The Writer Side of Life

News!

2008-05-07T09:56:00.000-07:00

The Man for Maggie is a finalist in the More Than Magic Contest! A double finalist, actually, in the First Book and Sweet Contemporary categories! I couldn’t be more excited!

Other finalists include my friend Cindy Procter-King (Borrowing Alex, Romantic Comedy), fellow Harlequin American Romance author Lisa Childs ("Secret Santa" in Christmas Presence, Novella), and Wet Noodle Posse pals Terry McLaughlin (The Rancher Needs a Wife, Sensual Contemporary) and Janice Lynn (The Doctor's Pregnancy Bombshell, Sweet Contemporary).

Congratulations to all of you! It's an honor to be in such wonderful company!

Lee

April . . .

2008-04-25T09:05:00.000-07:00

. . . is zipping right along, isn’t it?

Today I’m stopping by to congratulate a couple of friends on their recent writing successes.

Rachel Goldsworthy is a finalist in the Wisconsin Fab Five contest with her women’s fiction manuscript, PASTEUR’S ANGEL. Good luck, Rachel!

And Jo Beverley’s stunning new book, A LADY’S SECRET, is #14 on the New York Times bestseller list!

Congratulations, Jo!

Happy Friday!

Lee

The Office—"Hey, Pam . . . "

2008-04-20T13:28:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed that when TV writers finally get two characters together, the conflict between them often evaporates and the couple is no longer interesting? Not so with Jim and Pam on The Office.

Last week the show returned from hiatus with Michael and Jan hosting the dinner party from hell and then finally calling it quits. This week, Michael’s biological clock was ticking. He wants to have a family, and he’s also shopping for a new chair for his office. The chair model in the supply catalogue turns out to be the perfect woman for him, with only one minor hitch. She died in a car accident.

To console Michael, Pam sets him up with her landlady, who happens to be a very nice woman, just not hot enough for Michael. That situation creates a perfect transition from the episode’s main plotline to some lovely Jim-and-Pam banter.

If Pam’s landlady kicks her out, she can move in with Jim.

Except she won’t move in unless they’re engaged.

Has he really not proposed yet?

Pam raises her ringless hand for inspection.

Then, in one of those fabulous vignettes with Jim talking to the camera, he shows us the ring he bought a week after they started dating.

The promise of Jim’s proposal will keep fans of The Office coming back for more. I can’t begin to guess what the writers have in store for us, but I’ll bet Jim’s proposal will kick everyone’s butt!

"Hey, Pam. Will you wait for me one second while I tie my shoe?"

Yes, Jim. We're all waiting.

Here's what I'm watching tonight:

Brothers & Sisters is back!

I'll also be tuning in to Sweet Nothings in My Ear, a made-for-TV movie staring Marlee Matlin - a family drama about a deaf and hearing couple who struggle to decide whether or not to give their deaf son a cochlear implant.

And of course Marlee's still a contender on Dancing With The Stars!

And the winner is . . .

2008-04-12T20:22:00.001-07:00

The winner of an autographed copy of Marrying the Boss is . . . Sheryll!

Congratulations, Sheryll! You can contact Megan through her website and pass along your mailing address.

My apologies to all for the delay in making this announcement. Sometimes life has a way of overriding a person's good intentions and for the past couple of days, life has run over mine like a steamroller :-)

Lee

Megan Kelly

2008-04-10T07:33:00.000-07:00

Hello, everyone! Today, Megan Kelly is guest blogging here at The Writer Side of Life. Megan’s first book was released on Tuesday, so of course a little party was in order! So glad you could join us!

Megan Kelly read her first Harlequin Romance as a teenager and became an avid reader. She dreamed of writing those exciting and moving stories she loved. After years (and years) of writing, she finally sold to Harlequin American Romance in 2007. She'll see two books published in 2008, Marrying The Boss and The Fake Fiancee. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and two children and is well-known at her local bookstore and library.

And remember, one lucky commenter will receive an autographed copy of Marrying the Boss. We’ll post the winner tomorrow, so be sure to check back.

And now, here’s Megan!

* * *

Hello! I’d like to thank Lee for the opportunity to guest blog today. She’s a real sweetie. If you ever get a chance to meet her at a booksigning or event, you should try to get there.

