Characters Who Inspire, Tuna Fish Sandwiches, and Not Giving Up by Lori Lebonde

How many times have you considered tossing in the towel on a manuscript you know is good but you’re sick of working on it? Or maybe it’s close but just not coming together like it should, so you shove it away, hoping it will age well, like fine wine?

Or do you shudder at the idea of revising, editing, and proofreading your manuscript as many as seventy-two times? (Yes, that’s the latest statistic I’ve heard from successful, multi-pubbed authors.) Perfecting your craft and fine-tuning your manuscript is tough work and not for the faint of heart.

So what should you do?

Take a leaf out of your own book and do what your characters do: they persevere. They don’t give up.

When your characters confront external obstacles, do they shrug and walk away? No. When their goals are too distant to grasp, do your characters decide those goals aren’t really worth the effort after all? Unlikely. When your characters’ motivations evolve and reshape their thoughts and actions in scary or unfamiliar ways, do they race back to their comfort zones—and stay there? No—not if your plot and character arcs progress properly.

Or what about the young men on my local high school football team, which was undefeated…until yesterday? Those boys worked hard seven days a week, often in the cold and pouring rain, to finish their season only one game away from the state championship—a new record for our town. The student fans, parents, and community members who attended every game (sometimes driving hours each way and usually filling the visitors’ stands more than the home team stands were) were so supportive of those boys that newspaper articles mentioned the team’s “twelfth man on the field” and its impact on the team’s success and morale. One fan’s story sticks in my mind: She didn’t have a son on the team, yet she made a protein-packed tuna fish sandwich every week for the team’s running back—despite being at her mother’s side nearly 24/7 for weeks following the mother’s October heart attack and subsequent bypass surgery. Some weeks the woman used high-end tuna, or more expensive bread, or fat-free mayonnaise, all in an effort to keep the sandwich interesting and to give the player even a tiny edge—or so she said. In reality, she demonstrated and reciprocated the boys’ inspiring commitment to their goals, and overcame roadblocks and challenges and turmoil.

So where do these football players and fans—and your own book’s characters—draw their strength to trudge onward, despite the obstacles, the big goals, and the unknown path to the end zone—or the happily ever after?

I don’t know, actually, where the real-life characters draw their strength from. It’s different for each of us, I bet. But your fictional characters get their determination from you. You created them and festooned them with their traits—good and bad—and imbued them with appropriate goals, motivations, and conflicts. You’ve given birth to them. They’re yours. And, once born, they will always exist.

You can use them to help inspire yourself—to persevere, to not give up, to forge ahead, and to tackle the obstacles, including the internal ones. You’ve created those characters and guided them to a happily ever after, so you have it in you to do the same for yourself and finish your manuscript. Right?

And along the way, eat a tuna fish sandwich or two.

By Lori LeBonde
Scarlet Rose Editor

Happy Thanksgiving

I have to say I love Thanksgiving. Family, food and football, what more could anyone ask for?


Now for a number of years, you would have found me in the kitchen, cooking turkey, dressing and mash potatoes--no pies. Never cared much for the crust and my family didn't like them much either so I didn't make them. I enjoyed instead making divinity and fudge. Wish I could tell you I had a secret recipe but I used the fudge recipe on the back of the marshmallow creme jar. The divinity, I use the recipe in my microwave book, easier than having to stand over it and stir continuously. ( I have tried putting different flavorings in the mix and like to add crush peppermint candy to the recipe.)


This year, my husband and I are celebrating the holiday alone. My boys are staying at college and coming home in a few weeks for Christmas. The question we've been asking ourselves for a number of days now is what do we want to eat for Thanksgiving. 


Turkey? No, too much.(We'd be eating turkey for weeks.)
Seafood, steak, prime rib? No, not really sticking with the season.
So what did we decide on? Cornish Hen
We each get a little bird of our own without the huge leftover fest later.
A small box of dressing, gravy, rolls and a dessert.
Simple but not a lot of work.


Now, time for football and calls to family.


A great holiday to relax and enjoy the man I love - what could be better?


Hope you have a great day too,


Anita Philmar
http://www.anitaphilmar.com/
Latest release "Texas Passion"  

Painted With Pleasure by Dena de Paulo

Painted With Pleasure
by Dena de Paulo

Laurel Stevens's professionalism has earned her the opportunity to orchestrate one of Spain's most important art events of the year. She needs the Lunera Exhibition to go off without a hitch, to assure her dream position back home in the States. But when sexy Spanish artist, Alejandro Lunera, introduces her to desires she's never known, she's tempted to risk everything she's worked for to spend one night in his arms.

Alejandro has built his career celebrating the sensual side of women through paint, but he's tired of the clientele his work attracts. He needs a new direction...a new muse. And he's found her. The intriguing Laurel rekindles his passion for color and inspires him to create again...to paint the woman of his dreams.

Can Alejandro convince Laurel to choose the passion and love he offers, or will their time together become no more than a moment painted with pleasure?

Click here to read an excerpt.

Senior Pets and Scarlet Roses

Did you know that November is "Adopt a Senior Pet Month?" Sure, those puppies and kittens are adorable, but nothing beats the loyalty and love that an older pet can give.

I can attest to that personally. My own dog Leonardo(pictured above) is half Lab and half who-knows-what and is thirteen years old. A loveable guy, he seems to be going through a second childhood. He's up to one of the tricks he played when he was a pup, namely counter-surfing. Recent items that have "mysteriously disappeared" include a package of hamburger buns, a box of donut holes and half a stick of butter.

