P.G. Forte's Blog, page 13
February 5, 2025
Wine Wednesday Coppola Black Label 2021 Claret
I'm not actually sure what I'm supposed to call this wine. The label says: Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Black label 2021 Claret (1910 type) Cabernet Sauvignon. And, according to at least one website I looked at, it's probably a meritage blend with Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petite Verdot.
Unfortunately, I'm still pretty congested from last week's sinus infection, so I can't tell you what it smells like. But it's a very complex wine. Dark burgundy in color, I'd call it soft bodied. Notes of cloves and cocoa, perhaps a hint of caramel, and a very pronounced taste of dark juicy fruit--to me it tastes like mulberry. The finish brings back the caramel and cocoa with a suggestion of coffee.
The tasting notes I've read suggest pairing this with beef stew. I am not feeling that at all. I would pair it with roast pork, with Chinese dumplings, with a vegetable gratin, or possibly dessert.
Over all, it's a surprisingly nice wine. Here's a pic so you know what I'm talking about vis a vis the label.
February 4, 2025
Romance Writers Weekly ~ Seasons ~ #LoveChatWrite
This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we're asked, "Do the seasons affect your writing? Tell us how."
This is a great question. I think the answer to the question is yes; and I believe that the most obvious way in which seasons affect my writing is by messing with my head. I remember being in the grocery store with my daughter one day in August (many years ago) when we encountered several college age people dressed in costumes. She asked me why they were dressed like that and I immediately answered that it was for Halloween--because that's when my current WIP was set.To this day, I have no idea why they were wearing costumes, but I'm certain it had nothing whatsoever to do with Halloween.
My books definitely tend to be set in a particular season, in specific locations with weather that is integral to the story and/or the plot. For example, the third Oberon book is set in January/February on the California Central Coast. It rains most of the time in the book, and it was very helpful that (at least when I started writing that book) it was also rainy winter in California IRL. It's always good when the world my body is inhabiting matches the world my head is immersed in. If I'm struggling with the details of how my characters are feeling, or what they're seeing, I don't have to try and remember what that's like, I can simply step outside and see for myself.
Unfortunately, however, books do take awhile to write. Sometimes a very long while! So, even if I start out living in the same season as the book I'm writing is set in, it's fairly safe to say that, by the time the book is finished (or close to finished) actual time has moved on faster than fictional time has done. Which might lead to me listening to Christmas carols in March or June or October. Or being sick to death of the holiday season by the time December rolls around.
In real life, I definitely take the time to make notes about the weather on a somewhat regular basis--especially if I have a book planned for that particular time frame. I can think of several occasions when those notes have been crucial in helping me capture the setting in a book that's written way after the fact.
Now, hop on over to Brenda Margriet's page to learn how the seasons affect her writing. And be sure to check out her book, Richly Deserved !
To these two skeptics, true love is as phony as fool’s gold. But this improbable search for buried treasure could lead to their hearts’ hidden desires.
More than twenty years ago, Claudia Aronson escaped an abusive marriage. She built a secure, stable life, and is now only weeks away from realizing a long-held dream—opening her own art gallery. But her well-ordered world is threatened by the compelling, abrasive man essential to bringing her new venture into the spotlight.
Artist Titus Wilcox is reclusive, nomadic, and passionate. His solitary, drifting habits have fed his creative soul, but played hell with his love life. Soon after he meets the statuesque, seemingly-serene Claudia, however, he feels a compulsion to paint a new reality—with her.
When an antique painting reveals mysterious documents concealed behind its frame, Titus and Claudia unite in a hunt for lost riches—a pursuit that takes them into the remote hills surrounding the fabled gold rush town of Barkerville.
https://books2read.com/RichlyDeserved
Fall For You: Texas HeatA Heartwood, TX Story
Jocelyn Barnes couldn’t wait to leave Heartwood in her rearview mirror—even though it meant breaking two hearts in the process. Now, with her career on hiatus and her great-aunt in need of help as she recovers from concussion, Jo finds herself right back where she started, older but not much wiser, and about to make all the same mistakes all over again.
