The other day, I was preparing dinner and I made a stupid mistake. As I was cutting toward myself, the knife easily slipped through the meat and directly into the palm of my hand, not stopping until it hit bone. Ouch is an understatement. Besides being stitched up after surgery while I was unconscious, this was my first experience with stitches, and definitely my first ER visit. Not cool.
     I was so mad at myself, I couldn't stand it. However, as the ER doctor was numbing my hand, I realized something. This wasn't such a bad thing. My very real pain is exactly how my characters feel when they've been stabbed. My close brush with passing out is exactly what would happen when my characters get close to swooning. My completely numb fingers is exactly how my hero (Book two in Touched by Fire series) goes through life. Instead of harnessing the negative, which was easy, I turned the experience into an unexpected opportunity.
     The rest of the time, I spent experimenting with my numb fingers. What could I pick up? How much pressure should I expend to do such a thing? How did it feel when someone touched me or when I touched them? So many answered questions from real experiences. Now, if I could go back in time, I would absolutely pull out a cutting board instead of trying to take a shortcut, but since my time machine is out of gas, I'm just going to use this as a research moment. After this experience, you can be assured, someone in my book is going to get stabbed. *insert evil laugh*
     As I go through my days, I'm going to keep searching for the unexpected opportunities hidden in my good and bad experiences. What about you?

     Isn't it lovely? Catching the Baron is the first of three companions to the Perfect Series, and the covers match so well. The colors are unique and the models perfect. I couldn't possibly be happier with my publisher or the cover artist.
     Catching the Baron is still set to release this fall. At this time, we are looking at a September or October date. I can't believe how soon it will be out!
     Like my other books, this one is a regency romance set in London and the surrounding countryside. However, this one is unique and has a complicated twist since the heroine, Samantha, has to disguise herself as a boy. Kenneth is reminded of his brother, so he takes a special interest in "Sam's" future.
     The blurb and an excerpt can be found on my books page. I hope you enjoy reading this one!

Happy Reading!

     I'm sure everyone has heard the term 'lemon' mentioned in reference to a car that doesn't run well. I, too, have used that to describe my first car (a ford escort that overheated every time I drove it). And, once again, those little phrases are one of life's oddities. Why would a car be likened to a fruit?
     Lemons are sour. That is a known fact, but is a car sour? I've never tried licking one, so maybe that's where I'm missing the point. I personally love lemons with a little salt, just thinking about it makes my mouth water. Should I try that with my car? Will a little salt make it run better?
     As I prepare these posts, it really makes me wonder what people were thinking. Honestly, I think they could have come up with a better comparison. When I have to pay my mechanic for each expensive problem with my car, I get a bitter taste in my mouth. So, why not bitter melon? If it's running really well, I could call it a peach because keeping money in my wallet is sweet. A fast car, a blueberry, maybe? Since when you drop one they roll away so fast you can't even find it.
     I wish everyone a happy beginning of summer, and I hope all your cars are peaches during this vacation season.

     I must start my post out with an apology for not posting lately. I have finally moved houses and now can return to my normal schedule. As an apology, I have a cover reveal for His Perfect Lady, the final book in the Perfect Series, for you to enjoy!
    Although I have been pleased with my covers so far, I must say my publisher and cover artist really outdid themselves this time. This fits both Jonathan and Catherine's personality really well. I adore the models, colors and background too.
    There is also a release date to look forward to. His Perfect Lady will be released on May 21st! I am really looking forward to having the whole series available.
   In other news, I have also signed with my publisher for two companions to the Perfect Series. Catching the Baron will come out later this year, and Winning the Duke will be out next year. In both books, you will see familiar characters, and I hope you will enjoy them too.
    Don't forget to set your calendar. May 21st is just around the corner!

     It's time for your New Year's resolution. Are you ready? What have you decided to do, or not to this year? I have participated in this custom many years, and, I have to be honest, I've always failed. Keeping up a promise, even to myself, for an entire year is difficult. So, why do we do this to ourselves? This tradition is setting us up to fail at the beginning of the year.
     I can just hear myself on January 2nd: 'Why did I eat that second cookie? I was supposed to lose weight this year. I set myself one goal this year. One. Yet I couldn't even fulfill it. Now the new theme for the year is failure.' Okay, so maybe that's a little farfetched, but my point stands.
     To correct this problem, let's modernize it with a touch of reality. We shall now have a 'New Year's Day Resolution.' I know I can manage that. Then I can proudly admit "I did it! I lost an ounce on New year's Day!'
     So, I urge you. Set the year up right with a dose of success. Give yourself a one day resolution.
I wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year!

   With Christmas around the corner, I can already smell the sweet scent of the fresh oranges in the stockings. I don't know why the tradition started, but I obediently continue it for my children. The strangest part of the tradition is the fact that Christmas lands in the middle of winter.
   Who thought: 'Hm, why don't we slosh through the snow to the green and thriving orange tree to fill the stockings?' The answer: no one.
   Fruit in the winter? Don't get me wrong, I love fruit, but in my mind, winter is not the season I associate with it. On the other hand, I can't see the same joy from receiving a can of oranges in your stocking. It would make me want to call Santa for a refund.
   In the end, the tradition wins, but I always wonder what the people who began these things were thinking. Anyway, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and may your stockings be overfilled with Christmas Oranges!