Change by Paty Jager

photo by Paty Jager

There are so many quotes and sayings about change. Ones that help with peace of mind, health, how you behave. But I've discovered that change, whether of my own accord or influences out of my control can be a good thing if I have an open mind.

This is what the dictionary says for change as a verb.

Change:
1 a: to make different in some particular- alter
   b: to make radically different: transform
   c: to give a different position, course, or direction to
2 a: to replace with another
   b: to make a shift from one to another- switch
   c: to exchange for an equivalent sum or comparable item
   d: to undergo a modification of
   e: to put  fresh clothes or covering on

As I wrote these, I realized that everyone of them- other than fresh clothes ;) - has happened to me since January of this year. And the amazing thing is I can sit here and even though I am 3 months behind in getting a new book out, I'm calm and not sweating it.

Alter- I have altered my way of thinking about having to get a "product", be it a book, box set, or audio book, out every month. I have a life with more grandchildren living closer and new adventures that keep turning up. I want a life outside of writing. This is something I altered this year.

Transform - It isn't radically different, but I've transformed my process of writing in the last two years and it has helped me to produce books even when, at times, my life feels chaotic.

Different course or direction - I made the conscious decision this year to only write mystery books. It was a relief to be able to focus on one genre, the one I love the most.

To replace with another - that would be the above. I have replaced romance with mystery.

Switch - I switched my way of thinking that I had to be everywhere all the time to be seen. I'm now part of fewer group blogs and I am only doing Facebook for social media and keeping my focus on FB groups who read what I write rather than trying to be involved in everything halfway related to what I write.

To exchange - I have exchanged my FB schmoozing time to doing ads for my books.

Modification - I have modified how I view social media and how I push myself to get books written.

Fresh clothes - Yes I still change my clothes every day! LOL

These changes I've made in my writing life this year have made me a happier, less frantic person and I've been able to relax and enjoy the opportunities that have come my way.

Look at your life and see if you need to make a change or two to make you happier or more fulfilled.

Paty Jager is an award-winning author of 40 novels, 8 novellas, and numerous anthologies of murder mystery and western romance. All her work has Western or Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging characters. Paty and her husband raise alfalfa hay in rural eastern Oregon. Riding horses and battling rattlesnakes, she not only writes the western lifestyle, she lives it.

blog / website /  Facebook / Paty's Posse / Goodreads / Twitter / Pinterest   / Bookbub

MINDFULNESS Is All The Rage These Days - #FREE book #amwriting #amreading

Thank you so much for visiting Smart Girls Read Romance today. We're talking about a topic that is not only very popular but beneficial health-wise to readers and writers. I hope you enjoy it! Check out the books on Mindfulness on Amazon - last week there were one or two that were #FREE. I hope this one is still #FREE as you read this post. Give it a try! Be a part of the Mindfulness rage. MINDFULNESS FOR BEGINNERS

Meditation can seem a daunting task, can I do it? Will I be good enough? I can’t settle my mind to do what needs to be done. A common misconception about mindfulness is that you have to be into meditation, or have to practice long hours to get any benefit from it. Neither could be further from the truth.

A simple form of mindful meditation has you taking the time to scan your body part by part and acknowledge each part in turn. You start at the top of your head and end with the tips of your toes. Let’s say you start your practice and the first thing you notice is that you have a headache. The purpose of mindfulness is not to dwell on the fact that you HAVE a headache and to dwell on how painful it is, but instead to acknowledge it and to continue on. It’s not about trying to come up with the “right” answer or trying to fix something, it’s just trying to realize what it is and say, “Yes, my head hurts but there’s more to me than that. I am more than just a headache.”

When scanning your body there are many distractions that can come up. Kids running around making noise, cars honking, thoughts of things going on at the office, that’s when you pull your thoughts back to your body scan, not with reproach but gently and kindly.

Even authors and readers use mindfulness. When you take each word as it is written and focus solely on each one as it’s written. You can hear the silence from when the birds stop chirping, the growl that paralyzes you in fear. Everything you write, everything you read can be a practice in mindfulness if you take the time to focus on each word. Take this passage for example:

First, the birds went silent and then the bushes rustled to her right. A guttural growl sent raw fear pedaling through her veins. Had she flushed out a bear, worse, a mama bear protecting her cub? Her hands went to the straps around her neck, a foolish instinct that overrode the alarm bells roaring in her head. She slipped the camera over her shoulder, her hands shaking like leaves caught up in an eddy. When the scrub brush parted, a mountain lion strolled onto the trail. The alarm bells morphed into paralyzing fear. Holy crap, what is a mountain lion doing in this neck of the woods?

