Tina Martin - Fiction Novelist

Public Displays of Affection - A Mere Pretense?

2012-03-02T07:00:00.001-05:00

When you see someone kissing in public, do you think, "Wow. There's a happy couple!" Or do you take a different stance and view the lip-locking as a mere pretense - something unhappy people do in public to make everyone else think they're happy.

via

Here's how I perceive it:

Public displays of affection (in my opinion) is very depressing for single people. Maybe there's a lonely woman sitting on a park bench, sad because she hasn't found a man. Or a man who walks alone in the mall, wishing he had a woman to have coffee with. Do you really think they would want to see the kissing, inappropriate touching and other goo-goo-ga-ga type nonsense?

It basically comes down to a matter of respect. I wouldn't want to see over-the-top displays of affection when I'm out, spending time with my husband. And maybe, just maybe if these "affectionate" couples loved each other in private, they wouldn't have to try so hard to prove their love in public.

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The Baby Daddy Interviews - Now Available on Kindle!

2012-03-01T10:11:00.000-05:00

It has finally arrived. The drama, the madness, the men and meltdowns is finally available to order. If you have a Kindle, computer or android reading app, you can download The Baby Daddy Interviews today for only $5!

For those who prefer a paperback copy, look for it soon. Enjoy!

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Baby Daddy Drama Coming Soon!

2012-02-27T07:00:00.002-05:00

The Baby Daddy Interviews is coming sooner than expected! You can order the eBook from Barnes & Noble or Amazon.

Look for the series, 'The Making of The Baby Daddy Interviews' coming soon to the blog.

The Baby Daddy Interviews
Book Description:

Breonna Morris thought her marriage to Tyler was perfect. Never mind all the hours she spent at work. Never mind the time she wasted shopping and partying with her best friend, Courtney. Never mind being a wife. She was living the married life as a single woman, while Tyler slowly drifted away.

Breonna’s world turns upside down when she wakes up one morning to find that Tyler is gone. Desperate to find meaning in his disappearance, she reaches out to him but Tyler makes it very clear that he wants nothing else to do with her, that he’s tired of being a single, married man. He’s moved on. Breonna is devastated, realizing that not only is she suddenly husbandless, but she’s also pregnant.

Courtney gives her a crazy idea to put an ad in the local paper to search for a father figure for her baby. Breonna follows through with the idea and is excited with the responses she receives. She even conducts interviews with the most qualified candidates. One in particular catches her eye, Vaughn Ramos – a sexy, tall Puerto-Rican papi who wants to play daddy in more ways than one. There’s only one problem – Tyler doesn’t know that she’s pregnant.

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Thrifting - My 'New' Bag

2012-02-24T07:00:00.001-05:00

Yes, I love shopping at thrift stores and finding good quality items. But not only is the quality of the items I buy excellent. They are also unique. I don't want to dress like everyone else. I like being different.

You know those women who like to have a bag/purse in every color to match every, single piece of clothing they have? Well, that's not me. I buy bags that I can wear with anything; like this one I picked up while thrift shopping.

I picked it up because I noticed the excellent quality. I usually load my purse with a lot of junk, so I need a strong, sturdy bag to hold it all. I didn't know it was a Michael Kors bag until I looked at the label on the inside.

Score!

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Giveaway - The Crush

2012-02-20T08:30:00.000-05:00

Today only, I am giving away 10 copies of my short story The Crush. If you have the ability to post reviews on Amazon.com and would like to read The Crush, leave a comment below.

The Crush is the story of Sherri. She's bored with her marriage to Greg and during this time, she runs into her high school crush, Devon Mitchell. With Devon, she feels excitement that she hasn't felt in a long time. Devon asks her out to dinner, but is that the only thing on his agenda? Now Sherri must decide if she wants to make things work with her husband or move on to pursue the excitement that her marriage is lacking.

Again, if you have the ability to post reviews on Amazon.com, leave your email address below. Then after you read the story, go to Amazon and write a review. Thanks you and happy reading!

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The Baby Daddy Interviews - Coming April 9th!

2012-02-14T08:00:00.007-05:00

My new novel, The Baby Daddy Interviews will be released April 9, 2012. Read the excerpt and leave a comment about the cover below.

Prologue

“I can’t do this anymore.”

That’s the note Tyler left on Breonna’s nightstand three months ago. Those five words, scribbled in red ink on a yellow-ruled sheet of legal pad paper, became etched in her mind as if he’d fiercely spoken them to her out loud, leaving an impression – a permanent stamp in her memory bank.

I can’t do this anymore.

When Breonna first saw the note, she felt her heart sink into the deepest part of her chest, beating faster than normal – adrenaline sending her into panic mode at the realization that her husband was gone. If appearances meant everything (and in her opinion, they did), she was in trouble. What would her friends think? Her family? Her coworkers? Neighbors? Tyler had left so abruptly and without explanation, leaving her to find out the reasons why he dipped on her own, especially since he wouldn’t answer or return her calls.

Breonna sighed, sat down on a rusty, fold-up chair and began flipping through an old childhood photo album, trying to distract herself into thinking about something else – anything other than Tyler Morris’ disappearing act. But she couldn’t help but wonder about what she did, what she didn’t do or what she could’ve done differently to make Tyler stay – to save her marriage – to preserve a love that she thought would be an everlasting one. But now, a sista couldn’t even get a return phone call from the man. Where’s the love?

She met Tyler three years back while she was sitting in a refresher computer course at Paul D. Camp Community College. She was in the middle of a Word document crisis, having major difficulty figuring out the whole mail merge function, when Tyler walked in to speak to her instructor. The frustrated Breonna glanced up at him but quickly looked away to avoid the magnetism and misconception of prolonged eye contact. Yet, from her quick look she could see that he was fine – dressed up all Kanye West-ish, rocking a black sports coat with a pink buttoned-up shirt hanging over his blue jeans. It took a very masculine and confident man to rock a pink shirt and he rocked it well. Very well. His dark, chocolate complexion left Breonna completely enamored. Intrigued, she peeped above her monitor to see if he was still there while simultaneously trying to associate his look with that of a famous person, and that’s when he smiled at her. She smiled back reluctantly, tired and stressed from a hard day’s work. Plus, her hair (her pride and glory) was frizzy, her face clammy and after the lazy screw-this-computer-class smile she flashed at Tyler, she remembered that she’d stuck a pencil behind her ear. Who does that anymore?

So after spending the bulk of the one-hour class lost in mail merge jargon (the remainder of the time daydreaming about a hot bubble bath, scented candles and Mixed Berry Arbor Mist) she was on the way to the student parking lot when she saw him again – the handsome professor – standing next to a gray BMW, carrying the kind of briefcase that could be used to hold ransom money.

“Excuse me,” he said, briefcase in hand with a certain smugness glowing on his face, the kind of look that confident men who knew they were sophisticated and stunning gave to women.

Breonna looked up at him and in that moment she realized who he resembled – Blair Underwood.

“Hi,” she said, smiling hard, seemingly star-struck, as if she was talking to Blair Underwood himself.

The two struck up a conversation (something about the advantages of night schooling) and Tyler asked her out to dinner that same night. Yeah, he had it like that.

In the passing weeks, they quickly discovered they had a lot in common. They both grew up in Suffolk, Virginia and had respectable, high-paying jobs (she a pediatrician). They were not morning people, both equally addicted to coffee. Each had subscriptions to magazines (he loved reading Men’s Health while she was addicted to Essence). They watched the same TV shows (CSI, Rescue Me and The Office). They enjoyed dining in fine establishments, taking walks around the city and spending time at social functions. Breonna was thrilled that she was dating a college-educated brother, who though not a vegetarian himself, didn’t mind the fact that she was one. They were so compatible, Tyler surprised her with the bling for the ring finger six months later and the two married shortly thereafter – Suffolk’s most talked about fall wedding of September 2007.

Life was peachy.

Not only did Breonna meet her goal of getting hitched before age thirty (she was twenty-nine and some change), she scored a winner along the way, a college professor – an intelligent man with class and swagger; the kind of brother who still believed in opening doors for a woman. They were on track to have the ideal life together. He’d moved in with her since, pre-marriage, he was renting an apartment near the college. Breonna was living in a four-bedroom home she inherited from her mother who had passed two years before she even met Tyler, so it made perfect sense that he would move in with her, which he didn’t mind at all.

All things considered, they were the happy couple, the ones that “were made for each other,” Tanesha, Breonna’s sister, would say. They had the kind of marriage that made single folks long for wedding bliss. Even Breonna’s best friend, Courtney, described them as “the perfect couple” as if the title could ever be stripped away from Will Smith and Jada Pinkett.

Then it apparently all came crashing down. After only two years of wedlock, Breonna woke up to Tyler’s note, I can’t do this anymore, and if that wasn’t bad enough, she didn’t even get the chance to tell him she was pregnant.

[Excerpt from The Baby Daddy Interviews, coming April 9, 2012]

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Whitney Houston - My Love Is Your Love

2012-02-13T15:14:00.000-05:00

I know Whitney Houston's songs, but I think my mom was a bigger fan than I was. Her favorite song by the singer was this one:

I like it too, and just realized that this song was released the same year I graduated from high school. Wow! I have no comments about what happened to her. I just appreciate her music, and I know her family and fans will miss her.

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Movie Review - Something Borrowed

2012-02-12T17:36:00.000-05:00

I actually sat down today and watched the movie, Something Borrowed, by one of my favorite authors, Emily Giffin. I didn't read the book, but I have read Something Blue, so I know all about the Darcy-Dex-Rachel fiasco. The movie was very entertaining. I loved the drama and the love triangle and a few lessons I got from the movie was:

Lesson One: Don't sweat someone who does not want you. Sometimes, you might see a girl or guy and think that they are amazing, hot, talented - or whatever they are that may have attracted you to that person. If you show interest and that interest is not reciprocated, don't waste your time. Avoid the heartache and move on to someone who thinks YOU are the hottest person on earth. *wink*

Lesson Two: If you like/love someone, don't hesitate to tell them. That's actually an underlying lesson in my novel, Another Man's Treasure.

