Genevive Chamblee's Blog, page 13

Romance Trivia, Hockey Trivia, Louisiana Trivia, Law Trivia, and more

Romance Trivia, Hockey Trivia, Louisiana Trivia, Law Trivia, and more… (not necessarily in that order)

Another day and another post. As part of my month-long celebration for the upcoming release of my newest sports romance novel, Future Goals, on February 2, 2023, I’m posting daily about a subject that either in some way relates to or occurs in the story. Future Goals is the fifth book in the Locker Room Love series. Although this is a series, each book can be read as a stand-alone. For today’s post, I thought it would be a spot of fun to list some trivia about hockey, Louisiana, law, romance, and other interesting subjects mentioned in Future Goals. So, if trivia is your thing, keep reading.

The first book about hockey is cited as being Hockey: Canada’s Royal Winter Game written by Arthur Farrell and published in 1899. Farrell was a hockey player as well as a businessman and writer.There are nine designated face-off spots on a hockey rink.According to the International Ice Hockey Federation, the first official and/or organized ice hockey game occurred on March 3, 1875. The two teams that participated didn’t have names, as they were all members of the Montreal Victoria Skating Club. Each team consisted of nine players.The Montreal Hockey Club was the first Stanley Cup Champion.Hockey Day in Canada began in 2000. On that day, six of the seven Canadian National Hockey League (NHL) teams face off on the same day in a triple-header in a celebration and promotion of hockey. It is an annual celebration. A similar event occurs in the United States. However, it is called Hockey Week Across America. The last day of the event is called Hockey Day in America. In 2023, Hockey Week in America will occur February 20 – 26.The longest game played was Detroit Red Wings at Montreal Maroons on March 24, 1936. The game lasted 176:30 and was won by Detroit 1 – 0.Believe it or not, goalies did not always wear facemasks. The first player to wear a hockey mask was Elizabeth Graham in 1927. She played as a goaltender for Queen’s University and elected to wear the mask not primarily for overall safety but because her father commanded her to do so. He is said to have made the demand due to his daughter having had dental work. However, this trend didn’t catch on immediately. Jacques Plantes of the Montreal Canadiens was the first National Hockey League (NHL) goalie to wear a mask, and he didn’t do so until 1959.The official patron saint of Sports is Saint Sebastian. He was born in Narbonne, France in 255 AD. At the time, this area was known as Gaul or French Gaule. In 283 AD, he joined the army in Rome and converted many soldiers to Christianity at a time when Christians were being persecuted. He was condemned to death by Emperor Diocletian who ordered him to be shot with arrows by soldiers. The “execution” sentence was carried out; however, Sebastian did not succumb to his injuries. The soldiers presumed him dead and left him hanging in a tree. Saint Irene of Roman went to bury him, discovered he was still alive, and nursed him back to health. After recovering, Sebastian presented himself to the emperor with a warning about sinning. Diocletian condemned Sebastian to death a second time. This time the sentence was to be carried out by beating him. After he was martyred, Sebastian’s body was thrown in a ditch as an insult to not being given a proper burial. His body was found by a Christian woman and buried in the catacombs in the Basilica of San Sebastiano. He became viewed as the patron saint of athletes due to the energetic way he defended Christianity and his physical endurance.Louisiana was named after King Louis XIV of France, who reigned from 1643 to 1715, by the French explorer, René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de LaSalle. LaSalle called the territory “La Louisiane”, which translates to mean “the land of Louis”. LaSalle was born on November 22, 1643, and killed by his own men in a mutiny on March 19, 1687.During the American Civil War, a tax was placed on beer to help the union fund the war against the confederate states.The first school of law in the U.S. was the Litchfield Law School located in Litchfield, Connecticut. It was founded by Tapping Reeve in 1798. Prior to this, students who wanted to study law did so by being an apprentice or being tutored privately. Litchfield began teaching students in his living room and eventually built a building beside his home. Initially, he taught alone but over the years hired other lawyers to teach. The school closed in 1833.The first romance novel published is thought to be Pamela (Virtue Rewarded) by Samuel Richardson (08/19/1689 – 07/04/1761). It is the story of a fifteen-year-old female servant who is the recipient of unwanted sexual advances by her male employer. Her employer is both older and of a higher social status. In contemporary romance, the employer’s behavior would be viewed as sexual harassment and criminal. In fact, he abducts and threatens to rape her. However, in what was the typical attitude at the time, the employer’s behavior was viewed to be somewhat acceptable. The employer potentially forcing himself on his servant wasn’t seen as problematic. It was the servant girl’s status of being “beneath him” that was the bigger issue. Despite all of this, the servant falls in love with her employer, marries him, and becomes content with her new position in a class that previously ostracized a person of her rank.According to experts, a person only requires four minutes before deciding whether or not he/she likes someone.Relationship studies have shown that if couples who are in love gaze into each other’s eyes for three minutes or longer, their heartbeats will synchronize.Hugging can alleviate or reduce stress and headaches because this behavior releases oxytocin in the brain.Being in love can boost a person’s immune system.Sweat has been used as an active ingredient in colognes and perfumes.The tradition of wearing engagement rings and wedding bands on the fourth finger on the left hand stems from a belief by the ancient Greeks. The Greek culture of that period contended that the vena amoris (the Greek term for “vein of love”) runs from that finger directly to the heart.According to the Society of American Florists, it is estimated that more than 250 million roses are grown for Valentine’s Day.The oldest sex manuals were published in China more than 5,000 years ago.

So, that wraps up this post. Now, it’s your turn to sound off. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box(book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search for me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting lost anywhere beyond her front yard (the back is pushing it as she’s very geographically challenged), falling in love with shelter animals (and she adopts them), asking off-the-beaten-path questions that make one go “hmm”, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well.

National Hugging Day

Happy National Hugging Day!

Welcome back to my blog and to another daily post that I’m making in celebration of my upcoming new book release, Future Goals. Future Goals is the fifth book in my contemporary sports romance novel series, Locker Room Love (LRL). Although LRL is a series, each book can be read as a stand-alone. I challenged myself to write a daily blog about a topic that is somehow related to the plot or something mentioned in the story. Since Future Goals is a romance, what romance wouldn’t include hugging?

Let me begin by saying that this was a holiday that I did not know existed until I began brainstorming topics for this celebration. It was a pleasant surprise to find this hidden gem tucked away in the month of January. National Hugging Day is celebrated each year on January 21. According to research, it was created by Kevin Zaborney, a creative social entrepreneur, in 1986. Yes, you read that correctly. This holiday has been around for over 35 years. According to research it was first celebrated in Clio, Michigan.

It is said that Zaborney created the holiday and selected January 21 as the designated date for two reasons. First, he noticed that it was a time of year when people appeared to feel blue (“winter blues”). I’ll come back to this point shortly. Second, he reportedly believed that most Americans were embarrassed to engage in public displays of affection (PDA). Hugging definitely falls in the PDA category. His hope by creating the holiday that would help Americans be less hesitant about PDAs. I can’t attest to what hugging in public was like in 1986, but I don’t recall PDAs ever being much of an issue in the Deep South. Heck, someone was always hauling you in for a bear hug, knuckle head rub, cheek pinch, or even a peck on the forehead. And it sure as heck doesn’t seem to raise much of an eyebrow in 2023. But let’s double back to the first reason of people feeling a bit down in the mouth.

There are a few reasons Zaborney may have made this observation. One possible explanation is a letdown from the holidays. Think about it. From approximately mid-November to early January, people are in holiday mode cooking, shopping, decorating, attending family get-togethers, and more. Everyone is on go, go, go mode. With the holidays, often comes plenty of stress. Because of this hyped-up get-it-done gear, some people frenzy themselves into, they do not realize how exhausted they are physically and mentally until the holidays come to a close. Then, there’s a big letdown (sort of like a sugar crash) that it’s all ended. Suddenly, all that holiday energy must return to “normal” mundane life after weeks of being jacked up on merriment, unrealistic holiday movies, and happy vibes. That can be disappointing.