When you read that you could almost put yourself in that situation, it's as if you were almost there. If you want to take some more time getting into this story check out Season, Unforgettable by Keta Diablo.

What Reviewers Are Saying . . .
"So much action. The plot kept winding around and had me guessing the whole second part of the book. This is my first book by this author. It was so good I plan to read more. I give this five BIG stars. I loved it so much!"

"Diablo made me laugh, cry and mostly, bite my fingernails down to the quick. I thoroughly enjoyed every nail-biting page, and award Season, Unforgettable five unforgettable stars!"

About Season, Unforgettable
Her land is not for sale, not even to the gorgeous man who saved her from a mountain lion attack. Both will discover that sometimes love blooms between enemies and sometimes it's even lethal.

AVAILABLE HERE - .99 CENTS

Thanks so much for visiting today, 

 

Safety, Safety... Always Safety (aka Thank Goodness for eBay)

Wait... Hold on now! I know you're thinking, "Is this SPAM email from eBay?"
Nope. This is actually a post about how eBay helped me do some research for a book -
No... REALLY.

Here's the reason for the research... I'm writing a Romance Book set in the 1970s - Just post Vietnam Era and my hero's a respectful guy. So he's going to need some protection for his lady. Safety, right?

Well, I did a Google Search for 1970s condoms - and I was thinking I'd find an article on the history of condoms that would show me images... or maybe a contraceptive webpage...

Nope. eBay - goodness gracious they say people collect all kinds of things! Little did I know!

I just hope they don't get too tired one day or reach around in the dark... but that would be a strange story about conception - I accidentally used a condom from the 1950s, son...

but seriously... I'm going to show you some other condoms that I thought were interesting... Who knew that these existed back when... I didn't!

I have to say I added the last one because how funny is that.. COLOR in your SEX LIFE!

Does that mean you get sand where it doesn't belong? Do they smell like coconut oil? 

Do you get sunburn when you have sex?

So.. what do you think you might find on eBay for story research?

It's That Time of Year Again by Carolyn Hector

It's That Time of Year Again

 by 

Carolyn Hector

The countdown is on. School is one week away. It's time for a new year and a new ideas. Y'all know me... I make any situation a romance story. 

Talk about some Meet Cute ideas while school shopping... 

A single mom and single dad each reach for the last nap-mat on the shelf. 

A single dad trying to negotiate appropriate clothing and asks help. 

Teachers falling in love. 

How about a grandparent meeting an old flame on Lunch with Grandparents Day? (btw this year Grandparent's Day is September 8th)

The possibilities are endless. 

You know what ISN'T endless? The time I've had to write. Besides my patient-zero nephew and his mystery rash, there's been all types of obstacles in my way. I think my boys sit outside my room and think of ways to keep me distracted. Sounds like it's time for a pity party! But nope! I'm not going to let that happen. I had a fortune cookie tell me that no obstacles will stand in my way this month. Damn it... I'm listening to it. 

Oh.. let me recommend Meet Cute by Helena Hunting. 

I've got a lot on my plate so I'm going to make this blog short. I'm sorry... forgive me! I'll be back next month with-hopefully- 1st day of school pics. Woo hoo!

You still have time to enjoy the summer with my book, Southern Seduction. 

Before he takes over as president of Southern Style Glitz Beauty Pageants, Caden Archibald needs to refresh the company image. The PR job can eventually build Maggie Swayne’s media profile, though it means working for the commitmentphobe who walked out on her years before. When their history threatens the company’s reputation, Caden declares that they’re engaged. The fake proposal might save his career…but will the consummate bachelor finally lose his heart?