Click HERE to watch my favorite scene from the movie.

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Nature and Reflection

2012-02-08T07:00:00.001-05:00

Sometimes in life, we get so busy we forget to look up in the sky and just marvel. So go ahead. Take a few minutes and marvel...

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." - Albert Einstein

"Earth laughs in flowers." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first." - Mark Twain

"The poetry of the earth is never dead." - John Keats

I snapped these photos on Friday, February 3rd in Charlotte while taking my son to (and from) the park. I smiled all the way there (and back)!

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For The One Taken for Granted...

2012-02-06T08:00:00.004-05:00

Have you ever felt taken for granted in your friendships?

That's the way Tiphani feels in my novel Another Man's Treasure? She's the best friend of Reggie Howard. They've been best friends since they were kids. But now that they're all grown up, Tiphani is in love with Reggie, but he doesn't seem to love her with the same fervor. Besides, he has a girlfriend and Tiphani is just a friend - the woman he runs to whenever he needs to confide in someone or just to chill.

But when Miss Tiphani becomes involved with Mr. Derrick Brooks, Reggie is beyond jealous. And now, he realizes that he wants her more than ever. But is it too late for him to win her back?

Find out what happens next.

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Tyler Perry - "You cannot stop believing..."

2012-01-27T07:00:00.001-05:00

I saw this video on YouTube the other day and was thoroughly inspired. My fellow authors know, being a writer is tough - especially with the way the book industry is changing. Paperbacks are becoming extinct. Ebooks are taking over and its difficult to sell your Ebook when so many authors are just giving books away Ebooks for free. Writing is something I do because I'm passionate about it...and while I would like to be one of those authors who made it like Nicholas Sparks, James Patterson or Terry McMillan, I sometimes feel discouraged as I think about ways I can get to that level, and why it is so difficult to get there.

So when I found this bit of inspiration from Tyler, I was blown away. One of my favorite quotes:

"If you spread your water across many, many seeds, you don't have as much water for one seed."

It made me realize that I need to focusing on writing and I cannot stop believing. Writing is my passion, my dream come true. I cannot tell you how happy I was when I held my first novel (Secrets On Lake Drive) in my hands. So authors, if you're at a book signing and don't sell a single book, don't give up. If no one shows up, don't give up. If you need to, watch this video from Tyler every day then get to work!

Adventures in Uptown Charlotte

2012-01-25T07:00:00.009-05:00

I grew up in a small town, but I love living in a big city. There's so much to do, to see...at any given moment, something is going on. I love Charlotte. The Uptown area is the opening setting for my manuscript, Accidental Deception and another project I'm currently working on.

Check out the Writer's Digest story about formatting a manuscript here.

Guest Post - Another Man's Treasure

2012-01-23T17:39:00.000-05:00

Check out my guest post @ Close Encounters blog as I discuss Another Man's Treasure.

Rain

2012-01-23T07:00:00.001-05:00

It's been raining on and off for the past few days and while normally that's a good thing for me (because I love the rain, and it helps me concentrate on writing) I've been sick. So instead of posting about my newest completed manuscript today, I'm going to share the book trailer to my novel, Another Man's Treasure. If you haven't read it, look it up online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

(The Nook and Kindle price is only $5).

Afterparty

2012-01-20T07:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Friday er'body. I Hope you've had a productive week. Check out this beautiful nail polish I found in the beauty section at CVS in Uptown Charlotte.

Yeah, that's right. The color is Afterparty, so you know I had to get one.

The brand name is Confetti. It's a peachy/reddish pale color. I always wondered what the big appeal of an afterparty was. First you have a party, then an afterparty...I don't know about you, but after I've been standing in five-inch stilettos for three hours, I'm not thinking about an afterparty, or the after-afterparty. I'm ready for bed.

This is a pretty color though.

To add a splash of accent to it, I chose a sophisticated silver (by L.A. Colors) and a cocktail ring.

Bling!

What do you think about the color? (It made me think of the Fiesta Remix by R. Kelly)

Interview - Vacation Interrupted

2012-01-16T08:00:00.002-05:00

Okay, so the Packers lost yesterday...that really sucks!

Now that I've gotten that out of the way, if you missed my interview with Joey Pinkney, check it out. I talk about my short story, Vacation Interrupted, a story that centers around a woman's struggle with breast cancer and her unsupportive husband. And just as an fyi, I have all novels and short stories listed right here on my blog under the "My Books" section. Excerpts and book trailers can be found at my website.

Vacation Interrupted is available now at Amazon.com (Kindle or pc download) for only 99 cents.

Last Sunday, I blogged on my publisher's blog about keeping secrets, something the characters in my novel, Secrets On Lake Drive, are experts at. Head on over there to read my post.

Blue Ivy

2012-01-13T07:00:00.005-05:00

Let's talk baby names. So namecandy.com came out with a list of the first baby names by state for the year 2012. That list created no buzz whatsoever, but Beyonce gave birth to her daughter and the world goes crazy. It's even reported on the news.

Having a child is a special and happy occasion, that's why I can't understand why a lot of people are so negative about the couple's name choice. Who cares what her name is? Shouldn't two people who created a life together be entitled to name their child whatever they want? I'm just sayin'...

Leave little Blue Ivy alone.

Ichiban

2012-01-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

During the marvelous week I had off work (a week that I am still recovering from and missing terribly) a friend suggested that we try Ichiban, a Japanese restaurant/buffet near Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.

Parking was plentiful, the restaurant was clean, spacious, the waitresses were friendly and the food was never-ending.

I'm not a big fan of shrimp, but they had the best garlic shrimp ever! Additionally, the selection of shrimp seemed endless - steamed shrimp, coconut shrimp, garlic shrimp, black pepper shrimp, stuffed shrimp...there must have been over 10 varieties.

My mother-in-law was adventurous enough to try fried frog legs, mussels and squid. I WAS NOT! I did try a crab rangoon - a deep fried wonton filled with crab and cream cheese. It was different (for me) but surprisingly good. Other food on the buffet: chicken wings, hibachi chicken, rose chicken, fried okra, loaded half potatoes, crawfish, other types of fish, yeast rolls, pizza, sweet and sour chicken, yellow rice (even the rice is to die for!) sushi and soooo much more. Also, if you choose (and is also included as a part of the buffet) you can pick your preferred veggies and meat and have your own hibachi prepared while you wait. This has to be one of the best restaurants in Charlotte. As of this post, the weekday buffet price is $6.99. I was there on a Sunday and the price is $9.99. Of course, drinks are not inlcuded. You must try this place if you live anywhere near Charlotte.

Vacation Interrupted

2012-01-10T07:00:00.001-05:00

I wrote Vacation Interrupted because I wanted readers to see the emotional toll breast cancer has on a woman and her man. If a man truly loves a woman who has been affected by cancer, then his body suffers just as much as hers. Read the full interview here and purchase Vacation Interrupted from Amazon for only 99 cents!

My Latest Completed Project

2012-01-09T07:00:00.002-05:00

Happy Monday!

If you're like me, you're sippin on something hot. This morning, that's coffee for me. Tomorrow, I'll have tea.

Now for my completed manuscript. You wanna know what the title is, don't you? Well, the title is: Accidental Deception. It starts off as a sad story that turns into a beautiful love story. Of course I had to add the suspense! I think the more drama I create in a story, the better.

I'm glad it's done finally, although I'm not sure if I want to publish it just yet . So in the meantime, I am entering a contest. I've never entered a contest thus far in my professional writing career so I thought this might be a fun thing to do while I make up my mind.

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I Want to go to Jamaica...

2012-01-06T08:45:00.000-05:00

I was off work the last week in December and was not prepared to go back to work. This is where I want to be...

But I guess I have to settle for pictures.
Images via Pintrest

Moonshine and Morazan

2012-01-04T07:00:00.032-05:00

We were leaving one of our favorite Mexican restaurants when I saw this BEAUtiful moon. I just had to have some pictures. So I drove around with my camera phone (looking like a crazy person), trying to get different shots of this beautiful full moon.

Now y'all know that a camera phone did not take these awesome pics. I tried several times, but each time, the pictures looked like a blur. So my patient husband went home, grabbed his camera and snapped these shots for yours truly.

I know. I'm so spoiled.

But isn't he awesome?

Now, for the grub:

This is a steak quesadilla with sour cream, guacamole, and rice. My favorite. It's very good.

Matthew had a steak burrito. He only ate a small piece, but in his defense, it's pretty large.

The strawberry margarita was excellent, though it wasn't as frozen as I typically like it. And I ordered it before I realized it was $9 dollars. Yep, $9 dollars! They must not know about the RECESSION! (Okaaay!)

Interesing artwork on the wall in this restaurant. Matthew said, "Ma, look!" Then he asked me

if it was a house. We had a good time as we usually do when we eat there! If you want authentic

Mexican food for a fair price, check out Morazan on Central Ave.

Looking to 2012

2012-01-02T07:00:00.002-05:00

It's 2012! Woo whoo! I've been off work for the past week and I do not want to go back. I'm dreading it! But I guess the show must go on. My son goes back to school today and being that the temperature is supposed to be 42 degrees, I am not too excited about having to let go of my comforter to see him off to school. *sigh* I'd rather sleep in, but you know the coffee will warm me up. Actually, I bought some pomegranate green tea last night...curious to see what that taste like.

As for blogging: with my busy book schedule this year, I will be posting only three days per week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Monday's post will usually be book/writing related. All other posts will be a bunch of random awesomeness.

Sidenote: I went to my first NFL game on Dec. 24th - Panthers vs. Buccaneers. I'm glad the Panthers won even though I'm a Green Bay fan. It was a nice 60-degree day. Good times.

Now back to 2012. Last year went by entirely too fast. I'm not liking this one bit. I mean, don't get me wrong...I love to see another year, but I'm not prepared for how quickly they fade away. So this year, my advice to myself and to you is:

Make sure you use your time wisely.
Don't sweat the small stuff.
Everything is not a conspiracy...stop it!
Associate with people who can encourage you and upbuild you.
Be real and always true to yourself.
Find your passion and pursue it.