However, not everyone finds the holidays enjoyable. What about those people? Why would they feel sad afterward? Wouldn’t they be relieved it was over with? Sometimes, it’s not that simple. I like to refer to it as “holiday residual effects.” Now, that’s nothing official but a term I just made up on the fly to describe why someone who wants the holiday season to end isn’t always satisfied when it does. It may be just because the holidays end doesn’t mean there aren’t fresh reminders.

Some years ago, a coworker was experiencing infertility issues. At the time, she worked in an area with predominately female employees of childbearing age. Several of those employees were pregnant. Each day, she would see their growing bellies and overhear their water cooler conversation about swollen feet and frequent urination (i.e., pregnancy problems). She confessed that coming to work was hard for her during that time period, and she was relieved when they each took maternity leave. However, when they returned, the wound was freshly opened with pictures and videos of newborns and watercooler talk of breastfeeding and colic.

A similar situation can occur with the holidays. Sure, the decorations may come down, but that does not mean people aren’t going to return from holiday vacations with photos and stories. They may flash their shiny new holiday gifts (e.g., car, engagement ring, designer handbag, etc.) upon their return. And sure, one could dismiss a person who is saddened by viewing these tangible items as being jealous, but that may not be the case at all. According to Merriam-Webster, jealousy is defined as being hostile towards a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage, intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness, and/or vigilant in guarding a possession.” A person who is sad for having to witness others experiencing sadness around him/her may have nothing to do with feeling hostile towards others and more of feeling alone. With jealousy, there usually is a presumption that the other person doesn’t deserve something or that the person wanting has been cheated or slighted from having something he/she thinks he/she has earned. A person who is distressed by the holidays usually is so because he/she feels alone or that he/she cannot make others happy (e.g., can’t afford gifts for family). They genuinely may be happy for others or not even consider what is happening with others.

During my freshman year in college, a dear friend who I had known since kindergarten passed away on Christmas Day. It was a terrible shock to all of her friends, many of who had been away at college and had no idea she was that ill. I can’t imagine how difficult it is for that family to celebrate Christmas with that memory. To this day, her mother can barely tolerate seeing any of us because we bring back such memories. And I also cannot help feeling—and I projecting here as I don’t know this to be the case—that her mother is slightly angry that more of her friends did not visit her in the hospital or attend her funeral. But as it were, many people did not know until it was too late and/or were not in the area. Some friends didn’t know how to process the loss while others thought it was best to give the family space. I don’t believe her mother wanted to see any of us harmed or our demise. Furthermore, I don’t believe it is her mother’s intention to make any of us friends feel bad. However, we are triggers (especially during the holidays) for her grief. She is not jealous of us. She simply wishes she had her daughter. When the holidays roll around, many of us who live away now are in town visiting family. Therefore, she sees more of us, some of us in the same groups that we hung out together as youths. She sees us as adults with our own kids and likely thinks of the grandchildren she will never have by her daughter. We understand. Her hurt isn’t about us. Yet, we are the triggers. Her pain isn’t jealousy. Out of respect, when some of us see her mother in public, we duck out of sight to prevent dredging up sadness.

Another reason is one that is more serious in nature—Major Depressive Disorder with a Seasonal Pattern [formerly termed Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)] in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. As the name suggests, this is a type of depression that is related to changes in the season. Actually, it has more to do with vitamin D and serotonin levels. Since I have discussed SAD in great detail in a previous post, How to Deal with Seasonal Depression, I won’t get too specific. However, I’ve linked it for those who are interested in reading more. An interesting tidbit about SAD was that for many years, it was discredited as being an actual psychological illness. Coincidently, it was around the mid-1980s that the disorder began getting recognition. While a hug may help some people who suffer from SAD, people who are diagnosed with this disorder (or any other clinical form of depression) should seek professional help.

Finally, the body (and mind) doesn’t always wind down just because an event is over. Have you ever experienced a time when you engaged in something, had a good time, and was exhausted by it, but when you returned home couldn’t fall asleep? Or maybe it wasn’t a pleasant experience. Perhaps it was a traumatic event that your mind kept it on a loop after it was over. On January 2, the mind may not automatically reset to “normal” mode and gradually may have to settle into the pre-holiday routine. In this instance, there isn’t a sharp crash back to reality. Yet, there may be some re-evaluation happening. As a person comes down from “funness,” he/she may find that he/she is no longer satisfied with his/her everyday life.

At the end of the year and/or the beginning of a new year, many people re-evaluate their life. And this is the catalyst for all those New Year’s resolutions. Ugh! Now, this can go several ways. For some people, it can be invigorating and motivate them to make great changes. For others, this may be a slippery slope in a dark spot of focusing on failures and not feeling that their situation will change. Key sadness. Thus, this is another reason why Zaborney concluded that more people appeared sad in January. (Note: I’m not implying that Zaborney stated the reasons in this post are/were the reasons that caused his observations. I’m saying that he perceived people to be feeling blue in January and providing some possible reasons why. I do not speak for Zaborney in any way.)

To recap, Zaborney observed that people seemed sadder in January and decided to invent National Hug Day which is celebrated annually on January 21. It is a holiday with the intention to make people feel good and bringing a little joy into the day. Not only that, but hugs may actually improve health. Some research suggests that hugs can lower blood pressure and slow heart rates when exposed to stressful situations. Additionally, hugs may reduce the release of stress hormones (e.g., cortisol), strengthen the immune system, boost heart health, and reduce pain.

So, that’s a wrap for today’s topic. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting mushy watching pet adoption commercials, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well. Genevive believes in variety, equality, and representation of all and is willing to tackle difficult subjects that may be shunned in many romance novels.

Wine Crash Course

Welcome to another day of celebrating the upcoming release of my newest sports romance Future Goals on February 2. As a part of that celebration, I’m writing a daily post on a subject that somehow relates to something that occurs in the story. One of the main characters is a wine drinker; therefore, writing about wine seemed a given. If you follow me on Creole Bayou, you may recall that I wrote a post How to Buy Wine a few years ago with the release of Ice Gladiators. I’ve linked that post for anyone who is interested and will attempt not to repeat information. So, as with the previous wine post, I want to begin with a bit of housekeeping and issue a disclaimer.

DISCLAIMER I: This post does not solicit or encourage underage consumption of alcohol or consuming alcohol in any county, parish, town, or city where it is prohibited. Please drink responsibly, know your limits, and never drink and drive. If a person suspects that he/she has a substance abuse problem, please seek professional help. This post also is not sponsored in any way by any brands named. There are no affiliate codes attached, and I make no money or obtain any sort of financial gain or gifts from mentioned brands.

DISCLAIMER II: This is a quick and dirty guide to wine. Wines have many subtle nuances. For that reason, discussing them can become complicated. This post in no way attempts to discuss the various details. Thus, this is not intended to be a comprehensive or all-inclusive guide.

Let’s start with the basics. Wine is made from grapes, and there are approximately 10,000 varieties of grapes in the world. Grapes differ in color, size, number of seeds, skin thickness, and taste and/or tannins. Tannins are important because they are substances that naturally occur in grapes that supply balance, texture, and structure to the wine. Tannin is produced in both white and red grapes.

Certain environments are better suited for specific types of grapes. The type of grapes grown in a particular region is dependent upon the soil and weather/climate. Generally, for laypersons not wine connoisseurs or vignerons, grapes can be divided into two main categories: table grapes and wine grapes. Table grapes are the ones people consume in their fruit form (basically ones purchased at the grocery store) while wine grapes, as the name suggests, are crushed into wine. Wine grapes tend to be smaller in size, are fewer on the vine, have thicker skins, and contain more seeds. These characteristics help generate a more concentrated taste.

When it comes to wine, there are basically (depending on who is asked) three categories: white, rosé, and red. Some wine experts include sparkling and fortified wines with the rosés, while others consider them to be individual types. For this post and simplicity, we’ll limit it to three categories. Wines are further classified by style. The “style” of a wine refers to the combination of its taste, color, and intensity of alcohol. There are nine primary styles of wine.