You can find it here 

http://bit.ly/Kindle_SouthernSeduction

http://bit.ly/Harlequin_PB_Southern_Seduction

http://bit.ly/kobo_Southern_Seduction

http://bit.ly/BAM_Southern_Seduction

http://bit.ly/Nook_Southern_Seduction

http://bit.ly/BarnesAndNoble_Southern_Seduction

http://bit.ly/GooglePlay_SouthernSeduction

http://bit.ly/Walmart_SouthernSeduction

http://bit.ly/indiebooks_SouthernSeduction

Until next time

xoxo

Carolyn 

Silver City and Orphan Train Brides by @JacquieRogers #western #romance

Much Ado About Silver City!
Plus our new release and other good stuff.

by Jacquie Rogers

I was talking with Sean Dwyer, author of a new book that will be released this fall, A Quest for Tears: Surviving Traumatic Brain Injury (check it out!) about how hard it is to explain to people the fun we have in Silver City, Idaho, every year.  In our modern world with instant access to entertainment, knowledge, and communication, we don't even know what it's like to interact with our friends on purely a personal one-to-one level.  We don't know how to make our own entertainment, nor are we versed in the fine art of conversation.

A suspicious bunch, for sure.

Honey Beaulieu agreed to
pose for photo ops.

The auction baskets raised nearly $800 for neurofibromatosis research.
Special thanks to basket chairperson Sherry Walker
and auctioneer Ken Walker.

The readers' event (the whole title is Jacquie Rogers's Much Ado About Silver City Readers' Event--a mouthful for sure!) is held every year the third weekend in July at the Idaho Hotel in Silver City.  The hotel was originally built in Ruby City in 1864, then moved a mile and a half up the road to Silver City.  Over the years, it has been expanded, revered, abandoned, and resurrected.  All restoration comes out of the owners' pockets so contributions are welcome.  They call it the Paint and Nails Fund.

The owners could use a few more contributions for paint!

All in all, we had a great time.  The Paxton Family provided the music, the Walkers ran the charity auction, and then, well, there's the melodrama.  In the photo below, Kim Garland played Tallahassee Slim, I wrote and sort of directed, Honey Beaulieu laughed at us all, Sean Dwyer was the Mojeeto Kid, and Diane Garland played Miss Libby.

Wine might have been involved.

On the home front, we're suffering under a preponderance of bounty.  We have tons and tons of apricots on our trees, most of which will unfortunately go to waste, and I've canned 52 half-pints of cherry jelly, put up enough apricot nectar for at least 50 half-pints of apricot butter.  Yesterday, we froze 21 pints of green beans and the day before we canned 14 quarts of beans.  Now the tomatoes and peppers are coming on and we have all those zucchini.  Holy moly.  I forgot about all the work involved in country living.  LOL.

Instant Pots speed up the fruit processing considerably.

And on the writing front, I'm still working on the fourth Honey Beaulieu book, Crack Shot in Whiskey Gap.  What with all the canning and appointments, I haven't made nearly as much progress as I'd like.  What I do have is a new release with Caroline Clemmons.  I love working with her--she's talented, funny, and just a little bit nutzoid.

I hope you enjoy our latest duet, Orphan Train Brides.  This one is about two women who were orphans and adopted from the orphan train by an abusive couple.  Caroline wrote Merry's book, A Family for Merry, and I wrote Polly's book, A Family for Polly.  See how they planned to save five orphans who'd surely have been put in dire situations, and in the process the sisters find true love.  Oh wait, that was a spoiler.  Oh wait, they're romances, so of course there's a Happily Ever After.

Orphan Train Brides is available now in

Kindle or Print

Check out Caroline's post for more info on this duet and also the other duets that we've written together.  And guess what?  One more is in the works.  

Happy reading!  I hope you enjoy reading Merry's and Polly's stories.  They both have fun adventures that you won't want to miss.  Also, please consider posting a review--you'll have our undying gratitude! 

Jacquie's Website | Amazon author page | BookBub

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

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If you're on Snapchat, friend me!  My handle is jacquierogers.  You can get videos of Sassy's latest updates there.  And goofy pictures of her scribe.

Keep up with Jacquie Rogers' latest news at the

Pickle Barrel Gazette!
Honey Beaulieu - Man Hunter series

Hearts of Owyhee series

AUTHOR SYNDROME?

By Caroline Clemmons

Have you heard of Executive Syndrome? It happens to executives who push themselves all week to complete their projects and all they oversee. Then, on the weekend when they aren’t pushing themselves, they sort of collapse and feel as if they have the flu.

I think I have Author Syndrome. I pushed myself to complete my last work on time. Now I have the flu. Sort of. Maybe it’s just that I quit pushing for a bit. Or, perhaps those tacos were prepared by someone who had the flu and spread the bug.

Whatever, this is frustrating. Here I am eager to dive into my next project but I’m feeling like a limp rag. No pity solicited. My next project is A BRIDE FOR DALTON, Proxy Brides #27 to be released on September 12.

