Character Sketch

June 25, 2014 by ReeseRyan

As a writer I both love and loathe the character sketch.

Creating a character sketch can be fun. The exercise nets the kind of knowledge one uncovers during happy hour with the straight-laced co-worker who has a secret life you never imagined. It allows a writer to get elbow-deep in a character’s mind and discover her motivations. A character sketch can unlock a chest of unexpected treasures which will bring the character to life and make the story more vibrant. Even when that information is never told directly to the reader, it informs the writer’s knowledge and can have a powerful impact on the story.

I use a detailed character sketch to propel my relationship with my characters from that of casual acquaintances to close friends and confidantes. This enables me to understand my characters in ways that even they have yet to discover.

So why do I also loathe the character sketch?

Because excavating your character’s life and brain in this manner feels like digging up a quarter acre lot with a 5-inch archaeology trowel, as opposed to a shovel. It’s hard, gut-wrenching work.

Perhaps that’s what makes it so much sweeter when, sweaty, dirty and on the verge of giving up, you discover a tiny treasure of unspeakable value. Like a lost wedding ring the owner never thought she’d see again.

In those moments, it all becomes worth it. Every blister, every cut, every broken finger nail. Even if you aren’t the ultimate benefactor of the intense treasure hunt.

The primary beneficiary of the character sketch is the reader. Not because we should proceed to dump every obscure bit of the character’s backstory in the reader’s lap. But because the character rings truer and comes alive on the page.

Character sketches written after the release of a book can be both fun and functional for readers. It can be fun for past readers to understand more about the character. On the other hand, it gives prospective readers a peek into the character’s psyche to see if it’s worth investing their valuable time into getting to know this character better.

Today I’m over at the Romance Lives Forever Blog doing a character sketch of the volatile and complicated Jamie Charles, the heroine in my most recent release, Love Me Not. Here is a brief excerpt:

What is your character’s family like?

Jamie comes from a broken home and had a very difficult childhood. Her father left home when she was about ten. Her mother was an alcoholic and drug addict. Jamie had planned to run away from home at thirteen, but her best friend’s family took her in and became her legal guardians. She loves them and is fiercely loyal to them. Yet, she trusts few other people.

Is she close to family?

Jamie is very close to her adopted family. However, she hasn’t seen her biological father since she was ten and hasn’t seen her biological mother in more than fifteen years.

If someone from your character’s past showed up, who would she NOT want it to be, and why?

The last person in the world that Jamie would want to see is her biological mother, Josephine Charles. Yet, near the outset of the story, that is exactly what happens. Josephine is trying to get her life together and wants to make amends with Jamie. This sets off a series of events in which Jamie is forced to deal with extremely painful secrets from her past that neither she nor Josephine are truly prepared to face.

Read the entire character sketch here.

As a writer, do you use character sketches? If so, what do you like or hate about them? As a reader, have you ever purchased a book based on a character sketch?

Dirty Girl 2013 by Shawn Perez. Some rights reserved.
Archaeology trowel photo courtesy of Michael Homan. All rights reserved.

Complicated Characters. Challenging Relationships.

June 20, 2014 by ReeseRyan

I’m fascinated by complicated characters. My favorites include Sherlock Holmes (played by Jonny Lee Miller in Elementary), Raylen Givens (Justified), Mary Shannon (In Plain Sight) and James Bond (played by Daniel Craig). They are prickly, a bit dark and extremely hard to love.

No wonder their characters rarely have serious love interests. When they do, the two seem to be a volatile mixture of chemicals ready to blow at any moment. That’s what makes writing a complicated character in a romance a bit more challenging.

After all, in a romance we are essentially guaranteeing a happily ever after, or at least a happy for now. Something we rarely see complicated characters in television and movies get.

That’s because loving and living with a complicated person can be taxing. But if the character grows as a person over the course of the story, it can be a truly beautiful thing to watch. Yes, they make us frustrated and angry, maybe even bring us to tears. Yet, we are thrilled to see them reach a point where they are open to being loved and are able to do so in return. Despite their imperfections.

Jamie Charles, the heroine in my latest release, Love Me Not, is definitely a complicated character. She had a very difficult childhood. In response, she’s developed a thick outer skin. Like a callous that forms to protect the raw, damaged layer underneath. Jamie can be sarcastic, judgmental and sometimes plain mean. Yet, she’s bright, talented and fiercely loyal to the people she loves.

Fully aware of her flaws, Jamie has made a conscious choice not to get emotionally involved with anyone. She doesn’t see herself as the kind of girl capable of giving her heart to someone. The risk feels too great. However, when Miles Copeland comes along, he isn’t convinced by Jamie’s tough girl act and he believes he’s just the man to prove her wrong.

