Debra - MONDAY MORNING REVIEW & RECIPE!

Well, it's not a movie this week. It's a diet. The Atkins diet. Counting carbs.

Seemed like a good idea about 6 weeks ago.

I don't like meat that much. Don't care for most green vegetables. I got over tuna and mayonaise the first week. And eggs get really boring.

Have I cheated? Nope.
Have I lost weight? Yeah.

Sixteen pounds. (many more to go so don't get all excited just yet 'cause that skinny gal in the green top isn't me!)

Atkins offers me a way to be on a diet without really being on a diet. I can have anything I want as long as I'm willing to spend my carbs on it. More importantly, I can eat a *lot* of whatever doesn't have carbs in it. So, if I'm having a munchie day, I don't blow the whole diet.

I was motivated to try Atkins again when I saw a news report that studies were showing no increase in bad cholesteral from Atkins and lower triglyceride levels. Despite the higher fat consumption. Unfortunately, my husband hadn't seen that same report and didn't know we were going on a diet the next day until I informed him. He was thrilled.

Really. Speechless actually. And I realized I'd made the diet decision in the nick of time because just after I told him life as he knew it was about to end, I also noticed his face was flushed and he looked about to explode. His blood pressure was touch and go there the first few days and then he discovered that scotch doesn't have any carbs. That, combined with the diet, made the pesky red face and about-to-explode look go away.

Atkins does work. It's counter-intuitive, but if you keep the faith, you'll see the number on the scale begin to slide down. If you stay away from high-calorie days the number will slide even faster. But if you're like me, some days you just want to blow some carbs on heavily-buttered popcorn.

What makes Atkins bearable for me has been the discovery of the "lettuce wrap." Many of you may have been eating your sandwiches this way for years. But it's new in the Dixon household. Last week I discovered you could have a real live hamburger (complete with tomato, onion, pickle, mayo, and cheese!) without blowing your carbs for the day. All you have to do is fix that sucker in a large piece of lettuce. The first few leaves off the head of lettuce are the best. Large enough to double as "pocket bread." Or "taco shells."

Atkins is easy to begin. www.atkins.com Just type in "phases" in their search engine and you can read up on phase 1, which is the "induction" or jump start phase. But you don't have to start there. You may want to take it a bit slower and start with phase 2.

My hubby is finally coming to grips with the concept that I was really serious about this diet and we're finally looking for recipes so we can feel like we're eating real food again and not just meat and cheese. Here's one my mom ferreted out for us. It's YUMMY! I bet the folks who can eat carbs can even spoon this over pasta.

SEAFOOD BRULEE (makes 4 servings, approx 30 minutes to prepare)
3 strips bacon finely chopped
2 each Roma tomatoes diced (they have more flavor)
2 teaspoons butter
4 teaspoons flour
2 cups whipping cream (Yes! whipping cream)
1 cup basil, fresh chopped (we cut this down to 1/2 cup)
1 cup Parmesan Cheese (extra for topping)

Chop bacon and render in a sauce pan. Add tomatoes and saute for 5 minutes. Add butter and flour and cook for 3 minutes. Whisk in cream and bring to a boil. Add basil and parmesan and stir until smooth.

Add whatever fully-cooked seafood you are using to the cream mixture and heat thoroughly. Divide into 4 baking dishes, cover with Parmesan and broil until brown. (You can place this in a shallow glass casserole dish to bake all at once if you wish.)

Dust with Parmesan and serve. It's HOT so be sure you let it cool.

Anyone else out there on a diet? What's your poison? How are you doin'?

Sunday Brunch. . . Thinking Makeover. . .

Sorry, no muffins for today's brunch. Black coffee and talk of makeovers. No, not for the old face and bod, though both of mine could probably use a little work.

I've just staggered away from watching three full hours of HGTV house/room/yard makeovers and looked at my house. As a writer I work where I live, and I have to look at the same furnishings, the same drapes, the same tile, cabinets, and counter tops all day. . . day after day. . . month after month. While the house is only 8 or 9 years old, some of it seems sadly outdated. Almond appliances anyone? If I can't change my workplace (house) once in a while I go stir crazy. Cabin-fever in Florida. It's ugly. So I've started looking around the old abode and plotting some changes using the savvy I've garnered from HGTV.

Vessel sinks. Just the coolest trend to hit bathrooms in centuries. Okay, a century. Okay, the last decade. They're made of glass, ceramic, copper, stone, granite, blown glass, funky concrete, even laminated wood! And ooooooh. . . I want one. Or two. Or three. In fact, I want all of them. Which is a bad sign. It means I'm in love with an idea. Of course, the sinks would make the counter tops look terrible. . . and the shower tile. . . then the rest of the fixtures. . . and that wallpaper-- what was I thinking when that went up?


Call me crazy, but the bathroom is my second favorite room in a house. And having a handsome or elegant master bath is right up there with pedicures and low carb muffins in my book. I suspect we'll have to work on the kitchen first-- those almond appliances would send most realtors into defib. But I'm already window shopping for the bathroom sinks and planning how to pay for what must be a huge project.

Do you follow the Hypnotism-- I mean HGTV Channel? Picked up any useful tips? Does it give you the irresistible urge to pick up a glue gun? Does it make you want to paint your kitchen cabinets and knit slipcovers for the old Barcolounger? Which are your favorite shows? Your favorite design hosts?

Back off, me lovelies, Clive Pearson's mine!

Old Friends, by Susie

I have a huge collection of books. I am sure I'm not alone here.

What I find interesting is the ones from my childhood I choose to keep. Even more, the kids' books I pull out and reread every once in a while.

I certainly read a lot of Trixie Beldon and Nancy Drew in my day and, while I still am fond of mysteries, I have no compulsion to keep those books around, and even less to reread them.

But there's a stash. It includes A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN, SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON, MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN, and the MAIDA and MARY JANE books. (Anybody familiar with the last ones? They're very old; I have a MARY JANE printed in 1918, and MAIDA books from the early 20's. The MARY JANE books are basically travelogues for kids; she lives in/traipses through most of Europe. The MAIDA books are about a poor, sickly little rich girl whose powerful father basically arranges all kinds of cool adventures for her.)

I'm not sure what that list of books says about me. That I have a wanderlust, I suppose, though I don't indulge it as much as I like. Do I have a secret adventurous side? Perhaps I only like to read about adventures. But maybe I have it hidden inside of me, locked up because I'm too scared to run with it. Hmm.

Do you have books from your youth that you hang on to/reread? And is there a common thread there?

