Romance Writers Weekly ~ What you do when you're stuck ~ #LoveChatWrite

This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop we're asked, “What do you do when you're stuck in your writing?”

Ooh, this is such a good question! Generally, when I'm stuck it's due to one of a few things.  Either because I haven't thought out the story well enough--the only help for that is to go back to the drawing board, so to speak, and figure things out. Another common problem is that my characters aren't cooperating. That's usually because I'm trying to "tell" the story from the wrong point of view. The only way around that is to give the scene to someone else. Sometimes...the problem is that I'm about to make one (or more!) of my characters very unhappy; maybe even kill one of them off! That's never fun, but you just have to power through it. But I've continued to grieve some characters' deaths years after the fact. 

Occasionally, I'm stuck for a minor issue--I've lost the narrative thread. The best way around that is to start from the beginning (or some other convenient place) and read what I've written so far. Very often by the time I get to the place where I've ended the story, I find the problem has disappeared and I'm able to move on. 

Now, hop on over to Jenna Da Sie's page to find out what she does when she's stuck!

Also, happy Mardi Gras and Chinese New Year!

Games We Play: Boxed Set 1

Book a stay the Wild Geese Inn, where love is rekindled, friends become lovers, trust is rediscovered and the fun never ends! 

A quirky, family-owned resort on the Jersey Shore is the setting for this erotic, lightly paranormal series. Cousins Brenda, Luke and Gwyn are determined to turn their failing hotel business around. They have no time for love. They're in no mood for games. But it's not going to matter. Not when they're up against a handful of ghosts, a mischievous boggart, a family curse, and destinies written in stone.

The Games We Play trilogy. Three books that prove that holiday fun doesn't begin or end in December!

https://books2read.com/rl/GamesWePlayWildGeese

Musical Monday: The Way You Look Tonight (Frank Sinatra)

 

As we continue to explore songs for Clay and Allegra to dance to, here's an oldie. I don't think the song is their style (although the dance in this video would probably appeal to them). HOWEVER, this is the kind of song that Legs would think her uncle would find appropriate--because it's the kind of song that his parents might have danced to...although probably not at their wedding. 

Actually, maybe this would be better for her to dance to with her uncle? Hmm.

Romance Writers Weekly ~ Valentine's Day ~ #LoveChatWrite

This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop we're asked to: “It's almost Valentine's day. What does that mean to you and why?”

Ooh, that's another good question. I'll be honest, my husband and I have been together for a looonnng time. So, many years we exchange cards and maybe a token gift, and that's about it. Sometimes we'll stay home and make a special meal (we like cooking together) or order in. Some years, we'll dress up and go out for dinner. One of my favorite Valentine's Day dinners was at a little place called Kelly's in Paso Robles which is, sadly, no longer there. Of course, we're not there either so... I don't recall all the dishes but we had a yummy goat's cheese salad with dried cranberries to start, and lavender creme brulee for dessert.

I do enjoy setting stories around Valentine's Day.  ALL the characters in Sound of a Voice That is Still have Valentine's Days that...well, let's just say they fit the couples (at least it fit where they each were at that point in the series) so there was quite a range of experiences!

In Truth or Dare, my thruple enjoy two vastly different Valentine's Days together.

Many years ago, I wrote a piece of flash fiction that became the inspiration for today's featured story, Put a Ring Around the Rosie. 

Now, hop on over to Jenna DaSie's page to learn what she thinks of Valentine's Day. 

Put a Ring Around the Rosie 

February 14th is just another day...until it's not.

They say timing is everything, and that certainly has always been the case where Alex and I are concerned. We met nearly two years ago when he was hired to work at Cup of Joe, the coffee shop where I was already an old timer. It was lust at first sight, at least on my part, but I had a boyfriend then, and so did he. By the time we were both single and I’d worked out that he was bi, things between us had become complicated in so many other ways that it seemed much simpler and safer to just stay friends.

