Topic Needed

Happy July, everyone! 

Yesterday, when I started plotting what I'd write here today, Tuesday felt like a weekend day.  Why?  I'm not sure--especially since, as a writer, I don't really get weekends or holidays off.  Even so, I let my mind swirl around possible blog topics for today--and really didn't zero in on one. 

I could have focused on my continuing project of baking some samples of the dog treats whose recipes I hope to include in my next Barkery & Biscuits Mystery.  But other things have kept me from working on that regularly.   

My class on Kiss Me or Kill Me: Writing Cozy Mysteries 101 for Romance Writers has been going well.  It has passed the halfway point, and I check for responses to homework assignments a couple of times a day.  Not everyone participates, but it's fun corresponding with those who do. 

I'm currently drafting my third Superstition Mystery, so plotting and writing remain in my schedule.  Then there've been some family and car related things going on that take up brain power and energy, so my writing progress is currently slower than I prefer. 

Plus, my long-time webmistress is retiring so I'm looking around for a replacement.  I have several leads but need to spend more time following up on this, too.  If you have any suggestions, please pass them along! 

We're making plans to hopefully be with friends for fireworks on the Fourth of July, but that may depend largely on traffic and parking that evening. 

And did you enjoy our leap second?   It occurred at 8 PM last night eastern time, so it was 5 PM here in LA.  It didn't change my schedule, though. 

So... I've done a lot of writing here about not having something to write about.

Anything you'd like to hear me blog about next time?

Surrounded by Romance

Happy Fourth of July, everyone!  It’s so great to be celebrating the birth of our wonderful country.  I’m looking forward to seeing a myriad of fireworks displays in the San Fernando Valley tonight from my upstairs balcony. 

Are you intrigued by the title of my blog post today?  Well, let me explain.  I’m talking about romance novels.  I love ‘em, and write them along with my also beloved mysteries.

 I just turned in a manuscript revision for my next Harlequin Nocturne, UNDERCOVER WOLF--a paranormal romance in my mini-series about Alpha Force, a covert military unit of shapeshifters.  The stories are getting longer, so I expanded my manuscript accordingly. 

 This month is also the debut of my first Harlequin Romantic Suspense: UNDERCOVER SOLDIER.  As I’ve said before, I’m undercover a lot lately!

 And some good news?  I’ve been offered contracts on two more Nocturnes, plus one more Romantic Suspense! 

 So, yes, I’m surrounded by romance.  So are my Pet Rescue Mysteries.  In between all those Harlequins, I’ll also be writing another of Lauren Vancouver’s adventures, plus her next story, OODLES OF POODLES, will be a February 2013 release. 

I anticipate being nice and busy.  In fact... time for me to stop writing this blog entry and get back to the Nocturne that’s due next!

Oh, and BTW, on the romance theme?  My DH has been helping me with some technical issues in that Nocturne.  Isn’t that romantic?

Do you like reading and/or writing in multiple genres?  Which are your favorite, and why?

Dogs and the Fourth

I’m back! I had a wonderful time at the Romance Writers of America National Conference last week. I’ve got some of my thoughts about it posted on another blog--A Slice of Orange at http://occsliceoforange.blogspot.com/. It’s the blog of the Orange County Chapter of RWA, where I post on the 6th of every month--like today. A twofer!

Rather than repeat what I said there, I’ll talk here about how much fun it was to get home and back to my husband and dogs. My husband was glad to have me back, too, since he’d been the only one at the dogs’ bark and call for a few days.

Now, they’re back to taking turns demanding to go outside. Usually, one of us obliges, and then at least one of them usually makes a showing of using the outside as their bathroom facilities. My husband calls it “maximization of treats” since both get a treat if either produces.

On the Fourth of July, we stayed home this year to watch fireworks from our upstairs balcony. We could see at least 15 fireworks displays across the San Fernando Valley, plus the closest, really spectacular ones in Burbank. We left the dogs in the familiar environment of our kitchen but they still barked intermittently at the sound of the firecrackers, especially when the booms and crackles first started.