Aromatic white wineDessert wineFull-bodied red wineFull-bodied white wineLight-bodied red wineLight-bodied white wineMedium-bodiedRoséSparkling wine

As with most things in life, there are is usually more than one way to classify something. Instead of using nine styles, some experts only use six. These styles include the following.

AgedDryPortSparklingSweetYoung

Here are a few things to be mindful of about wines.

Red wines usually are more expensive than white wines.The type of grapes used and the area where the grapes are grown will affect the cost of the wine.The more expensive the wine is not indicative of a better taste or quality.Madeira, port, and sherry make the best dessert wines.Merlot, zinfandel, and pinot all pair well with fish.Cabernet sauvignon, grenache, malbec, Nebbiolo, and shiraz all pair well with beef.Chardonnay and sauvignon blanc pair well with foul (e.g., chicken and turkey).White wines go well will vegetables.Rosé pairs nicely with fruitsBold red wines pair nicely with aged cheeses such as gouda, gruyère, Manchego, parmesan, and provolone.Discuss with your primary physician the health benefits associated with wine

Common types of wine on menus

BarberaCabernet FrancCabernet SauvignonChardonnayChenin blancGewürztraminerGrenacheMalbecMerlotMuscatNebbioloPinot GringoPinot noirRedRieslingRoséSangioveseSauvignon blancSparklingSyrahTempranilloViognierWhiteZinfandel

Now, it’s your turn to chime in. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) takes the ice again. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search for me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting mushy watching pet adoption commercials, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well. Genevive believes in variety, equality, and representation of all and is willing to tackle difficult subjects that may be shunned in many romance novels.

Guess Who’s Coming to (Blog) Dinner

Guess Who’s Coming to (Blog) Dinner: Meet: Corrigan, Sacha, Mace, Theriot, and Paxton—not necessarily in that order. I thought it would be fun to introduce the characters in my upcoming sports romance, Future Goals. It is the fifth book in my Locker Room Love series. Readers don’t have to know a lot about hockey to enjoy this game. Granted, I did create characters, but it wasn’t easy to get them all together at one table without some bribery and a lot of pestering. But they are here and ready to spill some tea—or vodka. Honestly, I don’t know what they are drinking, and some questions are best left unanswered. And now I hear them griping that I’m rambling too much and to just get on with it. Let’s start with the silver fox: Mace.

Mace

Silver fox. Hrump! What a misleading description of me. Genevive knows very well that I’m not quite thirty nor am I cunning. I don’t have to be deceptive. I’m just brilliant. I don’t mean to come across as arrogant, but why should I deny my truth? Here’s the skinny. I was enrolled in accelerated classes at a young age, skipped several grades, completed my bachelor’s in two years, and obtained my license to practice law before I could legally consume alcohol. I represent some of the wealthiest criminals… er… I mean clients in Louisiana and Mississippi. Listen, I can’t always help it that all the clients I represent aren’t the most ethical or innocent. My job is to ensure that everyone receives a proper day in court. The problem is: I don’t like losing. To date, I haven’t lost a case. Frankly, I don’t intend on it, either. I’ve witnessed what happened to my cousin when he lost his case. Sorry, Sacha. But I do believe in justice, and I won’t cross the line to get a client off. I refuse to represent anyone who harms children or animals, and sex offenders need not dial my number.

But it’s not my mind that most notice first. It’s my hair. You see, it’s silver—completely. I began graying as a preteen, and by the time I turned eighteen, not a strand of my black hair could be found on my head. Maybe I could have dyed it, but why cover up who I am?

The other thing people say about me is that I’m emotionless. That isn’t true at all. I’ll admit I’m a hard read, and my facial expression rarely indicated what I’m feeling. But it doesn’t mean I don’t have emotions. I can love just as deep (or deeper) than anyone else.

Paxton

Here, here. I’ll vouch for him. Mace is a good guy—solid. You can’t g wrong with him in your corner as long as your corner isn’t dusty. He gets a bit curious when he sees cobwebs and may begin poking his nose where it doesn’t belong. I’m not like that. Hush up, Sacha. I didn’t ask for your opinion on my personality. But since you brought it up, let me tell these fine folks about myself.

I work in the family law practice, too—contracts mainly, but I handle probate as well. If you two (Sacha and Mace) don’t stop yawning, I’m leaving. Contracts can be fascinating. Anyway, as I was saying, I teach at the ULSA law school. I have a gorgeous wife who is an exceptional cook. Actually, she’s a chef and owns one of the chicest restaurants in Saint Anne on Corandetel Boulevard dans Le Quartier Jardin. You may have heard of it. It recently was featured on a national morning show.

Those two other bozos I’m related to may boast how big their brains are, but I’m the one everyone likes—I’m the life of the party and nowhere as intense as them. When the others get to acting crazy—especially little brother—I’m the voice of reason. Of course, as the oldest, that’s kind of expected of me. They may have a combined IQ of three hundred, but I’m the one with all the common sense. They don’t have a lick. They can say what they will, but I look out for them.

Sacha

More like interfering where you shouldn’t be and making ludicrous accusations. You know, I don’t care if you’re right. I don’t always want to hear it. I can be very happy in my denials and wallowing in self-pity. But you know what? Wait. Is that the firms’ partners I hear? What are they doing here? Be right back.

Theriot

I figured this dinner would be something like this when I saw the invite list—a gaggle of wealthy mouthpieces bickering amongst themselves. Well, my battles aren’t in a courtroom but on the hockey rink. I’m one of the best damn hockey centers in the SEC and the captain and keeper of the USLA Minotaurs. All anyone needs to know about me is that I speak my mind and get the job done.

Corrigan

Snort. You didn’t have to come, Theriot. You could have spent the evening with those who worship at your feet. Heaven knows there are plenty of them. But that’s not important. We’re here now.

I’m Corrigan, and I’m from the Bronx. I have to admit, Louisiana isn’t what I expected. Or maybe it is. Or maybe I shouldn’t say it’s the state, but rather, the university. Half the time, I don’t even know what they’re talking about, and the other half… well…. I’m adjusting or, at least, trying. All I want is to play hockey and hoist a championship cup over my head. Hopefully, the pros will notice and want to sign me. A lot is depending on this season, and I can’t afford to be distracted. People are counting on me. I’m counting on myself. I’ve done a lot to get here.

The thing is I don’t know how all this political hockey stuff works. I grew up thinking it’s all about what happens on the ice. After all, that is how the coaches train you with drill after drill to perfect skills. Coach Massey is determined to make us the best at his hockey camp. It’ll give the team a chance to bond.

I’m a forward—left winger to be specific. It didn’t start that way, but well, here we are now. I’ll have to do what it do. Nothing in hockey or life is ever a given.

I must admit, I am a little concerned about the money, though. I’m not exactly rolling in it like those lawyers. It’ll be tight, but I’ll budget the hell out of what I have.

Alright already, Theriot. I’m coming. Hold your dang horses. Sheesh, he’s bossy. Seems like there’s a team meeting; so, I have to bounce. I hope you decide to come to a game. We can talk more then. I have plenty more to tell you.

Sacha

Well, that didn’t go well with the partners. They seem to think I need to chill at the college for a while all because… I can’t even discuss it right now. I’m too upset. Let’s talk about something else. But there’s nothing else is there? I’ve built my entire life around my career. It has been my sole focus, and until now, everything has been on track. I mean, come on. It wasn’t even my fault what happened. I suppose it doesn’t matter what I think. The partners have made their decision. But I belong at the university. What is there for me? And what am I going to do with all this free time? I supposed I could spend it playing racquetball at the country club. Or I could hang out with my nieces. They’re great. They gave me a mug last Christmas that said World’s Greatest Uncle.

Family is important to me. Maybe one day I’ll have one of my own. I’m currently single. I don’t know why none of my relationships have worked out. Kian says… Oh, sorry. Kian’s my best friend. He couldn’t make it tonight. He’s an investigative journalist, and he’s off looking into some huge story. Anyway, Kian says my biggest problem is that I miss opportunities by not paying attention. Honestly, I don’t know what he’s talking about. I wouldn’t win cases if I was oblivious to details—my last case notwithstanding. That was different.