Now here's the book news: I look forward to releasing a new book, The Baby Daddy Interviews. (Read an excerpt on my website.) Look for it in the spring! I also just finished another novel that I will tell you about briefly next Monday. After spending all year on it, I think I have it polished enough for editing. Yay!

Projects for this year: Those who follow me know I'm transitioning to natural hair (I guess thats not really a project...I'm just sayin'). I'm also eating healthier, only cheating a couple of nights per week (hee hee). As for writing projects, I am working on a novel that I started two years ago...based in Charlotte, it is a suspense novel that follows the life of a woman who's unwanted by her husband but is the focus of a stalker. I'll finish that one this year.

I hope you all are doing well in twenty twelve!

2011's Most Popular Post

2011-12-23T07:00:00.002-05:00

I'm always curious to see what people are reading on my blog. With over 1,200 views, this is the most popular post on my blog: The Making of Secrets On Lake Drive - Part 4.

Go on...check it out!

I'm waiting...

Okay, so apparently, there are a bunch of you out there who love Haitian art. In my novel, (Secrets On Lake Drive) Sean loved Haitian art since it was a part of his heritage. I blogged about it and people just loved reading it. Take a peep inside the book by clicking on it below.

My blog is currently on Vacation. Back January 2nd!

Visit My Website

2011-12-16T11:30:00.004-05:00

Read book descriptions, excerpts and watch video book trailers at my website!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-14T07:00:00.001-05:00

The End of Year Project: Thrift Store Mini Haul

2011-12-10T17:15:00.000-05:00

Okay, so this is not a major haul, but I do want to share a few items I picked up on my thrift shopping adventure:

This is a Kim Rogers sweater that still had the original price tag of $39.99 on it, so never been worn. That's a plus. It was on sale at the thrift store for $8.50 and I got it for half off. So I paid $4.25 for this sweater and I love it! This is going to look fabulous with a pair of jeans and boots.

This gray sweater is a Dressbarn sweater that was the same price as the sweater above. It also came with the original price tag for $39.99. The thrift store price was $6.00 and I paid $3.00 after receiving half off. Going to look fab with my gray boots.

This cute bag was $5 bucks and I didn't get half off, so I paid $5.00 for it.

Check out my other End of Year projects here.

2011-12-07T12:24:00.002-05:00

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Letter Writing Day

2011-12-07T07:00:00.001-05:00

When was the last time you wrote someone a letter? No, not an email. An actual l-e-t-t-e-r?

Letter writing has become extinct thanks to social media, email and texting. I miss the old days when I ran to the mailbox and ripped open a letter I received from a friend. Trust me, it's ten times better than receiving an email. It's something tangible that you can hold and feel - not the same old three-minute email that requires little to no effort.

Why am I doing all this ranting?

Well, today, December 7th is Letter Writing Day. To celebrate, blow the dust off of your notebook and if you still know how to write (lol) why not pen a letter to someone dear to you. Let them know how much they are appreciated. Or better yet, write a personalized note or poem on a card. Go ahead. Make someone's day.

The End of Year Project: Eat at a New Restaurant

2011-12-05T06:59:00.000-05:00

Okay, so this is not exactly a sit-down restaurant, but...

Okay, let me explain.

So the husband plays baseball and a teammate told him about this joint on Statesville Avenue called Pile Em Up Bob's or Bob's Pile Em Up...either way is fine I guess. He stopped by one day and ordered a chicken gizzard dinner (don't front like you don't know what gizzards are...lol. Yeah, we coun-tray down here in Charlotte.) Anyway, those gizzards were piled on the plate along with fries and I sampled a couple. They were seasoned to perfection!

Needless to say I tried some food from here a week later. I ordered the wings and fries. My review - It was off the hook! It's funny that I never even heard of this place. It's kinda like a secret here in Charlotte. But I'm here to tell ya...if you live in Charlotte, you have to try this spot. I never tried their burgers but folks are raving about them, so that's next on my list. Located at 3422 Statesville Road.

Vote - What is Your Favorite Romance Genre?

2011-12-01T09:47:00.000-05:00

via

Still looking for your votes. What is your favorite romance genre?

Vote to the right.

Thanks!

Black Friday Book Sale!

2011-11-25T14:11:00.001-05:00

Black Friday Book Sale

Buy a copy of Another Man's Treasure from Amazon.com beginning today, November 25th thru November 28th and get an autographed copy of Secrets On Lake Drive for only $5.

Email tina@tinamartinbooks.com for more information.

*Another Man's Treasure is on sale at Amazon for only $6.29. Click Here.

Thanks,

Synopsis for the New Novel

2011-11-23T07:33:00.001-05:00

Have I ever told you guys how much I hate writing a synopsis. I hate it! *sigh*

What is a synopsis? Basically, writers have to take their novel and tell what's happening in the story from beginning to end in just a few pages. Publishers and agents usually request a synopsis to determine whether they will be interested in publishing the novel.

I wish I could have had someone else write the synopsis for me but since I'm the writer of the story, I had to do it. *double sigh* Anyways, it took about a week for me to finally come up with something I can live with. However, it is 8 pages long, which is probably too long for agents and publishers! *triple sigh*

However, I feel really good about it. I'll have more on the novel coming soon. In the meantime, I'm on vacation until December 1st, so be safe gals and guys and have fun with your families.

How Inspiration Helps to Beat Writer's Block

2011-11-21T10:20:00.000-05:00

This is another helpful Writer's Digest story to help us writer's out. If you suffer from writer's block, try some of these suggestions from their article: 4 Ways Inspiration Helps You Beat Writer's Block.

Look for a writing update from me on Wednesday.

Happy Monday!

20 Ways to Wear a Scarf

2011-11-18T06:00:00.001-05:00

Hi there! I'm busy meeting my deadline for the novel I'm working on, but I had to pop in and show you guys this amazing video on twenty ways to wear a scarf. I love scarves and I'm actually starting a collection of them. This is a really cool video on how to wear them, courtesy of UrbanOg.com. If you subscribe to their YouTube channel, you'll get a lot of cool videos like this.

Aren't these cool ideas?

Two Down...

2011-11-14T09:36:00.000-05:00

Get Fit Mondays - I know I missed last week's post only because I have a ton of things going on right now with finishing the novel and analyzing my life going into 2012!

I haven't been eating all that great last week because I haven't had time to cook, but somehow I managed to lose 2 pounds. (Go me!) I still kept my daily routine of walking/treadmill exercises and taking vitamins to help boost metabolism and give me energy. They must be working ;-)

If you want to get fit and be healthly, don't wait until January to make a New Year's resolution...do it now.

Leave It In 2011

2011-11-13T07:30:00.000-05:00

via

Sometimes, it's hard letting go of the past, as it it hard to break away from things that you know are not good for you. Whether it be a dead-end job, a relationship or even food - if it's not healtly for you, don't waste your time dragging the garbage in 2012. You can help mold your future (your happiness) and create a better life for yourself if you leave the past in the past and look to the future with positivity. Think about the things in your life that cause the most anxiety and find a way to leave them in 2011.

Take Me Away...

2011-11-08T07:30:00.002-05:00

This is where I need to be right now. Doesn't this look like a postcard? What happened to summer?

Book Lovers Day

2011-11-05T13:11:00.000-04:00

Today, November 5th, is Book Lovers Day. What to do? Well, if you love reading, grab a book and find a cozy, quiet place and read!

via

Check out my novels online.

Happy Reading!

The End of Year Project: Reorganize My Closet

2011-11-03T07:00:00.007-04:00

Have you heard of people refer to something as a "hot mess"? Well, they were talking about my closet. Don't believe me?

Then check out this disaster:

Um, yeah...disaster is the perfect word for ^that^.

That's why reorganizing my closet was one of the items in my End of Year Project. It only took an hour to fix this and pack most of my summer shoes (the temperature is still in the 70s here in Charlotte, so I left some sandals out). That being said, I must have packed 30 sandals! Yeah, I'm kinda shoe crazy.

Anyway, after I cleared the clutter - packed shoes, folded shirts, hung dresses and blouses, here's the outcome:

I have very bad lighting in my bedroom, so I hope you can see the before and after shots. I think I did an excellent job! I still have to unpack sweaters, so there's going to be another closet organizing session in a few weeks.

Oh, and before I go, check this out:

This is a little D.I.Y. project that I designed to hang my earrings. (Yes, these are my earrings.)

What you'll need:

A cotton shirt

A nail or tack

A hanger

I made my earring holder using an old cotton dress. I actually cut a piece of the dress, then secured it to a hanger, but you can keep it simple. Just find an old (but pretty) cotton T-shirt, that you can no longer wear, and put it on a hanger. Find a good spot on your wall to hang the hanger on a nail. Then take your earrings and hang them onto the shirt. This has made my fashion life so much easier! My sister saw my earring holder and she made a cute little hanger for her earrings. I hope you try it. It makes finding the perfect pair of earrings to match your outfit so much easier! And it doesn't cost a thing. Be sure to check out my End of Year Project post to see what else I will be getting into before the year is out!

NaNoWriMo

2011-10-31T07:00:00.001-04:00

If you are a writer, know a writer or an aspiring writer, then you are probably aware of NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month. Yeah, that's ~~write~~ right!

November is National Novel Writing Month so basically, you are supposed to write a 50,000 word novel from November 1st up until the deadline of November 30th at midnight. In the past, I've seen most people do this by breaking down a word requirement by day. Some write between 1,500 - 2,000 words per day.

Me - I've never done a NaNoWriMo novel, only because my novels are usually 95,000 words or better. For example, the manuscript I've been working on all year is over 100,000 words. (What can I say, I love details!) So I will pass on the NaNoWriMo experience this year. Plus, I'm still finishing a novel, so I really don't have the time to invest in it. I may consider it next year.

People who've tried it last year said that it was a fun experience, so if you are looking to write your first novel, why not give it a shot? Just be sure to know your story and characters. Make an outline and stick to a schedule and words-per-day requirement. Also, don't worry about formatting and editing. These steps are usually done after the rough manuscript is complete.