As Lee mentioned, my first book, Marrying the Boss, hit the bookstore shelves on Tuesday. I don’t have words to explain how excited I am, but maybe hearing about the journey I took to get published (long and circuitous!) will help you understand.

I fell in love with romances as a teenager, but back in those days, all the heroes were alpha males and treated the heroines badly. Many of these books hit the wall (because I threw them), leaving me dissatisfied. I started imagining scenes which would have made each book better. Soon I knew I wanted to write romances for a living. I was seventeen.

Now I’m not.

Oh, still need more? Okay. I went to college, got married, bought a computer, had children, and then started to fulfill the need to write. It wasn’t until I found the local chapter of Romance Writers of America (RWA) that I got serious. I went to a conference, met a Silhouette editor who requested my story, and I went home and wrote like crazy. It got rejected, and thank goodness! That’s definitely my “learning book,” dear to my heart, but never to see the light of day again. It’s that bad.

But I kept at it. I went to conferences and our local RWA chapter’s monthly programs and kept learning. I joined a critique group and entered contests for feedback. I worked at my craft and tried to pick up the business stuff, too. I finaled in a few contests, and then won the Maggie, which is heralded as the number one RWA chapter contest, put on by Georgia Romance Writers. I submitted that ms to NY and went to work on another. And another. And… you get the idea.

One day, I didn’t have the heart to write anymore. I figured I’d never get published and my stories would never entertain anyone but me. I was a mess. The “people in my head” not only stopped talking to me, they vanished. (You have to be a writer to think that’s not crazy.) I kept writing, half-heartedly. I had a ms I couldn’t finish, so I’d start something new, then go back to it, then work on the other thing, then go back… I still entered contests and even finaled in the Emily from West Houston RWA (third most prestigious).

And one day, because I kept writing and was open to the experience, the people starting walking around in my head again. I don’t know where they’d been or why they returned. My family noticed I was much happier. I started a new book, not really believing I could get published but wanting to try. And, no, it didn’t happen right away. That would be too Hollywood for my life.

The story didn’t gel at first. It was about two brothers vying for the family firm. One day, a different heroine took over, insisting this was her story. She was right. I finaled in the Maggie then won the Molly from Heart of Denver RW, the second most prestigious contest.

I submitted the ms to Harlequin American Romance after the senior editor ran an article in Romantic Times magazine, asking for new authors. I sent a partial because that’s all I had written, and I still didn’t have much hope of selling, so why spend the money? She requested the full. Oh, boy! So I said goodbye to my family (just kidding) and once again wrote like mad. I gave myself a deadline of six weeks, and off it went. About four months later, the senior editor called and asked to buy it! That book is Marrying the Boss.

And that horrible, monkey-on-my-back manuscript I couldn’t finish? It’s my July release, The Fake Fiancée, which still tortured me, but I loved finishing it. My favorite quote for writing is from Winston Churchill: “Never, never, never quit.”

Whew. Any questions?

Megan

Tuesday News—Guest Bloggers, New Releases and More . . .

2008-04-08T09:33:00.000-07:00

I’m thrilled to tell you that Harlequin American Romance’s latest debut author—Megan Kelly—will be guest blogging here at The Writer Side of Life on Thursday. Megan’s going to tell us all about her path to publication, so I hope you’ll check back. She’ll also be giving away an autographed copy of her first Harlequin American Romance, Marrying the Boss, so be sure to leave a comment or ask her a question.

All his life Mark Collins has been fighting for a place to belong. Now just when he thinks the hard-earned family business is within reach, his adoptive grandfather's will has named a challenger.

Leanne Fairbanks belongs in Collins Company as much as Mark does—and she's just as determined to become its next CEO. Until her handsome rival starts arousing feelings that have nothing to do with business. With a lot more than who's going to be boss at issue, Leanne has to decide whether winning the battle will lose her the war, especially when it's her heart at stake.

I’m really looking forward to reading your story, Megan! And speaking of Harlequin American Romances, the four April titles hit the shelves today. Be sure to check them out!

Runaway Cowboy by Judy Christenberry
Marrying the Boss by Megan Kelly
The Marriage Recipe by Michele Dunaway
Downhome Dixie by Pamela Browning

Last but not least, it’s conflict month over at the Wet Noodle Posse and I’m blogging today about GMC—Goal, Motivation & Conflict. Drop by and say, “Hi!”

