By:  Sandra Elzie

What do you have when you mix together 40 people, 3 rubber rafts, 3 experienced guides and the Nantahala River? Did you guess white water rafting? Then give yourself a pat on the back! You just got the correct answer.

My husband and I used to take our three kids rafting on the American River near Sacramento, California, all the time when they were younger. In fact, we owned our raft, so taking them was free and when you’re raising three kids, having something that they LOVE to do that’s free, well, what can be better? We made a ton of good memories with that raft.

Years later, when our youngest was 16, we took her, her 18 year old boyfriend, our 17 year old son and us two oldies (and a guide) and went down a river in California that boasted level 5 rapids…although since it had been a rainy winter and the water was running high and fast, I submit that it was level 6 or above, if there is such a level. That was one scary trip, especially our venture through …

This post isn’t about hashing out marriage issues or bashing the soon-to-be ex. It is about the shocking realization that I un-empowered myself. At some point during the last nine years, I relinquished my personal power and financially acted like a woman I swore I would never become. I entrusted my future to a man I deeply believed I would be spending the rest of my life with—until death do us part because he was the financial guru in our house. Our entire long-term financial plan was built based on our life together without any consideration of the fact a woman needs to be prepared to stand on her own regardless of any heart-felt promise of “forever” and despite the fact the vows were spoken before family, friends, officials and God. I am in no way writing this in anger or from a point of bitterness. This post is just the facts as I have learned them this summer.

In today’s society, marriage vows are treated as throwaway words, meaning stand by your partner until the relationship needs some work, things get tough or something/someone else more interesting comes along. That, my friends, is the sad fact I learned while consulting …

1. How long have you been writing for Steeple Hill?

Steeple Hill published my very first book, Hearts In Bloom, in May 2004.  In addition to my writing I was working a full time job that required quite a bit of travel.  So my publishing goal was to release one book a year.  I was able to achieve that goal and now that I’m retired from corporate life I hope to write at least two Love Inspired books per year.
 
2. What’s something you wish you’d known when you started your writing
journey?

I wish I’d known from the outset that there is no “right” way to write.  Each writer has their own work style and method of putting together a story.  I felt like I was somehow deficient because I not only disliked detailed plotting, I didn’t even understand it!  When I went to plotting workshops with diagrams and post-it notes and templates I came away feeling like I’d just taken a math test, and failed!  It took a half dozen books before I accepted that my style was more organic and that it was okay for me …

by Elaine Burroughs

I had the pleasure of attending RWA’s national conference in Orlando about a month ago. Having been to 2 of these national (aka bigger) conferences in recent years, I knew what to expect: plenty of books, 2100+ people, great speakers and panels, and a wonderful time. And yes, all of those happened yet again.

One of the best panels I attended was “Buy This Book!” given by Jenny Gardiner (www.jennygardiner.net), along with her agent Holly Root, agent Barbara Poelle, and Pocket Books senior editor Abby Zidle. It was here that I discovered an often repeated secret but it became astoundingly clear: It’s Not Personal. I’m talking about the big “R” word here: Rejection. At whichever level it happens to be (rejection from an agent, editor, whether the book becomes mass market paperback instead of hard cover, rejection of what you want in general).

It’s not personal.

Jenny’s presentation essentially was a “mock” meeting as would be done at a publishing house. The editor, a publicity person, a media person, foreign rights person, etc. are all in attendance. This is the meeting where the editor tries to convince others at the publishing house to “buy this book” that he/she …

by Carol Burnside

I’ve had times in my life when I’ve been positively euphoric with bliss. Times when it seems like I’m overwhelmed with good fortune. I remember falling in love and feeling as if my heart would burst from my chest with happiness. There were many days after my children were born when my life was so full of love I wasn’t sure my heart could hold all the joy.

I have known deep sorrow and grief the likes of which I didn’t think I could survive. Yet I’m still here.

There is a lot going on with my extended family these days. I won’t depress you with all the details. Let’s just say I’ve been bombarded with devastating news and keep the tissues handy. Unfortunately there will be worse news before this hard-to-breathe period is over. There’s no getting ’round it, I’m afraid.

Some days my heart is so heavy with sorrow, I struggle to find the happiness in each day, struggle to draw air in and out of my lungs because of the suffocating weight.

Yet the joy of life is there, in my marriage, in the voices of my children, in the friendships that keep me sane, in the process of writing. …

Star of His Heart

by Brenda Jackson

Harlequin/Kimani Press

ISBN: 978-1-4268-6461-2

Rachel Wellesley has worked hard to be considered an exceptional makeup artist and wardrobe consutant in Hollywood.  Despite being a member of a famous family, she has fought for her independence and furiously guards her privacy, making a point of staying out of the media limelight.  When the hunky, upcoming actor Ethan Chambers lands a part in Paging the Doctor, a soap that Rachel is working on, she knows she’s in trouble. She is no more immune to Ethan’s charms than the other women on the set. 

Ethan finds the petite and lovely Rachel appealing but he isn’t on the set to make new conquests. This is his big break and he is going to use the opportunity to prove himself.  He could have stayed in his family’s business in Napa Valley but his dream is to become an accomplished actor.

            Rachel and Ethan are attached to each other but both resist their feelings because they don’t want to damage their careers.  There is a no fraternizing rule on the set so Ethan and Rachel agree to just be friends. Rachael knows that …

Almost Perfect

by  Susan Mallery

http://www.susanmallery.com/

http://www.foolsgoldca.com/

Publisher: HQN Books (June 29, 2010)

ISBN-10: 0373774907

ISBN-13: 978-0373774906

Genre: Women’s Fiction

“LIZ SUTTON HAD ALWAYS KNOWN the past would come back and bite her in the butt—she just hadn’t known it was going to happen today.” (Almost Perfect, Susan Mallery)

Liz left Fool’s Gold, California long ago and never planned to return.  That all changes with one e-mail.  As a New York Times Bestselling suspense author, Liz gets crazy fan letters all the time.  But this one is different.  When a niece she didn’t know she had writes and asks for her help, Liz drops everything and heads out even though it means returning to the one place that never accepted her. 

Ethan Hendrix was born into one of the town’s founding families and because of this; he was raised to believe that he had to act accordingly.  Dating the daughter of the woman with the worst reputation in town wasn’t allowed, even though he couldn’t stay away from her.  When his friends confront him about his secret relationship, he denies it and ends up losing more than the girl he professed in private to love.  Twelve years …