I know that I just said I wanted a family, but I’m so sick of the whole dating scene. Ick! If you want to know a secret, come closer, and I’ll whisper to you. I’m glad you invited me to this dinner today. I always enjoy a good mean, but I’m also avoiding certain family members. I think they’re up to something. They’re always… No, I’m talking about you, Pax. (wink, but I really am.)

Listen, I would say more, but I really can’t talk with big bro watching. So, stop by my place, and we’ll chat. My bar is fully stocked, and I only drink premium top-shelf liquor.

What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (Book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting mushy watching pet adoption commercials, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well. Genevive believes in variety, equality, and representation of all and is willing to tackle difficult subjects that may be shunned in many romance novels.

The Difference Between Cajun and Creole

Today’s topic is one that I previously have written a couple of posts about. I believe the last time was five years ago, but it’s still something that I get asked about often when meeting new people. If you’re following this blog, you know that I am celebrating the upcoming release of my newest novel, Future Goals, by posting daily until the release date on 02/02/23. Each post is a subject that is in some way related to something that occurs in the story. Future Goals is a sports romance set in Louisiana, and a few of the characters are Cajun. Others are Creole, and yes, there is a difference. Because I have covered this topic previously and the subject is based on history (which doesn’t change), some of the information presented herein may be duplicated. However, I will try my best to limit duplication and include new information.

Nearly every seminar or workshop I attend begins with an icebreaker, and usually, that icebreaker involves each participant introducing himself/herself to the group. Many times, the group leader or host will ask that each person give his/her name and where he/she is from. Generally, I dislike icebreakers because I’m not going to remember any information provided unless something really unique is said, (e.g., the person has twenty-five kids, and they are all twins), and even then, I probably will only retain this information for a short amount of time. Yeah, I don’t always pay attention to those types of events, but I’m veering from the subject. When I introduce myself from being from Louisiana, ninety-five percent of the time the response is, “Oh, you’re Cajun.” A long time ago, I used to do this. Now, I just shake my head and let it go because it’s not always worth an argument.

See, there are some people who bitterly disagree that there is a difference, and I think this is largely because so many people have used the terms Creole and Cajun interchangeably. In addition to that, the two cultures coexist in the same area and are blended in some instances. To add to the confusion, the term Creole has several definitions. Therefore, it depends on who is answering the question of whether or not a distinction will be made between the two cultures. So, to understand, it’s best for me to begin with a definition of Creole. But before I do, here’s a disclaimer.

DISCLAIMER: This post is an extremely simplified explanation. Anyone wishing to gain an in-depth understanding or more information should do further research for themselves. The information presented here is reported from knowledge gained over many years of research and taught history. Each person is welcome to have his/her own belief and view. It’s perfectly fine to disagree with this post. All I ask is to be respectful in the comments. Now, to carry on.

Let’s begin with the more familiar facts and terms. So, I looked up the word Cajun in the dictionary just for giggles. According to Merriam-Webster, Cajun is defined as “a Louisiana descendent from French-speaking immigrants from Acadia.” The next logical question then is where is Arcadia? According to historical records, Arcadia is a small fishing community in Nova Scotia, Canada, adjacent to Yarmouth. The name was changed from (Upper) Chebogue to Arcadia in 1863. Now, when I posted a similar article some years ago, I wrote that Cajuns are largely descendants of Nova Scotia. This caused a bit of an uproar among some people. However, this fact is backed by several credible sources, but as with anything, there are bound to be experts who disagree. Again, anyone interested in this topic is advised to conduct his/her own research and form his/her own conclusions.

But let me back up from 1863. Where does the name Acadia originate? Well, there are two historical sources to cite. The first is from the Italian Explorer, Giovanni da Verrazzano. On behalf of Francois I, the king of France during this period, Verrazzano sailed an expedition to North America. There, he explored the Atlantic coast near what is the present-day state of Delaware and gave it the name “Arcadia.” Later, in 1566, Bolognino Zaltieri, a cartographer, named the present-day areas of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia “Larcadia”. A third explanation of the name’s origin is that it may have Indigenous roots from the Mi’kmaq’s word for “camp.”

French settlers (primarily from western France and known as Acadians) had resided in the Chebogue area since the early 1600s. This eastern area of Canada was a British province. However, there came a time when England and France didn’t play nice with each other. Without diving too much into this complex history, the short of the story is that the tension between the two countries grew. The British eventually gave the Acadians an ultimatum to pledge loyalty to Britain. They refused. In 1755, Acadians were exiled from Nova Scotia. This is referred to in scholarly articles as Le Grand Dérangement (the Great Deportation). They were deported to Britain, British colonies, and France. They later migrated on their own (not deported) to Louisiana after the revolution in Saint-Domingue. The Acadians found Louisiana attractive because it was being a French colony and the residents spoke French.

The word “Cajun” can be traced to the nineteenth century. The French of noble ancestry referred to in the area referred to themselves as “les Acadiens.” Others (perhaps many who were not of the nobility) referred to them as “le Cadiens.” Well, guess what happened. Many Americans could not pronoun either “Acadien” or “Cadien” and ended up saying “Cajun.” It stuck.

Taking all of this into account, it is fair to say that Louisiana Cajuns can trace their roots to France and the French settlers in Canada. That is the first half of the equation needed for today’s topic. The next half isn’t as straight forth as we tackle Creole. The following are a few facts about the term Creole that may bring clarity to what may be seen by some as a confusing origin.

The word Creole derives from the Portuguese word crioulo. Crioulo means a slave born in the master’s household.Originally, the term Creole was used to describe a person born in or indigenous to Louisiana (both the territory and later the state). This included both white colonists and African slaves who were “native-born.”Over time, the term has been used to refer to persons of mixed European and black descent.However, due to racial tension, further distinctions were made: French Creole (European ancestry), Black Creole (primarily African ancestry), Creole of Color (mixed race ancestry), and to describe persons whose ancestry is from Francophone and Hispanic communities.The term also is used to refer to as blended French, African, Russian, Italian, German, Chinese, Spanish, and Native American. Then, others used the term to refer to only free people of color.Sometimes, the term is used to refer to anything “pertaining to New Orleans.”

Before continuing, I need to address the term free people of color. This does not refer to freed slaves as free people of color who were never slaves. And this brings up another issue that I will address in a moment. Instead, this term was used to describe persons who shared both European and African heritage. However, not all Creoles have African ancestry. Creoles can trace their French genealogy to Aquitaine, Brittany, Île-de-France, Normandy, and Poitou, Rouen, (these are not all-inclusive); their Hispanic ancestry to Brazil, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Spain, and Trinidad, (not all-inclusive), and their African ancestry to Angola, Bight of Biafra, Bissau, Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Gold Coast, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal. Please note that this list is not all-inclusive. From just this, it is easy to understand why some people are confused by the term Creole, but let’s continue.

Clearly, the different uses of the term Creole have created confusion for some. This is why there is so much debate (even among the Creole community) as to who is Creole and who isn’t. For some reason, some people want to narrow the definition and limit inclusion in the group. However, if viewing the term from a historical perspective, it is very inclusive of a blend of many cultures. And if that’s not proof enough, consider the Mardi Gras parades and some of the oldest krewes who participate. Then, look at the origins of the people in those krewes. The diversity is evident and has been recognized for a long time.

WARNING: The next section is not pleasant. For that reason, it is frequently overlooked and/or not discussed. However, to gain a basic understanding of what Creole is, this next part is needed information.

The term free people of color also was used to make a distinction between “mixed-raced” people and African slaves who had been freed. This was very important to people at the time who classified themselves as free people of color because they were a separate class and held a special role in society. They had rights and privileges that freed slaves did not have. Thus, in many ways, the term Creole was political. After the American Civil War, this status and distinction changed, and many of the rights and privileges of free people of color revolved which created much controversy. Unfortunately for some, that controversy continues today. When a person identifies as having Creole heritage, there are those who argue this is a way of denying being Black or African heritage due to self-hate. However, as mentioned previously, not all people who are Creole have an African heritage, and for those that do, the term embraces that heritage. Some people think Creole is based on skin color, hair type, or other physical features. But again, Creole heritage has its origins in many different races and cultures. Therefore, people who are Creole have a diverse array of skin tones and physical features. Rather, it is the blending of the aforementioned cultures that form the Creole culture.