Happy reading and writing!

Lee

Sunday Fun—Cupcakes!

2008-04-06T09:18:00.000-07:00

Last December I blogged about the Martha Stewart Show and the “great cake” she was baking. Since then I’ve tuned into the show from time to time, including this week, which was "Cupcake Week."

I'm sometimes out of step with current trends, so I was surprised to find out that cupcakes are currently all the rage. Who knew? Certainly not me!

I only caught the Wednesday episode of Martha’s show this week, and she and her guest Karen Tack were making Corn-on-the-cob Cupcakes.

How adorable are these? They’re decorated with jelly beans and served on corn cob plates, complete with holders. Perfect for a family barbecue or a child’s birthday picnic.

The recipe and decorating instructions are on the Martha Stewart website and in Karen Tack’s cookbook, Hello, Cupcake!: Irresistibly Playful Creations Anyone Can Make.

While I was searching Amazon for cupcake cookbooks—yes, there are plenty of them!—I came across this one—A Baker’s Field Guide to Cupcakes: Deliciously Decorated Crowd Pleasers for Parties and Holidays by Dede Wilson.

This cookbook “. . . brings the user-friendly approach of the [field guide] series to the ever-popular cupcake, with fifteen master batter and frosting recipes on which the sixty cupcakes in the field guide are built. This book features creative, fun ways to decorate cupcakes for a wide range of special occasions and holidays for children and adults, with a beautiful photograph of every cupcake.”

The science nerd in me loves the field guide concept, and the non-baker side of me likes the user-friendly aspect of this cookbook. It’s spiral bound and each recipe has a two-page spread, which means the book will lie flat and all the information for a specific recipe will be at the baker’s fingertips. I especially appreciate being able to create many different kinds of cupcakes from only fifteen recipes. Even I could do this!

But why cupcakes?

According to Wikipedia, New York City’s Magnolia Bakery is credited with starting the cupcake craze.

Several years ago my daughter and I spent two weeks in New York. She was a huge fan of Sex and the City, the TV show that helped popularize the Magnolia Bakery, so we popped in when we visited Greenwich Village. Even after lining up for ten minutes to pay several dollars apiece for cupcakes, I never imagined this was a trend in the making.

Now there are cupcake shops in nearly every major city in North America. You can buy containers for transporting cupcakes and stands for serving them.

You can visit blogs like Cupcakes Take the Cake, devoted to baking and decorating cupcakes. If you're as crafty as this blogger, you can even knit yourself a cupcake. So cute!

Watching Martha Stewart’s show this week reminded me of the cupcakes my grandmother used to make from a yellow cake batter with chocolate icing. They were simple, delicious, and the perfect size for a snack or a lunchtime dessert.

Deliciously simple—maybe that’s the secret to today’s cupcake craze. What do you think?

Talk to you later,
Lee

Tuesday News

2008-04-01T15:38:00.000-07:00

April is TV Month! It’s been a long time since we’ve seen new episodes of our favorite shows, so April is feeling like fall premiere season all over again. Here’s what I’ll be watching:

Men in Trees — Wednesdays (currently airing new episodes)

NUMB3RS — Friday,April 4 (6 new episodes)

Samantha Who? — Monday, April 7 (6 new episodes)

30 Rock — Thursday, April 10 (5 new episodes)

The Office — Thursday,April 10 (6 new episodes)

Brothers and Sisters — Sunday, April 20 (possibly 6 new episodes)

Gossip Girl — Monday, April 21 (5 or 6 new episodes; note the new night)

Grey's Anatomy — Thursday, April 24 (not sure, but there should be 4 or 5 new episodes)

For the writers out there, April is conflict month with The Wet Noodle Posse. On April 8 I'll be blogging about characters' goals, motivation and conflict, and about writing GMC statements for our characters. But it gets better!

"Along with the award-winning Wet Noodle Posse authors, we have a star-studded
line-up of guest bloggers, including bestselling authors Jo Beverley (whose new
book, A Lady's Secret, is out today!), Susan Gable, Anna Campbell, Tawny Weber,
and Christie Kelley. You won't want to miss a single day! We will be giving away
a signed copy of a Jo Beverley novel on the 24th to a lucky participant, but you
must comment to enter. So please plan to join us all month long and bring your
questions and comments to our knowledgeable group of writers."

