Tuesday News—This Week It’s All About American Romance

For various personal reasons that I won’t bore you with, September has pretty much been a wash here at The Writer Side. My apologies for that. October will be better. I promise.

I hope you’ll drop by the Harlequin American Romance Authors’ blog this week because there’s lots going on, including several special guests who are dropping by help us celebrate our 25th anniversary.

Today we have a special interview with romance author Judith Arnold. She has written twenty-nine American Romances, and numerous other books. I know . . . impressive! Her first American Romance, Come Home to Love, was published in 1985.

On October 3, be sure to check out an interview with current HAR author Shelley Galloway.

And on October 6, Kathleen Scheibling, the senior editor for Harlequin American Romance, will guest blog about how the covers for the line have changed over time. Be sure to join us for a jaunt down memory lane!

Until next time,
Lee

This Week with the Wet Noodle Posse

This week, Writers' Health Month wraps up at the Wet Noodle Posse and Golden Heart Contest Preparation begins. Here’s what’s on the calendar for this week:

Monday: Today Was a Good Day with Norah Wilson

Tuesday: Guest Blogger Bonnie Vanak

Wednesday: Priscilla Kissinger introduces Golden Heart Preparation Month, and the winner of the WNP’s September raffle will be announced

Thursday: Maureen Hardegree tells you Why You Should Enter the Golden Heart Contest

Friday, October 3rd: Noodler New Releases for October

Until next time,
Lee

This Week’s News

It’s been one of those weeks and I’m so far behind, it isn’t even funny. Normally I would have posted this on Tuesday because Tuesday is News Day here on the Writer Side. Here it is Friday, but better late than never. Right?

The Harlequin American Romance Authors’ anniversary celebration continues this week, and today our special guest is Karen Toller Whittenburg. You’ll find an impressive list of Karen’s American Romances at Romancewiki. She also writes as Karen Crane.

And as always, everyone who posts a comment on the blog is eligible to win autographed books by American Romance authors.

Speaking of books by Harlequin American Romance authors, four great reads were released this week and you won’t want to miss any of them.

A Dad for Her Twins by Tanya Michaels

Texas Heir by Linda Warren

Smoky Mountain Home by Lynnette Kent

A Firefighter in the Family by debut author Trish Milburn

Happy reading!

Until next time,
Lee

This Week with the Wet Noodle Posse

This will be another great week, the second in Writers' Health month over at the Wet Noodle Posse.

Monday, September 8th
Esri Rose—Desk
Ergonomics

Tuesday, September 9th
Trish Milburn—Get Up from Your Desk
Regularly

Wednesday, September 10th
Delle Jacobs—Cruising and Other Relaxing
Nightmares

Thursday, September 11th
Colleen Gleason—Eating Right (Brain
Food)

Friday, Septermber 12th
Q&A—Readers ask questions, Noodlers
answer

Remember that for this month’s raffle prize, the Noodlers are offering Reader's Choice—either a first chapter critique (25 pages, 25 lines per page) OR a $20 gift certificate to the online bookstore of the reader's choosing. Each response to a blog post increases your chance of winning.

Until next time,
Lee

Harlequin American Romance Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary

The Harlequin American Romance Authors have invited a number of guest bloggers to help us celebrate the 25th anniversary of the line. Today we’re joined by editor Johanna Raisanen. I hope you’ll drop by. Be sure to post a comment so you’ll be eligible to win autographed books!

Until later,
Lee

Friday Food for Thought—Black Bean Soup

A pot of delicious homemade soup simmering on the back of the stove is one of the things I love about the cooler fall weather. I’m kicking off this month’s Food for Thought with a hearty and delicious recipe for black bean soup.

3 19-ounce cans of black beans, drained and rinsed
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
4 cloves of garlic, minced or pressed
3 stalks of celery, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon dried chili peppers
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon cumin
salt and pepper to taste
5 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
low-fat sour cream and lime wedges for garnish

In a large stock pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Gently saute the garlic, onions and celery until the onions and celery are translucent. Stir in the seasonings—chili peppers, chili powder, oregano, cumin, and salt and pepper—and cook them for about one minute.

Add the stock, canned tomatoes (including the juice) and the black beans. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for half an hour.

To thicken the soup: puree about six cups of the soup mixture in a blender or food processor, then return the puree to the pot.

Serve in large bowls, garnished with a dollop of low-fat sour cream and a lime wedge.

Hope you enjoy it!

Until later,
Lee

Note: To suit your family’s taste, you can add more or less dried chilies and chili powder, or omit them altogether.

This Week with the Wet Noodle Posse

September is Writer Health month at the Wet Noodle Posse. As always, everyone who posts a comment will be eligible to win a Barnes & Noble gift certificate!

Monday, September 1st:
Overview of Writer Health and the announcement of the gift certificate winner for August

Tuesday, September 2nd:
Norah Wilson - "Seasonal Affective Disorder"

Wednesday, September 3rd:
Karen Potter - "Striving for Balance"

Thursday, September 4th:
Maureen Hardegree - "Just Say No"

Friday, September 5th:
Noodlers’ September Releases

Stay healthy, and enjoy!

Until next time,
Lee