One final point before ending. In another previous post, I discussed the differences between Creole and Cajun foods. I had one person vehemently argue that there was no difference. Well, of course, there is. Do you want to know why? Because the areas in which they settled in Louisiana were different.

Cajun cuisine is known for its robust flavors and frequently is referred to as “country” food. This is because it was the practice of Arcadians to utilize every part of an animal. This gave birth to dishes such as jambalaya and boudin. The Holy Trinity” (onion, celery, and bell pepper) frequently serve as the base for many Cajun dishes. Other common spices found in Cajun cuisine are garlic, green onions, paprika, sassafras, and thyme. Cajun cuisine also is known to have simpler recipes with fewer ingredients, a medley of veggies, and shorter cook time. They prepared simple and efficient meals often in one pot.

On the contrary, Creole cuisine is often referred to as “city” food. It is known for its richness, sauces, roux, and, in general, contained more ingredients (e.g., remoulade sauce) than Cajun dishes. They had more complex recipes. Plus, many Creole dishes include seafood and tomatoes. Now, before anyone comes at me, this is not implying that Cajun dishes exclude seafood and tomatoes. This statement needs to be taken into perspective in regard to what was occurring during that time in history when Creoles and Cajuns were settling in Louisiana. This is another long topic, but I’ll keep it simple. Many Creoles, because of their jobs, had more access to what were considered “exotic” ingredients. Seafood and tomatoes were more readily available to Creoles, therefore, they used them more. But Cajuns also had access to these ingredients. Thus, tomatoes and seafood are also found in several Cajun dishes.

All I can suggest to people who disagree that there is a difference between Creole and Cajun food is to visit Louisiana and go to an authentic Creole restaurant and an authentic Cajun restaurant. The key word is authentic because anyone can slap on a label and have it mean nothing (take for example Tex-Mex and authentic Mexican dishes). It is clear in the menus as well as the taste of the food that there are differences. That is not to say there aren’t also many similarities. The point being made here is that Creole and Cajun are not the same cultures. Cajun seems to be a more popular or well-known term, and as a result, Creoles get swept under the same umbrella. Are there people who have both Creole and Cajun heritages? Of course. There was never any denying that.

There is also a difference between Creole French and Cajun French which is different from Canadian French and European French. I have also previously written a post about that topic as well but will not be covering it here.

With that said, that’s all that I have for today. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) takes the ice again. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search for me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting mushy watching pet adoption commercials, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well. Genevive believes in variety, equality, and representation of all and is willing to tackle difficult subjects that may be shunned in many romance novels.

How to Find Motivation in Difficult Situations

The fact that there are thousands of motivational speakers, books, lectures, videos, blogs, seminars, and whatnot is an indication that motivation is a real and serious issue for many people. There is no magic cure for motivation or secret formula that will make everything suddenly better. If there were, all those thousands of pieces of information I mentioned previously would not exist. There would be no need for it. There would be a singular book that solved all the world’s problems. Poof!

Motivation is something that I’ve struggled with in the past and has taken a deep dive into investigating. Writing is a profession that one does not necessarily have a boss peering over his/her shoulder every moment of the day or having to punch a time clock. It is also one that many people do not view as a true occupation because it does not always hold nine to five hours or the writer works from home. I do believe the attitude toward the latter may be changing after the events of 2020 and many people were forced to work from their homes. I believe this may have opened up some people’s eyes to the challenges that working from home presents. Writing is the same as any other entrepreneurship unless one has a hired writing position (e.g., newspaper journalist, magazine writer, professional speech writer, hired movie/television scriptwriter, etc.). However, motivation is one of those nondiscrimination problems that can affect anyone. Therefore, I feel that it is a topic worth discussing. The more information available, the better in my opinion. And since there is no one strategy that works for everyone, this post may provide a tip that may be helpful.

In my sports upcoming novel Future Goalswhich releases on 02/02/23, motivation is a topic that is discussed by the characters. To celebrate its release, I’m posting daily on a topic that in some manner relates to the story; hence, the reason I’ve selected motivation as today’s subject. Future Goals is the fifth book in the Locker Room Love series. Locker Room Love is a contemporary sports romance series. However, each book can be read as a stand-alone. Future Goals is a hockey romance.

What brought motivation to the forefront as a topic of discussion for me was a recent incident disclosed to me by a long-distance friend. I received a call, and the first words to me after answering were, “I need to vent.” The following story is a classic example of how difficult situations can suddenly and unexpectedly affect motivation and methods that can be engaged in to overcome those challenges.

The situation was as follows. John (not his real name) the caller to me needed to have his car repaired. He had a timeline to have the repairs done, and the mechanic told him his car would need to be left. As a result, John made arrangements for a family member to give him a ride from the car dealership to his home. The relative (Sally) lives next door to John, does not work, and frequently asks John for favors. To ensure that his vehicle isn’t kept overnight, John informs Sally that he needs to drop the car off as soon as the dealership opens. Sally replies that she does not get up early but will make it a special point to do so.

The day comes for John to drop off his car. He’s awake and ready to leave at 6:00 AM, knowing that the dealership opens at 7:00 AM. He wanted to be ready to go whenever Sally arrived and had mapped his day around it. In fact, he had altered his plans the previous day to accommodate being without transportation for a day. At 8:40, Sally entered John’s home without knocking as was her common practice and stated she was ready to leave. However, John immediately recognized a problem. Sally was using her pitiful voice and creeping as if she couldn’t take another step. She claimed that she wasn’t feeling well. John acknowledged that Sally legitimately may not feel well, but he also was aware that feigning sick was a go-to strategy for her to avoid doing unwanted tasks. Whatever her reason, John told Sally to forget about the appointment, but Sally insisted that they go. It was much later than John had wanted to leave, but he recognized that beggars couldn’t be choosers. He was grateful for any assistance that he received.

The day was cooler than it has been, and there was condensation on the car windows. Slowly, Sally walked to her car. She calls out to John with a wad of paper towels and instructs him to wipe the inside of her windows. John responded by instructing her to turn on her defrost and windshield wipers and giving the car time to warm up. But no. Sally was adamant that wouldn’t help and thrust the paper towel towards John. Again, John attempted to reason with her by explaining, wiping the interior would cause smearing and worsen the vision. Sally frowned and demanded, “I can’t see.” Because there was so much aggravation in her voice, John went against his better judgment and wiped the windshield. As expected, it made the condition worse. But Sally instructed him to do it again, stating that it always worked when she did it. He wiped the window again, and there was no improvement. As he did so, he heard Sally huffing and muttering under her breath and was bothered. The more he attempted to clean the window with the now-saturated wadded paper towels, the more of a mess the windshield became.

Then, Sally climbed behind the driver’s seat—sort of. She appeared to struggle to get in the car by moving even slower and wagging her leg as if she couldn’t get it in. Her muttering increased and included swearing.

This went on for a while until finally John again informed Sally to cancel his request. He shut off his car which had been running and walked to his door. Sally began protesting. “No, come on.” But John was over it. She continued with the sick act until John went inside. Approximately ten minutes later, Sally again entered John’s house without knocking. She asked, “Do you want to try again?” John replied that he didn’t to which Sally responded, “But you have to get your car fixed.” A classic victim gaslight!

If John’s predicament isn’t clear at this point, let’s get into it. John was faced with two options. First, he could have taken Sally up on the offer, in which instance, he likely would have to endure more of her mutter and “woe is me” behavior. He’d feel like a heel asking a sick person to do him a personal favor. Because the situation is no longer about John getting his car repaired. It’s about Sally’s health, which John realized, Sally was going to spread the word to all of the family about how she was so incredibly ill but dragged herself from her deathbed to do John this favor. Then, the family would come for John and blame him for being insensitive.