The Posse hopes you'll join us and our guests this month for lively discussions about conflict and the chance to win some great prizes!

Talk to you later.
Lee

Wait a Minute . . .

2008-03-31T10:17:00.000-07:00

Left-handed Whoppers at Burger King? A report on Switzerland’s annual spaghetti harvest? Pat Sajak hosting Jeopardy?

Hm. What do these events have in common? They were April Fool’s Day hoaxes perpetrated on an unsuspecting pubic.

I usually forget about April Fool’s Day until after I’ve listened to a prank on the radio or read one in the newspaper. I’ll confess to having fallen for some very clever ones, but others are just too preposterous to be believed. Seriously. Spaghetti growing on trees? I don’t think so!

I've never been a prankster, but I do appreciate a good one. As you all know, The Office is one of my favorite TV shows. It’s too bad we won’t see new episodes until April 10 because this week would have been a perfect time for one of their outrageous pranks. My all-time favorite so far is Jim’s bitten-by-a-bat routine, in which he pretends to be turning in a vampire . . . and Dwight falls for it! Check out the Office Pranks blog for a great description of the vampire bite prank.

And if you’re wondering why I’m posting an April Fool’s Day blog on March 31, it’s to remind myself not to be a fool tomorrow. I hope you’ll join me! And if you have a favorite a favorite April's Fool Day prank, I'd love to hear about it.

Lee

PS: Tomorrow is Tuesday News Day and I have a ton of news. Seriously. I hope you’ll check back.

Sunday Fun—Join Harlequin’s 100,000 Book Challenge!

2008-03-30T09:21:00.000-07:00

We all read for pleasure, but this year the 100,000 Book Challenge sponsored by Harlequin Enterprises gives us the opportunity to share our love of reading with others.

You can find all the details at eHarlequin.com, but basically the company is “challenging its community members to read an astounding 100,000 books in one year in the 2008 eHarlequin.com 100,000 Book Challenge. When the reading challenge ends on December 31, 2008, Harlequin will make an unprecedented donation of an equivalent number of books to the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL). The estimated retail value of a 100,000 book donation to the NCFL by Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. is $700,000 U.S.”

The NCFL is a “leading resource in family learning and literacy.” You can visit the NCFL's website to learn more about what they do.

To participate in the book challenge, simply sign up with the eHarlequin community and post a brief review or summary of each book you read. At least 50% of the books on the list must be published by Harlequin. The other 50% can be by any other publisher, in any genre and any format, including eBooks and audiobooks.

Happy reading!

Lee

Men in Trees—Grand Gestures, or Can I Give You a Kidney?

2008-03-27T11:45:00.000-07:00

On this week’s episode of Men in Trees ("A Tale of Two Kidneys") Marin’s question on her radio show was in response to Jack’s statement about not being a grand gesture kind of guy. So she asked her audience if grand gestures were the way to go or if it’s the little things that count. Can you ever give too much of yourself to another person?

Given the title of the episode and the fact that Cash was already in the hospital, it was pretty easy to figure out where the writers were headed with the grand gestures theme, and that part was okay. I just thought they got a few scenes in the wrong order.

Even before the episode started I knew Marin would want to give Cash a kidney. That’s the kind of person she is and, well, it’s Cash. And the way she looked at him through the window after she found out he needed a kidney? Heart wrenching. So yeah, Marin being tested was a given, but having her end up as the donor would have been way too obvious.

Unfortunately they also made it way too obvious that Terri would be the donor. Eliminating one or two scenes and moving a couple of others would have helped.

The scene with Annie and Terri in the beauty parlor was great, and Terri’s need to earn karmic points was well set up. After all, he’s the one who put that fateful bobby pin in Patrick’s hair—the bobby pin that attracted the lightening that struck Patrick on his wedding day and caused him to have amnesia. Hm. When I say it like that it sounds a bit preposterous but hey, it could happen!

I also liked the scene with Marin and Terri outside the hospital when she tells him that she was visiting Cash, but from the moment Terri walked into Cash’s room, I knew he was the donor. Marin being a match wasn’t enough of a red herring.