Miles is also a multi-faceted character. On the surface he’s handsome, affable and charming. However, below the surface he is battling demons of his own.

Loving Jamie is certainly a challenge. One Miles believes is worth it. As long-held secrets are revealed, Jamie comes to terms with her past and slowly begins to recognize that she is indeed capable of loving Miles and worthy of his love.

Do you like complex characters in books, television and movies? If so, tell me who your favorites are in the comments below. If complicated characters drive you crazy, tell me why you loathe them. Your comment will enter you for a chance to win a digital copy of my Bad Boys Gone Good series, which includes Love Me Not, and signed Keeper Kase postcards for both books in the series (mailed to U.S. and Canadian addresses only)

Then be sure to enter the Rafflecopter contest below for your chance to win the awesome Summer Lovin’ Blog Grand Prize: a $75 Amazon Gift Card; a $25 Starbucks e-card and your choice of a $25 Amazon or B&N Gift Card.

Love Me Not Summary

Tortured artist, Jamie Charles’ life is a careful balance between flashes of brilliance and self-loathing. Her art is as dark and dramatic as her painful past. Her resentment of the biological parents—who were too preoccupied with their addictions to bother with her—fuels her ambition to succeed as an artist, but also takes a heavy, personal toll.

Miles Copeland climbed to the top of his advertising agency because he isn’t afraid of taking risks and because he has something to prove to the father who betrayed his family. But when he falls for a moody, Gothic beauty with zero interest in anything but a purely physical relationship, he finds himself in dangerous territory.

Jamie prefers living hard and fast without the complications of love, but finds it impossible to resist the stunningly handsome, yet incredibly sweet man who is determined to have every piece of her–including her heart. Miles shows Jamie the beauty of being loved madly and deeply, but is it enough to make her finally learn to love herself, and open her heart to him?

Summer Lovin’ Blog Hop:

Hop on over to the Summer Lovin’ Blog Hop to visit other participating blogs here: www.hopswithheart.blogspot.com . Enter the Summer Lovin’ Blog Hop giveaway below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Diverse Families and the Shades of Romance

June 12, 2014 by ReeseRyan

Today the Swirl Awards hosts the 2nd Annual Loving Day Blog Hop. This online event joins various other celebrations across the United States which commemorate the U.S Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Loving v. Virginia, which struck down anti-miscegenation laws in the United States.

That landmark decision removed legal barriers that prohibited marriage between couples of different races. However, many of the societal deterrents remained firmly in place.

It is no longer uncommon to see diverse families in our communities. In fact, the majority of us would hardly give a second thought to seeing a woman walking down the street with a baby of another ethnicity in her arms. Yet, for those of us living outside of that experience, it is easy to forget that not everyone in the world is as an opened-minded and accepting as we are.

Then an innocent Cheerios commercial features a diverse family with a Caucasian mother and an African-American father and suddenly all hell breaks loose.

Such moments remind us of the importance of commemorating decisions like Loving v. Virginia and that for all the ~~delusions~~ talk of a post-racial society, the world really isn’t made of sunshine and rainbows and we’ve got a lot of work to do, as a society, still.

In the Today Show segment above, one of the observations made is that interracial families are rarely portrayed on television, especially in advertising. As our nation becomes increasingly diverse, such a glaring absence of multicultural families in advertising and other media is decreasingly reflective of who we are as a society.

Art often reflects society. However, it also has the power to shape it. Diversity in art, such as movies, television shows and multicultural books isn’t just entertaining. It can also subtly shift our mindset. There is no shortage of multicultural art available, including multicultural and interracial romances penned by many of the authors taking part in the Loving Day Blog Hop. However, unless we raise the profile of diverse books and movies, few mainstream readers will ever see them. One of the many reasons #WeNeedDiverseBooks.

But that’s a post for another day. 😉

The LOVING DAY BLOG HOP, which celebrates the many shades of romance, kicks off at 9:00 am EST today and features posts by participating authors on a variety of topics surrounding interracial love/marriage, and of course the Lovings. They’ve also graciously donated free books, gift cards and swag to help us celebrate. So be sure to visit the next author along the stop.

Here at the Reese Ryan Diaries, I’m giving away digital copies of the two books in my Bad Boys Gone Good series: Love Me Not and Making the First Move. The stories feature heroines Jamie Charles and Melanie Gordon, both members of the diverse, non-traditional Gordon family.

To participate and enter to win great prizes during the Loving Day Blog Hop:

Leave a comment on this post to enter for a chance to win digital copies of both books in my Bad Boys Gone Good series: Love Me Not and Making the First Move.