You might be wondering what senior pets have to do with romance. Well, in first my Scarlet Rose novel, "One Good Man", an aging Golden Retriever named Daisy plays a special role. In a sense, she's the catalyst that gets my hero and heroine together.

Andie Benedetto is dog-sitting for her father when she first takes notice of studly Matthew Vostek, her dad's neighbor. But Andie's interest is far more than neighborly. Stung by her boyfriend's sudden need for "space", she fantasizes about a hot, no-strings affair. When those fantasies become reality, Andie finds that she wants more—much more—from Matthew than just sex. But will she overcome her own fears to show him that he is the one good man she needs?

In addition to Daisy, Matthew's dogs Marilyn and Angel add fun to the story. I've always liked stories with animal characters and enjoy including them in my books.

Do you have a pet? Whether he's old or young, add a comment and brag about him! And if you're in the market for a new animal companion, remember, there are a lot of advantages to adopting an older pet!

For more information about adopting a senior pet, click here

To purchase "One Good Man" click here

Nona Raines

Riding Rodeo Release Day!

Riding Rodeo releases today!


I love it when a story practically writes itself. I had the opening scene written for this story, but no real idea where to take it. Then I saw the Submission Call for Cowboy Kink and everything just fell into place.

I've been around cowboys all my life, and while they know how to doff their hats, call all women "ma'am" and open doors, there's an earthy, rugged, yumminess that just makes knees weak. I've never figured out if it's the tight jeans, cowboy hat, or merely the confidence which comes through in every step, every slight movement of their bodies.

In the end, does it really matter? Cowboys are sexy.

Blurb:
The last person Amanda Goodson expected to walk into her bakery was Sean Cassidy, the bareback bronc rider who rode her hard one night and left without a good-bye the next day. Since then, she'd sworn off one-night stands and cowboys, but one look at the man she called Rodeo leaves her hankering for another ride. 

A nasty injury ended Sean's career and left him with nothing but time to contemplate past sins, especially the most damning one...walking out on Amanda, the one woman he couldn't forget. Eager to right the biggest mistake of his life, he finds Amanda--and learns he has competition. Never one to back down from a challenge, he offers to fulfill her darkest fantasy--taking two cowboys for a ride. 

When the dust settles, will Sean's plan to win Amanda's trust backfire or will she risk her heart for one more shot at Riding Rodeo?

I'll be giving away a copy to one lucky person who comments by noon Monday CST. If you just can't wait though, click here to buy! :)

Riding Rodeo by Emma Lai

Riding Rodeo
by Emma Lai

The last person Amanda Goodson expected to walk into her bakery was Sean Cassidy, the bareback bronc rider who rode her hard one night and left without a good-bye the next day. Since then, she'd sworn off one-night stands and cowboys, but one look at the man she called Rodeo leaves her hankering for another ride.

A nasty injury ended Sean's career and left him with nothing but time to contemplate past sins, especially the most damning one...walking out on Amanda, the one woman he couldn't forget. Eager to right the biggest mistake of his life, he finds Amanda--and learns he has competition. Never one to back down from a challenge, he offers to fulfill her darkest fantasy--taking two cowboys for a ride.

When the dust settles, will Sean's plan to win Amanda's trust backfire or will she risk her heart for one more shot at Riding Rodeo?

Click here to read an except.

How Well Do You Know the Wilder Rose Authors?

For those of you that hangout on the wilder rose yahoo group where author tells readers about themselves.

Here is a little quiz.

We have ladies with birthdays in all most every month of the year, but can you tell me who was a born on


1. Tax day - April 15? Marie Tuhart

2. Halloween - Oct. 31? Lara Dien

3. What important person with WRP was born on June 5? Diana

4. Who's favorite state is - her home state of Noo Yawk!" "nona_raines"

5. Who's job has been worked for the past 20 years as a Respiratory Therapist? Kat

6. Who post sex men on Mondays – Man Candy? Jennifer Jakes

7. Who was just interviewed by USA today? Desire Holt

8. What’s my latest release? “Texas Passion “

9. Who just stumbled across this 5 Cup review from CBLS Reviews? Rachel Leigh

10. Who’s book trailer AFTER MIDNIGHT is the October 2011 Second Place Winner at You Gotta Read Videos? Sarah Grimm.



Post your answers in comments and see how well you know The Wilder Rose authors.

Winner with four correct answers. -  Nona.


And of the questions you answer you were a 100% correct.

Thanks for playing along,



Anita Philmar
www.anitaphilmar.com

Overtime Play by Kasey Moone

Overtime Play
by Kasey Moone

For an entire year, Mira Perrin has worked as a file clerk for Jeremy Rain, a hot and hunky radio owner, in Atlanta. A man who doesn't even know she exists. When their paths cross one unexpected night at Mira's night job, Jeremy offers her a chance to move up in the company by serving as his personal assistant. Desperate to earn extra income, she agrees, only to discover that sometimes the sweetest pleasure can be found once she's off the clock...

Jeremy Rain is shocked to discover Mira is his employee. And that she's gorgeous to boot. Though she's a little outspoken and wears ugly black pant suits, he's intrigued by her bluntness and work ethic. He quickly discovers that his smokin' hot employee is full of surprises in and out of the office...

But will these two have the courage to live for more than 9 to 5...or will they let love pass them by?

Click here to read an excerpt.