We didn’t need that first scene with Terri and Cash at all. They clearly don’t know each other, so why would Terri visit him? Marin could have given Terri the information about Cash not having a family. And still Terri could have delivered that great line about cutting Cash’s hair—or at least running his fingers through it—to Marin. That really was a great line, and so well delievered!

Having Terri redecorate Cash’s hospital room so early in the episode was out of place. A little foreshadowing is good, but this time it completely gave away the storyline.

I would have preferred to wait for Marin and Jack’s scene, when she tells him she’s a match but she’s not going through with it because someone else stepped up. Then cut to a hospital scene with Cash waking up his newly renovated hospital room—the tiki decor was a stroke of genius!—which would have been Terri’s way of saying, "Surprise!"

To motivate Terri’s decision to give a kidney to someone he hardly knows, all we needed was a short scene or two with him styling the wigs of a couple of cranky patients—and having to resist the urge to stick a couple of bobby pins in them!—then saying, "This is so not worth it." On his way out of the hospital, he would have passed the window, seen Cash sleeping, and made a comment on the dreary hospital decor. And the hair.

In all fairness, this episode’s writer is new to the show. You can check out his blog about "A Tale of Two Kidney’s" on the Men in Trees official website. And all in all there was much to love. Celia got her plate back, Jack got his name on Marin’s mailbox, and Annie got one kick butt hair cut. But I would have liked Terri’s grand gesture to more of a surprise.

To answer Marin’s question, it’s not always possible to make a grand gesture, but the little things can sure add up.

Talk to you soon.
Lee

PS: Any Janet Evanovich fans out there? In her Stephanie Plum books, it’s always been obvious that Stephanie belongs with Joe Morelli, but some readers thought she should throw caution to the wind and go for it with Ranger. I think the same is becoming true with the Marin-Jack-Cash scenario. I’m a big Jack and Marin fan, but I wouldn’t hate it if something were to happen between Marin and Cash.

PPS: I apologize for this post being so long. This is what happens when I get off on a tangent! Still, I honestly can’t imagine any group of writers having more fun than the people who work on Men in Trees.

Dancing With The Stars

2008-03-26T09:57:00.000-07:00

Last night everyone said goodbye to Penn Jillette and Monica Selles, which means Marlee Matlin is still in! And so she should be, after finishing in fourth place overall.

Don’t you adore Marlee’s sense of humor? I laughed when she described the email she received from a viewer, asking if she was going to be Deaf for the whole show. Oh my. And when she pushed the mic away from host Samantha, explaining that she didn’t need it! For a Deaf person trying to communicate in a hearing world, I’m guessing a sense of humor is a must.

I really laughed when she said second place among the women dancers “wasn’t bad for the old Deaf broad.” They didn't teach us that sign in ASL class! I’m glad I taped the show so I could have a second look!

And not bad indeed, but let’s be honest here. For a woman in her forties who has had four children, Marlee looks absolutely fantastic! And does an amazing quickstep.

My only criticism about the show so far is directed at the producers. I wish they could figure out a way to have the interpreter on camera when the hosts and judges are speaking to Marlee. I’m sure Deaf viewers would appreciate it, and it’s great practice for people who are learning ASL. Maybe the logistics are too complicated, but I’d like to see them give it a shot.

For now I’m looking forward to seeing the judges’ predictions come true. Marlee is definitely a contender, and she should go a very long way in this competition.

Later,
Lee

Tuesday News—GH and Rita Finalists

2008-03-25T13:22:00.000-07:00

Today's the day that RWA notifies finalists in its 2008 Rita and Golden Heart contests. Congratulations to all of this year's finalists!

I'm sending extra special congratulations to fellow Noodler, Theresa Ragan! Theresa is a double finalist in the romantic suspense and single title categories of the Golden Heart Contest. These are Theresa’s fifth and sixth GH finals and it seems her first sale is long overdue. Here’s hoping she gets the call soon!

And this just in—two more Noodlers strike gold! Priscilla Kissinger is a GH finalist in the contemporary series romance category, and Stephanie Rowe’s He Loves Me, He Loves Me Hot is a Rita finalist in the paranormal category. Pris is a GH finalist for the second time. In 2006, Stephanie was a double Rita finalist for two YA novels, written as Stephie Davis.

The Wet Noodle Posse rides again!

