Romance Writers Weekly ~Do Your Characters Surprise You? ~ #LoveChatWrite

This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop we're asked, “Do your characters ever surprise you? Talk about plots you have fallen into by luck.”

OMG, do they ever! All the bloody time. I think the most egregious example is still Cara Matthews from the Oberon series. Cara first appears in book four. She's the ex-girlfriend of the hero and heroine's son--obviously a very minor character. IIRC, she's in all of one scene. 

She resurfaced briefly in book five as an example of her ex, Seth, falling back into bad company, and then assumes a bigger role (albeit still a supporting one) in book seven.

Book four was supposed to have been the end of it. Book seven absolutely should have been. In fact, I wrote a perfectly lovely scene where she and Seth (who were never destined to end up together) finally resolve their issues and part company.

And then...

The villain of book eight made an unscheduled appearance at the end of book seven. He took one look at Cara and decided on the spot that he wanted her as the heroine of "his" book. In hindsight, that was actually a good idea. However, as a result, book eight blew up into a huge, ungodly mess and I had to shoehorn Cara and Liam back into book nine in order to give them their HEA. Which, apparently, wasn't as EA as some readers wanted, so I brought them back yet again for a sequel novella, Sea Change. 

I was going to offer the Halloween novella, Hungry Heart, for free this week, because it has a forward penned by the aforesaid villain but the book is available through Kindle Unlimited, which means I can't give it away anywhere else. So I made the Forward available as an excerpt. You can read that here: 

https://www.PGForte.com/excerpt-forward-from-hungry-heart

Enjoy! And now, hop on over to Leslie Hachtel's page now to learn about how her characters have surprised her. And don't forget to check out her book, Come Back to Me

Come Back to Me

What would you do if you could go back in time to find your soulmate? For Skye Blaine, the answer is clear: she would do whatever it takes to be with the one she loves. Follow her as she travels through time in search of her heart's desire, finding that the path to true love is never easy, but always worth it. Will she find her happy ending? This page-turning story of love, sacrifice, and courage is sure to captivate and inspire. Don't miss out on this unforgettable journey through time!

https://amzn.to/3thW8BR

The Celtic Legends Series

Steamy Historic Romantasy set in 19th century Ireland

 IRON

 When an immortal, shape-shifting fae, arrives on his doorstep, Gavin O’Malley knows he's in luck. Aislinn Deirbhile can give him everything he's been missing: A devoted-seeming wife in the image of his beloved Mairead, and children who are sure to outlive their father. And all he has to do is find a way to keep her—without losing his immortal soul in the process. 

OAK

 Twice each year, Aine Murphy ventures into the woods to hold ceremonies to honor the Oak King and the Holly King, never dreaming these Lords of the Forest could be anything more than myth. When the legends spring to life in front of her, how can she help but fall for the sexy demi-gods she's loved all her life?

https://www.PGForte.com/celtic-legends

Musical Monday: The 'I Feel Like I'm Fixing to Die' Rag (Country Joe and the Fish)

Well, I had a different song planned for today, but then Joe McDonald died. And honestly, given the state of the world, this probably fits better. I learned the words to this song on the playground of my elementary school. Yes, I am that old. 

Wine Wednesday: Duckhorn 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon

 

So this is one of the wines I received for my birthday. It has a nice nose--blueberry compote, spiced fruits and hints of violet and cedar wood. It's a DARK burgundy color, medium tannins, not much in the way of legs. The taste is lush, with a lingering, peppery finish. It tastes of cocoa, currant and tart cherry. 

It's very good, but yet again, here's a wine that I'd rather drink on its own than pair with food. If I had to pick a meal to eat with it, I honestly think I'd go with a really good, char-broiled burger with goat cheese and bacon jam. 

Romance Writers Weekly ~ How to Warm Up ~ #LoveChatWrite

This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop the question we're asked is, “It's still cold. How do you warm up?”

Well, to be honest, it's not all that cold here, at the moment, but we did have a pretty intense cold spell a few weeks ago and mostly I just stayed inside. 

I coped with the cold by making soup, taking hot baths, and baking. Nothing warms you up like a cup of tea and a slice of Irish Soda Bread fresh from the oven. I curled up under my electric blanket and read. And I exercised. I have a stationary bike and a rebounder--they saw some action. I guess I could have indulged in some hot yoga, as well, but that would have required leaving the house. 

 Anyway, hop on over to Jill Haymaker's page now to find out how she keeps warm. And don't forget to check out her book, Montana Pines Spring Forward: Time Moves On!