Susie

Fashion + Passion, By Christie

I’ve been a fashion bug since the first time I helped my mother smuggle a Macy’s bag into the back of the master bedroom closet. Did anyone else’s mom do this? And I must confess the strangest thing…to this day I “smuggle” new purchases into my side of the closet nearly every time I buy. Rarely do I whip out the new fashion items to show my husband on the spot. Now, I know he doesn’t care about my shopping sprees (unless it was at Victoria’s Secret, and then he expects a private fashion show) but it adds to the excitement, I guess, to get it from the car to my closet without detection. Okay, when I confess, it does seem strange!

Anyway, my fashion bug antennae quivered this week when I saw a news item about the new trend in pants…high waistlines. Is it possible? Are we finally leaving the years of butt cleavage, uh, behind? And how long will it take me to embrace the latest trend? I have lots of low rise pants, even though we can all agree that unless you’re twelve, the “waist”lines hit at the exact wrong spot on a woman…the heaviest part of her body. But I’m getting used to that accentuated hip shape those pants give. Will I feel like I’m wearing the dreaded mom jeans when I make the switch?

Worse, I’m not just dressing myself but also my characters, since I write contemporary romances. I buy lots of fashion magazines, InStyle, Glamour, Vogue (though Vogue fashions are usually a bit too runway for my California characters) and dress my people with all the fun I use to have with paper dolls. But I’m writing a book now that won’t come out until next summer. Today, my 17-year-old secondary character would definitely still be in her hip-huggers. Will they seem so yesterday next year?

Speaking of yesterday, I adore reading about fashion in historicals…thank goodness they’re usually peopled by rich folks so I can salivate over the elaborate costumes and rich fabrics. In contemporaries, I have laughed over those chicks and their expensive, Sex in the City shoes, but boy, do I have to suspend my disbelief. Would Jane Heroine really be able to afford those? And often dropping the designer name doesn’t mean all that much to me—and I’m fairly fashion conscious! These days, in my own work I tend to stick more with good ol' description. Velour hoodie instead of Juicy Couture.

As a reader, what’s your taste when it comes to characters’ clothes? Do you, like me, mentally dress the character as described? Or do you prefer to skip over those passages and go on your own? (And, if you want to share, what do you think about the return of high-waisted pants?)

Guest Author: Leanne Banks

Hi. Cindy here. It's my very great pleasure to welcome my buddy and author extraordinare, Leanne Banks to the convertible.

Leanne and I go way back to the Bantam Loveswept days - anyone out there remember Loveswept? Big sigh. Loved writing those books.

But I digress. We've both moved on - first to Silhouette Desire and then to single title. With over 40 titles to her credit, Leanne is now a USA Today and New York Times bestseller. Woo Woo, Leanne!! I'm so proud of you. Give her a big welcome and make her feel at home, okay?
And without further ado ... heeeeerrrrrreeeee's Leanne...........

Hello, everyone. Virgin Rider...

Okay, well sorta.:) You’ll understand more in a minute. But first, RIDERS, thank you so much for letting me join your fab party! I’m so honored!

And when I thought about your blog title, riding with the top down, I thought of a few different things -

Girls Gone Wild – topless, top down, get it?

Writing my first book - more of that naked feeling..

The times I’ve ridden with the top down.

The first time, I did it on a motorcycle. Get your mind out of the gutter. Not that it! The first time I rode with the top down was on a motorcycle, which isn’t a convertible, but it was daring and the wind was blowing in my face and hair and it was so cool. I loved it and rushed home to tell my mother how wonderful it was. She told me, “I’m glad you enjoyed it, because you’re not doing it again. No more motorcycle rides.” See, she knew that the ER calls motorcycles “donor-mobiles."

The next time, I was fifteen and I rode in Steve Key’s red/orange MG Midget. To me, he was so good-looking and my first real boyfriend. It only lasted three months, but ohhh, it was nice. Until the angsty break-up because not only did he have killer eyes and dark hair, but there was that cute car. In retrospect, though, that angst served a useful purpose because I’ve used it in my books.

Since then, I remember taking a convertible for a spin when we considered buying one. A different experience as an adult. I was shocked when the sales guy turned on the heat at the same time he put the top down. And there were rides in jeeps. I was tempted to buy a convertible for myself when I finally had some choice (and credit). I think that was about five years ago. I chose a modified convertible – a car with a moonroof. So, now I can ride with part of the top down any time I want...

What about you? When was your first time riding with the top down? And how do you ride with the top down now?

Xo,

Leanne Banks

www.leannebanks.com

Nobody Puts Baby In the Corner

I can't wait to pass this on, guys. Dirty Dancing is one of my all-time favorite movies, and this YouTube video of a real bride and groom recreating the Last Dance of the Season had me smiling all the way through. I mean, bigtime smiling. Go see (if you haven't already) and then get back to letting us know what you think of our new look. Helen, you're our hero!

We've got a New Look!

Helen here.

Yes, you're at the Rider's blog. Big surprise, eh?

Well, it's springtime, we figured. Time for a new dress or a new pair of sandals, or ... I know. A new blog header! And if you're going to have a new blog header, you're going to need a new look for your entire blog, especially if you're going for this kind of change.

Actually, this has been in the works for a long time. Some months back we decided to do a little publicity, so we took out an ad in the Romance Writers Report. I contacted the son of some very good friends of mine to see if he could put together some art for us, and voila.

Sounds easy, but it was a bit more complicated than that. Our artist gave us his initial interpretation and then we all had comments on changes. He went back to the drawing board and came up with a black and white line drawing of exactly what's up in our header. He then "colorized" it for us for the blog.

So who is our artist? His name's Dan Fletcher. that's a picture of him looking all hazy and cool! (Hi, Dan! LOL) He's a freelance graphic designer. He's currently a resident of Duluth and attending the University of Minnesota. He's done a wonderful job for us, so if you have any design needs, get in touch with him. He says he'll work for cheap!

E-mail him at fletc092@d.umn.edu.

Oh, and here's another example of some of his artwork. It's says "Karma." And, as Michele says, maybe it'll give us good karma for the blog.


So we still have a few bugs to work out and the colors may very likely change (I was messing around with the purple) but what do you think of Dan's art work and our funky new look?

To get a more detailed look at Dan's drawing click here: Rider's in color

Children Running Through - CD review by Cindy

We try to bring you a movie review on Mondays but Kathy covered quite a few last week and I haven’t been to the movies since to see something new … so I though you might enjoy a review of a CD by a favorite new artist of mine.

Actually, Patty Griffin isn’t new – she has 6 albums to her credit with Children Running Through her latest release.

Truth: I’d never heard of her until I was watching an Ellen DeGeneres show and Patty was the musical guest. She sang two cuts from Children Running Through and they just blew me away. The entire CD is acoustical. Nothing electric. No heavy productions. Just pure unplugged guitar with a bass, snare, the occasional sax and a ringing, clear piano. Oh – and some strings on a couple of cuts for some added swell.