Lee

A debut novel by MJ Fredrick

2008-03-24T09:16:00.000-07:00

MJ Fredrick—my fabulous friend and fellow Noodler—is making her publishing debut! WHERE THERE’S SMOKE is a March release from Wild Rose Press. As I write this, her book is Number One on their current bestseller list. Congratulations, MJ! Such a gorgeous cover, and such a wonderful story!

Is there such a thing as being too close, knowing each other too well?

Lauren Stokes put a lid on her attraction toward her best friend Seth Escamilla years ago. She would never be his type of woman, so why torture herself? When sexual awareness strikes during a friendly football game, she is stunned. He is guilty for injuring her and looks after her, but Lauren resorts to wisecracking to distance herself from him.

Seth is confused by the new emotions swamping him. This is Lauren, his best friend, someone he has fun with, not someone he has fun with! He has no plan to settle down, and he won¹t risk their friendship when they have no future.

They resist the new attraction, and the efforts of their families to push them together. When a wedding loosens their inhibitions, keeping the new aspect of their relationship a secret is harder than they would have thought.

MJ’s next book, HOT SHOT, will be available in April from Samhain Publishing. To see the cover, visit her website.

Anyone else thinking that MJ seems to have a thing for firefighters?!

Lee

PS: I’m blogging today with the Harlequin American Romance Authors. I hope you’ll drop by and say hello!

Happy Easter!

2008-03-23T12:15:00.000-07:00

Today is family day at my house and everyone is nibbling on chocolate. My kids are coming home for roast chicken dinner, complete with all the trimmings. But before that they’ll be helping their dad sweep off the patio and set up the patio furniture. Yes, spring is finally here!

Whatever your day brings, I hope your holiday is filled with peace and relaxation.

Warmest,
Lee

More on Men in Trees

2008-03-21T15:11:00.000-07:00

Men in Trees is set in the fictional town of Elmo, Alaska, which I’ve always assumed is intended to represent the real town of Juneau. The TV series is actually filmed in Squamish, British Columbia, which is a lot easier to get to. The best part is that Squamish, which is about half the size of Juneau, has a similar geographic setting and a slightly milder winter climate.

The Chieftan Hotel in Squamish is a real place. They use an exterior shot on the show, but I'm certain that the interior shots are filmed in a studio. The Chieftan is named for The Chief—that looming granite cliff that often appears in the show. In fact, the geology around Squamish is primarily volcanic, and the same is true for Juneau.

For a TV film crew, Squamish is much more accessible than Juneau, and both towns have a similar climate, geography and vegetation, so filming Men in Trees in Squamish really does make a lot of sense.

What does intrigue me, though, is why one of the show’s film editors keeps sneaking in a shot of Peyto Lake. I’ve seen this in two episodes for sure, maybe three. The last time it was used was in “Charity Case.” It was slipped in between the movie night scene and Marin’s visit to Cash’s campsite the following day.

Why am I intrigued? Peyto Lake is in the Canadian Rockies, hundreds of miles from Squamish, just off the Banff-Jasper Parkway. The surrounding mountains all consist of sedimentary rocks, which is why you can see all those lovely layers in them. To the well-trained eye of yours truly—who happens to be a science geek as well as a romance author—the contrasting geology sticks out like a sore thumb.

Still, the Canadian Rockies are one of the most beautiful places in the world, so it doesn’t surprise me that someone affiliated with show would slip in a shot of those majestic mountains and a pristine glacial lake. But I do wonder if anyone else is paying attention!

More later,
Lee

Men in Trees—How Do I Love Thee?

2008-03-20T15:18:00.000-07:00

Last night’s episode of Men in Trees was really titled “Read Between the Minds,” and one of the underlying themes looked at the different ways people express their love for another person. Not just romantic love, but a parent’s love for a child and the love between friends.

I’ll be honest, though. At first I thought the writers got a little carried away with this one. Seriously. Patrick taking to skies with a lawn chair and a bunch of balloons. Jane’s parents turning out to be little people. Those are the kinds of over-the-top situations that make me think, come on, that would never happen.

Ever since Patrick developed amnesia, the poor boy hasn’t been himself. What is a poor, distraught mother to do? Well, if you’re the police chief, you can put him in jail. And that’s exactly where Patrick’s reckless flight landed him. I’m sure every parent has wished for the same thing—the ability to keep a child safe and secure and out of harm’s way. In Patrick’s case, locking him up also helped Annie to continue to rekindle their relationship. Now it’ll be interesting to see how long Celia keeps her under lock and key!