So write away new authors!

Much success,

Kindlegraph

2011-10-28T08:00:00.003-04:00

We're living in the age where everything is going digital. Even books are going electronic. Do you own an electronic reading device - a Kindle, Nook, Sony eReader or smart phone reading app? I have a Kindle, and I'm starting to like it. I've read several books on it now, and it is very simple and easy to use.

Now you can request a personalized autograph from authors who have signed up on Kindlegraph. I have all of my titles on Kindlegraph, so if you would like an electronic autograph, go to Kindlegraph to request it and I'll sign. It's as simple as that.

Books by Tina Martin

Have a wonderful day!

Bed and Breakfast

2011-10-26T08:00:00.003-04:00

Years ago when the hubs and I were living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, we took a weekend trip to Green Bay to tour the Packers staduim. (Go Pack Go!) We stayed at this relaxing and peaceful little bed and breakfast - The Astor House. The room was lovely (I think ours was called the 'London Room') with a nice size jacuzzi and a very comfy bed. There was an adorable basket of breads and jam with juice and tea waiting at our door every morning for breakfast. The inn keepers are the nicest people you'll ever meet and they were very helpful with giving us directions. I was just thinking how I would love, love, LOVE to have an atmosphere like this to finish my manuscript. It would be awesome!

What's Your Routine?

2011-10-24T11:33:00.000-04:00

Source: None via Andi on Pinterest

I wonder if I could actually do this? Hmm...

This morning, I noticed that there were actually people out walking. Usually it's just me, but I passed at least 6 people this morning. I think I've started something.

I lost one pound last week (yay!) and I'm feeling good. Maybe if I do the exercise routine above, I'll lose five pounds instead of one...

The End of Year Project

2011-10-21T19:07:00.005-04:00

Is it just me, or did this year go by really fast? Since that's the case, I thought it would be fun to make a list of things I want to do before the end of the year.

1. Go to a movie alone.
2. Finish the manuscript that I've been working on all year.
~~3. Have a girl's night out.~~
~~4. Post a thrift store haul on my blog.~~
5. RSVP with a meetup group
~~6. Reorganize my closet~~
~~7. Eat at a new restaurant.~~

Pretty simple, right? Of course, I'll write a post for each of these as I complete them. Look for them soon!

Love A Fair

2011-10-20T11:58:00.001-04:00

Me and the fam went to the N.C. State Fair on Saturday. Visit the official state fair website here, but in the meantime, check out some highlights:

A variety of deep fried foods, but deep-fried Kool-Aid is a first for me...

Lemonade & Corn - Do the two really go together? I mean, just because they're both yellow doesn't mean that they go together, right?

No cotton candy for me! It's the equivalent to buying a bag of sugar from your local grocery store and grabbing a fist full of it and throwing it in your mouth. No thanks.

I didn't get to see what Steph's Strawberry Creations was all about. I was drawn to the vendor further down. It looked like the place was on fire. Can you see the smoke?

Chicken on a stick?

Yeah, those are actually people up there.

The kids seem to like this one, but I didn't let Matthew ride it. I thought it was a plane crash simulator by the way it was rocking back and forth.

Didn't get a chance to ride the ferris wheel. The line was a mile long and I didn't feel like waiting.

This ring toss game is nearly impossible to win, so I gave the rings to lil Matthew and let him throw them wherever.

I should've tried something from here instead of the nasty, salty turkey leg I bought for $8.50. Never again.

You can't see me and lil Matthew, but we're in here!

Matthew rode this ride three times.

He rode this once, and did not want to get off.

Some crazy-looking handmade hats. I wasn't feelin' these.

What's the deal with the Jamaican bananas with dreads?

Played this ball toss game and didn't win a thing, though my sister won three times.

Overall, it was the perfect day for the fair....75 degrees, sunny with a slight breeze. I guess, since it was opening weekend, it was super crowded. For the kiddie rides, we had to wait in line for 10-15 minutes. That was a little frustrating, but well worth the wait for my little one! October 23rd is the last day, so if you live near Raleigh, go and have some family fun. It's worth it; even if you have to pay $2.50 for a drink and eight bucks for a turkey leg :-).

Thursday 13 - Things I'm Loving Right Now

2011-10-20T07:00:00.000-04:00

1. Morning walks and the cup of hot coffee that follows.
2. My new short hairdo.
3. Boots season.

via pintrest.com

4. Cool mornings and snuggling in bed with my comforter.

5. Singing this song in the shower:

6. My fluffy pink and white polka dot bath robe.
7. Finishing my new novel.
8. Unpacking fall/winter clothes.
9. Watching movie reruns on Lifetime.
10. Chatting with my sisters.
11. The novel I'm currently reading on my Kindle.
12. Updating my blog.
13. Last, but not least, spending time with the fam.

The Crush - A Short Story

2011-10-19T08:00:00.002-04:00

After being married for five years, Sherri is bored with her marriage to Greg. He constantly complains about his job and she can't remember the last time he took her on a date.

When she runs into her high school crush, Devon Mitchell, she feels excitement that she hasn't felt in a long time. Devon asks her out to dinner and she accepts his offer, but this isn't just a dinner among old high school acquaintances. Devon has more up his sleeve. With the problems in her marriage, will Sherri have the willpower to withstand his advances, and make things work with her husband?

Available in Ebook format only for only $0.99. Download it to your Kindle, PC or smartphone.

Character Interview - Tiphani Water

2011-10-18T08:00:00.001-04:00

Author Tina Martin sits down to chat with Tiphani Water, from Another Man’s Treasure.

Tina: Tiphani, tell us a little about yourself.
Tiphani: Um…I work in accounting, so I’m great with numbers. I’ve always been a bookworm. I live in Virginia Beach, Virginia and I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.

Tina: If I recall correctly, your friend Reggie also has a Bachelor’s in Business. Was that his idea or yours to go to college for the same major.
Tiphani: [smiles] Mine. He actually wanted to do something in business but wasn’t sure where to start, so I suggested he take the same major as me. That way, I could help him. We could help each other.

Tina: And you went to the same college?
Tiphani: Yep. Shared a dorm, too. Man, we had some good times.

Tina: So when did you fall in love with him?
Tiphani: [frowns and smiles at the same time] Excuse me? I never said I was in love with Reggie.

Tina: So you don’t have any feelings for him, whatsoever?
Tiphani: Well, I love him. He’s my best friend.

Tina: But nothing romantic?
Tiphani: [smiles] Nothing.

Tina: [looks at Tiphani with one eyebrow raised] After reading Reggie’s interview, then reading this one with you, some people are going to say, no way. There is no way she could not have feelings for this man. I mean, when I asked Reggie about his feelings for you, his exact words were, and I quote: I love Tiphani with everything in me. To some, that might sound like a confession.
Tiphani: Tina, I read your interview with Reggie and all he was trying to say was that he doesn’t want anything to come between us that could ruin our friendship and I agree with him one hundred percent.

Tina: So you believe that a man and woman can be 'just friends'?
Tiphani: Of course. I don't know why people make such a big deal out of it. I mean, it is possible.

Tina: I don't think people are making a big deal out of it. I think musicians, movies and books spotlight this issue. Like Musiq's song, Halfcrazy. Have you actually listened to the lyrics to that song?
Tiphani: Um...yeah.

Tina: If you would let me, I would like to play the video.
Tiphani: That's fine.

Tina: So what do you think?
Tiphani: Don't get me wrong...it's a great song. I just don't have this problem with Reggie.

Tina: So what if Reggie asked you out—
Tiphani: We go out all the time.

Tina: Okay, let me be clear. If Reggie told you that he has feelings for you—
Tiphani: He doesn’t have feelings for me like that.

Tina: Why not? You two grew up together, went to college together, shared a dorm and you mean to tell me that the idea of a relationship never came up in conversation?
Tiphani: No.

Tina: I must say, Tiphani, I find that very hard to believe.
Tiphani: Well, Reggie has always had a girlfriend so…

Tina: Shontay is his current woman, right? How well do you get along with her?
Tiphani: [shrugs] She’s his girl. I really don’t like her and I told Reggie that.

Tina: So you and Shontay do not get along then?
Tiphani: We really don’t know each other well enough to get along. When Reggie’s at my place, he’s there alone with me. He doesn’t bring her.

Tina: And Shontay is fine with that? With you being alone with her boyfriend?
Tiphani: I guess she would have to be.

Tina: So how do you really feel about having Reggie as a best friend? I mean, do you miss having a woman as a best friend, you know, someone you could go shopping with?
Tiphani: Reggie and I go shopping, dancing, he even sat with me in a nail salon once while I got my nails done.

Tina: Really?
Tiphani: Yep.

Tina: Sorry to get back on Shontay again, but Reggie said something about Shontay when we talked. He said that Shontay was his girl, but she would never be what you were to him. What are your thoughts on that?
Tiphani: [smiles uncomfortably] Um, I think that sometimes he gives me too much precedence over her and if I were dating a guy and I always put Reggie ahead of him, that would be a problem. I tried explaining this to him, but he wasn’t trying to hear me.

Tina: Speaking of dating, do you have any prospects?
Tiphani: No. I’m not really looking. Just trying to get my life together.

Tina: So when you actually find that special man, would he have to pass Reggie’s approval?
Tiphani: [smiles] Definitely. He’s very protective over me.

Tina: I wonder if Reggie would approve of anyone…
Tiphani: [grins] Probably not.

Tina: Well, Ms. Tiphani, you seem like you have your hands full.
Tiphani: I’m glad we had a chance to talk and clear up some things. Thank you.

If you missed Reggie's interview, click here.

To read the entire story, Another Man's Treasure, click here.
Another Man's Treasure is available in paperback and ebook. (Ebook version is $5)

Walk With Me!

2011-10-17T13:15:00.000-04:00

Women who walk at least 30 minutes per day decrease their risk for developing breast cancer. Just 30 minutes per day! True, most people only exercise to lose weight, but there are a ton of benefits to exercise than just losing a few pounds. Read about some of them here.