Did I say swell? This is a beautiful CD. Talk about painting pictures with words. The lyrics are sometimes whimsical, often romantic, occasionally sad and always reflective. Patty has a voice made in heaven. Truly. She has that clarity of sound that merges with soul and simply enthralls. A voice reminiscent of Eva Cassidy and Judy Collins, crystal clear, stunningly beautiful, and calls to the dreamer in your soul. A rare voice singing rare prose and melodies that make you ponder and smile and gather a little wool.

The first cut, You’ll Remember is a sultry and slow ode to a lost lover. The second, Stay on the Ride, has a funky and fun blues sound with a little sax added to the mix.

Trapeze: A soft then swelling duet with Emily Lou Harris is all about nostalgia and choices and courage and learning to fly even in the face of heartbreak

On another cut, Getting Ready, about letting go of a lover, Patty pulls off a Bob Dylan-esque style that is fun and fast and freeing.

Heavenly Day, however, is my favorite cut on the CD. The melody just makes you smile and the lyrics make you want to sing – except you don’t want to miss one note of Patty’s rich, rare voice. Here’s a little taste of the lyric: “Tomorrow may rain with sorrow, here’s a little time we can borrow. Forget all our troubles in these moments so few, right now the only thing we really have to do is have ourselves a heavenly, heavenly day…” Trust me, you will love this song!

There are 13 cuts in all, all as unique as they are beautiful – and a bonus CD with two additional cuts – all for $13.00.

So do yourself a favor. Go buy this CD. I promise, you’ll want to listen to it over and over again. I did. I do. In fact, I’m listening as I write this blog.

Do you all have favorite artists? What is it about them that move you most? Their voice? They’re style? The lyrics? I’d love for you to tell me about them because I'd also love to make another accidental discovery like Patty Griffin and have another Heavenly, heavenly day :o)

Guest Blogger: Leanne Banks

Make sure to stop by on Wednesday, 4/25, to visit with Leanne Banks, author of 43 romances with HQN, Bantam and Silhouette and now as a co-author with Janet Evanovich for St. Martins Press.

HOT STUFF, co-written with Janet, debuted at #3 on the New York Times list. Way to go, Ladies!!

We're so excited to have you blog with us. And big time congrats on the NYT nod! You so deserve it.

Shameless promotion - Check out Cindy's new book trailer

Hey all. I finally took the plunge and had a trailer made for my May 29th release, INTO THE DARK.
Dark is the conclusion of the Bodyguard Series - but for you die hard fans, don't fret. You'll meet some of the heroes and one of the heroines of the next series in Dark and I'm hoping you'll love them as much as you love the Garretts.

Anyway, check out the video, would ya? I'm totally in love with it but I want to know what you all think.

You can find it on my website: http://www.cindygerard.com/

Or you can find it on YouTube. Here's a direct link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3ZAB-kAL2Q

I'd love it if you would comment if you go to You Tube, OR, you can find it (and me) on myspace. Yep. After much deliberation, which you were all so helpful with, I am now a myspace person. So here's yet another link. http://www.myspace.com/cindygerard

Don't be shy about viewing the trailer there and posting a comment either, okay?

But of course, what I'd really love is for you to leave a comment here and let me know what you think of the trailer.

Have a heavenly day!!

What's happening to journalism?

It's my turn today, and like Betina on Tuesday, I'm not feeling very glib. What little brain I had left after turning in a manuscript has been completely blown by recent events. I'm filled with shock and sadness one minute, awe and admiration the next. And I'm now quite bewildered, and that's the part I want to talk about, because my thoughts for the last couple of weeks keep coming back to the same source of bewilderment.

I'm a great believer in the free press. In my lifetime journalists have earned respect and gratitude from the public for the way they dig for the truth and get it out there for all the world to see. But lately their mission--or that of whoever makes decisions for the news media--seems to be more about entertaining than informing. We need news and a variety of informed opinions, but what we're getting is whatever boosts ratings and sells advertising. In the last few weeks we've gone from the death of a woman who was famous for being famous, to a shock jock's racism and denigration of women, to the outrageous publication of videos made by a madman who was able to use the media to get personal attention for his horrific crimes. NBC said that their decision to immediately air those images and rantings was a responsible one because it gave us insight into the workings of a mass murderer's mind. But they interviewed several FBI experts and psychologists who said that airing that material so quickly was sure to be hurtful to the people who had been hit hardest by tragedy and would very possibly encourage copycats.

I am at a loss to understand what's going on with the news media. Yellow journalism belongs in scandal sheets. I'm a writer. I believe that language is more powerful than almost anything else under human control. Look at the Imus incident, for example. Racist, sexist stereotyping at its worst--the power to teach derision and subjugation. And then the light was shone on the bright, talented, poised young women Imus had tried to humiliate, and they spoke. And we saw what words and images can do to influence minds and create attitudes.

Now comes another national nightmare. I wrack my brain, and I cannot find any excuse for televising a psychotic killer's "manifesto" within two days of the deed other than sensationalizing his delusion. I think the media greedily gave the inmates the keys to the asylum, not in the interest of reporting a newsworthy piece of this incredible event--they could have reported the receipt of the package without playing the contents all day in a form scripted and illustrated by the killer himself--but to get market share. If the guy had lived, I'm afraid there would be interviewers and publishers lined up to pay him a fortune to tell his story. Our news media gave a mass murderer exactly what he wanted. And the threats roll in.

Before the horrors of the past week I had been planning to blog about the Imus incident and the power of language--sort of a spin-off from my blog a couple of weeks ago about stereotyping. I don't advocate censorship. But there is such a thing as responsible journalism, and I think we're losing sight of that. The pen is truly mighty, but so is the TV screen.

What do you think? Is language as powerful as I claim, or will we all become oblivious and immune soon?

Contest: winner

traveler is yesterday's winner. Please email Michele at: toastfaery@gmail.com with your snailmail address, and she'll put your prize in the mail! Congrats! And thanks for playing the Serendipity game.

Serendipity

Isn't it fun to say that word? Serendipity I was around ten, or so, when I first heard the word, but I never really knew what it meant until I was much older. At the time, if I heard the word, it instantly made me think of Dippity-Doo. Remember that stuff, girls? That little plastic tub of pink goo that our mothers would comb into their hairstyles to give it hold, bounce, or a helmet-crust? Dippity-Doo used to fascinate me. I think I plunged my finger deep into the bubbly pink depths on many occasions just for the pure sneaky thrill of it.

