A challenge has been issued by S.C. Mitchell: create a flash fiction of a romantic scene.

I love the beach, I love the woods, I love anything that means I get to spend time away from distractions to connect with nature. So here's my take on this challenge.

Salty air stung her eyes and the wind whipped her hair against her face. Though the sun was high overhead, the cold crept up the sleeves of her jacket, slapped her cheeks. From the bluffs, the limestone stacks rose like guardians protecting the land from the encroaching seas. Isolated and severe, what kind of man brings a woman here for a first date?
A thoughtful, attentive kind. Shauna smiled and squeezed Giovanni's hand tighter. The philosophy professor had brought her coffee, then lunches for two solid weeks before asking her out. She hadn't been surprised when he'd asked her for lunch but had felt a bit put out when he'd refused to tell her where he was taking her but it was oh so worth it. Her rock hound colleagues at William and Mary would be so jealous. Nothing excited geologists quite like huge rock formations. Add in a sexy Italian and it was going to be a memorable day.

Time to meet Leslie Hachtel who I can guarantee will have a fantastic romantic scene!

Welcome, visitors hopping from Leslie Hachtel's blog.

This week our questions comes from Jenna Da Sie:
"Would you rather?" questions.
I wonder if her kids have the same game/books mine do because this game can make for a long (and I mean interminable) road trip! Especially if your answer is followed up with "Why?"

3) Would you rather talk like Yoda or breathe like Darth Vador?
Talk like Yoda! (A secret? My kids and I do that sometimes anyway.)

4) Would you rather have the ability to fly or read minds? 
Oh, for sure to read minds. Imagine how much drama you could avoid if you knew what was on someone's mind. Wouldn't have to wonder if the kids were telling the whole truth. (Thankfully my kids are terrible liars, but everyone has the capacity to lie by omission!)

So, how about you? Would you rather live on a tropical island or NY penthouse suite? Leave me a comment and tell me why if you wish. No pressure!
​
Time to mosey on to the next author, the amazing A. S. Fenichel. 

Welcome to my site, Making Romance Magical! If you've joined me from Gemma Brocato's site, I'm sure you enjoyed her piece. If you missed her, be sure to hop back. She's awesome!
This week we are challenged to write a short story of 300 words or less based on this gif.

This is from a work-in-progress I started years ago, but I love the chemistry so much between the characters that I dug up the manuscript, stripped the scene down to bare bones to get it to 301 words. I love Jake (former naval officer who now owns a bookstore in the Keys). A man accustomed to violence who chooses a life filled with books, friends, and relaxation, a real Renaissance man. A hero in every way.

           Jake was way out of Brooke’s league. And dating him would break rules three and seven: five years younger and he had facial hair.

            Dark hair shorn short but stylish with a perfectly trimmed goatee lent a dangerous edge to the handsome bookstore/coffee shop owner. His gaze settled on her, making her reconsider how deeply in stone her rules were etched.

            Business slowed and he joined her at her table. Heat raced through her and her pulse stuttered with the rub of his thumb over the back of her hand. 

            “Have dinner with me tonight.”   

            Just like that, the rules crumbled to dust along with her power of intelligent speech.

            She shucked off her nagging insecurities. “Okay.”

            “Okay what?’

            “Okay, I’ll have dinner with you.”  She laughed, more relaxed. “When and where?”

            “Seven.  I’ll pick you up.” 

            “I’d just as soon meet you wherever we’re eating.”

            “So you can dump me if it doesn’t work out?”

            “You know me so well.”

            “Not as well as I’d like to.”  He leaned toward her, his breath caressing her chin. His mouth hovered a whisper from her lips. He dropped a kiss, delicate as a butterfly, at the corner of her mouth, drew back. She forgot to breathe.  Shivers ran down her spine when his fingertips stroked her jaw, trailed down her neck.         

            Dragging in a breath, she could do no more than stare into his molten brown eyes. Another butterfly kiss brushed her brow and broke her from her reverie.

            Unable to keep the lingering doubt at bay,  she blurted, “Why do you want to go out with me?”

            “I like you.  I like spending time with you.  You’re sweet, smart, intuitive. You have a sexy body and soft lips.  And I want to drown in your eyes while we make love.”



Whew! Taking a moment to cool off with ice water. Keep on hopping to J R Richardson, writer of contemporary, paranormal, mystery, thriller. Ah, hell, if it's some sort of romance, chances are she's writing it. And beautifully!

Welcome to everyone joining me from Victoria Barbour's blog. If you missed her, hop back when you're done here. 
Ever wonder what's going on inside the head of a romance writer? Wonder no more. You've landed in the midst of romance authors who are happy to give you a sneak peek into their writing lairs.
This week's questions come from Beth Carter:





1.What’s your favorite aspect of novel writing? Dialogue? Setting? Conflict? Narration? Explain.