Second, John could not take his car to the repair shop which would complicate and inconvenience him an additional day. Only, in this case, Sally would spread the word to the family that she’d offered and tried to help John but that he was unsympathetic to her health condition, became angry because she physically wasn’t up to the task, and refused to allow her to help.

John, who had awakened with high hopes for the day, had his mood tanked. He knew that no matter his decision, he would be viewed as the villain in this situation. He opted for the second. However, his now sour mood had zapped his motivation to continue the plans he’d made for the rest of the day. To start, his schedule was off due to Sally’s late arrival. Second, instead of focusing on what he needed to do, his mind kept floating back to the incident that occurred between him and Sally. He wanted to kick himself for having asked her. He felt awful for questioning the legitimacy of her illness. He was frustrated and concerned with having to develop an alternative plan. He was angry that Sally hadn’t just refused his initial request instead of creating a messy charade.

That’s what’s so tricky about motivation. Sometimes, it doesn’t take much to make it plummet from one hundred to zero. So, here are some things to understand and consider about motivation and ways to maintain it.

It is easier to tear down and destroy motivation than it is to build it up.Motivation is a state of mind that one must consciously choose.Motivation is active and not passive. Waiting to become motivated is a gamble; and more often than not, the feeling will not emerge. The person must take action. Saying one wants motivation is not enough. Sometimes, it means forcing the self to engage.Motivation is self-driven. Seeing and listening to others may help, but the person must truly have a strong desire in order to be motivated.Motivation requires being able to look past obstacles and focus on the target.List the pros and reasons why you are doing what you’re doing.Develop a plan. Having a plan gives a person a default on days when motivation is complex. Instead of using mental brain power to think of what can, should, or needs to be done, one can simply refer to the plan and determine how to proceed. For example, if one wants to lose weight but doesn’t feel like going to the gym, having a plan with alternative physical activities that do not involve a gym may be beneficial.Having a visual reference for goals can help with motivation.Surround yourself with positivity. This can be people or music or scenery—anything that brings you joy, hope, and/or inspiration.Understanding that setbacks do occur.Identifying challenges and/or hurdles.Having a safe space and/or place to vent frustrations. Holding in what is bothering you may impede having the mental capacity to be motivated.Maintain a healthy diet. Diet plays an important role in mental and emotional health.Get plenty of rest. Being well-rested will allow one to have a clear mind and be able to focus on what needs to be done. This means taking appropriate breaks when needed.Daily positive affirmations. Some people speak them while others write them down. Either way, being kind to oneself builds self-esteem which can increase motivation.Enjoy the little things in life. Not recognizing small achievements may reduce motivation because one may not see progress being made. Sure, some results happen in leaps and bounds but more often than not, progress occurs in baby steps.Minimize stress and anxiety. These are motivation killers as well.Believe in oneself. This may be harder said than done.

So, that wraps up this post. Now, it’s your turn to sound off. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search for me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting lost anywhere beyond her front yard (the back is pushing it as she’s very geographically challenged), falling in love with shelter animals (and she adopts them), asking off-the-beaten-path questions that make one go “hmm”, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well.

Writing Advice: Originality in Writing

Some would argue in the writing space that there are no new ideas as if people’s creativity has ended. I question this. When did original thoughts end? What were the year and the time? Who was the person who had the last original thought? I think perhaps people who think this way can’t think beyond what currently exists. In 10 B.C., did someone have thoughts of creating the world wide web? In 1460 A.D., did someone attempt to invent the automobile?

It is true that ideas build on previous ideas. But at some point, someone thinks outside of the box to create something new that the world hasn’t heard of. It’s called: invention. And inventors still exist. Inventors are the solver of the world’s problems. They see a need and fill it. Oftentimes, their thinking is so advanced that they see problems that don’t exist yet and are criticized for them. Their inventions and/or ideas are disregarded, and they are viewed as silly or failures. Then years later, the rest of the world catches up to their brilliance. By then, the thought or idea no longer seems new or original because it has been available for so long.

In writing, it is said that all the stories are the same, but it’s the journey that makes each story different. And this is true… until someone finds that story that has never been told. Until someone becomes that inventor writer. It’s hard to say what can be when it doesn’t exist. However, there is something to be said about the “journey.” That is equally as important as originality.

A few years ago, a colleague asked that I help her write a research paper. She’d gone back to school to obtain a postgraduate degree and was struggling with having to do homework again. She’d been out of school for more than twenty years, and it was fair to say that a lot had changed since she’d last been enrolled. When I went to her office, she showed me the assignment. It was to write a summary and give a critique and analysis of a professional journal article. It didn’t sound too difficult, except it was. First, the article was a very dry, fact-heavy piece with a lot of technical jargon. Second, there were many perimeters of what needed to be included. And finally, it had to be entered into specific software.

The article using technical terms was the first issue. One of the requirements of the assignment was to define these terms. No problem, right? Wrong. The issue wasn’t per se defining the terms but defining the terms in the specific software program the professor required. This software program flagged “plagiarism.” Now, this was good in theory but horrible in application. Why? Okay, try this. What is a dog? Define what a dog is. If your answer was a four-legged animal that barks and is sometimes kept as a pet, this software probably would have flagged you as having plagiarized. Why? Because likely someone has given a similar (if not the exact same) response. This, by the way, follows the theory of no original thoughts and that there are only so many ways to express an idea or thought.

When it comes to explaining technical terms, there is even less flexibility in diverse responses. As a result, my colleague had a paper highlighted with plagiarism. It wasn’t true, but there it was. I suggested quoting the article definitions and citing the source. This, too, was unacceptable to the program because apparently, it has an algorithm that only allows a certain percentage of material to be quoted before it is flagged as plagiarism. When we attempted to create elaborate definitions using a thesaurus, the writing was flagged as being too wordy. It didn’t take me long to understand why my colleague was struggling and had reached out for help.

As I contemplated how to get around this issue, I knew I had to consider the source of the problem to reach a satisfying solution. And the problem wasn’t the software but rather how it was being used. This professor had used this software for years and had given this same assignment using the same articles for years. All of the previous papers had been entered into this software which created the database. So, if all of her students had the same starting point, it was enviable that all would take a similar path. Consider this. If ten people were to ask to list their favorite three Christmas Carols, how many repeated answers would be found? Change that to asking these same ten people to list their favorite three classic rock songs and the repeats are likely to be fewer. Ask them to list their three favorite songs of all time and the repeats drop even lower. Where one starts, matters. The professor had restricted the range of thinking. In other words, the professor had drawn the box and added clauses to make it difficult for her students to think outside of that box.

A lot of writing advice sticks writers in a box. This advice states that a writer can’t do this or shouldn’t do that, and often, this gets accepted as a golden rule. So, once in that box, originality, by default, is reduced. Thus, writers turn their attention to being original and creative within these confines. And this is the “journey.” This is the reason why a writer takes the reader from point A to point Z becomes the most important aspect of the story. This is what makes stories unique.

I attempt to find my uniqueness in the way I tell my stories. As everyone knows, I’m a Southerner born and raised, and in The South, there are ways to tell a story that differs from other regions. When I was in elementary school and junior high, I remember teachers trying to eliminate this from my (and my classmates’) writing. They said that in order to be taken seriously or to sound educated, I (and my classmates) had to write and sound more like the rest of the nation—that we couldn’t be singled out for being from The South. To pass these classes, I did as told, and continued to do so throughout my formal educational years.

It wasn’t until I encountered an uppity supervisor that it dawned on me how problematic this had become. I submitted professional reports to this supervisor all time without issue. It was when I spoke that was an obstacle. She constantly felt compelled to correct how I pronounced and annunciated words or how I phrased things. She would interrupt to correct me and cause me to lose my train of thought. Then I truly would sound uneducated as I rambled as I attempted to recollect my thoughts. And I did this, too, but it was a fight against my nature.