Carter Donahue doesn’t believe in looking back. As the chef/manager of his family’s new farm-to-table restaurant, he’s got his hands full. With a goal of turning his legacy into a must-see, Hill Country destination, his focus is on the future. The past? He’d rather that stayed buried. The last thing he needs (or wants) is to dig up those old feelings or fall back in love with his ex—especially when she’s already got one foot out the door. Again.https://books2read.com/FallForYou
February 3, 2025
Musical Monday: Thinking 'Bout You (Dustin Lynch, MacKenzie Porter)
Well, this is another song from my "Heartwood, Texas" playlist. I listened to it a lot while I wrote Fall For You. I think probably the same can be said for a lot of the songs I post over the next few weeks. So, if you're not into country music, I apologize in advance.
Fall For You: Texas HeatHeartwood, Texas: Book One
https://books2read.com/FallForYou
Jocelyn Barnes couldn’t wait to leave Heartwood in her rearview mirror—even if it meant breaking two hearts in the process. Now, with her career on hiatus and her great-aunt in need of help as she recovers from concussion, Jo finds herself right back where she started, older but not much wiser, and about to make all the same mistakes all over again.
Carter Donahue doesn’t believe in looking back. As the chef/manager of his family’s new farm-to-table restaurant, he’s got his hands full. With a goal of turning his legacy into a must-see, Hill Country destination, his focus is on the future. The past? He’d rather that stayed buried. The last thing he needs (or wants) is to dig up those old feelings or fall back in love with his ex—especially when she’s already got one foot out the door. Again.
January 30, 2025
It's Release Day! Fall For You: Texas Heat
Fall For You: Texas HeatHeartwood, Texas: Book One
https://books2read.com/FallForYou
Jocelyn Barnes couldn’t wait to leave Heartwood in her rearview mirror—even if it meant breaking two hearts in the process. Now, with her career on hiatus and her great-aunt in need of help as she recovers from concussion, Jo finds herself right back where she started, older but not much wiser, and about to make all the same mistakes all over again.
Carter Donahue doesn’t believe in looking back. As the chef/manager of his family’s new farm-to-table restaurant, he’s got his hands full. With a goal of turning his legacy into a must-see, Hill Country destination, his focus is on the future. The past? He’d rather that stayed buried. The last thing he needs (or wants) is to dig up those old feelings or fall back in love with his ex—especially when she’s already got one foot out the door. Again.
January 28, 2025
Romance Writers Weekly ~ Fitness ~ #LoveChatWrite
Okay! Finally. An easy question! Yes, I absolutely do. Although for most of the last five years this was NOT the case. I used to do yoga somewhat religiously. Then Covid hit and everything shut down, and then I moved, and it's been hard finding a place to go. Most yoga in Texas is hot yoga--which I don't get. It's already hot here (well, not THIS WEEK, but more often than not) so why bother?
Also I don't really like Vinyasa. I'm all about Yin and gentle Hatha--and Restorative, OMG, I love Restorative! I'm all about the props.
I ltry to do a minimum of five classes a week. But I've been known to bump that up to eight classes a week, if my schedule allows it. Right now, I'm on a really tight deadline so, I've pared my routine down a little.
Now, hop on over to Jenna Da Sie's page to learn about her fitness routine!
Fall For You: Texas HeatA Heartwood, TX Story
Jocelyn Barnes couldn’t wait to leave Heartwood in her rearview mirror—even though it meant breaking two hearts in the process. Now, with her career on hiatus and her great-aunt in need of help as she recovers from concussion, Jo finds herself right back where she started, older but not much wiser, and about to make all the same mistakes all over again.