We were work spouses for a while, and then we weren’t. And when we reconnected with each other last month it was after a prolonged period of hurt feelings and miscommunication during which we barely spoke to each other at all. 

Now, even though our friendship’s caught fire, so to speak, I feel like we’re both still recovering from that last, disconnected phase. Heaping a bunch of unrealistic expectations, or a need for chocolate hearts, plush toys, or rose colored anything on top of that seems like a little too much added pressure. 

​https://books2read.com/RingRosie

Musical Monday: All of Me (John Legend)

 

Wedding dance music--yes or no? I can't decide on this one. The lyrics are perfect for Legs, but can you really dance to it? I mean, I guess you can, but it strikes me more as interpretive dance music than ballroom. Thoughts?

Wine Wednesday: Grape Creek 2022 Invention

 

So we're back to the cutesy names that say nothing. Invention is a mostly Petit Verdot--a varietal about which I know very little. It's a dry, full bodied, inky dark wine with cedar and cocoa powder on the nose (along with some eucalyptus, I think?) and an intense dark chocolate/dried cherry flavor. 

According to the website there are pronounced floral notes. I smell beetroot...but not in a bad way. There's a deep earthiness to it. The tannins in this wine are softer than a Zinfandel, but I think it would fill the same niche. Based on my interpretation of the description on the label, the Texas terroir elevates this grape in a way that put the label writer in mind of Michelangelo's work with marble. 

That might be overstating things. This is a good wine--very enjoyable. Which is good considering I have another bottle of it! I'd pair it with anything Tex-Mex.  

Romance Writers Weekly ~ WIPs! ~ #LoveChatWrite

This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop we're asked to: “Give us a sample of your WIP.”

Ooh, another easy one! So there are two books I'm sort of working on at the moment. The first is a follow up to last year's Que Sera Syrah (see below). 

If  you've read the two Christmas freebies (links to those are below, as well) you already know that all three of the Martinelli sisters got engaged. The Our Big, Fat, Napa Weddings anthology will release some time in June.

I don't have a blurb yet for my story--Nice Day for a Wine Wedding--but you can get a sneak peek of the cover HERE.

Legs wants a super big blowout of a wedding while Clay isn't sure he wants a wedding at all--can't they just quietly elope?--and that's before their respective families start adding to the confusion! It's so much fun to be back in Oak Creek Canyon, and I LOVE writing wedding stories, so I hope you'll save the date! 

You can read an excerpt HERE 

My second story is a continuation of my Celtic Legends series--it features a selkie and a former fisherman turned reclusive lighthouse keeper. It is, somewhat improbably, a light BDSM (heavy on the bondage, because fishermen know ALLLL about knots) And, as it turns out, I do have a blurb, which you can find HERE

You can read an excerpt of that one HERE. 

Now, hop on over to Jill Haymaker's page to find out what she's reading. And don't forget to check out her book, Mountain Hearts.

MOUNTAIN HEARTS

Two hearts damaged by grief are drawn together as kindred souls. To move forward they’ll have to face their pasts and lay their ghosts to rest. Can broken hearts dare to love again?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B5H9GW7

Meet the Martinelli Sisters!

Rosa, Bianca and Allegra Martinelli--three sisters who have just inherited a once-storied winery in the heart of Napa Valley. They’re living the dream, right? Not so fast!

As it turns out, not everybody is happy for le tre sorelle. And that includes their Uncle Geno who’d assumed the property would come to him.

There are hoops to jump through, barrels to get over, and a mountain of regulations they'll have to scale. But these sisters are crushing it—and we don’t just mean the grapes.

They’re making wine, falling in love, and working together to restore their inheritance to its former glory, one pour decision at a time. 

https://books.bookfunnel.com/POURDECISIONS

Musical Monday: Walk for Peace 2026 (Hemp the Artist)

 

Okay, I needed something inspirational, so here it is. And yeah...I got nothing else to say today. Om, shanti, shanti, shanti. Also, happy Imbolg.