It's none of the above. The best part of novel writing is the relationships. It's the healing of a wounded soul or transformation from zero to hero. It's falling in love or rediscovering that lost lover. The words. the sentence structure, the story elements are the frame for the beauty of the characters and their struggle. It's my job and my pleasure to translate their stories from mental movie into written text on the page.

3.I’m a big six-word memoir fan. (Hemingway even wrote one.) Describe your writing day using just six words.

Never enough time to write alone.

As a wife who works full time and mother of two tween girls, there is never enough time to write. I know it sounds weird, but I'd love to win the lottery so I could stay home and write full time.

So ends these three answers from me. Don't stop now, hop on over to see what answers the talented A.S. Fenichel has in store for you. 

What are romance writers really like? Do they lock themselves in their bedrooms and read romance novels while eating bon-bons? Do they troll bars, observing native mating rituals? Or are they normal folks with the usual stress, family and work issues? All of the above, though I'd prefer more of the first.
Welcome if you've joined me from Ronnie Allen's blog and this week's questions are hers.

1.When do you decide that you've done enough editing and changes would now be making it different, not better? So it's the time to submit.

After my critique group reviews and provides feedback, I make changes. Most of their suggestions are valid and may cover plot holes, inconsistency with characterization and "just not right". Anything that pulls the reader out of the story requires fixing or tweaking. One more level of edits to add sensory details and it's off.

2. When and how do you accept change advice by rejection letters and critique partners?

Most of the time they are right. Can't think of a time when they haven't been right. My critique partners are tough but not ruthless in their critiquing. I am blessed with amazing critique partners I trust implicitly. When I received a rejection letter, it was for the "baby" (my first novel). It took a while for me to read the actual notations in the manuscript. They editor was correct, of course, so now, as an older and wiser writer I'm reworking it. The "baby" deserves to have the story told well.

3. When you're not writing, how do you spend your day or do you create your day around your writing?

As a full time employee, wife and mother of two girls, I cannot create my day around writing. That would be ideal, naturally, however at this time, unrealistic. If I had my way, I'd have a separate office with HVAC, internet and power. Lots of sunlight and plants, dog or cat at my feet. (See dream office, right.)



Keep hopping on to Mikki Cober's blog. Mikki is a fabulous writer of romantic suspense and I know you'll enjoy her answers.

Ever wondered what inspires romance writers? First and foremost, it's our own experiences, good or bad. We dredge the depths of our distant pasts and recent events to infuse characters and scenes with authentic emotions. This week we tackle the first kiss.

Thanks for visiting with me today and welcome if you're popping in from Brenda Margriet's blog. 

     
      There's nothing quite like that first kiss. The butterflies trying to bust out of your stomach. The heat that rushes into your face when he leans in. The hint of mint on his breath, caught when you drag in air. 

      I'd been working with a very fit, exceptionally sexy man. When I say he was hot, I mean he would have been Mr. July in a sexy men calendar because he was so scorching. Handsome, nice and available, I was stunned when he asked me to dinner. 
      Dinner was great and unsurprising. After all, we knew each other so there was no awkward getting-to-know-you small talk. 
      Mr. July drove me home and walked me to the door. It was time for the attack of the butterflies. Would he kiss me? Did I want him to? Well, any woman with warm blood in her veins would want him to kiss her. I paused at the door, keys in hand, giving him time to make his move. 
      "I had a great time." Okay, so he wasn't a conversationalist, but for once I was going with my shallow side.
     "Me, too." So the hormones must have made me somewhat stupid as well.
     He reached out to tip up my chin and I sucked in a breath. One moment seemed like minutes, then he pressed his lips to mine. 
     Oh, God. Wet, sloppy, and way too much tongue. Like a hot slug in my mouth. 
     I know I cringed. He may have felt the tremor of disgust vibrate through me as he withdrew rather quickly. He stepped back and his mouth formed a hard line, shrugging a shoulder. 
     "Um, see you tomorrow. At work. Yeah. Goodnight." He beat a hasty retreat and we never spoke of that date nor the entire lack of physical compatibility.


     We all imagine that first kiss to be perfect, sensual. The moral of this story is that it's different for everyone. Oh, and not to be shallow.

Don't stop now! Head over to Elizabeth Jannette's blog for that first kiss amidst murder and mayhem.

Welcome to one and all. I know you enjoyed Kim Handysides' take on the challenge! If you missed her, head on back after you read mine!

We romance writers have to mix up themes, keep our plot fresh. This week we're taking our cue from Susan Peterson Wisnewski, who challenged us to create a piece of flash fiction using three words: candle, chocolate and scarf. And to keep it between 100-150 words. Wish me luck!