Carter Donahue doesn’t believe in looking back. As the chef/manager of his family’s new farm-to-table restaurant, he’s got his hands full. With a goal of turning his legacy into a must-see, Hill Country destination, his focus is on the future. The past? He’d rather that stayed buried. The last thing he needs (or wants) is to dig up those old feelings or fall back in love with his ex—especially when she’s already got one foot out the door. Again.https://books2read.com/FallForYou
January 27, 2025
Musical Monday: Austin (Dasha)
So there's kind of an interesting story having to do with this song. I'm one of those people who obsessively listens to song lyrics. And this song used to drive me crazy because the person singing the song makes no sense. She was living in Texas and had gotten involved with someone and they had decided to move to California together. But when she went to pick him up to leave, he wasn't home.
So--like no one does ever--she decided he'd changed his mind for some unknown reason, and she leaves without him and the whole song is about her wondering what happened to him.
BUT she doesn't wait to find out, she just leaves town.
The song is catchy as hell, but (to quote from The Big Lebowski): the story is ludicrous.
Fast forward to me, attempting to plot Fall For You. I had a heroine who left town and left the hero behind. I needed a reason for that. My heroine actually does exactly what the singer does in this song Gets ticked off and goes on her own. Doesn't find out until later what had happened. The hero is a little pissed about that--as anyone would be!
My heroine at least has a reason. She'd been abandoned as a child and thought it was happening again.
The song still makes no sense.
Fall For You: Texas HeatHeartwood, Texas: Book One
Available for pre-order now: FallForYou
Jocelyn Barnes couldn’t wait to leave Heartwood in her rearview mirror—even if it meant breaking two hearts in the process. Now, with her career on hiatus and her great-aunt in need of help as she recovers from concussion, Jo finds herself right back where she started, older but not much wiser, and about to make all the same mistakes all over again.
Carter Donahue doesn’t believe in looking back. As the chef/manager of his family’s new farm-to-table restaurant, he’s got his hands full. With a goal of turning his legacy into a must-see, Hill Country destination, his focus is on the future. The past? He’d rather that stayed buried. The last thing he needs (or wants) is to dig up those old feelings or fall back in love with his ex—especially when she’s already got one foot out the door. Again.
Releasing January 30, 2025
January 21, 2025
Romance Writers Weekly ~ Chemistry ~ #LoveChatWrite
Wow. I wish I had an answer to this question, but honestly I think it's more instinctive than anything else. I think the only trick is to give each character a trait that the other character needs, wants, or is attracted to. For example, in Fall For You (releasing later this month) one of my characters (who has abandonment issues) sees the other as a hero--someone who'll protect her, care for her, and never abandon her. The other character views himself as both the black sheep of his family and the "disappointing middle child" forever overshadowed by his brothers. To him, the heroine is someone he hasn't let down yet. Someone who (see above) looks at him and sees hero material.
She needs a hero, he needs to be a hero. They give each other what they need...until they don't. Until her abandonment issues cause her to underestimate him, to leave him because she's just that certain that he's leaving her. Until his desire to protect her leads to his witholding information that she deserves to know. But, I don't know. I think pain can create its own kind of chemistry.
Now, hop on over to Leslie Hachtel's page to see how she creates chemistry! And don't forget to check out her book, Stay With Me .
STAY WITH ME
Two women. Years apart. Linked by common experience and a cottage that has survived since the Civil War. When Rebecca reaches out from the past, Evelyn finds it life changing.
And in their own times, each must discover strength and fight to find and keep true love.
A NEST Award winner for paranormal.
Fall For You: Texas HeatA Heartwood, TX Story
Jocelyn Barnes couldn’t wait to leave Heartwood in her rearview mirror—even though it meant breaking two hearts in the process. Now, with her career on hiatus and her great-aunt in need of help as she recovers from concussion, Jo finds herself right back where she started, older but not much wiser, and about to make all the same mistakes all over again.
Carter Donahue doesn’t believe in looking back. As the chef/manager of his family’s new farm-to-table restaurant, he’s got his hands full. With a goal of turning his legacy into a must-see, Hill Country destination, his focus is on the future. The past? He’d rather that stayed buried. The last thing he needs (or wants) is to dig up those old feelings or fall back in love with his ex—especially when she’s already got one foot out the door. Again.https://books2read.com/FallForYou
January 20, 2025
Musical Monday: Crazy Every Time (Tracy Byrd)
I first started listening to this song while I was living in Paso Robles, working on...probably the fourth or fifth Oberon book. The whole album is giving serious Dan Cavanaugh vibes, although maybe not this particular song. The characters in Fall For You, on the other hand definitely fit this profile.
