Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Guest: Susan Meier

Please welcome Harlequin Romance author, Susan Meier to the convertible today!  Susan will give away a set of her newest releases MAID FOR THE MILLIONAIRE and MAID FOR THE SINGLE DAD to one lucky commenter!


WOULD POPCORN SURVIVE A NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST?

Now that my kids are older, and not eating every meal with us, we find ourselves throwing away a lot more food that is past its expiration date. So we shop more carefully, but we also don’t simply trust that the milk will be good. We check the date on everything before we pour or spoon or taste.

But one thing I’ve noticed that seems to be good no matter what the date is popcorn. I’ve popped some popcorn packets that were over a year past the eat-by date. It made me wonder: If there was ever a nuclear war would cockroaches and popcorn be the only survivors? And if they were, what would they do? Would the cockroaches find the popcorn and use it as food? Or would they peacefully coexist?

That really sounds like an insane thing to ponder, but I’ve been thinking weird things like this my whole life. I thought I was insane until I went to my first writer’s organization meeting. Then I found my people. My tribe. My kindred spirits. Some of whom think about things even stupider than my internal debate about cockroaches, popcorn and nuclear holocaust.

Finding my tribe caused me to realize that everybody has a place, a group, an occupation or even a town where they simply fit. I’m a firm believer that if people spent more time searching for their authentic self and then got themselves into that group, they’d be happier. Instead, we look around at people we think are cool and we try to be them.

Kinda crazy.

Teenagers, I think, suffer from this problem the most. Even in trying to rebel they copy each other.
So right now you’re probably wondering what this has to do with romance novels, specifically the two books I have coming out this summer.

MAID FOR THE MILLIONAIRE and MAID FOR THE SINGLE DAD tell the stories of Liz and Ellie. Liz was married to the love of her life, a guy so rich she never felt she fit and she left him. Penniless, she did the only thing she could to earn money…she cleaned houses.

She didn’t care that she had been the wife of a millionaire and was now cleaning houses. Her marriage had failed and she had to support herself. She had learned the lesson that money bought neither love nor happiness and she’d decided to be her real self, to live life on her terms. Oddly, becoming the strong woman she was meant to be brought her back into her ex-husband’s life.

She got so good and her demand got so high that ultimately, she hired other women to help her. Her first employee was Ellie.

Like Liz, when Ellie escaped her abusive situation, she didn’t give a flying fig what anybody thought of her. Glad to be alive, she vowed to be herself.

Both stories are poignant and powerful, but filled with fun and laughter too, because when someone is being his or herself there’s usually a lot of laughter involved.

Truth is a powerful thing.

So for me belonging isn’t about fitting everywhere. It’s about fitting the important places. With the man I chose to share my life with. With my family. With the women I truly call friend. And with my writing buddies.

susan

22 comments:

Leanne said...

Susan, welcome to the convertible! Loved your blog. I love stories about "misfits" who triumph in the end. Congrats on the great books AND covers!

Denise said...

Interesting thoughts, Susan. I'd always heard it would be cockroaches and Twinkies that survived.

Both Maid books are wonderful and I'm so I glad I read them.

Helen Brenna said...

Hey Susan - welcome today and congrats on the new releases.

This is what I LOVE about menopause. When you "fit" with yourself, you fit just about anyplace!

Unknown said...

Welcome and Congrats Susan :) both books sound great I will definitely have to go get it and read it.

Kathleen Eagle said...

Welcome, Susan!

May I be the second title character for "Maid For the Overworked Writer"? I'm not sure who the hero would be. I just want to get a fantasy maid out of the deal.

My mantra is that I could live anywhere. Military brat, doncha' know. I love stories about misfits, especially pulling together a collection of misfits to form one of those "tribes."

Virna DePaul said...

I love this post, Susan. Like you, I finally found my "tribe" when I found other writers. I always struggled with wanting to fit in with others, until I stood back and asked myself, "Why? Do you really like/respect/have fun with these people you're trying so hard to fit in with?" The answer amazed me and then I really could concentrate on the things and people I enjoyed most.

Unknown said...

Susan, welcome. Pretty covers. And yes, we're an odd lot, so it's nice to know there are others like us.

KylieBrant said...

Welcome to the convertible, Susan! I hope hope hope popcorn survives a nuclear disaster. That's my number one food group!

Cindy Gerard said...

Hi Susan and welcome.
I've heard romance writers referred to as a sisterhood before but never a tribe. LOL
LOVE the idea! Fits perfectly.

Susan said...

Thank you for the nice welcome! As I look over the prior blogs, I'm coming to see the participants of this blog sort of fit my analogy! You belong together.

Right now I'm at the beach with my family...well part of my family. I'm one of 11 kids. So 3 of my sisters, one married niece, our mom and I rent a beach house every two years or so and just spend the week together.

With little kids (youngest not quite 3) and teenagers...ye gawds do we make noise. But it's fun noise. Happy noise.

That's a tribe too!

susan

Barbara E. said...

Your two new releases sound like wonderful stories. I love reading about strong women who find themselves and then find someone to share their lives with.

chey said...

Hi Susan,
I enjoyed your blog! Would popcorn survive?
I'm looking forward to reading those books! They sound great!

Keri Ford said...

Very Nice, Susan and I love the sound of your books!

Susan said...

Thanks, Barbara, Chey and Keri!

I truly loved writing these two books. I like to think I write about strong women, but these two were in a class by themselves!

susan

karenk said...

HI Susan...enjoyed this posting...thanks for the opportunity to read your fabulous novels :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Laney4 said...

Hi, Susan! Welcome to RWTTD!
If you could have seen me reading your blog today, you would have seen me nodding continually. My "kids" are young adults now; they live at home but are more often not home, as they're either working or visiting family. We too are consuming less food in the house; my son, though, eats enough for several when he does come home, so it isn't quite the same, LOL.
Some people plan their menus each week. I have an estimate of the big items to eat, but I cook lots so that I can reheat the leftovers easily, either for another main meal or for someone coming in late for a snack. We have company several days per week, so that affects things too. It isn't easy, but it is SO worth it (at least to me). I enjoy having the "control" over salt and fat intakes, and I DO think that cooking from home is easier and often faster than eating out, especially since I work from home.
Good luck with leftovers! I consider it a challenge every day to come up with different menu ideas based on what needs to get out of my fridge ASAP, so I rarely throw leftovers out.
And good luck with that "fitting everywhere". I too have learned that we can only be true to ourselves, and the rest will fall into place. I don't dress for other people (well ... except in private, LOL); I dress to please myself. My house cleaning is "good enough" for company, but wouldn't pass a white-glove test most days. I too have learned how important friends and family are in life, and I know that THEY know I am there for them and vice-versa. 'Nuf said.

Susan said...

Karen

Thanks for the nice words. It truly is a joy to get to do what I love to do!

susan

californiameaghan said...

both of these plot lines sound great - i cant wait to read your work!

meaghan_koci (at)yahoo (dot) com

EllenToo said...

I was a misfit most of my teenage life because we moved so much I never had lasting friends. Instead I lost myself in books. Then in college I discovered that the place I fit was in a classroom teaching teenagers and helping those who were in the same situation I survived.
And yes I do believe that roaches will still exist when humans are no longer around. I'm not sure about popcorn though.

Susan said...

Thanks, Meaghan

Susan said...

Oh, Ellen! I love when people take their life lessons and help someone else!

susan

Susan said...

Karenk is the winner of the books!

Karen, please contact me through susanmeier.com!

(I'm still on Vacation...so I won't answer until Monday!)

susan