Kelley Heckart's Blog, page 50
November 6, 2014
Award-winning author Regina Andrews visits today
Regina’s new book is an inspirational romance called The Perfect Proposal.
Award-winning author Regina Andrews, a resident of Providence, Rhode Island, grew up in the seaside village of Barrington, about 20 miles South of Providence. After graduating from Providence College she earned her degree in American Civilization from Brown University. The author of numerous works including romantic fiction, plays, essays and articles, Regina is currently working on The Sterling Lakes Series. Regina is involved in numerous community organizations, and is a radio host for In-Sight, an association for the visually impaired. Her hobbies include travel, museums, theater, reading, chorale singing and gardening. She and her husband share their home with a semi-feral cat named Queen Tiana, whom they rescued from a shelter.
Welcome back to my blog, Regina. What is your new book about?
Thank you so much for inviting me to visit, Kelley. I am delighted to be here. This book is very exciting to me, as it is a re-issue that I am looking forward to having people enjoy.
THE PERFECT PROPOSAL centers on Lindsay Richardson, a quiet elementary school teacher, whose world is turned upside down when she becomes the assistant to Dean Singleton Copley, one of the nation’s most dynamic business leaders in the high-powered corporate world. Lindsay’s father recently died unexpectedly and the school where she was teaching could not allow her time off to take care of her mother, who has Alzheimer’s. Thanks to a chance encounter with one of her father’s friends, businessman Mr. Copley Sr., she is offered a position at his company. When she arrives at work, she discovers she will be working with Dean Jr., the dynamo – not the kindly elder Mr. Copley who knew her father.
This time in her life is a test of her faith, her courage, and her strength. Her questions extend to not knowing what the Lord expects from her regarding her new boss, a dashing bachelor so different from her on the surface. Lindsay begins to see that Dean is scarred from situations in his past. Only faith gives Lindsay the strength to deal with the many challenges of her new position, all her personal crises, and the turmoil in her family life.
![ThePerfectProposalcover[5] (1)](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0ua-HGo4uXc/VFRD49tw35I/AAAAAAAACtM/vW07PCRfQR4/s1600-h/ThePerfectProposalcover%25255B5%25255D%252520%2525281%252529%25255B2%25255D.jpg)
Where did you get your inspiration for this novel?
Actually I read an article about a situation like this on the Wedding page of our Sunday paper many years ago. The two met at work and lived happily ever after!
I love “happily ever after” stories. What kind of research did you do for this book?
It was crucial to understand Alzheimer’s disease. There were many questions I had to research, and facts I had to verify. Such as, for example, the matter of a patient wandering away from the house, which is a scene in the book, or the phenomenon of “sundowning”, which also occurs. I tried very hard to treat the entire subject of Alzheimer’s disease and its ripple effect with the utmost respect and dignity. Additionally, I had to research a bit about the various social clubs at Brown University, which involved several enjoyable visits to the University’s facilities.
Did you put real experiences from your research in this story?
At one point I served as a member of the Senior Citizens Governing Board in Rhode Island, and much of my experience from this appointed position could be applied to the subject matter of this book. The “research” in this case was my actual life experience.
Wow! To use your own experiences is fantastic. You love to write Inspirational Romances. What intrigues you most about writing these love stories?
To me, the most exciting aspect of Inspirational romance, Linda, is that unlike a traditional romance with two main characters - the hero and the heroine, an Inspirational romance actually has three main characters – the hero, the heroine and God. That dynamic creates a fluid, vibrant paradigm that propels the story along without my having to construct it, because it is not just the hero and heroine’s thoughts or the way they relate to each other that propels the plot along. Rather, it is the hero and heroine’s relationship with God in addition to their relationship to each other directly impacts the storyline. And since it is a romance and we can be assured of a positive outcome, the path towards that evolves very naturally in my stories. It is guided by human foibles, triumphs and actions -- all held within the loving heart of God.
To learn more about this author, visit her website at http://www.reginaandrews.com. You’ll find all her books at this site.
