All About the Writing: January 2015

You know how I love to celebrate my birthday month. Back in the day, while waiting for MY birthday month to show up, some friends and I used to celebrate Elvis' birthday, just so we'd have a reason to go to lunch and break up the monotony of January.

It made me wonder about other birthday celebrations, so I asked my writer buddies this question:

What special things would your hero do for your heroine's birthday?

I can't wait to see what they've got planned! *rubs hands together gleefully*

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Patricia Preston -- For Elise's birthday, Jesse would give her a box of pralines, a pair of fleur de lis earrings to match her necklace, and he would ask her if she would wear her silver mask again for him! To Save A Lady

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Silver James -- Chance Barron--cowboy, lawyer, billionaire--knows exactly how to celebrate Cassidy Morgan's birthday. She might have spent the last few years in Chicago but she's a die-hard St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. Since he's a minority owner in the team, he can commandeer the Barron Enterprises company jet and whisk her away to the team's spring training games in Florida. With champagne and chocolate on the plane, a luxurious suite at the local Crown Barron resort in Jupiter, and front-row seats for the games (which all but guarantees him "hitting a home run" back in that suite after the game). Cowgirls Don't Cry

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Kate Warren -- Henry is a sentimental guy when it comes to romance, so there would definitely be flowers and candles involved. Depending on when Ellen's birthday fell during the week it could be dinner and dancing, or a weekend away complete with chocolates and massages. Either way there will be a thoughtful gift, because Henry is the kind of guy who pays attention to what his lady likes, and does his best to let her know he appreciates her. Bridging the Gaps

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Mae Clair -- Given my hero, Dane Carlisle, first meets my heroine, Ellie Sullivan, a photojournalist, when he accidentally breaks her camera lens and ruins her photo shoot, he’d probably buy her a new lens. There was a time years ago, when he would have stolen one instead, but a criminal past changes people.

Of course, as Ellie points out—"A professional camera lens doesn’t come cheap. I suppose you have thousands of dollars to spare. What are you, rich?"

And Dane’s answer?

"Yes."

Eclipse Lake

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Melissa Johnson -- I asked my hero Ben from Ghost of a Promise what he would do for his wife Beth’s birthday. To my surprise, he practically growled his response:

“As you know, Ms. Author, all of my attempts to give Beth the perfect birthday gift have ended in disaster.”

This surprised me. “They have? And what do you mean by ‘as I know?’ The only birthday gift I am aware of is when I gave Beth the idea of wearing the red playboy bunny outfit for your birthday. You’re welcome, by the way.”

“Thank you. Beth’s gifts to me have always ended in…well, not disaster.” Ben smiled his devilish smile. “If that is the tradeoff, then I will accept my painful fate on each and every one of her birthdays.”

“Painful fate?” I ask him. “What do you mean?”

“Remember the photo of me with a bandage on my head? It was taken on Beth’s birthday.”

“Was it? I didn’t know that. You were remodeling your house and the ceiling fell on your head, isn’t that right?”

“It did.” He folded his arms across his chest and glared -- as if I’d had something to do with it. “As you know, my house hates me.”

I try to deny it. “I’m sure it does not.”

“I’m sure it does. But that’s okay. We have an understanding. The house keeps Beth happy while I’m away and when I’m home I try to limit my attempts at home repair. But on every one of Beth’s birthdays I vow to try again.”

“That is your birthday gift? Umm, perhaps you should consider gifting her with something else?”

“That’s what Beth said. But I cannot.”

“Why not?”

Ben shrugged. “It makes her laugh.”

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Katherine Bone -- "You are looking in the wrong place, Henry," Adele said fanning her hands over Henry's broad shoulders. She gave his right arm a tug and turned him away from his maps. "No amount of scheming can get us from Cornwall to Tupelo for Elvis' birthday celebrations without raising Katherine's suspicions."

Henry frowned. "You are right, I suppose."

She lifted Henry's hand and placed a kiss in his palm. "We cannot abandon Garrick while his book is underway. Katherine is counting our your wit to spark her snappy dialogue, especially now that she's finishing up her Nelson's Tea series."

"Damn my eyes, I suppose you are right." Henry frowned as if calculating how to work the situation into his favor. "I had hoped to pay my respects to the king."

"You are imaginative, my love. Certainly there are other ways to show devotion."

He cocked his brow. "Like this one?" he asked, kissing her softly.

The spark between them was instantaneous. Adele's mind and body began to hum. "Ingenious. Love me tender. Love me true, Henry."