Since I've started working out regularly back in August, I'm gaining more muscle and ENERGY.

So far, I've lost 4 pounds.

Vacation Interrupted - A Short Story

2011-10-11T13:01:00.000-04:00

Vacation Interrupted is a new short story that I wrote last year but just decided to publish it.

The Story:

Carmen is a D.C. nurse living the ideal life, married to Kenneth a.k.a. Mr. Perfect. Her life takes a turn for the worst when she is diagnosed with breast cancer and has to have a mastectomy. Nerve racking? Of course. But it's even worse when her husband, is not able to deal with his wife having cancer. He makes the decision to leave her. He doesn't want to see his wife die. But what kind of man leaves his wife because she has cancer?

Six months later, Carmen is cancer-free and very much alive but is depressed that she only has one breast and that her husband left her at such a critical time. To rediscover herself and her worth, she takes a vacation to Virginia Beach. She is shocked to find out that Kenneth is also there, and she knows it's no coincidence.

Vacation Interrupted is available now on Kindle for only $0.99.

Click here to order your copy!

Get Fit Monday - Find The Time

2011-10-10T09:39:00.000-04:00

Image via pintrest.com

Good morning people! How are you doing with your exercise routine?

My biggest challenge is actually finding the time to exercise, especially since I'd rather be writing. But I've been sacrificing and hour and a half most days with my exercise routine and sticking to my diet. For the most part, Monday thru Friday, I eat a cinnamon toast for breakfast, soup or a lean cuisine for lunch and pretty much the same for dinner. I can already feel the difference. I didn't even have to step on the scale this morning to know that I lost a few pounds because I can see it in the mirror. Yay for me! I haven't weighed myself yet because I had so much to do this morning. And I have to measure my waist.

Keep track of your weight loss: I found this cool weight loss tracking spreadsheet online and once you set your goal (for how many pounds you want to lose) I weigh myself every Monday, record it in the sheet and it tells me how many pounds you have left to meet my goal.

Have fun exercising!

Black Walnut Trees...

2011-10-08T07:00:00.001-04:00

There is a black walnut tree in my front yard and one in the back. These things are so annoying. Check out these hideous walnuts:

You should hear when these weapons of mass destruction hit the ground. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a war zone, dodging bullets and bombs. They are very hard. One of these things fell from the tree and dinged my windshield.

I think the squirrels like them. Someone told me that black walnuts are used mainly for dye. So I looked it up online and found an article that mentioned that early settlers used black walnuts to dye their hair. Isn't that wild? I guess there is something in nature that can do everything that humans try to create. (And I betcha this dye doesn't cause any hair damage...lol).

My son likes to throw them down the driveway and watch them roll in the street. Every morning before I walk him to school, he's looking around in the grass for these black walnuts. I don't know if these things are edible or not. Either way, I do not like mosts nuts. I eat peanuts and pecans, but I cannot tolerate walnuts or almonds. Yuck.

Have a great weekend peeps :-)

My New Novel - The Baby Daddy Interviews

2011-10-05T10:02:00.000-04:00

The Baby Daddy Interviews - Excerpt
Prologue

“I can’t do this anymore.”

That’s the note Tyler left on Breonna’s nightstand three months ago. Those five words, scribbled in red ink on a yellow-ruled sheet of legal pad paper, became etched in her mind as if he’d fiercely spoken them to her out loud, leaving an impression – a permanent stamp in her memory bank.

I can’t do this anymore.

When Breonna first saw the note, she felt her heart sink into the deepest part of her chest, beating faster than normal – adrenaline sending her into panic mode at the realization that her husband was gone. If appearances meant everything (and in her opinion, they did), she was in trouble. What would her friends think? Her family? Her coworkers? Neighbors? Tyler had left so abruptly and without explanation, leaving her to find out the reasons why he dipped on her own, especially since he wouldn’t answer or return her calls.

Breonna sighed, sat down on a rusty, fold-up chair and began flipping through an old childhood photo album, trying to distract herself into thinking about something else – anything other than Tyler Morris’ disappearing act. But she couldn’t help but wonder about what she did, what she didn’t do or what she could’ve done differently to make Tyler stay – to save her marriage – to preserve a love that she thought would be an everlasting one. But now, a sista couldn’t even get a return phone call from the man. Where’s the love?

She met Tyler three years back while she was sitting in a refresher computer course at Paul D. Camp Community College. She was in the middle of a Word document crisis, having major difficulty figuring out the whole mail merge function, when Tyler walked in to speak to her instructor. The frustrated Breonna glanced up at him but quickly looked away to avoid the magnetism and misconception of prolonged eye contact. Yet, from her quick look she could see that he was fine – dressed up all Kanye West-ish, rocking a black sports coat with a pink buttoned-up shirt hanging over his blue jeans. It took a very masculine and confident man to rock a pink shirt and he rocked it well. Very well. His dark, chocolate complexion left Breonna completely enamored. Intrigued, she peeped above her monitor to see if he was still there while simultaneously trying to associate his look with that of a famous person, and that’s when he smiled at her. She smiled back reluctantly, tired and stressed from a hard day’s work. Plus, her hair (her pride and glory) was frizzy, her face clammy and after the lazy screw-this-computer-class smile she flashed at Tyler, she remembered that she’d stuck a pencil behind her ear. Who does that anymore?

So after spending the bulk of the one-hour class lost in mail merge jargon (the remainder of the time daydreaming about a hot bubble bath, scented candles and Mixed Berry Arbor Mist) she was on the way to the student parking lot when she saw him again – the handsome professor – standing next to a gray BMW, carrying the kind of briefcase that could be used to hold ransom money.

“Excuse me,” he said, briefcase in hand with a certain smugness glowing on his face, the kind of look that confident men who knew they were sophisticated and stunning gave to women.

Breonna looked up at him and in that moment she realized who he resembled – Blair Underwood.

“Hi,” she said, smiling hard, seemingly star-struck, as if she was talking to Blair Underwood himself.

The two struck up a conversation (something about the advantages of night schooling) and Tyler asked her out to dinner that same night. Yeah, he had it like that.

In the passing weeks, they quickly discovered they had a lot in common. They both grew up in Suffolk, Virginia and had respectable, high-paying jobs (she a pediatrician). They were not morning people, both equally addicted to coffee. Each had subscriptions to magazines (he loved reading Men’s Health while she was addicted to Essence). They watched the same TV shows (CSI, Rescue Me and The Office). They enjoyed dining in fine establishments, taking walks around the city and spending time at social functions. Breonna was thrilled that she was dating a college-educated brother, who though not a vegetarian himself, didn’t mind the fact that she was one. They were so compatible, Tyler surprised her with the bling for the ring finger six months later and the two married shortly thereafter – Suffolk’s most talked about fall wedding of September 2007.

Life was peachy.

Not only did Breonna meet her goal of getting hitched before age thirty (she was twenty-nine and some change), she scored a winner along the way, a college professor – an intelligent man with class and swagger; the kind of brother who still believed in opening doors for a woman. They were on track to have the ideal life together. He’d moved in with her since, pre-marriage, he was renting an apartment near the college. Breonna was living in a four-bedroom home she inherited from her mother who had passed two years before she even met Tyler, so it made perfect sense that he would move in with her, which he didn’t mind at all.

All things considered, they were the happy couple, the ones that “were made for each other,” Tanesha, Breonna’s sister, would say. They had the kind of marriage that made single folks long for wedding bliss. Even Breonna’s best friend, Courtney, described them as “the perfect couple” as if the title could ever be stripped away from Will Smith and Jada Pinkett.

Then it apparently all came crashing down. After only two years of wedlock, Breonna woke up to Tyler’s note, I can’t do this anymore, and if that wasn’t bad enough, she didn’t even get the chance to tell him she was pregnant.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~

I'm so excited about this new novel that will be released early in 2012. The book cover will be released soon as well. Visit my website to view the book trailer: www.tinamartinbooks.com.

Olive Garden & Those Corny Commercials

2011-10-04T11:59:00.008-04:00

I love The Olive Garden's soup and salad (specifically, the chicken and gnocchi soup). But somehow when I go to the garden, I feel underdressed. Olive Garden is one of those restaurants that could be the type of place a man would take a woman for a date (ex. Derrick took Tiphani to The Olive Garden in my novel, Another Man's Treasure) or it could be a spot where you and ya girls go to hang out in casual attire.

There's only one thing I don't like about The Olive Garden - those corny commercials where the people are always laughing. Check this one out:

Really? Whatever they were laughing at, it wasn't that funny. And who's gonna be laughing that hard with a mouthful of pasta?

LOL

Look for a writing update tomorrow.

My Genre & A New Poll

2011-10-03T11:59:00.002-04:00

According to the Romance Writers of America website, subgenres for romance novels are as follows:

Contemporary
Regency
Inspirational
Paranormal
Suspense
Young Adult
Historical

Go here to read a description of each one.

The category that best describes what I write is suspense. Here's the description of romantic suspense from RWA's website:

Romance novels in which suspense, mystery, or thriller elements constitute an integral part of the plot.

Along with the romance element, suspense helps add that level of mystery that leaves my readers wanting to sit down and read the entire book all the way through.

In Secrets On Lake Drive, Sean's mysterious behavior is a direct result of the secrets he carries around daily, secrets that burdens him. The reader can feel the suspense within the entire book.

In Another Man's Treasure, Tiphani and Reggie's close relationship adds to the suspense because the reader clueless about how how their relationship will change. Will they get together or will they remain just friends?

As a romance reader, what is your favorite romance sub-genre? Answer the poll question to the right and feel free to leave a comment.

Exercise Is Not My Friend

2011-10-03T09:36:00.000-04:00

Last week wasn't bad. I exercised (walked) every single day for 30 - 45 minutes, then did 45 minute Taebo sessions for three of those days. I feel like my muscles are a lot tighter and I have more energy, but I didn't lose any weight.