Wine Wednesday: Heath Sparkling Wine 2021 Blanc de Blanc

So this is one of my favorite sparkling wines, atm. It's crisp and bright. It's a pale greenish gold color with a pronounced citrus/green apple aroma on the nose. It's dry, which I like and which sets it apart from a lot of the other Heath sparkling wines. I believe it's mostly Chardonnay, but it's not oaky or buttery in the least. There are hints of mild spice--something like nutmeg, perhaps? Which, along with the previously mentioned green apple notes puts me in mind of apple pie. 

This is the quintessential New Year's Eve toasting wine. It actually puts me in mind of the '22 Chardonnay from Arrington Vineyards in Tennessee that I sampled a couple of years ago. Only sparkly.

I imagine the Martinelli sisters will be discussing sparkling wines when they start planning their weddings in a couple of months--and I'm sure they'll all want their own, signature bubbly. But this would definitely be a great choice for one of them!

Romance Writers Weekly ~ What are you reading? ~ #LoveChatWrite

Our prompt this week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop is: “What are you reading right now and what’s on your TBR?”

Oh, this one is EASY! Currently I'm reading my daughter's book--listed below. It's not fiction, but it's extremely timely, given the upheaval in the world. If you're feeling any kind of grief or loss, I recommend it. 

Other than that, I've been revisiting books I've read numerous times, because I often find myself with very little mental bandwidth. I post weekly (every Wednesday) on what I'm reading over on my Oberon blog page so, if you want more details I suggest you check it out. 

Now, hop on over to Leslie Hachtel's page to find out what she's reading. And don't forget to check out her book, Follow Me.

FOLLOW ME

Harper Forbes embarks on a journey of a lifetime as she follows her friend to Scotland, only to discover that she, too, has been mysteriously transported back in time to the 1500s. In this unfamiliar and perilous world, Harper must navigate through dangers and challenges she never could have imagined. But amidst the chaos and uncertainty, she finds not only her friend but also a love that transcends time itself. What will fate have in store for her? Join Harper on an unforgettable adventure filled with romance, danger, and the timeless power of true love.

https://shorturl.at/DnYjN

Tend & Befriend

A Heart Opening Exploration of the Liminal

Chelsea Forte

A compassionate guide for those navigating sacred territory. the liminal space, the subtle space, the place between what is no longer and what is not yet.

Through somatic practices, reflective prompts, and frameworks rooted in psychology, neuroscience, and contemplative traditions, Tend & befriend invites you to befriend your shadow, cultivate loving awareness and expand your capacity to stand between grief and joy and be stretched wide by them. Return home to yourself better supported to navigate these tender places with presence, resilience, and compassion while opening to what wants to emerge.

Whether you're navigating loss, life transitions, or simply the exquisite ache of being human, this zine offers permission to feel fully, grieve deeply, savor small joys, and begin again with compassion.

A tender companion for anyone standing in the liminal.

https://books2read.com/TendBefriend

Musical Monday: Perfect (Ed Sheeran)

 

Soooo...here's another song I'm thinking would work out well for Allegra and Clay to dance to at their wedding. It's the lyrics. It's fucking perfect. Which kind of drives me crazy. I don't dislike it, but it's not my favorite. It was played entirely too much at a very difficult point in my life so now it low key skeeves me out. 

I think Legs would love it, however. 

Romance Writers Weekly ~ Winter Romance ~ #LoveChatWrite

Our prompt this week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop is: “Have you ever written (or plan to write) a romance set in the winter? If so, does it differ from a summer one? How?”

Okay, so that's THREE questions. And my answers are: Several. Sometimes. And, oof. That's complicated. How long do you have?

I'm going to use my very first winter-set book, Sound of a Voice That is Still as an example--in part because I wrote it intentionally to pair with a "twin" book--Touch of a Vanished Hand--which takes place six months later, in the middle of summer. 