But I digress. :-) Serendipity is when someone accidentally discovers something fortunate while searching for something else entirely. So, you're looking for that book you wanted to read, and know it was in the TBR pile, but when you dive under the bed for search and rescue, you discover that missing pink sock you need desperately to match your outfit for tonight. Serendipity!

Here are a few neat examples of serendipitious discoveries over the years:

-- Mauve - (yes, the color!), when searching for artificial quinine, the creator accidentally stumbled on this lovely dye.

--Teflon - the search for a new refrigeration gas lead to this slick substance instead

-- Viagra - Initially this drug was tested for hypertension, but we all know how that one turned out. :-)

-- Popsicles - a glass of soda water was left out accidentally during the winter, and...voila!

-- Post-It Notes - an attempt to develop a super-strong glue resulted in this less powerful, but very popular substance

-- Corn flakes - cooked wheat was left untended for days, and during the clean-up process, well...

-- Silly Putty - they were looking for a rubber substitute during WWII, but...

And you! You've just stopped by the blog to see what's on our minds, and now, if you have a moment to post about your favorite serendipitious moment, you'll be entered in a contest to win a neat little surprise package of Things GIrls Like from me. Be sure to include an email in your post, or else stop by tomorrow, and I'll post the winner's name.

Have a serendipitious day!
Michele

Weird Happenings

Posted by Lois Greiman


Once upon a time (about 10 years ago), in a land far away (okay, it was here in Minnesota) I bought a pretty little pinto mare for my son. She was young and foolish, but I thought, hey, they can grow wise together. But one fine spring day when I was out for a ride with my children, she bucked Justin off and hightailed it across some poor farmer’s freshly planted corn field.

Now here’s the thing…horses are extremely gregarious, very bound to others of their own kind. So, although she went galloping off like a crazed mustang, I wasn’t too concerned about getting her back. I just made sure Justin still had all his parts and carted the kids safely back home.

To make a weird story short, I never saw that horse again. I spent the rest of the night looking for her on foot, then, the rest of the month searching on horseback, in car, and from helicopters. I spoke to practically everyone in a ten mile radius, put up ‘lost horse’ posters, and notified every horse owner in the vicinity…but nothing.

She was gone. AWOL. Missing in action. Gone without a trace. Her tracks ended in the middle of a field and no one ever admitted to seeing hide nor hair of her again. It is, I believe, the strangest thing that’s ever happened to me and made me question all sorts of things I used to accept without question. Such as…pretty little pinto mares are NOT abducted by aliens. But hey, my mind is more open now.

So…what’s your weird story? Any curious extra terrestrials, visiting celestial beings or other weird happenings?

Reflection

This won't be a funny blog. No apologies.

I've been listening to the news of the tragedy in Blacksburg, Virginia. Again and again the question is why? Why would God let something like this happen? Why those people in that close, homey community? Why "My child. . . my husband. . . my friend?"

And the only answer seems to be. . . that you have to find the answer for yourself. And everyone's answer comes from a different realm of comfort and understanding. . . some thing/someplace unique you them and to their faith and understanding of the world.

Me? I've faced some stuff in my life. . . things I never thought I'd have the strength or courage or faith to withstand. But I'm still standing. And so are some of those who were the focus of the heartache and pain. Unnfortunately, not all of them. And my answer is the same today as it was ten years ago.

We don't know why bad things happen to wonderful people. We don't know why evil is allowed to exist in the presence of good. Maybe it has to do with free will and with the ultimate and dispassionate structure of the universe and cause and effect. Maybe it's all test. Maybe it's just random. . . and it's up to us to find meaning in it.

So what can we say to those people who have lost loved ones and whose lives have been irrevocably changed by this hideous act of nihlation. What can we say when tragedy and illness and pain strike much closer home?

The first thing has no words. It's a hug, a presence, a vow to be close by and that we will share the grief. . . we will be in that pain with them. . . and that there still is caring and compassion and LOVE and GOOD in the world. This statement needs to be made again and again. Over and over. And it proves itself.

The second, which comes later, is-- we may not know why this horrible thing happened, but we can make something good come from it. With help we can turn it inside out and MAKE something good come from it. With God's help. With the help of loved ones and friends and family. It will make us stronger, wiser, more loving, more appreciative. . .

But as I said-- that's in the future. For now, all we can do is hug and cry and live and share.

So that's what I'm doing today. I'm in Orlando with my three little grandchildren and my eldest son and his beautiful wife. Today I'm going to hug them a little more often and smile with a bit more wisdom and pain. Life is so short. . . so uncertain. We have to make every moment with those we love count. So today and tomorrow, I'm hugging. And I'm sending prayers of support and good thoughts and whatever mysterious energy surrounds such things to the families of the victims at Blacksburg.

And I urge you to do the same.

Grace and Peace.

Betina

Kathleen -- Monday Morning Review

Filling in for Deb this morning, I thought I'd mention a couple of movies in passing on the way to the one I'll review. Most recent theater experience: Blades of Glory, chosen because I needed a good laugh. I got my money's worth. Will Ferrell is hit and miss in my book. I couldn't get through Talladega Nights, and throwing in the towel on a movie is unusual for me. It was a one-trick pony, and the pony wasn't my breed. Blades is silly, too. Plenty of 6th grade boy humor. Maybe this one worked better for me because I like figure skating. You have to "get" the send-up, and I know little and care less about NASCAR. But I thought the idea of men skating as a pair--especially this pair--had great potential, and I bought right in. I loved seeing skaters like Scott Hamilton and Peggy Fleming (and lots more) get in on the spoof. So I laughed! At the end Clyde suggested we leave before the lights went up because, "Everybody's gonna be looking at us." What, I'm supposed to cover my mouth when I laugh?

Two video recommendations chosen for fun and eye candy: First Batman Begins. Wouldn't have picked it up except that my son suggested it when I told him about an idea I've been playing around with for a book. I looked it up and saw that Christian Bale was Batman. Loved him in The Prestige. I lost interest in the Batman movies long ago. Hey, I like Michael Keaton. I like Val Kilmer. I love George Clooney. None of them was my idea of Batman. Christian Bale nails it. And Liam Neeson never disappoints. Can't go wrong with Michael Caine. The Batmobile is truly cool, and Gotham City is almost a living character.

Second: Invincible. I've become a big Mark Wahlberg fan, and while this isn't the juciest part for him, it's a neat story. I love the underdog triumphs tale, especially when it's based on a true story. Wahlberg plays Vince Papale (left with the actor), the avid Philadelphia Eagles fan who tried out for the team during what was basically a publicity ploy in the 1970's and ended up earning a place on the team. It's a great feel-good story with a little romance on the side and some fun '70's props.

