Isabel Roman's Blog, page 56

Pictures to Smile at

Thanks to Mary Ann who forwarded them!




Soccer Grandmom! I love it.




This one is just too cute. And this Friday, my guest will be Wendi Zwaduk who's talking about how to act naturally and her new release, Careless Whisper.

Curiosities and reviews

Without fail, my post on Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife is the most popular thing on this blog. Over 400 views since March 31, 2010.

Is it because of the material-Jane Austen? Is it because I was less than polite in my review?
Yes I could have sugar coated it, and as I already admitted, I adored it the first time I read the book. Could have been because I was enamored with the first P&P variation I'd read, I don't know but the back story info dump was too much.Because I changed my review between the two readings?
My original review stands on Amazon and I won't change it. There are over 500 reviews posted there now with a average of 3 stars. (Polarized almost evenly between 5 stars ad 1 star, with a smattering in the middle) All in all, I suppose my second review falls more in line with the majority, though I've never really cared about that.Does anyone like the review? Hate it? Agree or disagree with it? Even read it or are they directed to my blog from elsewhere because of the topic and don't bother?

I'm so curious, I wish someone would tell me!!

And this Friday, my guest will be Wendi Zwaduk who's talking about how to act naturally and her new release, Careless Whisper.

Saturday Excerpts

This week at Slip into Something Victorian, we're highlighting Susan Macatee. A lover of time travel, the American Civil War, time traveling Civil War stories, and vampires, Susan's interestes span genres.

Her excerpt this week is from the Northern Roses & Southern Belles anthology that is a finalist in the EPPIC awards. Winner to be announced the weekend of March 12.

Friday Guest: Dr. Laina Turner-Molaski

Welcome Laina! Thanks for stopping by today. :) And remember, Laina will give away three $40 Visa gift cards during her tour: one to a randomly drawn commenter in each of the following periods: January 31-February 25; February 28-March 25; March 28-April 22.


Now, what made you decide to write Chiczofrenia-Crazy Is an Art Form?
Writing is therapy for me and I was going through a really tough time in my life and starting just writing to get out the emotion. As I started telling other people about what I was writing I found they were interested and had many similar experiences. Here I thought I was alone. It made me think if I wrote about it and shared maybe it would help someone else not feel alone.

What else are you working on?
I am a big advocate for Multiple Sclerosis and I have a compilation of stories written by people who have MS coming out in March during National MS week. I am also work on my second fiction book, Handbags & Hooligans, to be coming out in summer.

I'll be sure to look out for both titles, thanks.

What's your dream story? The one that becomes a New York Times runaway bestseller, the one you hope to one day write?
Great question as I actually have the title and outline for that book. I just am not ready to write it yet. Its about three women at three different stages in their lives and the story follows them through the triumph and downfalls. I realize the story has been done but mine is based on three actual women who have allowed me to be part of their lives to get the story. I feel that will bring closeness to the readers.

Ooh, sounds great!

Anything else you'd like to share?
Chiczofrenia is about women embracing their true inner voice. Sometimes we aren't confident enough to really be the person we want to be. I say do it! Be that person. Don't be shy or afraid. We all are and we can' let our own head trash get us down.



Blurb:
Chiczofrenic is the term for the woman who is purposeful and intentional in how crazy her life may be. The goal with this book is to recognize many women drive themselves crazy, intentionally, by trying to be all they can. I firmly believe we can have it all. A great relationship, being a great mom, keeping a good house (if that's important to you), being a career woman, following your dreams, working out, eating right, and many more. Women seem to have the knack for how to manage it all and not go crazy. Women seem to always take on more and more…and are successful at it.

Women have tried forever to pretend they fit in the norm even when the norm wasn't what they wanted. I want women to embrace that more - without caring what anyone thinks. Learn to laugh at your own craziness and be cool at the same time. Be the strong individual you want to be while looking like a million bucks.

Being a woman is difficult and is a constant evolution and journey of self discovery. It's not always an easy journey and through the process you realize everyone has her own issues. Her own brand of crazy, which is my own kind of normal. Crazy but embracing it.

ISBN: 978-0-578-07034-6
Book: $14.95 Available on http://www.lainaturner.com/
E-Book: $9.95 Available on Kindle and Smashwords


Be sure to comment! Laina will be giving away three $40 Visa gift cards during her tour: one to a randomly drawn commenter in each of the following periods: January 31-February 25; February 28-March 25; March 28-April 22.

Log off and read a book

Read this on BBC last week. It's called Divided Attention Disorder? Log off and read a book. I took a couple excerpts from it, and agree. A couple of weeks ago I read the rather detailed plot of To Kill a Mockingbird on wikipedia rather than read the book. (I'd seen the movie, years ago.)

If you work in an office it's quite possible that you suffer from a condition called DAD. Now don't panic it's not serious and nothing a good book or a long walk won't cure.

My Internet browser has 24 tabs open. Among them are three separate attempts to reply to the same e-mail. My online banking session has timed out, and in the corner of my screen a Twitter feed is a never-ending scroll of news and links. Which I click. And click.

What's wrong with me?