While I don't think it's necessary to focus on the weather and/or the seasons, I have to admit that all the books in the Oberon series are very much grounded in those things--and the elements. There's a coldness at the heart of Sound and the overall theme is cold, wet, bleak. The story is set mostly at the beach and the weather is uniformly stormy. As are the characters' interactions with each other. It ends on a happy for now note--because spring is breaking at the end, and hope is the emotion of spring. 

Touch is fiery and lush. It's set amid vineyards. There are hot air balloons, festivals and explosions...and I think THREE (?) couples get their HEAs. 

Now, hop on over to Brenda Margriet's page and read her take on winter romances. And don't forget to check out her book, Loving Between the Lines.

Loving Between the Lines

A one-night stand neither will forget.

She wanted a final fling before choosing science to make her a single mom. He needed an escape from the regret grinding him into dust. Her baby isn’t his…but maybe family is more than DNA.

After a childhood being dragged around the continent by her musician parents, Lynn Kolmyn has stretched her roots deep into her chosen hometown. When her absconding fiancé screws up her careful plans, she decides to become a mother at almost forty, realizing the only person she can rely on is herself.

Benjamin Whitestone was the hometown hockey hero until a spectacular mistake led to failure and condemnation. No matter how hard he tries, he can’t seem to make it up to his parents, his teammates, or his fans. In a final bid to prove himself, he accepts a job coaching the junior team where he used to be a star, determined to rewrite history.

When Lynn and Benjamin collide—literally—they are both shocked to see the stranger from a single sensual night two years ago. Now the past tangles with the future…a future neither of them was expecting.

(Book Two in the Silverberry Seduction Seasoned Romance Series. Can be read as a standalone)

https://books2read.com/LovingBetweenTheLines

Sound of a Voice That is Still

Oberon, Book 3

Some wounds take a long time to heal, others never do.  Four months after being wounded in the line of duty, Ryan Henderson is beginning to fear that his is of the latter variety.  He's a patient man, but a poor patient.  As winter drags interminably on, he's growing desperate for distraction--anything that might take his mind off his injury, before he goes insane.

​ Siobhan Quinn could give the injured officer a lesson or two in living with pain.  It's been ten years since her life was changed and her heart critically wounded as a result of the tragic accident that robbed her of her family.  She knows firsthand how grief can cripple a soul and drive a sane mind over the edge. 

 Sometimes it seems like Spring will never come again.  Sometimes, the only alternative to living in inner darkness, is death.  Your own, or someone else's.  In the depths of winter, Ryan and Siobhan will have to make a choice: to help each other heal, or die trying.

Now available in print and digital formats

https://books2read.com/SoundVoice

Musical Monday: Can't Help Falling in Love (Kina Grannis)

 

As I mentioned last week, I'm working on a wedding story! I love planning weddings for my characters and part of that is planning the song they'll dance to. Here's one of the songs I'm thinking of. 

What do you think?

Romance Writers Weekly ~ Healthy Winter Meal ~ #LoveChatWrite

Our prompt this week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop is: “January is often when we reset our wellness goals. Share the recipe for a quick and healthy winter weather meal.”

Okay, this is really hard. There are so many delicious winter dishes and, honestly, I think anything you make with fresh, organic ingredients is going to be pretty healthy. But butternut squash soup--or pumpkin soup, or sweet potato soup--is one of my absolute favorites. Especially when served with a kale salad and a slice of fresh rosemary sourdough bread. 

Here's a vegan version made with green apple and coconut milk:

 https://immigrantstable.com/smooth-butternut-squash-soup-with-apple-and-coconut-milk/

Don't forget the pumpkin seeds (although I prefer mine raw). And nothing against thyme, but I also like to garnish mine with either rosemary or sage. 

Oh, and I think this wine would go nicely.

 https://rhymeswithforeplay.blogspot.com/2026/01/wine-wednesday-kendall-jackson.html

Now, hop on over to Jenna Da Sie's page to find out what healthy winter meal she recommends.