Let me tell you about the book I completed. AN AGENT FOR MAGDALA is up for preorder now. It will be released on August 9. I love that day because it’s the anniversary of the day I met my husband, Hero. (We won’t go into how many years ago we met.)

Virginia McKevitt designed this gorgeous cover. I love her designs. She’s created all of the Pinkerton Matchmaker Series covers and all of those for the Proxy Bride Series.

Here’s the summary of AN AGENT FOR MAGDALA, Pinkerton Matchmaker Series book 37.

She craves adventure, but this may be too much.

His job means the world to him…

Capturing jewel thieves will test them…

Magdala leaps at the opportunity to become a Pinkerton agent. Learning the position requires a paper marriage shocks but doesn’t deter her. She plans to get an annulment before her unusual family learns of the situation. She’s determined to prove she has the grit to be an excellent investigator. But, why does she have to be partnered with the one man who has been rude to her?

Douglas “Cloud” Ryan loves being a Pinkerton agent. Otherwise, he’d never go along with his boss’ crazy plan to marry him to a female agent. He’s certain women have no business dealing with criminals. After barely surviving the stagecoach trip from Denver to San Antonio Maggie needs to stay in the background and let him solve the case. He has reasons to distrust women, especially women like Maggie.

Can Maggie and Cloud catch the jewel thieves plaguing an historic San Antonio hotel without becoming victims? Will they take a chance on the love growing between them or will Cloud's stubborn pride keep them apart?

Amazon buy link is https://www.amazon.com/Agent-Magdala-Pinkerton-Matchmaker-Book-ebook/dp/B07V3G4QHY/ the book will be available in e-book and paperback and will be in KU. I love preorders. On release day, the book pops into your reader as if by magic. It is magic when you think about it. 

Now, I am going to lie down and think about all that will go on in A BRIDE FOR DALTON.

A Fond Farewell by Suzanne Rossi

Hello, everyone.

This coming November I will celebrate my 72nd birthday. Even as I contemplate another year in my life, I have to wonder, where did the time go? Seems like only yesterday I was a vigorous thirty-year-old woman with  two kids. I had a lot on my plate, but managed to get it all done in the time required. When the boys were on their own, I turned my energies to writing--something I'd wanted to do for a long time. My father wrote short stories. I found them in a folder when I was a teenager. After he passed away, I made sure they were always in a safe place. By today's standards, his stories are pretty awful what with POV and dialogue, but the fact is they gave me the push I needed to pen my own. I had my first book published in 2010 and all I could think of was how proud Dad would have been.

Last week, my oldest son and his three sons came for their summer visit. Naturally, the final edits for Judge Not landed in my inbox and a few days later, the first round edits for Killer Country Club joined them. Not wanting to miss family time, I put off doing anything with them. Have to face the music now and get to work. But one thing stood out this past week. When my company returned home, I realized I was exhausted. It took two days to recover. And I had no inclination to do my job. Those two book edits are still waiting. I have to face the fact I no longer have the stamina I did even five years ago. And while my general health is good, I'm beginning to discover little aches and pains that weren't there last year. Plus, I've found I'm having a hard time focusing on what I should do, and instead squander hours on nonsense like social media and gaming.

In view of this, I came to a reluctant conclusion. After these two books are released, I will take a break from writing. So what if I only write five hundred words a week just to keep my mind active. I'm sure that one day I'll find my muse again and have at it. But for now, I'm sick of deadlines.

I also made another decision. This will be my last blog entry. I've had a ball this past five-plus years, but it's time to call it quits. I've struggled for several months on subject matter and honestly feel I've been lacking. I'm going to miss all of you. Smart Girls Read Romance is a terrific outlet for both readers and writers. I hope I've given you a few laughs and smiles along the way. To readers, I hope I've shown you a glimpse of what it's like to be an author. To my fellow writers, I hope I've imparted some of my knowledge and experiences to help you along the way--or to have you nod your heads in agreement and say, "Yeah, I can relate to that!"

I'll still read SGRR and make the occasional comment. Who knows? When my head is screwed on straight again, I may crawl on my hands and knees begging Caroline Clemmons for another go at blogging.

Finally, I'd like to thank you all for your support, comments, and readership.

So long, farewell, auf weidersein, adeiu, and good-bye--at least for now.

Suzanne