Montana Pines Spring Forward: 

Time Moves On

A heartwarming romance that will leave you cheering for love to conquer all obstacles.

What Colby Harte didn’t ask for at Christmas was his wife to empty their bank accounts and leave him and his eight-year-old daughter, Emma, a few days before the holiday. At a loss as to how to move on, he takes a new teaching job in the tiny Montana mountain town of Pine Meadows. A new start may be just what they need.

Cheyenne Wilde loves her job at the Pine Meadows Resort in her hometown. The trouble is she’s just turned thirty and can feel her biological clock ticking away. She’s never met a man who made her want to settle down. That all changes when Colby Harte walks into her bar.

When their friendship, built on her desire to help Colby and his daughter adjust to a new environment, begins to turn into something more, the fact that he’s still not technically divorced looms over both of them. Can either of them feel safe acting on the passion that flares between them? Just when they decide to take a chance, the return of Colby’s missing wife threatens to bring it all crashing down. But sometimes love wins.

FIND YOUR HOME IN PINE MEADOWS, MONTANA WHERE EVERYONE FEELS LIKE FAMILY.

https://www.amazon.com/Montana-Pines-Spring-Forward-moves-ebook/dp/B0C4K

FREE DOWNLOAD

I'm celebrating my birthday by making Waiting for The Big One free this week. 

Get it while you can!

WAITING FOR THE BIG ONE

LA Love Lessons 1.0

One girl, two guys and a quest for ultimate satisfaction.

Aspiring actress Gabby Browne refuses to consider her best friend, and personal trainer, Derek Novello for the role of soul mate fearing sex will ruin their beautiful friendship. When she meets Zach, she's convinced that he could be The One. Too bad Derek isn't willing to share-leaving Gabby forced to choose between two sexy co-stars.

An early morning earthquake provides Gabby with the impetus she needs to stop waiting for the stars to align and finally cast her leading man.

Musical Monday: Rewrite the Stars (Zac Efron and Zendaya)

  

Okay. I think this might be it. Forget the other options. This is the perfect first dance song for Allegra and Clay. Even more perfect than Perfect--lol--because I love it too. 

I don't even have to be a Bridezilla to think it should all be about ME. lol! 

I mean, yes, it will have to be an instrumental version, because it really doesn't work on a lyrical level. But maybe that's a me problem more than a Clagra problem. (It's gotta be Clagra, right? Because the other option would be Allay and I just can't see that working.) 

Romance Writers Weekly ~ Non-Writing Time ~ #LoveChatWrite

This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop we're asked, “When you are not writing, how do you spend your time?”

Oh, I like this. MOSTLY I spend a lot of time caring for my grandson or ferrying him to and from school. I also try and do an hour of yoga every day. I spend A LOT of time reading. Other than that, the majority of my time is spent hanging with my friends and family, cooking, shopping. Oh, and charging my car. I spend A LOT of time doing that. 

Ooh. One last thought. I also spend a lot of time creating graphics and coming up with (hopefully) cool giveaways, like the free download offer below. Please check it out, but then...

 Hop on over to Leslie Hachtel's page to find out how she spends her non-writing time. And don't forget to check out her book, Bound to Morocco!

Drugged and kidnapped, Lady Shera finds herself on a ship to Morocco to serve the Sultan. Abandoned and alone, Shera must find a way to escape and confront the people who betrayed her. She gets help from an unlikely source: the man who kidnapped her. They find they need each other. But when their partnership turns to love, the two must face constant danger to endure. But will they ever be free?

https://amzn.to/3FNnEKH

FREE DOWNLOAD

Year of the Rabbit (Urban Affairs)

It was the year of the rabbit, and someone had the brilliant idea to get a bunch of authors together and have them write rabbit-themed short stories in celebration of  the event. 

 Everyone who signed up to participate received a randomly generated set of three characters; three adjectives with which to describe said characters; a setting; an opening line; and a line of dialogue that had to be worked into the story somewhere. 

​My characters were Doc, a drunk veterinarian; Jim, an anxious bounty hunter; and Candy, a picky stripper. My setting was a Hollywood Premier party. And my line of dialogue was, “Why don’t you take off your shirt?”

​This was the result…

https://tinyurl.com/Yr-of-the-Rabbit

Musical Monday: Strangers in the Night (Frank Sinatra)

 

Okay, I think this would be a better Frank Sinatra first dance song for Clay and Allegra. Lyrically, it fits them much better than The Way You Look Tonight. But do I really want TWO Sinatra songs?  I'm thinking that might be a bit much. 

 

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