When I began writing professionally, I kept this practice of sounding “generic.” My first stories were okay but only just that. It was frustrating. And then, I had an epitome. Scroll back to my graduate school days when I decided to take a creative writing class for fun and a break from the classes in my major. For my first assignment, which I delayed handing in until I had no other choice, I revised a story I had written as an undergraduate in another creative writing class as undergraduates. I chose to revise it because my undergraduate professor had given me feedback and also I had matured since my sophomore year. An odd strange of events occurred.

I had taken this graduate creative writing course in the fall semester of my second year. That was when I found I had free space in my schedule and I desperately needed a fun outlet. That year I was scheduled to take comprehensive examinations. For the students taking comps, the university allowed them to miss all classes during the week of testing. My creative writing professor had an attendance policy. Therefore, at the beginning of the semester, I informed him I would be missing his class so it wouldn’t be held against my grade. He was very understanding, but it also meant that I had to go to his office to get the assignment for the following week. No problem. However, in his office, he didn’t just hand me the new assignment. He asked me to have a seat.

He informed me that he thought I had plagiarized my first assignment. Yep. Before I could protest, he continued with the following words, “But then I heard you speak and explain your process. I knew you were real.” We talked for a bit longer after that, and he invited me to take his advanced course in the spring. Not only was I relieved, but his words also left an impression on me. He also is the professor that encouraged me to write professionally, although, I didn’t attempt that until many years later.

When I finally began my professional writing career, I defaulted into what all my elementary, junior, high school, and even college professors had drilled into me. But it wasn’t until I’d come home upset from dealing with this supervisor and was sitting down to write that the lightbulb went off. I reflected on the conversation with my graduate professor, and it all became clear. My writing wasn’t popping because I wasn’t being myself. I was in the “box.” My professor had been talking about “voice,” and my voice wasn’t in that structured box that someone else had created for me. My characters lacked personality and relatability because I’d placed them in the box. I didn’t relate to them. They weren’t authentic. When I found my voice, I was able to write the stories I wanted.

When someone asks me what I think makes my stories different, I think it’s the style in which I tell them. I do not shy away from being who I am. I do not avoid certain topics or fail to express opinions that may not be the most popular. For example, I know many people will disagree with the ideas presented herein. Some will say they are illogical and make absolutely no sense. And that’s okay. Everyone is entitled to have an opinion, and diversity is what makes the world beautiful. Yes, I find some opinions of others to be quite ugly, but I chose to look beyond those. I cannot dictate what anyone thinks or feels, but I can select how I choose to respond. I want to give readers characters that could exist in the real world and stories that aren’t always told. I want to feel what the characters do and see their fictional world through their eyes. This is why I add details instead of leaving some things vague or ambiguous for readers to fill in. I always say I don’t write blank coloring pages. I present color-by-number and begin the shading.

That wraps it up for this post. Do you agree or disagree? What is your take on the subject? Did you find these tips helpful or informative? Let me know your thoughts and opinions in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming 02/02/23.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Order your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box(book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (Book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting mushy watching pet adoption commercials, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well. Genevive believes in variety, equality, and representation of all and is willing to tackle difficult subjects that may be shunned in many romance novels.

What Writing Style Can Be Expected in a Genevive Chamblee Novel

Hello, bonjour, and welcome to the Creole Bayou blog. In celebration of my new sports romance, Future Goals which releases on 02/02/23, I am writing a daily post on a topic that somehow relates to the story. Future Goals is the fifth book in my Locker Room Love hockey romance series. Although this is a series, each book can be read as a stand-alone. Today, I’m going to veer away slightly from sticking to a topic in the book and speak about what happens behind the scenes. I feel this is important because I’m an avid reader, and I like a heads-up before selecting a book. I used to have plenty of time to read, but life can become chaotic. I want to fill what free time I have with books that I will truly enjoy.

Book reviews on places like Amazon and Goodreads can be a start, but they don’t always tell the full story. I figure what better way is there to learn about a book than getting the information straight from the horse’s mouth. So, I’m here to tell you a little about my writing style that I hope will help make the decision if Future Goals or any of the books in the Locker Room Love series is a good fit for you.

I’ll start by stating the obvious. I write romance. It’s not all that I write, and I do write in other genres (e.g., paranormal, fantasy, and short stories). However, recently my focus has been on writing sports romance. Locker Room Love is a hockey romance series, but I do write about other sports as well. I attempt to make the sports jargon palatable to all readers. However, the books are not written for children. They are spicy/steamy romances that can contain mature themes and adult language. Sometimes, I tell readers to pick up the book using oven mittens because the burn is coming. Some topics touched upon may be sensitive or taboo or a character may hold an unpopular opinion. I do these things because the world is made up of so many types of people, and sometimes, it’s not all pleasant.

Speaking of language, my books host a diverse cast of characters, and not all speak English as a first language. Therefore, sometimes the dialogue is written in a language other than English (but is translated in the text) or dialogue may be written with “errors” sprinkled in. These “errors” are intended to reflect a character’s speech pattern. This is done with a sparing consistency.

As stated, the characters are diverse, and many ages, races, religions, creeds, nationalities, and sexual orientations are represented. As my blog is about inclusivity, so are my stories. I’m a Bayou baby. More times than not, my characters will be representative of the diversity found in Southern Louisiana. They will speak in the regional dialect, use local slang, and walk popular streets found in some of Louisiana’s most prominent cities and parishes. One will get the sights, sounds, and smells (and those aren’t always pleasant) of South Louisiana.

My writing may slightly miss the grid of being mainstream romance. The humor can be snarky and sarcastic. Instead of alpha males who when they get their way resolve the matter with fists flying, my books are crammed with really cool sigmas. Never heard of a sigma male. Sigmas are like chilling co-pilots. They roll with the punches on trivial matters but handle business when needed. When necessary, they do not hesitate to step up as leaders, but, otherwise, they are content with not seeking to be the center of attention because they understand a quarterback can’t win a football game without the rest of the team. They have a good sense of self and of self-worth and do not require praise or trophies to feel valued. They aren’t afraid to show emotion or vulnerability, and have big (but not arrogant), complex personalities. Therefore, they aren’t concerned with defining themselves by traditional stereotypes.

Unlike most alpha characters, sigmas are nice guys with a witty sense of humor. Self-esteem isn’t an issue because they are equally as handsome and sexually sensational as alphas. Most alphas are written as dark and brooding. On the contrary, sigmas may be open to showing insecurities or weaknesses because they aren’t crippled by them. For this reason, sigma males may be viewed as non-threatening. But in reality, alphas know not to cross them because beneath the surface of a sigma lies a lion willing to go toe-to-toe and tear his enemy from limb to limb.

What makes Sigmas so much fun to write is that they can be unpredictable. They show their love for others without being overbearing or domineering. And sometimes, they let the woman take the lead. I find these characters to be far more interesting to write, and that breaks away from a traditional male lead in romances.

The writing style of the books is fast-paced like in hockey games. Who doesn’t enjoy cruising emotional peaks and valleys at rampant speeds with crash landings? I said it before, but it’s worth saying again. I’m a southerner, and I tell stories in that southern storytelling way. I neither spoon-feed nor leave an abstract paint-by-numbers for readers. There is plenty of room to read between the lines, but more often than not, I give away any secrets by tossing in plenty of Easter eggs and foreshadowing. However, if one blinks, it may be missed or overlooked. I also write a lot of parallelism in stories.

Most importantly I strive to incorporate fun into my books. I want readers to have a good time and enjoy the read. When I receive feedback that I’ve made someone chuckle, I consider the story a success. While I want to have the character touch many readers’ emotions, the one I want to last is joy. Face it, there’s a lot of negativity happening in the world. Since 2020, it has been a rough go, and people have struggled on so many levels for so many reasons. It can be overwhelming, and people need a safe means of escape, even if it’s only for a short while. I hope that my stories can provide that. After all, romances are about love, hope, and happily ever after.

And that draws this topic to a close. Now, it’s your turn to sound off. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box(book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting lost anywhere beyond her front yard (the back is pushing it as she’s very geographically challenged), falling in love with shelter animals (and she adopts them), asking off-the-beaten-path questions that makes one go “hmm”, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well.