Enter the Giveaway: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/74d7d71/

Go back to Loving Day Hop Master List

Go to the next stop on the hop and visit with Sydney Arrison.

The Shades of Romance

June 11, 2014 by ReeseRyan

Click the graphic below to go to my Loving Day Blog Hop post, Diverse Families and the Shades of Romance:

Go to: https://www.reeseryan.com/diverse-families-and-the-shades-of-romance/

Revisiting My Writing Process

June 2, 2014 by ReeseRyan

I accepted an open invitation from the lovely Carolyn Hughey to participate in a blog hop on my writing process. Yesterday kicked off JuNoWriMo and my attempt to complete two novels during the month of June. Seems like the perfect time to revisit my writing process.

To learn more about Carolyn, visit her writing process post on her blog at the link above and check out her bio below:

Carolyn Hughey/K. T. Roberts, who also writes mysteries has been a hair stylist, an executive legal secretary, a chef, and of course, a writer. She brings together her culinary experience and her love of writing in Dishing Up Romance, One Menu at a Time, and Catering to Love. When not practicing one of her many talents, she enjoys oil painting, jewelry making, and cake decorating. Hughey lives with her family in Arizona.

Now about my writing process:

What am I currently working on?

I have three novels (okay, four) at various stages of completion. I’m a little over 15,000 words into a jazz age historical romance set during the Harlem Renaissance. The idea came to me a little over a month ago, but scenes and dialog keep popping into my head, usually while I’m trying to sleep. I’m surprised at how quickly the story has been coming together.

Two other WIPs are additional books in my Bad Boys Gone Good series. The one I hope to finish during JuNoWriMo features Leslie Morales as the heroine. She was a secondary character in my debut novel, Making the First Move. I’m closing in on 50,000 words for that one. The other partial manuscript for that series features Kari Copeland as the heroine. Kari appeared in my second book, Love Me Not. She is the little sister of my LMN‘s hero, Miles Copeland.

The last WIP is a romantic thriller I started well over a year ago. I LOVE the story and I’m really excited about it. I could see it being part of a series. I hope to finish that one later this summer.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I think my Bad Boys Gone Good series falls at this weird cross between Contemporary Romance and Romantic Women’s Fiction. For me, the story can never be simply about the romance between the hero and heroine. I want to see all of the elements that make these characters who they are. That usually involves family. There is probably a lot more of the heroine and/or hero’s journey in my stories than you’ll find in a lot of romance. And there is always lots of family drama.

On the other hand, the heat level of the romance makes the books differ from most romantic women’s fiction. I’m kind of a genre-bending rulebreaker. But you probably couldn’t tell. 😉

Why do I write what I do?

I write a mash-up of contemporary romance and romantic women’s fiction because those are the kind of stories that I like to read. I always incorporate a robust cast of secondary characters because I need to get to know the hero and heroine beyond their dealings with each other. Also because I enjoy reading contemporary romance and women’s fiction with memorable secondary characters. Complicated family relationships tend to always be part of my stories because those are essential elements of two of my favorite books: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

How does your writing process work?

When I started writing fiction again a little less than ten years ago, I fancied myself a pantser. I was a rebel at heart (though rarely in real life). So my unspoken mantra was, I don’t need no stinking outline! However, several stalled manuscripts languishing under my bed unfinished caused me to rethink this strategy. Then I heard an interview with prolific author Kimberla Lawson Roby in which she talked about her detailed outlining process. I figured what did I have to lose by trying it. So I outlined a scene I’d been stuck in for months. It worked! Then I outlined the next scene and the next one. Before I knew it, I’d finished my first manuscript since I’d started to write again.

I’m still not a true plotter. I usually write a little bit of the story so that I can get a feel for my characters. Then I go back and write a synopsis of the story. I usually need to go back and make changes to the synopsis because the story and the characters often have other ideas in mind. Yet, that synopsis serves as a blueprint that lets me know which elements are essential and which can be sacrificed.

Something else I normally do at that point is to designate a birth date for each main character and create an astrological chart for them. This gives me tons of material to work with in terms of the character’s personality, their strengths and weaknesses. Next, I’ll complete character profiles by answering detailed questions about the characters. I love doing this because you discover so many wonderful secrets about the characters. It’s like really getting to know a casual acquaintance over a bottle of wine. On the other hand, it is a really detailed process. I’ll often put it off because it can be pretty time-consuming. Yet, it’s always worth it.

Summary: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of My Writing Process

I’ve learned a lot during my recent years of writing fiction. The discovery that I require some structure for my writing was of monumental importance. Without this information, I would probably have twenty incomplete manuscripts floating around with no hope of ever finishing them. I certainly wouldn’t have gotten published.