But here's the movie (on DVD) that most impressed me in recent weeks: Copying Beethoven. I suspect this is one you either really like or really don't. I really enjoyed it; that is to say, I was wholly absorbed in the experience, and during the BIG moment (which lasts at least 10 minutes, and, yes, you could call it orgasmic) I was quite carried away.

I love a good costume drama, and this one is that. It's early 19th century Vienna, beautiful and gritty, and the cinematography alone is worth the rental price. Then there's Ed Harris. I happen to think he's a wonderful actor partly because when I'm watching him in a movie, I'm never aware that I'm watching Ed Harris. In this one he doesn't look at all like Ed Harris, and it isn't just the hair. But more than setting and performance, I loved what this movie did with character and relationships.

Beethoven is finishing up the 9th Symphony. He's aging, sick, deaf, and very grouchy. His publisher/producer (whatever they called the guy responsible for getting the music published and played) sends a young music student named Anna to copy Beethoven's illegible scrawl into sheet music for the first performance of the new work. (Anna is fictitious, but, from what I've read, Beethoven did employ copyists and there was a female composer who was his contemporary and who tried to emulate him. It's the kind of composite character a writer can appreciate.)

What follows is the development of a relationship--mentor, partners, friends, confidants, antagonists--two people meeting on a solitary plain. This is Beauty and the Beast without sex. Unless you count getting into each other's heads. Okay, yes, maybe it's mindf---ing. Whatever it is, it works in the aforementioned orgasmic scene during which Beethoven is able to perform (conduct the 9th for the first time) only because Anna leads him on. You see, she's been told that he'll ruin the debut if he conducts--he's been routinely screwing up concerts because he can't hear--but this is his baby, his transcendent moment. And no one understands the work or the man better than Anna.

I loved the passion in this movie. It's both grand and earthy. It has a few clunky moments, too, but nothing ruinous. It's not breathtaking in scope and splendor like Amadeus, but I liked it on its own terms for the characters, the music, and its reflections on the nature of art and what it would be like to be both genius and human.

Any comments? Recommendations? Warnings?

My Confession, by Christie

I was surfing the internet instead of writing pages (laziness, not bathroom clogs stopping me like Susie!) and came across something at AAR (All About Romance) in which several people shared some confessions, proving what they read about is not quite like their real life. likesbooks.com/260.html.

So I thought it might be fun to make my own confessions, using some of my own books:

I’ve never asked a man to play my lover (for pay) so that I have an adoring escort at my ex-fiancé’s wedding. (My first book, The Wedding Date, which, BTW, predates the Debra Messing movie of the same name by several years.)

I’ve never taken care of my deadbeat brother’s baby and found myself a “husband” next door in order to appease my nosy landlady. (My first Silhouette Special Edition, Beginning With Baby.)

I’ve never tried to break the ties with my mobbed-up California family, only to fall in love with the very man who thinks my Mafia dad killed his. (An Offer He Can’t Refuse.)

I’ve never returned home at the holidays to run my family’s Christmas store, only to run into my first love…the man I’d left without a word ten years before. (2007 RITA finalist book, Must Love Mistletoe.)

I’ve never rushed off in a rainstorm to break off my engagement with my new fiance, only to be soundly seduced by him…and then discover he’s really my guy’s twin! (His Forbidden Fiancée, out now from Silhouette Desire.)

From books I’ve read recently:

I’ve never accepted a ride from a gorgeous pro football player who takes me to a farm where I get caught up in the drama of his dysfunctional family. (Love this book! Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.)

I’ve never fallen for a human ex-cop who can’t possibly fit in with my vampire lifestyle despite his very close friendship with a band of bad-ass vampire warriors. (J.R. Ward’s Lover Revealed—tell me that you’re like me and just suck (oops sorry for the bad pun) these stories up!)

Want to play? If you’re an author, try a “confession” from one of your own books. If you’re a reader, how close is the book you’re reading to your real life?

Why I didn't write today, by Susie

Warning: there is a certain ick factor in the following post. You've been warned.

In general "why I didn't write today" excuses are pretty much like "my dog ate my homework." Which is not to say I don't have tons of them. But there are days when, I swear, the universe conspires against me getting any work done.

First, you have to know that I am not a handy woman. Hanging wallpaper was as close to divorce and the dh and I ever got; an attempt to put up vertical blinds left a broken power drill and permanent holes in my wall. My skills in that regard are pretty much limited to 1) calling my daddy 2) calling Scottie, my cute young handyman, who has offered to move in because he's here so much.

And my husband has a knack for being out of town at crucial moments.

So last week, I had a whole day cleared out for writing, not one single thing I had to do. Except I woke up to a clogged toilet.

Now, this is usually not a big deal. I can plunge.

But I couldn't plunge this one. I decided it was equipment failure - my plunger was old and inadequate, and this was - sparing you the gross details - a particularly nasty clog. So I took the kid to school, stopped off at the hardware store, and bought a new one.

Except this one didn't work either. Hmm.

Another trip to the store. This time I bought a fancy one, with what looked like an accordian in the middle of it, for extra force.

Still no luck. And at this point I realize that we have a public health disaster in the making, and so I toss around some bleach, hoping to sanitize things before it is too late. And splash some on, and ruin, my favorite pair of chocolate brown, fits-me-perfectly, they-don't-make-them-anymore, cords.

I decided to let things sit for a while. Soften up, as it were. At this point, I tried to write, I really did. But as soon as I called up my book, my computer took it upon itself to shut itself off. Really, it did.

This, I decided was a sign. The battle was on.

Another trip to the store. I read every bottle of drain de-clogger there, only to discover that none of them are to be used in toilets. But ah . . . there's this fancy-dancy plunger, with an air canister attached, guaranteed to work.

Modern technology. Power assists. Must work. At this point, I've gotten smarter, and also bought some industrial-strength rubber gloves that come to my shoulders. I should have gotten some hip waders while I was there.

I used up the entire canister of air to no effect. So I turn to my last ditch resource for all things - google. There's this nice article about how to declog a toilet, with precise instructions for using a snake.

One more trip to the hardware store. Are you counting? This is four. The plumber would have been cheaper, but by now I'm ticked, and I'm getting this thing unclogged.

I dug out a hospital mask that my kid used to play with and strapped it on. Got down on my knees and started cranking. I swear that snake went halfway down the street.

It had to work. Because the next line of defense in that article was instructions about how to pull the entire toilet, and that just didn't sound good.

But I triumphed! Ten minutes before my kid came home from school. And I was left with an empty wallet, no pages written, a pile of really gross equipment to clean up, and - the bonus here - a story guaranteed to make my husband really, really guilty for not being here when I truly needed him, which is always a good thing.