The Rogue's Prize

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A. S. Fenichel -- Belinda and Gabriel are demon hunters and Belinda is one bad ass Regency woman. I'm pretty sure a birthday gift for her would be unconventional. Gabriel might return home with a fine new short sword. They would head out to break up a demon cell before heading home for a night of passion. These two will get your blood simmering on so many levels. Ascension (on SALE for .99¢ this month!)

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Carrie Spencer -- Remy would take Marian out for dinner in a classy restaurant, watch her eyes sparkle when she opened her gift (diamond tennis bracelet) then look properly shocked and dismayed when she asked if was stolen. He'd whisk her onto the dance floor, hold her just a bit too close, then pay for supper with a stolen credit card. He'd also smoothly steal a kiss or two (or more) as well.... The Kissing Booth

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S. J. Maylee -- Seth learned a few tricks with origami while he was trying to win Ivy back. You could say their love story was a tangled mess. He got pretty good at creating roses though. I think the sky is the limit for what he’d create for her. I’d like to think he’d fold a sweet little box and put something quite pretty inside. Untangle Me

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Mariam Kobras -- Jon Stone, singer/songwriter, Hollywood celebrity, devoted father and husband to Naomi, would say this:

"Heck, I know that there aren't diamonds precious enough, jewelry beautiful enough, to show my Naomi how much I love her. And still I use any excuse and go out and buy her more. See, I grew up in a staunchly middle-class family. My mother owned ONE diamond, and that was her engagement ring. I want to do better for my wife. Though… to be honest… what she has given me can never be repaid, not even if I stole the British Crown Jewels for her. She gave me a wonderful son, a pretty and talented daughter, and the love of a lifetime. I'm blessed."

Want to know more about this amazing man? I have a book release coming up on February 24th! The Rosewood Guitar tells the story of young Jon Stone's journey from a Brooklyn boy to Hollywood fame, his search for the one true love, and his gift of music.

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Samantha Hunter -- Brody Palmer is a stock car champ, so I think he would definitely buy an exotic car driving experience at a raceway for his heroine, Hannah Morgan (in fact, he does get her out on the track in the book). :) But Hannah wants adventure, and putting her in something like a racing red Ferrari 458 would definitely fit that bill! Rock Solid

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I love these! Talk about some lucky heroines, and some yummy thoughtful heroes. *swoon*

Oh, and if you missed last month's question, you can check it out here. (A variety of characters sat on Santa's lap, and we got to hear what they whispered in St. Nick's ear.)

Make sure you come back for next month's question!

I pause whenever I'm asked this question. If I know you read romance, I'll answer that I write humorous Regencies and contemporaries. For everyone else, I'll say I write romantic comedy.

But the more complete answer is this: I'm writing stories that will hopefully cancel out a craptastic day. Or month. Or a span when life is repeatedly kicking you in the tender spots.

Don't get me wrong. I truly value those books and movies that bring forth the big-time wails during rough times. (A bag of Hershey kisses, a box of tissues, and bawling through the thirtieth viewing of Somewhere in Time? Oh yeah, definitely therapeutic.)

Some days, though, I need a different way to make it through life's assorted aggravations.

Many years ago, I had such an awful day at work that I couldn't shake off the anger and irritation once I got home. I spent the entire commute plotting terrible things to the many recipients of my justifiable wrath. A glass of wine couldn't dislodge my ire. Chocolate knew better than to even try.

I decided to watch a movie a co-worker had lent me, before I misplaced it and had to buy a replacement copy. I had impossibly low expectations of this movie, and planned to grumble through it before returning it the next day with a shrug and a half-hearted thumbs up.

How could I hope to enjoy something called Ace Ventura: Pet Detective?

I don't remember much about it anymore, but I do recall the opening sequence where Jim Carrey is playing a delivery person. He gleefully does everything to that package that he should NOT be doing: kicking it, dropping it, you name it. It was over-the-top, but I started to chuckle. And then giggle. When he put the package inside the closing elevator doors, smashing and thrashing it repeatedly? I lost it. There might have been an unladlylike snort (or two). I had to rewatch that sequence even though I couldn't catch my breath from laughing so hard the first time. After a few minutes I couldn't remember why I was so out of sorts earlier.

And that's what I'm hoping to do with my books.

I want to divert you, for a little while, from the irritating moments in your day. If my humorously-ever-after romances can make you laugh, and fan your face during the smexy times. . .

I'll be as giddy as a delivery person squishing parcels in an elevator.