Thanks in part to Jane’s parents, we got to see a new side of Sam last night. He’s a crier. He even got emotional over his new bride’s very badly written vows. So badly written that at first I thought he was laughing. At their reception, he did the chicken dance with her father, then he took the mic and we got to hear his vows. And then I was crying, Jane was crying, and even Jane’s dad was crying. Oh, Sam. You are a keeper.

Sam’s vows were so moving that Jerome sought out a piano in the hotel bar. He had even sheet music with him, and I imagine he’d intended to play that piece for Mary Alice. If only she hadn’t broken his heart after he’d mustered the courage to overcome his fear of flying so he could go to New York City to see her. I hope we haven’t seen the last of Jerome and Mary Alice. He deserves to have someone who loves him.

And then there’s Jack. He’s not much of a talker, never mind a crier. He’s a man of action. Fod days he sleeplessly agonized over watching another man die in the Bering Sea, and he tried everything he could think of to make himself forget. Sex. Scotch. Plumbing repairs. It wasn’t until he found the words to tell Marin what happened that he managed to sleep. It’s not about sex, Jack, it’s all about the love. You just have to learn to trust it. And yourself.

By the end of the episode I was trying to count the ways I love this show, and I had completely forgiven the writers for transgressing into over-the-topness. They made it work, and that takes a lot of skill.

Noticeably absent from this week’s episode of Men in Trees were Eric and Cash. However, Sarah caught the eye of a handsome doctor-slash-volunteer-paramedic, and it’ll be interesting to see where the writers go with that.

Next week’s episode is called “A Tale of Two Kidneys,” so it’s safe to say Cash will be back. Anyone care place bets on who’s going to be a donor match?

Back later,
Lee

Dancing with the Stars

2008-03-19T12:24:00.000-07:00

This show never made it onto my regular viewing schedule, but I tuned in for this week’s Season 6 premiere of Dancing with the Stars because one of the stars is academy-award-winning actress Marlee Matlin. Marlee is extremely talented, absolutely gorgeous, and profoundly deaf.

I’m a hearing person who has spent several years studying American Sign Language. When I heard that Marlee would be one of the stars dancing on this show, I looked forward to seeing how they would handle communications between Marlee, her dancing partner, and the show’s hosts and judges. As it turns out, flawlessly. Marlee’s interpreter did a superb job, although listening to a male voice speak while she signs is a bit confusing at times.

I was also interested to see how a Deaf person would learn complicated dance steps and carry out them in time to music she cannot hear. Again, flawlessly! As she explained to her dancing partner, Fabian, “As a Deaf person, I use my body to communicate every day, so I think that’s a plus.”

But Marlee not only has to do the dance, she has to perform it. I thought she was amazing! The judges thought so, too. In his critique, Bruno told her, “You may not hear, but the music is running through your blood.” He then went on to tell her that he’d counted throughout the song, and she hardly missed a beat.

In Marlee's own words . . . er, signs . . . she said, “I’m here on Dancing with the Stars to show people that just because you’re Deaf doesn’t mean you can’t dance.” And she sure did show them!

Yes, Dancing with the Stars has a new viewer and I’ll be watching as long as voters keep Marlee on the show.

Lee

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2008-03-17T14:07:00.000-07:00

No green beer for me, I'm afraid, but a pot of Irish stew and a pan of soda bread are on the menu tonight. However you plan to celebrate, may the luck of the Irish be with you!

Lee

Tuesday News—Tomorrow is Harlequin American Romance Day at Cataromance!

2008-03-11T17:28:00.000-07:00

I hope you'll have a chance to drop by Cataromance tomorrow, March 12th, “for a fun filled day spotlighting Harlequin American Romance. At the heart of each of these books is an incredible love story set somewhere in the beautiful US-of-A and some of the most talented authors in the industry write for this line, so you’re in for a treat.”

See you there!

Lee

The Pink Heart Society

2008-02-27T08:34:00.000-08:00

I'm a guest blogger today at the The Pink Heart Society. Please drop by and check out my story about getting "The Call."