I'm supposed to write all day today. I'm worried.

Are you all as hopeless at this as I am?

Susie

Cindy's big adventure in the Big Apple

The older I get the more I realize I haven’t seen nearly enough of this amazing world. So my goal the next several years is to experience as much as I can as often as I can - provided I continue to sell so I can finance these excursions.:o)

My latest adventure was a return trip to the Big Apple the end of March for the PASIC conference and some generalized fun. Lord, I love that city. Where else can you find such exquisite treasures as MoMa AND the Naked Cowboy all within walking distance?

Where else can you dine at a NYC icon like Sardi’s one night and Gray’s Papaya (best hotdogs in the city) the next. And where else can you experience the heart-wrenching pride of seeing the Statue of Liberty stand guard over the harbor and stand in numbed grief at Ground Zero.

This city has risen from the ashes of tragedy. There is so much life and color on the streets. You can’t swing a dead rat without running into flower and fruit vendors selling Rolexs and designer bags out of cases on Time Square. I actually bought a Gucci watch for $10 once. Tells time perfectly twice a day, too :o) What a bargain!!

The rich lilt of a dozen different languages drift to you on the subway, the streets and at the theatre. It’s truly a culturally blended atmosphere unlike any other. And let me tell you, New Yorkers have taken a bad rap regarding hospitality. While I didn’t exactly have ‘fell off the turnip truck’ stenciled across my forehead, I obviously looked the part on several occasions and not once did anyone balk at helping me find my way.

And should you get homesick for wide open spaces and green grass, you need only visit Central Park for all the serenity and natural beauty your little heart desires – who knows, you might get lucky and stumble onto young lovers, as I did in this shot below.

And lastly, for those of us in the business, it’s pretty much the hub of the publishing world so the opportunity to meet with agents and editors are boundless.

Okay. I’ve listed some of my fun things and favorite places. Anyone else out there have special NYC places they love? Anyone who hasn’t gone have places they WANT to see? I’d love to hear some of your thoughts or questions. While I’m no expert, after 4 trips, I am beginning to feel my pinky finger is poised on the pulse of the city and I might actually be able to answer you.

Helen's Spring Break

Sorry, I'm a bit late getting going this morning. Still recovering from spring break in Mexico with my daughter. Group of kids and their parents on a last big senior hurrah. It was the first time I’d ever been to Playa del Carmen, a town located on the Caribbean south of Cancun. First time I’ve ever been to and an all-inclusive resort, as well, but that topic will have to wait for another blog.

That's me in the black shirt at Senor Frog's, and yes, it's a barstool the waiter has his hands on. Puhleez! I wouldn't be caught dead in a bikini.

Hey! Maybe we could have a Happy Hour dedicated to spring break. Now there’s an idea. Take a few Miami Vices and Tequila Poppers, mix them with some Scooby Snacks and some Dirty Bananas, and we got Sex on the Beach!

Like I said, fodder for another blog.

Anyway ...

For all the good food and gorgeous beaches, we could have been at a multitude of different resorts in Mexico. Except for the fact that we were in the heart of the Mayan Riviera, the coastal region once inhabited by the Mayan civilization. Forget the food, drinks, and sand. This is what made my writer’s heart trip a little faster.

Despite the fact that my first book, Treasure, starts out with a Mayan prince placing a curse on a golden cross, last week was my first opportunity to hike around an actual Mayan ruin, something much better suited to my personality, not to mention my skin type, than hanging around a pool or beach. Blame it on my Irish blood, seems my body mostly burns and freckles when situated that close to the equator. I suppose we could also blame my heritage for the need for cervasa in the heat, but that gets us round to the all-inclusive thing again. Geesh!

Back to the Maya.

The Mayan civilization has long been considered one of the most culturally dynamic societies in the world, dating from 1800 BC to around 1700, when the Spaniards came calling. That’s a reign of around 3500 years. By comparison, the Inca ruled for only about 400 years, from somewhere around 1200 to 1600. Although there are still Maya living today, the culture itself is struggling to maintain traditions.

The ruin I visited is called Tulum, apparently the only Mayan settlement along the ocean, developed for it’s natural bay and location along trade routes. The Maya traded up and down the coast with other settlements and cultures. They had written language, used astronomy for calendars, and developed advanced agriculture and architecture techniques. But for all their advances, the Maya were strictly divided by social class.

I walked under the shade of the mangroves and palms at Tulum and couldn’t help but imagine a young farmer boy sneaking through the shadows in the dead of night to visit his princess. Forbidden love, myth, ancient tradition. Those ruins that got the juices flowing. I imagined a modern day hero and heroine somehow involved in a Mayan myth, searching for some ancient Mayan secret. I’m sure there are plenty.

Still, I have to admit, as much fun as it sounds I’m leery of the concept. An agent once told me that adventure romances were a “genre in my own mind,” meaning there was no market for them. I have no sales numbers on how Treasure did and my next adventure romance doesn’t come out until June.

What say you, the readers? Are you interested in adventure romances featuring everyday heroes? Or is there only room for the military angle? The cops, and the SEALSs, and the marines?

Oh, I almost forgot … a round of kamikazes, bartender. On me!

Debra - MONDAY MORNING REVIEW

Grindhouse

Creative forces: Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino

Stars: Freddie Rodriguez, Rose McGowan, Kurt Russel (Plus lots of cameos!)

Haven't we all seen a Saturday double-bill of movies so awful they made you laugh? Been there. Done that. Guilty as charged. Plus I'd seen SIN CITY (also a collaboration of these two director/writers) and wasn't terribly impressed.

That being the case, I had no great desire to see Rodriguez and Tarantino's homage to the exploitation movies of the 70's. At least until I saw an interview with the two directors. Clips of PLANET TERROR suckered me in. The film looked like great fun. Campy enough that it shouldn't give me zombie nightmares, and peopled with characters who already had me rooting for them in just brief seconds of film clips.

Plus the "package" is just wildly creative. The whole experience comes complete with hysterically funny (but seriously executed) preview trailers for non-existent movies. I lost count of the fake movies being hyped but the first one, MACHETE, is brilliant. Every trailer is perfectly cast with working actors you at least recognize even if you can't name them. That's part of what makes the trailers so believable.
The film has defects and scratches just like the 'old days' when the quality of picture relied on the condition of the actual reels being screened. You really do feel as if you've stepped into a time warp.

If any of you read novella anthologies, then you're already probably guessing what I'm about to say next...all stories, visions, voices are not created equally. GRINDHOUSE as a "package" is brilliant but for my money, only one of the movies is brilliant--the first one, PLANET TERROR. This deftly told story works simultaneously as dandy little zombie movie and a campy recreation. Yes, the gore is over the top but the violence is telegraphed well enough and the movie shot dark enough that you can get your eyes closed in time if you don't want to see someone shredded.