My sister and I started our new diet as well:

Breakfast: Toast & Coffee -or- Cereal -or- Fruit

Lunch: Lean Cuisine -or- Subway -or- Protein Shake -or- Soup

Dinner: Soup -or- Small Portion Dinner - or- Subway

We gave ourselves enough options to avoid boredom. As it is, I'm already cranky because I can't eat junk everyday (*wink*) so when eating healthier to reach my goal, I don't want to be bored with the same foods.

I was watching Dr. Oz a few nights ago and he said that we should eat every three hours to keep our metabolisom up and running. So I bought bananas, oranges and tangerines for my snacks in between meals.

This week, I'm scheduling 2 hours per day of exercise. I can feel the pain already.

Love & My Favorite Ne-Yo Music Video

2011-10-02T11:46:00.001-04:00

From streetartutopia.com

Thursday 13 - Some Good Writing Quotes

2011-09-29T07:00:00.011-04:00

Here are some writing quotes that I hope will inspire or encourage you on your writing adventures. I highlighted my favorites. Enjoy, and be inspired.

The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense. ~ Tom Clancy

Being a writer is like having homework every night for the rest of your life. ~ Lawrence Kasdan

If you want to get rich from writing, write the sort of thing that's read by persons who move their lips when they're reading to themselves. ~Don Marquis

Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart. ~ William Wordsworth

Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass. ~ Anton Chekhov

I try to leave out the parts that people skip. ~ Elmore Leonard

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. ~ Ben Franklin

On plenty of days the writer can write three or four pages, and on plenty of other days he concludes he must throw them away. ~ Annie Dillard

To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, be nothing. ~ Elbert Hubbard

We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master. ~ Ernest Hemingway

A writer is somebody for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people. ~ Thomas Mann

The best style is the style you don't notice. ~ Somerset Maugham

A classic is classic not because it conforms to certain structural rules, or fits certain definitions (of which its author had quite probably never heard). It is classic because of a certain eternal and irrepressible freshness.~ Edith Wharton

Picture Source: peoniespearlspromises.tumblr.com via Lauren on Pinterest
Quotes found here.

Charlotte Weather and The Rainbows

2011-09-28T07:00:00.001-04:00

Sunday Night.

It had been storming on and off for most of the day. Earlier, around three, the rain was coming down so fiercely, the roads were more like rivers. I'm glad I drive an SUV; otherwise, I would be somewhere floating in Briar Creek.

Around dinner time, I'm sitting in the dining room with my laptop in front of me (instead of a plate of food) because I was cooking and writing at the same time. Yep, multitasking, a writer's life. I pushed myself from the table then stood up from the chair to check on the food and upon returning to my writing throne, that's when I noticed through the living room blinds that it was orange? outside. Yeah, that's how I describe the color. Daylight is supposed to be clear, right? Maybe it's my eyes, I tell myself.

I check my watch. It's around seven. I walked closer to the window, blink a few times to adjust my vision and look again. Still, there was this crazy-looking, orange haze that made me want to go outside and attempt to capture a picture of it. So I walked back to the dining room, take my cell from the table, then walk out the front door to capture this orange haze and low and behold:

A rainbow, and not just any rainbow - a double rainbow. The second rainbow was so faded, I could barely capture it in the photo, but if you look really hard to the right, you'll see it. I was beside myself. This is the first time ever seeing a double rainbow, so being the silly person that I am, I ran back in the house.

"Matt, come here. You are not going to believe this."

Matt, who is watching football or something, gets up from the couch without question and follows me outside.

"Look, a double rainbow," I tell him. "What does it mean?"

Matt laughs and says, "You're silly."

He knows I'm referring to the viral double rainbow video that everyone in the world should've seen by now. If you haven't seen it, click here.

I'm not sure if the colors of the rainbow somehow reflected off of the sunlight and caused this weird-looking orange color outside, but I'm glad I went to investigate. Otherwise, I would've missed this beautiful, double rainbow. Really, how often do you get to see one rainbow, let alone two at the same time?

Awesomeness.

After the excitement was over, I walked back in the house, and resumed writing.

New Review for Secrets On Lake Drive

2011-09-26T07:00:00.001-04:00

Today, I’m sharing a new review for Secrets On Lake Drive. It comes from an author named Vogue that I met last year at the Charlotte Literary Festival. She is very talented, professional and sweet. She purchased my novel and she has written a review. Check it out.

New Review by Vogue: I was supposed to write a review of this book last year, but I am still catching up on my blog. Since my recent change in careers, I hardly have the time that I used to for posts. Still, I wanted to take some time out today to actually talk about this book. For one, because the book was exceptionally good and two, it was hard for me to put it down. When I read books such as this, I want to share it with the rest of the world…Read more.

Watch the book Trailer:

Visit my Amazon page.

Positivity

2011-09-25T07:00:00.000-04:00

via Pintrest
Have you ever been around someone who was always negative - people who see that you are following your dreams and they just keep telling you over and over what you can't do?
Positivity.
It goes a long way, especially in relation to your dreams or whatever it is your want to be or want to accomplish in life. Surrounding yourself with strong, people who support you and who will have your back no matter what, is a good way to stay on track with your goals. Choose your associates wisely
and have a happy Sunday.

Giveaway - Romance at Random

2011-09-23T18:03:00.000-04:00

If you missed my feature on Romance at Random, titled Chick lit and Women's fiction is there a difference?, go here to check it out. Leave a comment on that post for a chance to win a copy of Another Man's Treasure.

Thanks!

Writing Wednesday - Another Man's Treasure - The Soundtrack

2011-09-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

When I write, I think of my novels as movies. So I search out songs that match the chapters (or a section of chapters) in each book. In Another Man's Treasure, below is the list of songs that, in its own way, tell a portion of the story. I thought I'd share the soundtrack with you. Enjoy. And don't forget to check out Another Man's Treasure on Kindle, Nook or paperback.

Visit my Amazon page.

Get Fit Mondays - Get Off Your Butt

2011-09-19T07:21:00.000-04:00

via pintrest

Do you sometimes feel like you don't have time to exercise? Is your schedule crammed? No room for anything else other than what you're doing right now? Then this quote is for you. Life is busy, but instead of giving into the 'fast life' eating fast food, working at stressful jobs and watching other folks work out, why not take 30-45 minutes every day and do your body a favor?

Last week I worked out every single day and did not lose one pound :-(

I didn't gain any either!

This week, I'm shooting for 3 pounds which means I have to do a better job of eating healthier foods and not eating close to bedtime. We'll see how it goes...

Go Packers!

2011-09-18T20:01:00.001-04:00

Packer fans were rolling deep in Charlotte today!

Sorry, Panthers. (hee, hee, hee).

Enough of football, though. I'm about to get into a movie

game with the fam. Good night!

ABCs of Moi

2011-09-17T16:46:00.000-04:00

A. Age: 31
B. Bed size: king size. I feel like a princess in it.
C. Chore that you hate: washing dishes and cleaning the bathrooms
D. Dogs: hubby has an old dog named Vader
E. Essential start to your day: one good cup of coffee
F. Favorite color: black
G. Gold or Silver: silver – I hate gold! hate it, hate it, hate it.
H. Height: 5'9” - yes, I’m a tall chica.
I. Instruments you play: my computer keyboard (lol)
J. Job title: project administrator, writer
K. Kids: one brilliant little boy
L. Live: charlotte, north carolina
M. Mother’s name: zadie
N. Nicknames: miss tina (don’t know why people put the ‘miss’ in front of tina)
O. Overnight hospital stays: when I gave birth to my bundle of joy
P. Pet peeves: I have several. (1) when people ramble on and on and on AND on! (2) indecisive folks [make up your mind already] (3) when people stare at me (4) nosy people
Q. Quote from a movie: shake it! before you bake it! – talledega nights (one of my favorite movies ever)
R. Right or left handed: I write with the right *wink*
S. Siblings: I’m the middle child. I have two older siblings and two younger
U. Underwear: um, yeah…
V. Vegetable you hate: spinach (but it does taste good in a dip)
W. What makes you run late: when I can’t find my keys or matthew’s backpack
X. X-Rays you’ve had: none – I play rough but have never broken anything
Y. Yummy food that you make: baked chicken, hot wings
Z. Zoo animal: gorilla

Friday Coffee Talk - What Happened to Summer?

2011-09-16T07:26:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday! You know I have to get some coffee this morning because I've been working out all week, and it's killing me. I feel drained every morning. Not a good thing!

So last night was Mexican night, and when we left the restaurant, the wind had picked up, it was chilly...just crazy. The weather guy had forecasted cool temps for the weekend and they are now upon is. Looking out the window this morning, it's dark, overcast and I see the leaves on the trees swaying back and forth. The temp is supposed to be in the fifties. Yep, fall is on the way!

*Sidenote, I hope the cooler temperatures don't kill our peppers - the only thing we have left growing in our garden. Check out the banana peppers below:

I don't eat peppers but the husband loves them. And those peppers have been growing out of control. They must love NC climate. Let's see if they love fifty degrees...hmm.

Hope you have a happy Friday. I'll be curled up in a blanket, watching a movie tonight with my family.

Gone Fishin' - Part Two

2011-09-13T07:00:00.003-04:00

Here is part two of my fishing adventure. Looking at the pictures of the water is so relaxing...makes me wanna go on vacation. If you missed part one, check it our here.

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Get Fit Mondays - Three Pounds Down!

2011-09-12T09:31:00.000-04:00

My exercise routine last week was simple:

Monday - Walked 30 minutes on treadmill
Tuesday - Walked 30 minutes on treadmill
Wednesday - Walked 45 minutes in neighborhood
Thursday - Walked 45 minutes in neighborhood
Friday - Walked 45 minutes in neighborhood
Saturday - Rode bike for three miles
Sunday - Walked 30 minutes in neighborhood

I met my goal and lost 3 pounds! Yay!

This week, I'm setting another goal for 3 pounds, and will start keeping a food journal. I didn't do too well drinking water last week. My doctor said that since I do not like water, I can add Crystal Light or something similar and I will still be hydrated and get the minerals I need. I'm wondering if I should share my food journal with you next Monday. Hmm...