What's wrong, is that I may have Divided Attention Disorder, or DAD. DAD encapsulates the growing phenomenon whereby the constant stream of online information could actually be changing the way our brains work.

I first read about this in a magazine while waiting to get my hair cut. The article is quite lengthy. Ironically the only reason I had the attention span to read all of it was that my local barber-shop has no mobile phone reception.

The most unnerving thing that I've read about DAD is the theory that the rewiring of our brains caused by all that time online is affecting the rest of our lives. It is, apparently, encouraging us to seek instant gratification at the expense of deep thinking.

To assess the state of my brain I read a book. It's an Ian Rankin novel. The hero, Inspector Rebus attempts to solve a number of murders in Edinburgh against the backdrop of a G8 meeting.

I haven't read fiction in a while. Something has changed about my response to what I'm reading. Before, I loved to create a mental picture of Edinburgh, of its streets and courtyards. But now in my brain a voice is whispering: "Look it up on StreetView and see for yourself". The story alludes to Inspector Rebus' colourful past: "Google the plot of other books," says the voice.

"SHUT UP!" I scream inside my head.

Eventually, my old brain wins out. After about half an hour, I'm lost in the book. I've
forgotten that it's even possible to communicate through a web of interconnected
computers.

It's a relief to know that my brain is not permanently changed. I can't wait to tell everyone - on Facebook and Twitter.

So the bottom line is: reading helps us relax, reconnect with ourselves and the real world, and entertains us as well. But then we readers knew that, didn't we.

And don't miss my Friday Guest: Dr. Laina Turner-Molaski

Romantic Times Everything Erotica

I'm featured on Romantic Times Everything Erotica! You can read the author's message here , and the excerpt here .

For the 4 star review on Dark Desires of the Druids: Sex & Subterfuge click here
For the 4 star review on Dark Desires of the Druids: Desert & Destiny click here

Tuesday Comings and Goings

Am I coming or going?

I have no idea.
But I am writing!
What about you?Dark Regecy novel: Back to it! Writing goal this week: 12,000 wordsHead-hits-desk...

Valentine's Day quote

Happy Valentine's Day! So what are you doing? Not necessarily for a loved one, but for whomever? Single gals like to be thought of, too. ;)

Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep... wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you' re just as pretty without makeup on. One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky he is to have YOU... The one who turns to his friends and says, thats
her...

~Unknown

Thanks to As A Man Thinketh

Aren't romances great? Yeah...
Love Birds , thus far my only Valentine's Day story. Are holiday stories still really popular? I mean I like to read them but do others?

Saturday Excerpt

Today's Scandalous Vic's excerpt is by Nicole McCaffrey. While this particular excerpt is't Victorian, it IS on audio! Always a thrill to hear that your book was chosen for a pilot program converting them into audio. Pretty cool, Nic!

The Model Man

Blurb:
Single mom and romance novelist Kelly Michaels has no time for a man in her life. But when mega-famous cover model Derek Calavicci puts the moves on her at a romance writers' conference, she succumbs to temptation. Common sense prevails, however, and after a few passionate kisses she turns him down; she has impressionable teenagers at home, after all, she doesn't need a one-night-stand with a much younger man, no matter how hot he is. When photos of their passionate moonlight kiss hit the tabloids, her agent has to do some fast footwork to save her reputation. Will the notorious bad boy go along with her scheme?

Derek rarely hears a woman say "no" – it's been that way his entire life. If Kelly isn't interested, he's not going to push her-- even if she does melt like ice cream on a hot sidewalk every time he touches her. But when an unexpected opportunity falls into his lap by way of Kelly's scheming agent, he jumps at the chance. Pretend he's in love with Kelly Michaels for two weeks? No problem. After all, the lady may say she's never going to sleep with him... but he's got two weeks to convince her otherwise.


The Romance Studio gave it 4 Hearts and said: I was entertained by every aspect of this story; the chemistry between this couple is hot. Their growing relationship kept me spellbound and I'm a sucker for a well-written older woman/younger man romance. The settings were perfect, the plot flowed so well that I didn't put the book down until the last page and was, in fact, sad when it was over.

Joyfully Reviewed said: In The Model Man all of the main characters are forced to grow, leaving you sad when the book is over because you like them so much. While Derek is a model he is never made to look too conceited. He has a great personality and is more then just eye candy. I found myself routing for Derek to win Kelly over. Kelly is a normal author, mom, and woman and has realistic issues. Her kids act their ages and cause a realistic amount of tension. Characters relate to each other naturally and never does it feel forced.

Traditional Regency

How traditional is too traditional? I'm plotting out a Regency romance, not paranormal, not erotica, not even a romantic suspense. I know what I like to read, and while my high school years saw me reading many a traditional Regency book, I'm into darker, more sexual stories now.

But I want to keep an aspect of the books I loved growing up in this story. So I'm making a list of what aspects I want in this story.

Heavy internal characterization. I want to know what both the hero and heroine are thinking and feeling.Parties, balls, soirees, dances, the tonMatch-making mommas :)Scheming heroines who need to marry for securityHeroes who need to marry to secure their title and produce an heirThe inevitable falling in love

Hmm, I guess there's nothing that's more traditional than not, is there. Only elements that mix to make a good story.