Rose McGowan (a "Charmed" one) is appealing as a Go-Go Dancer ("There IS a difference.") who's unexpected reunited with an old flame, who happens to be the one man that might get her butt out of zombie-harm's way. Some plot points are improbable but this wouldn't be an exploitation film if you didn't occasionally have to take a logic leap. After having one leg ripped off by zombies fairly soon into the movie, our gal Rose manages to make it through the movie with improvised prosthestics, including a machine gun. And when the relationship between McGowen's character and Freddie Rodriquez begins to get steamy? Just like the old days...the film melts and you get a message from management saying they're sorry for the missing reel. (Which you know now lives with Projection-man Willie at his house.)

This is SO not my kind of movie but I thoroughly enjoyed all the parts in which I wasn't closing my eyes. I did at one point channel Dorothy from the WIZARD OF OZ when I thought, "Lions and tigers and pustules, oh my!" Despite my complete dislike of that sort of cinema, I felt like this was "old home" week with familiar characters and dialogue you knew was coming but *wanted* to hear anyway.

By the time GRINDHOUSE ground down to the Tarantino portion of the evening, I was ready to enjoy another rollicking poke-of-fun at the bad movies of yesteryear. Unfortunately Tarantino wasn't ready to provide that. His DEATH PROOF plods along. I couldn't find a character to truly root for in the film but he does give you someone to root against...eventually. I predict next year's DragonCon will see its share of Stuntman Mike costumes.

Just as the older production houses used their "stable" of actors again and again, DEATH PROOF retreads a few of the actors from the first film. Female characters abound and Tarantino seems to have a penchant for writing really bad, smart-ass girl-talk. Didn't make me like 'em. Bored me in fact. The resolution does make a strong statement about the power of women. I'm not sure it's a flattering statement, but Tarantino does resolve his movie in a way that leaves the viewer feeling that the justice or revenge was done. (You'd have to see the movie to decide which it is, but I recommend skipping DEATH PROOF altogether. Watch the trailers after PLANET TERROR and then leave. Your butt will thank you.)

Has anyone else seen GRINDHOUSE? Do you agree that one of the films is clearly better than the other? Do you like remakes or "homage" because these aren't true remakes. Just throw backs to action/zombie/prison-babe movies of yesteryear.

Romantic Times

by Lois

This is my son, Travis, and since I never said I was normal…or nice…I’ll admit it: I’ve once again convinced my first born, my eldest son, the light of my life, to accompany me to the Romantic Times conference in Houston, Texas.

For the uninitiated, Romantic Times is a publication that reviews mystery and romance novels. They’re also the folks who take credit for Fabio’s rise to fame. Anyway, their annual conference is coming up at the end of the month--April 25-29th to be exact. It consists of a giant book fair, dozens of workshops, lots of intriguing parties, and a contest for young men to vie for the title of …tadah…Mr. Romance.

See where I’m going with this?

Approximately 1000 women attend this little get-together and about…ohhhhhh…12 guys. Now, you might think this sounds like cruel and unusual punishment for a young man of 23. And you might be right. But Travis and I went together last year when the Cosmo Chix (Top Left to Right: Mary Schultz, myself, Michele Hauf…Bottom Left to Right: Emma Holly, Cynthia Williams, Betina Krahn, and Michelle Buonfliglio) hosted a little RT gathering. And we had a fantastic time. There’s nothing more fun than getting together with your friends and laughing at your first born, your eldest son, the light of your life. It was great meeting readers and signing books too.

And in the end, Travis came home with a trophy for first runner up. Which means it’s conceivable that this year he could win a trip to New York City, a photo shoot, a spot on a book cover…and enough embarrassment to last a lifetime.

And there are some things money just can’t buy.

So…any thoughts on the Romantic Times conference from those of you who have been there or those who’d like to go, or those who think I should be locked up for child abuse?

Or how about the unending joy of humiliating our children in public? That’s a fun topic too.

Reasons Not To Time Travel

I love time travel stories. And time travel movies. (Just finished watching The Time Machine with Guy Pearce; he's nummy but the traveling 800,000 years into the future? Not for me.) If time travel existed and I had to name my time period in two seconds or lose my ticket to ride, it'd be easy. Send me to the 18th Century. Paris, please. Probably mid-century, around 1750. Why then and there? Well, my answer should be the history, the people and the marvelous times, but the truth is, it's because of the clothes.

I love me a big skirt held out with wire cages beneath, and so wide one can't fit through a doorway unless they turn sideways. Garnish it with lace and ribbons and diamonds and pearls and pretty little shoes, and I'm in heaven. I'll take one of those towering wigs with birds and ribbons and curls, too. Did anyone see the gorgeous shoes they showed in Marie Antoinette? Heaven!
And the men? Give me a man in a frockcoat with wide cuffs and lace spilling over his hands, and I am in love. Knee breeches and prissy shoes with red heels? Oh yeah. And a wig! And face powder, and a saucy little black heart patch on his right cheek. I'm swooning right now.

But lately I've been asking myself (yes, I do discuss this sort of thing with myself) if I really would do it, if given opportunity. Could this modern-day woman who believes it counts as a homemade meal if you combine two or more box mixes together really survive in a time that didn't know what microwaves and mp3 files were? Sigh...
Here a few good reason NOT to time travel:

--Yes, those costumes are pretty. But washing machines didn't exist way back when. You either scrubbed those clothes by hand or wore them endlessly, until they could walk themselves. (And don't forget the colony of critters that take up residence in the seams.)

--Lack of dentists. I have yet to go to the dentist and not have her suggest a filling, crown, or a completely new set of teeth. Do I think I could survive a toothache, and possible 'let's tug that beauty out with an iron tweezers' extraction?

--Lack of medical care. Need brain surgery? Trepanning, anybody? And don't even get me started on natural childbirth.

--Lack of sanitation. No, there were no toilets in my time period. Toilet paper truly is one of the greatest inventions ever. Do you want to leave without packing the large economy pack? I don't think so.

--Lack of birth control. Sure, it existed, in goopy, foul smelling mixtures made from cow dung and other unsavory gunk. You think you're going back to find yourself a handsome rogue? Well, what are you going to do with him once you find him? That's what I'd do! But sheep's intestine condoms don't do it for me either.

--Women's Rights? Ha! Do we really want to live in a time that did not view woman as equals alongside men?