North Carolina, The Beautiful

2011-09-09T10:05:00.000-04:00

Aren't these just beautiful? I took these pictures on a roadtrip in August...the beautiful North Carolina Mountains. I'm thinking about a mini-weekend vacation here in the fall, when the leaves are all changing colors. I hear it's breathtakingly beautiful in the fall, so I must experience it for myself this year!

Thirsty Thursday - Blue Margarita

2011-09-08T07:00:00.001-04:00

Somebody pinch me...

That's what you'll be saying when you have one of these babies. This blue margarita is delicious! I've tried banana, peach, strawberry, mango, lime and raspberry and the blue is absolutely one of my favs! What's your favorite margarita flavor?

Writer's Digest - Free Newsletter and Competitions

2011-09-07T07:00:00.001-04:00

If you haven't subscribed to the free Writer's Digest newsletter, what are you waiting for? They give writers some nice tips and advise on writing, as well as a host of other information, including writing contests for everyone.

Here's one article that I found of interest:

How to Raise Your Characters Above the Status Quo...Read More

Writer's Digest also holds various contests each year. I was supposed to enter one of these contests earlier this year, or later last year (I don't remember). The contest that caught my attention is this one: The Short Story Competition where the story can be no longer than 1,500 words. Wow! I say wow, because I write 80,000+ word novels like it ain't nothing. Writing a little story that's 1,500 words or less is rough. There's not any wiggle room for elaboration and details. You just have to get to the point with some good writing skills. I'm gonna give it a shot...I think! Right now, I'm in the middle of a manuscript that I've been working on since January and not sure if I'll have the time to devote to another project. We'll see. The deadline to enter is November 15th. Read more about the contest here.

Bring on the Rain...

2011-09-06T15:08:00.000-04:00

Tropical Storm Lee and I are friends. Yeah, he's aware that I love the rain, so he brought me plenty! It has been windy today in Charlotte and raining on and off throughout the day.

Oh well, it's back to work and hitting the treadmill later. Have a great ~~Monday~~ Tuesday. *wink*

Get Fit Mondays - Today's Rant

2011-09-05T11:53:00.000-04:00

Why is exercise so difficult?

This morning, I got out of bed, changed into my workout gear and walked two miles. The hardest part was actually making up my mind that I wanted to do it. Once I started walking, it became easier and easier and actually fun. If you want to lose weight, tone muscles or just live a healthier lifestyle, you don't have to wait until January to make a resolution. Do it now!

My goal this week is three pounds. My motivation: My favorite pair of jeans that I can no longer fit in! Ugh!

One thing I'm changing to accomplish that goal this week is drinking more water. That's a bigger challenge than walking, simply because I do not like water. It literally makes me sick, especially first thing in the morning. But I have to make my body like water, so I'm off to buy bottled water as we speak.

I'll have a progress update next week. What are some things you do each day to stay fit and healthy?

Silent Sunday - Gone Fishin'

2011-09-04T07:00:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, our family had a picnic then we went fishing. It was a very peaceful, relaxing day - one of the most relaxing days I've had all year. There's just something about sitting out by the water, just chillin' and thinking about life. I had a great time. I didn't actually do any fishing (was too busy taking pictures and keeping the kiddies occupied) but I did pick up a worm. (Yay for me! lol)

If you have the day off Monday, enjoy! I'm going to be catching up on some editing.

Lifetime Movie Review - Like Dandelion Dust

2011-09-03T22:12:00.000-04:00

My Review:

Like Dandelion Dust was a good movie. I didn't read the book, but I have to imagine that the book is much better than the movie. The movie seemed rushed; like they had to skimp here, fast forward there, in order to make the drama fit within two hours. I love the story idea - a false adoption. An adopted child being raised with well-off parents then his unfit, biological parents come out of nowhere and decide they want to be parents.

I didn't like the fact that Molly's sister squealed on her to the authorities. Really? Somebody needs to teach her a lesson on loyalty.

Also, the title didn't really fit - I guess the adoptive parents were supposed to disappear like dandelion dust but they never went anywhere. So not sure about that title.

I give the movie 3.5 out of 5 stars. I almost shed a tear at the end. *Sniff, Sniff*

Author of Secrets On Lake Drive and Another Man's Treasure

Care vs. Love - Part 2

2011-09-03T07:00:00.003-04:00

Poll quesiton - Is it possible to care deeply for someone but not love them?

That was one of the polls on my blog that has since been closed. The results - 50% said yes AND 50% said no.

The reason I raised the question is because in my new manuscript, the hero actually tells the heroine that, and I wondered what you might have thought about that question. Personally, I think it's a bit annoying for someone to say, "I care about you, but I don't love you." Care and love are so closely intertwined, you cannot have one without the other.

Just my thoughts when writing...

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend.

Song Choice for Writing

2011-09-01T07:00:00.005-04:00

I'm always telling you guys how I listen to music when I write. So last night, I was working on the manuscript listening to E.T. by Katy Perry. I like the song because it's different (then again, everything Katy Perry does is different). But this song has an element of romance to it - especially if you take all the alien references out of it. LOL

I wasn't sure if I could work and listen to this song at the same time, but it worked out pretty well. Plus I love the creativity of this video.

Can you believe this video has over 125 million views on YouTube?

Big Walker Mountain Tunnel

2011-08-30T07:00:00.003-04:00

I took these shots on a recent roadtrip and wondered how long it actually took to build a tunnel through the Appalachin Mountains in Southwest Virginia. Five years and fifty million dollars!

It is a pretty cool sight. Have a great Tuesday :-)

Lifetime Movie Review - Gone

2011-08-28T21:55:00.000-04:00

Lifetime Movie Website Description:

Image via mylifetime.com

"Gone" follows hospital nurse Amy Kettering (Molly Parker) who must fight against a group of kidnappers holding her daughter hostage until she kills a patient under police protective custody.

My Review:

Finally, Lifetime! Finally!

Gone is, in my opinion, the best Lifetime movie this year. It was very suspenseful and kept me on edge throughout the entire movie. There is twist, after twist, after twist and just when you think you know what's going to happen, something else jumps out at ya. The poor woman was already in therapy and they had to go and kidnap her daughter. I like the concept of the movie...I've seen similar concepts in other movies, but none executed this perfectly.

Some things that made me go huh??:

-Why would you go yelling your daughter's name in an unknown place, knowing that there are people there who wants to kill you?

-The scene on the ferry when Amy finds the vaccines...she takes one of the bottles in her hand and breaks it over a man's head. He nearly falls. Since when is a little vaccine bottle enough to bring a man down? I can see if it was a beer or wine bottle, but a vaccine bottle?

Other than that, excellent movie. I give it 5 out of 5 stars! I may even watch this one again.

Author of Secrets On Lake Drive and Another Man's Treasure

Hurricane Irene and Charlotte

2011-08-26T19:47:00.000-04:00

Just thought I'd give you an update on Hurricane Irene and Charlotte...what kind of weather are we experiencing? Take a look:

Yep. Just clouds for us. There may be an isolated shower later tonight according to News 14 but right now, we only have clouds. This cloud cover coincides with the weather reports. Hurricane Irene is 400+ miles wide and we are almost exactly 400 miles from the ocean. So clouds make sense.

I have family an hour and a half away from Cape Hatteras, and they moved further inland to Raleigh. My sister in Norfolk, VA is prepared and ready for the winds and power outages.

Hope everyone is safe and if they tell you to evacuate, get outta there!

Writing Wednesday - Imagery

2011-08-24T08:55:00.000-04:00

I just read an excellent article on writing titled: Twenty Ways To Improve Your Writing In 30 Minutes A Day. One of the suggestions that really captured my attention was something that I'm working on mastering - imagery. Here was the piece from the article:
_____________

Imagery

A successful image can plug right into your reader’s nervous system at times when explanation falls flat. Consider, “Donna felt weak,” versus, “Donna was unable to bring the spoon to her mouth.” Which one makes you want to know what happens next?

To see how images give your writing a boost, rewrite each of the following statements in a way that shows instead of explains:

• Her hair was a mess.
• The garden was ready for picking.
• I hate broccoli.
• You always change your mind.
• The moon is full.

Now, revisit a draft of your writing. Try making vague moments more vivid by replacing explanation with imagery. This won’t always be an appropriate solution—sometimes a simple, unembellished statement will be the most powerful choice. But you won’t know until you try. —Sage Cohen
_____________

Isn't that a great suggestion. You can read the entire article here. I'm doing some revising to my manuscript, making sure I capture what is really happening instead of telling. The number one rule to writing is: Show, don't tell. Easier said than done, right?

Secrets On Lake Drive Available on Nook and Kindle

2011-08-17T14:30:00.000-04:00

Secrets On Lake Drive is now available on Nook (Barnes and Noble eReader) for $5. If you haven't read the book and own a Nook, click here to check it out. Also, be sure to read some blog posts for Secrets On Lake Drive to give you an inside look at the story. Here are a few:

The Making of Secrets On Lake Drive - Part 1 - Expensive Cribs
The Making of Secrets On Lake Drive - Part 2 - Haitian Music
The Making of Secrets On Lake Drive - Part 3 - Haitian Kremas
The Making of Secrets On Lake Drive - Part 4 - Haitian Art

And, if you haven't seen the trailer, watch it here:

Lifetime Movie Review - Born Bad

2011-08-14T21:55:00.000-04:00

Lifetime Movie Website Description:

Brooke (Bonnie Dennison) is devastated that she's pulled out of her high school so her family can move to a new town. Even worse, her stepmother is pregnant with a new addition to her dysfunctional family. All seems lost until she becomes smitten with a charming guy (Michael Welch). He's gorgeous, sweet, thrilling, everything her life isn't...until he reveals a menacing dark side.

Image from dread central

My Review:

*Sigh* This is going to be a really quick review. Born Bad is just another movie about a knife-wielding 'psycho' who sweeps a lil' dumb teenager off of her feet. She's too inexperienced to know that she's being taken advantage of. BORING.