So why do I have four unfinished manuscripts now? A distracted mind and an over-committed schedule certainly lent to the problem. However, I’m discovering that I need to do a bit more planning during the early stages of the novel. I’m considering creating a detailed scene list before writing any future novels. I’ll still allow myself the latitude to follow the story in a different direction. Yet, most of the path will be laid out in great detail.

Lastly, the ugly truth is that during the last two quarters I’ve done precious little writing. I was consumed by any and everything else. My schedule was extremely busy, but the biggest issue was that I didn’t have any writing time planned. I’d just kind of hoped it would happen. Yeah, I can feel the eye rolls and the Bless your little hearts being launched my way. It was ridiculous of me. Right up there with believing that the entire world is made of sunshine and rainbows.

Okay, I do believe that the world is made up of sunshine and rainbows, but I’m working on that, too. 😉

Now, four lovely ladies have agreed to step up next to bat in this blog hop. Let’s meet them:

Adrienne Dunning lives in eastern North Carolina where she is very active in a local writer’s group. A writer of contemporary romance, she is currently in the process of publishing her debut novel and working on additional manuscripts. She likes her female characters to be a little cheeky, and her stories to reflect characters forging journeys to discover who they truly are and finding love along the way (of course!).

Laura Simcox, Author of the shiny, new release, Various States of Undress: Carolina, spent twenty years in professional theater as a costume designer, with a few of those years also spent as a college instructor, Laura abandoned the nomadic lifestyle to sit in a comfy pleather office chair at a beat up ginormous second hand oak desk and write. The result? Romance novels! Her favorite thing ever since she was, oh, about twelve. Laura lives in North Carolina with her husband (true love is real!) and her adorable, high energy four-year-old son who is currently obsessed with Curious George.

Carol A. Strickland, a one-time comics letterhack and outspoken member of various comics message boards, is an award-winning painter. Along with her writing, she exercises this skill in her secondary hours (both of them) as she waits for the lottery to free her 9-to-5 time to more fulfilling pursuits. Her latest release, Lost in the Stars, is the second book in her superhero romance saga, Three Worlds.

Ruth A. Casie is a seasoned professional with over twenty-five years of writing experience. After many years of writing communication and marketing documents for a large corporation, Ruth gave way to her inner muse, let her creative juices flow, and began writing a series of historical time travel romance novels. When not writing you can find her home in Teaneck, New Jersey, reading, cooking, doing Sudoku and counted cross stitch. Read her story, Second Chance by the Sea, in the anthology, Timeless Escapes.

Their posts will be up next week on Monday, June 9th. Please stop by and visit them.

14:365 Pen & Paper photo by Matt Beckwith. Some rights reserved.

Recommendations needed: Romance trilogy or series featuring the same couple

May 29, 2014 by ReeseRyan

I’m working on a historical romance set during the Harlem Renaissance. My original idea was to write a series featuring three different couples. To be honest, I’m still strongly inclined to follow through with that plan.

However, I’m exploring the possibility of going deeper into the story of how these two characters get together. To accomplish that, I considered revealing their love story over a series of three novellas. So, I’d like to read a few romance trilogies or series that feature a single couple and that are done especially well.

Sylvia Day’s Crossfire series has been recommended by several people, so I’m putting it at the top of my list. What other series would you recommend and why?

Also, I’d love to hear your opinion on this type of series.

Do you like this deeper exploration of a love story? Or does it drive you crazy and you’d rather have the romance wrapped up in a single novel?

My Theme Song for 2014 and Why I Won’t Be THAT Girl Anymore

May 16, 2014 by ReeseRyan

I know what you’re thinking: it’s a little late in the year to pick a theme song.

I realize that more than a third of the year is gone, but I respectfully disagree. It’s never too late. Besides, it takes time to find the perfect fit. Andy Mineo’s “You Can’t Stop Me,” a song in which the artist talks about being his own worst enemy and acknowledges his battle with self-doubt and potentially paralyzing fears, fits like a glove.

The song, and the artist, seem to get me. Better yet, the song doesn’t just commiserate with my nagging self-doubts and leave me with a sympathetic pat of the head. It serves as motivation to push past those fears. You can listen to my new theme song below.

Today I’m over at All Things Girl talking about how I discovered that I’d become that girl (the naysayer, the negative Nancy, the dream killer) in my life and what I plan to do about it. Earlier this week I had an intimate Conversation Over Cocktails conversation about the most courageous things I’ve done and how I feed my creativity.

And of course, you’ll find me on the Sulia Romance Channel where I blog five days per week.

I’d love it if you’d pop over to visit me at one of these places. 🙂

In the meantime, what is your theme song for the year? Feel free to share the YouTube link in the comments below.