--Eyeglasses. They were just being created during my time period, but if you've plans to go further back, forget about it. What's so important about glasses? Well, there are millions walking around today who need them. I have to assume there were millions back then, as well. Half-blind idiots driving carriages through streets without stoplights? I think you get where I'm going with this one.

--Complete lack of electronic devices. I know. We're spoiled. And a perfect, peaceful life can be led in our time without the luxury of these treats. But to imagine not being able to listen to music on demand, or to view the news that's happening across the world? What about the telephone that makes it easy to check on your children living three states away? And appliances!

--Lastly, running water. Again, at the end of the 18th century, some houses were beginning to install indoor plumbing. What a joy! If you were rich. What I would miss most of all if I left the comforts of my time, is a nice hot bath overflowing with fragrant bubbles, and the exquisite time spent mindlessly soaking. Ah... Come here, rubber ducky.

So that's just a few of my concerns. Let's hear some more reasons not to venture backward.

Michele

JUDY BAER Has Harlequin Covers By the Dogears. (Eat Your Heart Out, Stephen Colbert!)

Meet Judy Baer.

Judy and I go back to the third RWA National Conference, which was held in Washington D.C. back in...well, here's a genu-ine Poleroid, if that's any clue. We are (l to r) Sandy Huseby, Kathleen Eagle, and Judy Baer, the entire North Dakota RWA membership at the time. RWA trivia: What year was that? (Yes, we were mere babies. Unpublished, wide-eyed first-timers.)

Congratulations are in order, first of all. Judy's a finalist in the 2007 RITA competition for BE MY NEAT-HEAT (Steeple Hill Cafe)!

She has published--ready for this?--over 75 books since this photo was taken, many of them for the young adult reader. These days she's a BIG NAME in the field of Inspirational Romance. And when I say BIG...well, let's just say, how many people do you know personally who have been satirized by STEPHEN COLBERT on THE DAILY SHOW? She'll tell you all about it. And lots more. (Be sure to take the link. It's a hoot.)

Here's Judy.....

Hi! I’m glad to be with you in the convertible today even though the weather in Minnesota has been gloomy. I don’t seem to notice the weather much lately—unless it rains, sleets or shines on my

computer monitor.

I just peeked at the Comedy Central website to view Stephen Colbert’s “Nightgown Novel Model.” In it, he’s trying to convince Harlequin that he’d be an ideal cover model for the new contest they are running, hoping to find “real,” everyday men to put on their covers. It’s cute and funny and worth a look if you want to see him posing for a place on the front of our novels. Comedy Central was good to me, too. Colbert did a spoof of Steeple Hill’s new line of Christian chick lit on "The Daily Show" a few years ago. When my novel, The Whitney Chronicles, launched the Café line, they, like so many others, thought Christian chick lit was an oxymoron. The cover was on the screen for 30 seconds while Colbert read (and, of course, added to) several lines in the book . Since that time, it’s been proven again and again that Christian characters can be just as savvy, silly, wacky and wonderful as their contemporary in secular novels.

I do have another life and career as well as that of writing. I’m a professional personal life coach. I’m certified in several models and have been doing it for six years. What I love the most is that

my writing makes me a better coach and coaching makes me a better writer. I’m finishing up my master’s in human development and working on blending the two worlds into a new coaching model. Life’s also kept interesting by my husband, two daughters and three step children.

I have two books due out in 2007—Mirror, Mirror (Steeple Hill) and The Baby Chronicles (Steeple Hill Café and a sequel to The Whitney Chronicles)) and two more currently in the works.

I'm also a horse lover, a quilter and a reader of mystery novels.

So, Riders, I'll just stitch away while we dish.

KE: I'll start things off. What makes an inspirational romance inspirational?

Judy: An inspirational romance has an element or story thread of Christian faith. Usually one of the main protagonists is a Christian. This does not mean the book is full of preaching or proselytizing. Rather it means that one of the primary values of a character is faith and how she (or he) lives that out in the ebb and flow of life.

I have a minor in religion from college and my area of interest is Christian ethics. Basically I toss my characters into the story I want to tell and see how they respond based on their beliefs. The faith element isn’t like frosting on a cake, spread across the top as if to say, “Look at me.” Rather, it’s in the fiber of the story—the eggs, the flour—one part of a whole. I find inspirationals “inspiring” because characters live every aspect of their lives true to their belief systems and turn to the belief systems—God--for clarification when life becomes muddy.

KE: What makes it a romance?

Judy: Love, strong emotion, passionate feelings, relationships, Mr. Right (often found after running into Mr. Wrong.) If anyone thinks that Christians don’t have romantic relationships…well, let’s just say they’re badly mistaken!

KE: You broke new ground with your foray into “Christian Chick Lit” with THE WHITNEY CHRONICLES (the book Colbert went ga-ga over). How did that come about?

Judy: THE WHITNEY CHRONICLES was written two years before it sold and long before I even read BRIDGET JONES’ DIARY.

My agent read the book, called me and said “I love this book but there’s no place to sell it—but there will be.” Fast forward two years. My agent called again and said “I’ve sold the book.” I have a short memory—I had no idea which book she was talking about! She had faith in the book and had her eye on the market. When Christian chick lit was set to be born, THE WHITNEY CHRONICLES was ready and waiting.

KE: Chick lit brings to mind “Sex in the City” and “Bridget Jones.” How do you work religion into the mix?

Judy: Publishers Weekly described it best. They called THE WHITNEY CHRONICLES “Bridget Jones goes to church.”

That’s pretty much what it is. A contemporary, savvy woman who happens to be a Christian, who is working, living, playing and looking for the man of her dreams. Just because she doesn’t drink, smoke, swear, etc. doesn’t mean she isn’t smart, funny, wacky and wonderful. She has friends and shares confidences with them. Not every relationship works out. Everyone has a belief system. Granted, not everyone is Christian, but everyone believes something and that informs who the person is and what they do with their lives.

I also believe that writing chick lit involves a certain “voice” from the author and that voice is certainly present in the Christian genre.

KE: What special challenges do you face in writing fiction for adolescent readers?

Judy: When I started writing, I had a foot in two camps—inspirational romances and young adult novels. I wrote 45 y.a. novels before turning strictly to women’s fiction. My personal challenge at this point is thinking of something I want to say, a story that interests me that I haven’t already told in some form or another. If I come up with a story idea I loved, then I’d write it.

The challenge for a y.a. author is to have her finger on the pulse of what her readership is doing, thinking and feeling. Styles, entertainment and language change but the experience of being embarrassed, jilted or betrayed is universal. People at every age can identify with those things and I believe that’s where the y.a. author needs to start.

Okay, Riders and F.O.R. (Friends Of Riders). Here's your chance to chat with the multi-talented, wise and wonderful JUDY BAER!