Memories

Today would've been my mother's 93rd birthday. She passed away in 1997, so there won't be a birthday celebration or party today. She isn't the only loved one I've lost. My father passed away in 1975, my oldest sister in 1998, my husband in 2004, my brother in 2006.

Being the baby of my family, I've lost many relatives over the years, some I barely knew since they were so much older than I. There's always sadness to lose a loved one, but memories keep them alive in my heart.

I have many memories of loved ones, but certain ones come to my mind first when I think of someone. My mother made this incredible chocolate gravy. Yes, chocolate gravy! She'd make it for supper sometimes and serve it over buttered biscuits. Not the healthiest meal, but so good.

My father whistled. I'd be in my bedroom, working on homework, and I'd hear him whistling while he came down the hall toward my room. He'd pop in every evening to check on me. I think he wanted to be sure his baby was okay.

My sister was twelve years my senior. She married a career Navy man when I was eight and they lived all over the world, so I didn't get to see her very much. I remember her smile most of all. She had beautiful teeth and our father's blue-gray eyes. Her face would light up when she smiled. Plus she gave great hugs.

My brother called me Squirt, which was appropriate since I'm 5'3" and he was 6'1". He was sixteen years my senior. He'd tease me when I was a kid by putting his hand on my forehead and holding me in place while I tried to hit him. I'd end up laughing along with him.

My husband loved to fish. Boy, did he love to fish! He went almost every day, so we always had plenty of fish to eat. He loved to cook, so I didn't have to do anything with the fish except eat it, which I happily did. He was an artist and created acrylic paintings, pencil drawings, and ceramics. "Always" was his favorite song to sing around the house. I can't hear it without thinking of him.

I treasure the loved ones I still have in my life. My sister is the best sister in the world. I have beautiful nieces and handsome nephews. I have stepchildren and step-grandchildren who are so special. I have wonderful friends, including all of the Sizzling Scribes.

I'm creating new memories every day. They make me smile and cheer me when I'm sad. They're all precious, and something I'll have forever.

Do you have a special memory of a loved one? Share it with me.

Lynn

Getting Ready For Another Self-Pubbed Book!

Good Sunday afternoon!

I’m excited for this week because I just finished the last edit of my next self-pubbed titled, SUNDAY LOVE. I plan to tend to all the many details of getting the book up and running by the end of this week.

I’m sure some of you have already heard about the joint erotic series that my author group, the Sizzling Scribes, have been working hard on. But for those of you who haven’t, I belong to a very talented and diversified group of authors who write erotic romance.

About a year ago we were all talking on line, something we do nearly on a daily basis, and brainstormed an idea that blossomed to a joint series called The Sweet Spot Series. We came up with a fictional town called Port Clef, Connecticut and two characters who are in every story. We even have a map of the city so when we’re writing our stories, we have exact locations. After some time, Port Clef has become real to me. I’ve walked the city streets, enjoyed the ocean and definitely enjoyed The Sweet Spot Shop’s chocolate chip cookies!

Okay, back to reality, Ruby. I decided to write a gay love story, multicultural in nature and boy, are my guys a couple of hotties (Note cover and you'll see why!) I love their tale and the pitfalls they overcome. I hope you’ll love the story, too, along with all the other books in the Sweet Spot Series. There’s a little something for everyone’s taste in reading.

Just to let you know, Lynn LaFleur’s CANDLELIGHT WISH is the first book up in the series and is currently for sale. I’m excited to list the entire list of contributed series books below:

Candlelight Wish by Lynn LaFleur

Candygram by Tara Nina
Cat Scratch Fever by Arianna Hart
Tied To Home by Diana Hunter
Storm Surge by Cait Miller
Sunday Love by Ruby Storm
Three’s the Charm by Tielle St. Clare

Check our website for more information:  http://sizzlingscribes.com/sweet_spot.htm

So keep a look out toward the end of the week and check out SUNDAY LOVE! Thanks to everyone who read my books!

 

Have a wonderful week!

Ruby

Hectic Life of a wannabe Author

My dream is to be a real, full-time author. But life, bills and overall day to day adventures seem to slow me down. As I write this, I am planning the rest of my day. 1st: finish this blog. 2nd: start a load of laundry. 3rd: do the dishes. 4th: clear rest of day to do edits for my story in EC's Something Wicked This Way Comes III anthology.
I spent the better part of the early morning updating my website. Boy, that was behind the times.

I added 2 new covers. One I didn't know was available. Silken Seductions which releases in November, 2012. http://www.jasminejade.com/p-10379-silken-delights.aspx
I also added the cover for the most recent novel (book 4) in the Cursed MacKinnon series. This book is in edits and I don't have a release date as of yet.

Is it wrong to hope to win the lottery? I don't want millions. Just enough to pay off my debt so I can stay home and write. Writing keeps me sane. It's my way of letting the voices out of my head. Instead to doing what they say, I tell their stories for them so they don't take over and make me do naughty things. LOL!

Is there something you'd rather be doing on a daily basis?
Please let me know that I'm not alone in this pursuit of happiness and sanity.
Share your fantasy :)
Tara Nina
www.taranina.com
Hot Romance~Sexy Attitude

Who's got your back?

Happy Labor Day Weekend to all of my American friends!

This Labor Day, my very good friend Leigh Wyndfield (www.leighwyndfield.com) came up from south of the Mason Dixon line to visit me for a long weekend. Leigh and I met at my very first Romantic Times Convention in New York City in 2004. We immediately hit it off and have become great friends.

Writing is a very solitary endeavor. Often, a writer is alone with her characters and no one else for company. Having writing groups is a huge support. Having a friend who is a writer and "gets" what you are talking about is a godsend.

I have been very lucky to have fantastic writing friends. I have my Sizzling Sisters who have supported me through my daughter's cancer (she's in her second year of remission WOOT!) my father's death, moving, and going back to work full time. They understand when I disappear for weeks at a time and then come back saying "can anyone read this?" Without their support, I don't know if I would have ever written WAKING UP.

Just like an athlete needs to have a coach and support team, so too does a writer. If your world at home is falling apart, it's very difficult to write a happily ever after. Having a husband and children who are willing to
A.) Leave you alone so you can write and B.) eat leftovers for three days straight so you can finish something is incredibly helpful.

Writing friends are like coaches, they are there for you to kick you in the pants when things get rough. They force you to ignore the rejection/bad review/massive edits and get back to work. Unlike coaches, they don't mind answering random questions and don't blink when you ask, "can I kill someone by overdosing them on insulin?"

To sum up this rather random blog, I have to say I've been blessed with wonderful friends and a very understanding family. Writing may be a solitary venture, but with good friends at your back, you're never alone.