But, there are some lessons teenage girls can take away from this movie:

Probably not a good idea to make a fake ID so you can get in a club. You just might run into a psycho; a psycho who kills your best friend, beats you up then robs your parents.
Definitely not a good idea to call a stranger that you've only known for an hour, into a remote location and start spilling your guts about family drama.
When a guy slaps you and you still defend him, there's something wrong with you, not your parents for wanting to protect you.

Movie rating - I give it 1 out of 5, only because this storyline has been done a million times already. Trust me, this is the same psycho movie you've seen before. The characters are just different.

Author of Another Man's Treasure and Secrets On Lake Drive

Just Friends and Two New Polls

2011-08-13T19:00:00.004-04:00

photo via pintrest

Yes, the question is back. I am resurrecting it. Last time around, I didn't receive a lot of participation, so now that I have more blog followers and visitors, I'm holding this poll again.

Poll Question #1

Do you think it's possible for a man and woman to be friends and nothing more?

Poll Question #2

Is it possible to care deeply for someone but NOT love them?

Visitors, fellow FTLOB lovers and other visitors who like to pop in to read, take a second to answer the poll to the right. Yes or No. That's all it takes.

Thanks!

The Bedroom Project

2011-08-12T08:37:00.000-04:00

My bedroom is my favorite room in the house. It's very spacious and roomy, big enough for a king size bed and loveseat (and my vanity of course). But it doesn't feel as cozy as it could be. Probably due to the fact that I do not have a good storage system for my jewelry, perfume, etc. Shoes and clothes are spilling out of my closet, and it's driving me crazy! So, this fall, I've decided to make over my bed room. I've searched for some inspiration photos and here are a few I like:

via pintrest

I am really feeling the headboard on this last picture, although I want a headboard with a little bookshelf built into it. Later :-)

Chante's Got a Man

2011-08-11T12:00:00.008-04:00

Love this song and video...especially the way it starts with the girls chatting about their men. Makes me miss that TV show, Girlfriends and also makes me want to see a good, chick flick...but I've noticed lately that there haven't been any :-(

I love a good chick flick.

Thursday 13 - Love / Hate Relationship with my Kindle

2011-08-11T08:00:00.005-04:00

I have read three books on Kindle since my husband bought it for me as a gift, so now I can tell you some advantages and disadvantages of my eReader that I love and hate so much!

Six reasons why I have a love/hate relationship with my kindle:

1. I can't sit in a bubble bath with it. You know what happens when electronic devices get wet.
2. I can't toss it across the room when I'm upset at a character in the story I'm reading.
3. I can't have regular peeps at the book cover. The cover is very important for me!
4. I find myself downloading books that I really have no interest in reading.
5. I'm afraid to take it places with me. It's not that bad if you lose a book, but losing a Kindle is costly.
6. It's really difficult to flip back (let's say 30 pages) to re-read something that you need an understanding on.

Seven reasons I love paperback books:

1. I love the feel of the book in my hand.
2. I love constantly seeing the cover.
3. I can sit in a bubble bath with a book and not have any worries of it getting wet.
4. I can actually autograph a paperback book
5. Easy to flip back and forth
6. Books are pretty on my shelf and gives a certain sophistication to a room
7. I connect with books better than my Kindle.

What are your thoughts on eReaders?

The Devil Wears Prada

2011-08-10T07:00:00.011-04:00

Monday night I watched the movie, The Devil Wears Prada, for the first time. I love movies based on books, and this one was an extra plus being that one of my favorite actors (Daniel Sunjata) is in it.

The title of this book is amazingly brilliant. I haven't read the novel, but the movie was excellent. Many folks say that the movie was better than the book. So I thought I'd click on over to Amazon.com to browse the book reviews, and believe it or not the reviews had me scratching my head, especially when I realized that this book has more one-star (low) reviews than five-star (high) reviews.

As an author, I used to be obsessed with reviews. I thought that if books were getting one-star reviews, then this would deter potential buyers away from the book, or that people would take reviewers too seriously when they saw negative reviews about my work. But as of 8/8/2011, The Devil Wears Prada has 234 one-star reviews (from people who didn't like the book). Still, the book is very successful and the author has no doubt made a ton of money with a movie deal and all.

So I realized something...Good publicity, bad publicity...IT'S ALL PUBLICITY!

For example, here's some of the review headlines for The Devil Wears Prada:

The worst book in history
Awful
An insult to my intelligence
Lame
Not funny nor worth the money

These are actually reviews on Amazon. Isn't that harsh? I wondered what the author, Lauren Weisberger, thought about these, or if she even bothered to read these reviews.

As a writer/author, you open yourself and your work up to the world to be scrutinized and critiqued by people who do not know how much hard work and time goes into creating a novel. But no matter how hard you try, you can't please everyone. Someone will hate your work and say downright awful things about your work. So to all my fellow authors worried about negative and overly critical comments about your novels - novels that you've invested so much time in - don't sweat it. Some people will think you're extremely talented, others will say you're a failure, but you know who you are and you know how passionate you are about your work. That's really all that matters. And who knows, you might even get a movie deal. *wink*

Care vs. Love

2011-08-09T07:00:00.002-04:00

I am working, working, work-ing on my ~~manuscript~~ masterpiece and ran into a question that I wanted to put out to you. Yes, I want your opinion! Is it possible to care deeply for someone and NOT love them. Why or why not?

Please leave a comment and answer the poll question to the right as well.

Thanks guys :-)

Facebook Shout Out

2011-08-08T08:00:00.003-04:00

There's nothing better than getting a shout out from a fan. Here is a message from a fan who just finished reading Another Man's Treasure:

I enjoyed this review so much because lately, I've been feeling like I'm writing these wonderful books, but people who don't know me are hesistant to read a book by a new author. And what's the point of writing books if no one is going to read them, right?

So I really appreciated this review. My novels are very in-depth and filled with emotion. You will laugh, cry and cheer like Susan did.

Check out my Amazon page and check out one of my novels if you want to read something new and exciting.

Sunday Inspiration - Dreams...

2011-08-07T07:00:00.001-04:00

via pintrest

Today, I was thinking about how this year seems to be flying by at the speed of light. When I was younger, I wanted to rush time. I couldn't wait to wear make-up and date and have my own place. Get a driver's license, even.

Now, I want the world to just slow down. Why is it that life seems so fast-paced? Do you ever feel that you will never accomplish your dreams? That life sometimes moves so fast you can't even think? That life is too messy and busy that dreams are far off?

Ask yourself - What is life without dreams?

Checkers Anyone?

2011-08-05T08:23:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday Friends. Hey, have you guys ever eaten at Cracker Barrel? If you have, then you know it's an old country store and restaurant all meshed into one crazy setup. They have rocking chairs and other items out front for sale as well as a full store on the inside. It's really kinda cool.

Sidenote: My favorite food at Cracker Barrel is the mac and cheese.

So at the front of the store/restaurant was this checkerboard nestled in between two white rocking chairs. I think this is a consipracy by the store and their management to get people to sit down and get comfy while playing a game of checkers in hopes that they would want to purchase a rocking chair...but ya girl didn't fall for it. Why you ask?

BECAUSE I HATE THIS GAME...

As a child, this was one of my favorite games to play, but I was horrible at it. Still, I kept playing and listening to all the trash talkers about how I would lose and I vaguely recall someone 'checker-bullying' me...telling me "you just made a wrong move and you don't even see it", that followed by a devilish grin. So I stopped playing the game and have officially banned it from my life.

Seeing this checkerboard did bring back some memories, though...memories of me losing! LOL

Cracker Barrel Website

I hate checkers. Later :-)

Thursday 13 - My Summer 2011 Obsessions

2011-08-04T08:04:00.000-04:00

For Thursday 13 this week, I'm sharing a simple list of things I am loving this summer.

1. My new gladiator sandals - they are super cute.
2. Colorful bracelets - I think I may have gone overboard with bracelets. There is not a color I do not have!
3. Hot pink nail polish on my finger and toe nails.

4. Rescue Me, The Final Season - I am HOOKED! Oh, and if you like Rescue Me and you find yourself straight rockin' out to the theme song for this show (like me), the name of the song is C'mon C'mon by The Von Bondies. Click here to rock out! I just listened to this song 5 times straight. Love it!

5. Queen Helene face masques
6. Vanilla Ice Cream - I love the way Spanish speaking people who know English pronounce vanilla. It sounds like: Ba-nee-ya. So now I use ba-nee-ya because it sounds more interesting than just plain vanilla. lol

7. Daily's - Have you guys tried those Daily pouches? I believe they have them in lemonade, strawberry, peach and pomegranate. They are delicious.

8. Short skirts and capris

9. McDonalds Strawberry Lemonade - it's a little too sweet, but it's good.

10. Blogging - my followers know this all too well.
11.Writing - this manuscript I'm working on is very, very, very goooood.
12. YouTube Subscriptions
13. Rain. I love the rain. Don't believe me? Click here.

What are you loving this summer?

What I Write and Manuscript Update

2011-08-03T08:00:00.001-04:00

For those of you who are not familiar with what I write, let me explain.

Firstly, I love reading. I've read books by Emily Giffin, Jonathan Luckett, Anita Shrieve and others. I like different genres, and exploring different writing styles.

I guess the best way to describe what I write is women's fiction. Secrets On Lake Drive is a romantic suspense. Another Man's Treasure is romance that contains elements of suspense, but is not a story that borders on mystery.

I do not write erotica, romatica, or whatever other name you can think of for novels filled with overly descriptive sex scenes and just plain outrageousness. To me (and this is just my opinion) these type novels are distasteful and lack content and character development. What's the point of reading a novel just to skip from one X-rated scene to the next. Not my style at all.

I write refreshing stories with well developed plots and characters and my readers have expressed that they appreciate the plot and character development of my stories. (Thanks readers!) Later this year, I plan to have my first online chat session about my first novel, Secrets On Lake Drive and I'm considering on online book club.

I am not reading anything at the moment, only because I am waist deep into the manuscript that I've been working on all year. Back in March, I had about 307 pages, and I was comfortable with that. But then, ideas just kept flowing and now I'm at 374 pages! Now that's some plot development for ya.

Later :-)