November 5, 2014
Weird Word Wednesday
noun \ˈa-pə-nij\
Definition of APPANAGE1
a : a grant (as of land or revenue) made by a sovereign or a legislative body to a dependent member of the royal family or a principal vassal
b : a property or privilege appropriated to or by a person as something due
2
: a rightful endowment or adjunct
See appanage defined for kids »
Variants of APPANAGEap·pa·nage also a·pa·nage
Examples of APPANAGE1. use< of the grounds was just one appanage he bestowed upon the caretakers of his estate>
2. <wealthy people who believe that political power is their natural appanage>
Origin of APPANAGEFrench apanage, from Old French, from apaner to provide for a younger offspring, from Medieval Latin appanare, from Latin ad- + panis bread — more at food
First Known Use: 1602
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
November 3, 2014
Monday Musings: AZ Sunset pics #4
I like the color differences in this sunset—light blue, white clouds, black clouds and orange.
A fire ball emerges from the cloud bank.
Looking through my Arizona desert plant.
The soft edges of the cloud layer resembles fire.
Another sunset viewed through my Arizona desert plant.
This striking sunset painted the sky deep, dazzling shades of red.
One layer of white cloud hangs above the orange-red sunset.
The sky looks like it’s on fire.
This is the same sunset as above with intensifying rays of sunlight shooting up toward the heavens.
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
October 31, 2014
Favorite Friday
My favorite quotes about Halloween from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, episode titled “Halloween.”
Buffy: “It’s come as you aren’t night. The perfect chance for a girl to get sexy and wild with no repercussions.”
Buffy: “Look, Halloween is the night that not you ‘is’ you, but not ‘you.’ Y’know?”
I couldn’t have said it better. Halloween is the best night of the year for something magical to happen.
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
October 29, 2014
Weird Word Wednesday
noun \ˈā-ə-rəst\
Definition of AORIST: an inflectional form of a verb typically denoting simple occurrence of an action without reference to its completeness, duration, or repetition
— aorist or ao·ris·tic adjective
— ao·ris·ti·cal·ly adverb
Origin of AORISTLate Latin & Greek; Late Latin aoristos, from Greek, fromaoristos undefined, from a + horistos definable, from horizeinto define — more at horizon
First Known Use: 1581
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
October 28, 2014
Tabby's Nocturnal Nights: Jack-o’-Lantern lore
October 27, 2014
Monday Musings: AZ Cloud Formations #4
The clouds look like fish scales painted in the sky.
This is my favorite one. The setting sun has turned these clouds into a striking vision.
I like the way the white cloud juts upward like the prow of a Viking ship or a long-necked beast.
The dark feathery clouds remind me of the wings of a powerful being.
These pink-tinged clouds were the only clouds in the sky that day, hovering above the mountains as if lost.
At sunrise, these thin pink-tinged clouds match the light shining on the mountains.
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
October 24, 2014
Favorite Friday
Favorite Halloween TV Episode
Halloween from Buffy the Vampire
I watch this episode every Halloween. A new Halloween costume shop comes to Sunnydale and people are turned into their costume characters, causing chaos on the streets. Unfortunately, Buffy decides she wants to impress Angel by choosing a noblewoman costume that renders her powerless. “She couldn’t have dressed up like Xena?” Quote from Willow. This is an awesome Halloween-themed episode.
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
October 22, 2014
Weird Word Wednesday
noun \ˈa-jə-gə\
plural aju·ga or aju·gas
Definition of AJUGA: 1bugle
Origin of AJUGANew Latin, from 2a- + Latin jugum yoke — more at yoke
First Known Use: 1806
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
October 20, 2014
Monday Musings: AZ Monsoon pics #2
The sunset has turned these threatening storm clouds pink.
I like the dramatic contrast between these storm clouds.
More dramatic storm clouds.
I love the way the middle dark gray cloud spears across the sky, leaving a bright patch of blue.
The sun sets as monsoon storms move in. A striking blend of ominous clouds and the fiery sun.
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