Another hightlight today is the return of my favorite TV show, Men in Trees. After a nearly three-month hiatus, Elmo is back and I am one happy tree hugger :)

Lee

Tuesday News—Oscar Chatter, etc.

2008-02-26T08:28:00.000-08:00

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the Academy Awards on Sunday, even though my top picks didn’t win. I was pleased that slightly offbeat newcomer Diablo Cody won for Best Screenplay for Juno.

And although I already liked Katherine Heigl and Anne Hathaway, I’m now completely infatuated with both of them. They’re talented and quite possibly the two most gorgeous people on the planet. Both looked absolutely stunning on Oscar night, but I also get the sense that both are grounded and genuinely nice people. And anyone who disses Katherine Heigl for looking like Marilyn Monroe is simply jealous :)

Speaking of Katherine Heigl, I recently read that the Grey’s Anatomy set has banned plastic bottles. Instead, every member of the cast and crew uses a refillable thermos. Not just eco-friendly, but probably healthier too.

And on the subjects of grounded people and going green, Newman's Own, the food company started by Paul Newman, is launching Newman's Own Wines next month. In partnership with Rebel Wine Co., they’ll be selling two organic California wines—a Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon. According to the company's website, "Paul Newman has given over $200 million to thousands of charities worldwide since 1982." Very impressive.

Cheers!
Lee

Sunday Fun—It’s Oscar Night!

2008-02-24T09:21:00.000-08:00

No need to guess where I’ll be tonight. You’ll find me curled up in front of the TV with a blanket and bowl of popcorn.

I tend to wait to see films when they’re on DVD so I haven’t seen many of tonight’s nominees. In a way it makes the show more fun to watch because I haven’t already picked my favorites. At least not many. Although I haven’t yet seen Juno, I’m rooting for Ellen Page as Best Actress in a Leading Role.

Juno has been nominated for four awards this year. Apparently it’s one of those films that has achieved critical acclaim even though it was produced on a low (by Hollywood standards) budget, so I hope it does well.

In the Best Actor in a Leading Role category, I have five favorites. George Clooney, Daniel Day-Lewis, Johnny Depp, Tommy Lee Jones or Viggo Mortensen—oh my.

I’ll also be rooting for Sarah Polley, nominated for Best Writing in a Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published, for the film Away from Her, based on Alice Munro’s short story "The Bear Came Over the Mountain.”

Serious stuff aside, I think Jon Stewart will make a great host. And I also plan to take in the pre-Oscar red carpet show for the proverbial question: Who are you wearing?

Next week I’ll follow up with the gals at Go Fug Yourself, whose irreverent, sometimes scathing and always hilarious comments address that other question: What were you thinking?

And I’ll start a new list of must-see DVDs, starting with Juno and Away from Her, of course.

Lee

Total Lunar Eclipse

2008-02-21T09:29:00.000-08:00

The weather here in the Pacific Northwest cooperated last night, giving us a perfect view of the lunar eclipse as the moon rose in the early evening sky. Totality began around 7 pm and lasted nearly an hour. During that time we were treated to a reddish-brown moon that appeared much closer and more three-dimensional than it usually does.

We tried to take photos but as it turns out, we have neither the skill nor the right equipment for that kind of photography. If I find some great photos that were taken in my area, I’ll post them, or a link to them, later today.

Meanwhile, NASA’s website has a great diagram that explains how the eclipse took place, and everything else we might want to know about lunar eclipses. Can you tell I’m a bit of a science geek?

Lee

Trish Milburn and the American Title IV Contest!

2008-02-20T14:21:00.000-08:00

Trish Milburn has made it to the final round of the American Title contest! That means it’s down to her and one other contestant, and the winner’s book will be published by Dorcheter Publishing.

This is it! To help Trish get her fabulous story in print, your votes are more important than ever! Click here to read the romantic scenes in this round, then vote for Trish by sending a blank email to votes@romantictimes.com with OUT OF SIGHT in the subject header. Only one vote person, so be sure have your family and friends to vote, too!

Voting ends March 2, so please vote now!

The winner will be announced on Friday, April 18, 2008 during the Awards Luncheon at the RT Booklovers Convention in Pittsburgh! On April 21, 2008, the winner's name will be posted at www.romantictimes.com.

Good luck, Trish!

Lee