Winter Hearts

Tales of a Most Unusual Family

Philadelphia, 1870

As the world mourns the loss of brilliant inventor Dr. Charles Winter (known affectionately to his friends as the professor) most remain unaware of the great technical advances he had made in the areas of cloning, artificial intelligence and mechanical life-forms. Sadly, this ignorance of so much of his most far-reaching and astonishing work extends even to the professor's own family, which includes his four adult children, the product of his marriage to the late Millicent Pearson Winter. 

The younger Winters are quirky and independent, dedicated to social justice, rational science and intellectual achievement. Inculcated from earliest childhood with their mother's Quaker beliefs and their father's dedication to progress, the four siblings are tireless in their pursuit of whatever personal goals they happen to set for themselves. 

At the time of their father's death, the siblings had yet to discover the fact that their supposed half-sister, Ophelia, was not the result of their father's infidelity as they'd long supposed. 

This ignorance precipitated a crisis for Ophelia, as is documented in the series prequel, This Winter Heart. 

https://bookfunnel.com/WinterHeart

Musical Monday: Don't Dim Your Light for Anyone (Thea Gilmore)

 

So, I'm trying to work on a new POUR DECISIONS story--all about Clay and Allegra's wedding! Here's one of the songs from the playlist I put together--it's what I listen to while writing, to put me in the right mood. 

I love these characters so much, and I feel like this is a message they both need to hear. 

Wine Wednesday: Kendall Jackson Chardonnay

I wish I could remember what I paired this wine with, but it's been a little while, and I don't. But it's one of those wines that makes my husband say, "I really like white wine so much more than red wine." 

I love red wine, but I know what he means. This is a very nice wine. It has hints of lemon blossom and honeydew on the nose. It's crisp (I'm guessing stainless steel, rather than oak) with a bright nectarine/cantaloupe flavor. Maybe a little papaya. 

Romance Writers Weekly ~ Goals for 2026 ~ #LoveChatWrite

This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we're asked, "What are you looking forward to in the new year, personal and/or professional? What are your author goals?"

So, let's talk about books. I finished up last year with a few POUR DECISIONS holiday releases. Two stories are free, and you can check out those links below. Currently, I'm working on a new POUR DECISIONS story--a wedding story. Because, that's right, the Martinelli sisters are getting married. You can find a few details--and a couple of new covers here: https://www.pgforte.com/pour-decisions

After that, I hope to wrap up a new edition to the Celtic Legends series--SELKIE for an anthology that releases in 2027. The blurb for that one is here: https://www.pgforte.com/celtic-legends

I'll also be working with Kate Davies and Kelly Jamieson on ANOTHER Pour Decisions Christmas story. And if everything goes according to plan, I might even manage to finish one of the many holiday stories I have in the works. Fingers crossed. 

And...that's about it. 

Now, hop on over to Leslie Hachtel's page to find out what she's got going in 2026! And don't forget to check out her book, Once Upon a Tablecloth.

Once Upon a Tablecloth

Nick Jordan acquires failing restaurants, then makes them prosperous. But when Lily Mercer called him for help, he didn't count on falling in love. Or that someone wants to kill her.

And with so many obstacles and threats, will they ever find their happily ever after?

https://amzn.to/3gDu85M

Meet the Martinelli sisters: Rosa, Bianca and Allegra. These partners in wine have just inherited a once-storied winery in the heart of Napa Valley. They’re living the dream, right?

 

Not so fast! Because, as it turns out, not everybody is happy for them. And that includes their Uncle Geno who’d assumed the property would come to him.

 

There are hoops to jump through, barrels to get over, and a mountain of regulations they'll have to scale. But the sisters are crushing it—and we don’t just mean the grapes. They’re making wine, falling in love, and working together to restore their inheritance to its former glory, one pour decision at a time.

Click this  link to purchase the trilogy, Le Tre Sorelle. Or to download our two Christmas freebies!

https://books.bookfunnel.com/POURDECISIONS

Musical Monday: Daydream Believer (The Monkees)

 

Okay, this one's really old. And there's no real reason for it other than it happened to come on when I was listening to something else so...here ya go. Welcome to the sounds of my childhood. lol