Fall For You: Texas HeatHeartwood, Texas: Book One
Available for pre-order now: FallForYou
Jocelyn Barnes couldn’t wait to leave Heartwood in her rearview mirror—even if it meant breaking two hearts in the process. Now, with her career on hiatus and her great-aunt in need of help as she recovers from concussion, Jo finds herself right back where she started, older but not much wiser, and about to make all the same mistakes all over again.
Carter Donahue doesn’t believe in looking back. As the chef/manager of his family’s new farm-to-table restaurant, he’s got his hands full. With a goal of turning his legacy into a must-see, Hill Country destination, his focus is on the future. The past? He’d rather that stayed buried. The last thing he needs (or wants) is to dig up those old feelings or fall back in love with his ex—especially when she’s already got one foot out the door. Again.
Releasing January 30, 2025
January 14, 2025
Romance Writers Weekly ~ Unpredictable Plots ~ #LoveChatWrite
Well, that's an interesting question. Because it seems to me that one of the thing readers (including me) like best about romance novels is the lack of unpredictability.
I guess the answer is that I surprise myself first. I never know where my next bit of inspiration is going to come from. For this month's release (Fall For You) I was struggling with the story--a second chance romance tale where the woman is the one who leaves town, hoping to make it in the big city and the man is the one who stays home and cares for his/their extended family.
BUT THEN...I was enjoying an afternoon out with parents from my grandson's school when a delicious little plot twist was dropped into my lap. And no, I'm not going to tell you what it was--because it's a surprise!
Now, hop on over to Jill Haymaker's page to see what she has to say! And don't forget to check out her book, RISE UP TO LOVE.
RISE UP TO LOVE:
a story of love and redemption
What happens when just as your life is coming together, the old life you left behind forever catches up with you? Can Lori find a way to make up for her past mistakes and move forward? Sometimes the person who is hardest to forgive is yourself.
https://books2read.com/AfterWords
Fall For You: Texas HeatA Heartwood, TX Story
Jocelyn Barnes couldn’t wait to leave Heartwood in her rearview mirror—even though it meant breaking two hearts in the process. Now, with her career on hiatus and her great-aunt in need of help as she recovers from concussion, Jo finds herself right back where she started, older but not much wiser, and about to make all the same mistakes all over again.
Carter Donahue doesn’t believe in looking back. As the chef/manager of his family’s new farm-to-table restaurant, he’s got his hands full. With a goal of turning his legacy into a must-see, Hill Country destination, his focus is on the future. The past? He’d rather that stayed buried. The last thing he needs (or wants) is to dig up those old feelings or fall back in love with his ex—especially when she’s already got one foot out the door. Again.https://books2read.com/FallForYou
January 13, 2025
Musical Monday: Don't Call Me (Chris Young)
Of course it's not as simple as that. Where would the fun be if it were all black and white? Eventually they'll find a happy ending, but in the meantime, they're gonna drive each other crazy.
Fall For You: Texas HeatHeartwood, Texas: Book One
Available for pre-order now: FallForYou
Jocelyn Barnes couldn’t wait to leave Heartwood in her rearview mirror—even if it meant breaking two hearts in the process. Now, with her career on hiatus and her great-aunt in need of help as she recovers from concussion, Jo finds herself right back where she started, older but not much wiser, and about to make all the same mistakes all over again.
Carter Donahue doesn’t believe in looking back. As the chef/manager of his family’s new farm-to-table restaurant, he’s got his hands full. With a goal of turning his legacy into a must-see, Hill Country destination, his focus is on the future. The past? He’d rather that stayed buried. The last thing he needs (or wants) is to dig up those old feelings or fall back in love with his ex—especially when she’s already got one foot out the door. Again.
Releasing January 30, 2025