We talked to a neighbor yesterday who said that her Doberman had spent the evening in the bathtub to feel secure during all the noise.

What do your pets do during the Fourth of July? Do the sounds of fireworks freak them out?

Happy Fourth of July!

This year we're starting a new tradition--Fourth of July at our house on the beach. As befits a new tradition, we made a few purchases. Ahem. David bought a honking big barbecue grill. I mean this thing is so big it needs its own Florida license plate or it'll get pulled over on the highway. Before David came down, I bought a teeny tiny grill, but I'll admit, it wasn't up to the job of feeding our entire crew. (We're planning for 14 people.) But now that we proudly own the Mothership of All Grills, or MAG for short, I'll pass leetle beety grill to my sister.

Also on the new tradition docket will be the first annual Slan-Hutts-Campbell Yatzee Tournament. Otherwise known as the Grandma Marge Memorial Yatzee Show Down. Of course, none of us can cheat like Grandma used to--and I doubt that I could keep a straight face while saying, "I must have added wrong" twenty million times. But we'll do our best in the spirit of Grandma Marge!

No tradition would be complete without food. My brother-in-law Mike is an excellent cook, so we've named him honorary Grill God. David will be Grill God in Training. I'll make my watermelon salad and a fruit salad, but my sister Meg will bring the Strawberry and Spinach Salad. Here's the recipe:

STRAWBERRY and SPINACH SALAD

1 pkg. fresh spinach
1 pint strawberries, sliced (or more berries)
1/2 onion, chopped
3 T. sugar
3 T. water
2 T. white vinegar
1/2 T. dry mustard
1/4 c. oil

Rinse spinach, remove stems and dry. Tear into bite-size pieces and place in bowl. Add strawberries. In small bowl, combine onion, sugar, water, vinegar and mustard. Gradually whisk in oil. Drizzle dressing over salad and toss to coat.

ENJOY!

What's your Fourth of July Tradition? Any cool recipes you always make? DISH!

Recipe for a Fabulous Fourth--Watermelon Salad

All week long, the Killer Hobbies Blog Sisters will be sharing their favorite picnic worthy recipes. Yum! I'm leading off with a juicy treat:

Watermelon Salad

3 cups of cubed seedless watermelon

2 T. raspberry vinaigrette salad dressing (Newman's Own)

2 T. unsalted sunflower seeds

2 T. blue cheese (crumbled)

Put watermelon in large bowl. Pour vinaigrette dressing over the cubes and toss. Mix in sunflower seeds and blue cheese. Salt to taste.

**

I grew up in a small town called Vincennes, Indiana, which was known as the "Watermelon Capital of the World." The first thing every resident had to learn was how to spell the town name. We did it with a rhyme: v-i-n/ c-e-n/ n-e-s.

Do you love watermelon? Growing up, I recall a watermelon festival in the summers. Oh, how I loved the sweet, ripe fruit, and the feel of the juices dripping down our arms on a hot summer day.

Today, you might have heard about Vincennes because they have another use for watermelons. Each New Year's Eve, they drop watermelons 100 feet to mark the New Year. Last year, they dropped ten melons. My best friend from Lincoln High School (in Vincennes) told me it was a hoot.

I'm feeling awfully partial to my old hometown these days because I just received a very special invitation. I've been invited to serve as the Grand Marshal for the Christmas parade. Next time you see me, be sure to ask me to show off my "wave" technique. (I've been practicing.) My dictionary says a parade marshal is someone who is an honoree and usually rides in front of the parade in a vehicle. Hmmm. Or maybe on Santa's lap?

Just when I was thinking life couldn't possibly get any better, my husband came home with the news that we're supplying the Steinway grand for the 4th of July celebration on the National Mall. Imagine fireworks with our national monuments as a backdrop. I can't wait!

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WINNER OF FREE COPY OF PHOTO, SNAP, SHOT:

Sarah S. of Sandwich, Illinois