What the hell was she doing? Melissa didn't do blind dates. Ever. 
With no social life to speak of and all arguments had been exhausted, best friend Syd had simply worn her down with the assurance it was just Death by Chocolate with a friend of a friend at the Trellis Restaurant.
She could still get out of this, just untie Syd's identifying hot pink scarf and tell the hostess she'd forgotten her phone in the car.  Only guilt kept her from making her escape. Even a stranger deserved an explanation and her respect.
Cursing her soft heart, she followed the girl to a patio table for two where a single candle's flame -and her knees- trembled in the evening breeze. 
The man with dark hair curling at his collar and intriguing green eyes stood with a smile and extended his hand to take hers. All trepidation melted away, replaced with the heated promise of a pleasurable evening.

I envisioned this blind date occurring at the Trellis in Colonial Williamsburg. It would be hard for me to turn down an invitation to this incredible restaurant, especially if the temptation were Death by Chocolate. Here's the recipe if you want to try to make it. 

Leave a comment what celebrity you think the blind date resembles.

Don't stop now! See how Jeana Mann handles a scarf, candle and chocolate. Odds are hot and dangerous like her novels!

Welcome to those visiting from Brenda Margriet's blog. Everyone else, so glad you found mine! Have you ever wondered what goes on inside a writer's mind? Our group of writers provide a glimpse of the inner workings of the creative brain. This week's questions come from Fiona Riplee.

1.Does humor help or hinder you in your creative process? 
Humor provides a release from tension that can cause a block. I write sarcastic, snarky heroines so humor does figure into their character development.

2.What is a favorite go-to book or movie you use to unblock a problem in your writing?
I shy from borrowing from others' work. In fact, I'm hypersensitive to it so when I have a plot problem, I don't go to any book or movie because I don't want to subconsciously appropriate plot devices.  To relax my mind, I might watch The Hunt for Red October or The Princess Bride. 

3.What’s the most inspiring book you’ve read this week or month that’s generated a new idea?
The last book I read was The Lincoln Myth by Steve Berry, which was amazing. He is tremendously talented at creating present day conspiracies interwoven with events of the past. Riveting, I tell you! But no specific idea from that book, but rather a fresh spark for incorporating my passions in my subplots. 

Don't stop now. Head over to the sizzling Dani Jace's blog for a peek into her writing lair! It's on the beach and I bet she's got a cold one waiting for you!

So, this week we're changing things up and sharing our favorite 15-minute recipes. I can't wait to hop around and collect new ones. If you've arrived from Elizabeth Jannette's blog, Mahalo, e como mai! (Thank you, come in, welcome!) It's so cool to know a hula teacher.

Once school starts and my kids deal with homework, projects and extracurricular activities, we either eat crock pot meals or frozen pizza. This quick and yummy recipe originates from allrecipes.com but I've adapted it to fit my family by using ready-made mango salsa or pineapple/mango salsa. For full recipe with fish seasoning ingredients, clickhere.

Ingredients:
Jerk seasoning or fish seasoning
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon olive oil
5 4-oz tilapia (or any white fish) fillets
Mango or pineapple salsa (I like CostCo's brand)

Directions:

1. Whisk together the egg and milk in a bowl. In a separate shallow bowl, stir the panko crumbs with 1 tablespoon of the jerk seasoning (or seasoning of your choice).
2. Heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Dip tilapia fillets into the egg mixture, then dredge in the panko crumb mixture, coating both sides. Pan fry until the fish is opaque and serve with the salsa with rice pilaf or black beans and rice.

When I make this and we eat it on the deck, I pretend I'm in the Florida Keys! Light the tiki torches and a few candles and it's lovely. It's one of my husband's favorites and I love it because it's quick and easy. Next time, I'm using shrimp. Who's up for an island dinner?

Don't stop the gastronomic blog hop now. Head on over to Veronica Forand's blog for a fantastic recipe I'm definitely adding to my repertoire. 

Thanks for making your way from S. C. Mitchell's blog. Romance Weekly's Authors answer questions about serious and non-so-serious aspects of writing. Enjoy! 


1. How do you respond to someone calling your writing smut or demeaning your work in some other way?
I disregard any negativity. I simply don't internalize it because I will never please everyone all the time. I will write what is authentic to me and hope that others enjoy the ride.

2. When critiquing or beta reading, do you ever find the voice of the other author creeping into your writing?
Thankfully, no. The members of my critique group each have such distinct voices. I love their writing in great part because each is so different from mine.

3. What’s one quirky thing you do or must have around you while writing?

Special pens. Even though I usually my manuscripts, I always have pens and pretty notebooks for jotting down ideas or scenes that need work. My favorite are Tul needle point pens. Don't even think about touching my pens!

Don't stop now, keep on hopping to the next author of red hot, spicy and sexy romances, Dani Jace.