How to Write a Meet-Cute

A meet-cute in a romance is when the main character has his/her first interaction in the book/story with his/her love interest. Now, you may be asking how is my definition different. Why do I use it? What makes mine better?

I’ll begin with the last question. I’m not claiming to have a “better” definition. It’s one that is functional for me. See, most meet-cute definitions are long, which means more things to remember or add to meet the criteria listed in the definition. The briefness and conciseness of the definition I choose to use not only make mine slightly different but also or simplifies everything.

What makes mine different?

Most meet-cute definitions include terms such as “amusing” or “humorous” as an integral part of it. However, meet-cutes are not always comical or cute. Some may be quite serious or even somber. It depends on the story or setting. For example, the couple may meet as a result of a tragic accident that has gravely injured or killed loved ones. Consider Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre when Jane meets Rochester for the first time. This isn’t exactly a humorous interaction. In fact, Rochester injures himself when he falls off his horse, is rude to Jane when she offers to help, and calls her a “witch.” Yes, Jane is a little cheeky for a woman in her position during that time period, but it’s not an I Love Lucy moment.Many definitions state that meet-cutes are the first time love interest meet. This also is not necessarily true. In friends to lovers and second chance tropes, the love interests already have met. They know each other. It may be a re-introduction, as in someone who has been living in a different town or country and has returned, but they still aren’t strangers. Even if one character doesn’t recognize or remember the other, it still isn’t their first meeting. Having a definition that requires the first meeting is too limited and restrictive in my opinion. It’s more accurate and flexible to define it as the first interaction the love interests have with each other in the story. Another way to put it is that the meet-cute is the first time the reader sees the couple interacting. Or, it could be argued that in such stories, there is no meet-cute, technically speaking.

In romances, meet-cutes are an essential part of the story. They set the tone and, in many instances, are the beginning of the character story arcs. Getting it right is what will invest most readers in the story. They are curious to see the dynamic between the two (or more if it’s a polygamous type of situation happening) unfold. Thus, it’s especially important for authors to invest some time in writing their characters’ meet-cute. So, how do they do this?

Meet-cutes don’t have to be cute but they do need to be interesting. First impressions matter, and as the saying goes, there’s only one time to make that first impression. Make this scene count.Avoid instalove. The appeal of a romance is the love story. Readers want to watch the romance bloom. Having it happen all at once at the beginning defeats the purpose. Even if the two main characters have a strong attraction for each other, even lust, hold off on the love part for a bit. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. In a second chance story, one or both characters may be in love with the other. But again, this wouldn’t be the first meeting, so, technically that wouldn’t be instalove anyway.As mentioned previously, some first interactions between love interests may not go smoothly. This is perfectly acceptable. However, if there is going to be a clash, it shouldn’t be one that is so horrible that it can’t be overcome. For example, I read a story where the meet cute happened when the bound and gagged heroine was dropped off by goons in the hero’s office. The hero had arranged for the heroine to be kidnapped. In this meeting, the hero said and performed many degrading and what some would call sexually abusive acts. He didn’t force her physically, but he coerced her with threats of blackmail. It turned out to be a case of mistaken identity as if that made the hero’s action okay because he intended to do these things to another woman—the heroine’s identical twin who the hero didn’t know existed. I don’t know about anyone else, but I consider that one big hurdle to jump in a relationship. I just don’t see any coming back from that. A lot of readers are going to tap out at this point.Another related point is that the couple should be balanced or equal. This does not mean that two must have the same economic or social status. However, it shouldn’t be an unbalance between the two. Consider Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice. Mr. Darcy is held higher in the society at the time because of his wealth and family name. However, Elizabeth Bennet who would have been viewed as his inferior is able to match wits with him. It is her strong constitution and intelligence that causes her to be his equal. This balance should be shown from the onset.Incompatibility but compatible. What? This is a fancy way of saying that opposites attract. Again, this will depend on the story. It’s always interesting to read about two characters who in all reality shouldn’t be together but end up getting together. This is a very popular theme in romance. However, when characters are too much of opposites, this theme could go south really quickly.Add conflict. There could be a little or a lot. There should be something happening between the characters that make their interaction enjoyable. If everything is just swimmingly, this could potentially—but not necessarily—lead to a boring scene. The meet-cute is intended to get readers to invest in the relationship.Buildable. Whatever happens in the meet-cute should be something that can be built upon in the rest of the story. This does not mean it must be the driving force for everything else that happens. However, it should lead to something more. For example, if the two main characters have an argument on their first meeting, that argument may be the reason they make certain decisions. For example, suppose during the meet-cute John mentions having the best meal of his life at a fancy restaurant that Jane has never eaten at. After the conversation, Jane decides to go there and gets food poisoning. Jane then blames John because she later learns the restaurant had all bad reviews and John tricked her.

And that wraps up all I have to say. What did you think?. What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (Book #4) takes the ice again. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search for me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting mushy watching pet adoption commercials, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well. Genevive believes in variety, equality, and representation of all and is willing to tackle difficult subjects that may be shunned in many romance novels.

Make Your Dreams Come True Day

As I was compiling a list of topics to cover during my pre-release celebration of my sports romance Future Goals, I simply could not ignore this holiday. It is too perfect in so many ways. First, when I set the guidelines and criteria for what topics I would discuss, the first one was that the topic needed to relate in some way to something that occurs in the story. Well, Future Goals is all about characters who are attempting to make their dreams come true.

Second, how awesome is it to have a day to recognize and acknowledge achieving goals. Often, we think of success as grand acts that others praise us for. I can tell you that doesn’t happen often in my world. There are many acts that I perform in any given that I’m not thanked or credited. Yet, those acts may not seem all that impressive but may have taken much effort. In my book, that’s an achievement. It is the accumulation of these small acts that will allow me to reach my overall goal, a.k.a., my dream. For some people, dreams happen overnight. However, for the mass majority, achieving a dream takes time. It’s not what others think that matters. It’s not their dream. It’s yours.

Third, seeing Future Goals being published is a dream come true. It has been a long road to get here. Hundreds of hours have been put in, and so many people have helped along the way. And that’s the thing about dreams. There’s no rule that says others can’t help.

Fourth, this holiday is celebrated on January 13th. Not only is the timing ideal since it falls within my celebratory posting, but it also offsets the dreariness of Friday the 13th this year. Win-win.

Many people have dreams, and about as many do not achieve their dreams for various reasons. So, how does one go about making his/her dreams come true? I gave this a lot of thought before I dove into the research. Amazingly, what I was thinking wasn’t too far off from what empirical data support.

Define what it is that is your dream. This sounds elementary, and it is. However, it is surprising how many people skip this step. An associate said that she desired to be a “writer.” I asked her what she meant, and she looked at me as if I were bug-eyed crazy. Then, I explained that most people “write” something daily, even if it’s no more than signing his/her name on a credit card receipt. Technically, it’s “writing.” She said I was being facetious, which I took issue with how she used that word but whatever. I continued by asking her what sort of writer she wanted to be—a novelist, journalist, blogger, cartoonist, hobbyist, etc. There are many types of writers, and each has different “requirements” for lack of a better word. To obtain a dream, one must know what that dream is.Develop a plan. Having a grand dream may seem too overwhelming to accomplish, and being overwhelmed allows for self-doubt to creep in. Plans come in all forms, and there aren’t really “right” and “wrong” plans. However, some plans are more durable than others. Referring to my associate, I asked her about her “writing plan.” She didn’t have one. She pointed out that I don’t plan because I’m a self-outed pantser. That doesn’t mean I don’t have a writing plan. My writing plan just looks different from a writer who is a plotter. I plan time to write. I have a list (it’s mental at this point) of things I need to do or have before beginning a writing session. I’ve studied the craft of writing and have taken steps to sharpen my writing skills. I have critique partners to bounce off ideas. I know I want to write novels and a blog and know the kind of novels and blogs I want to write. Additionally, I have deadlines and things that I want to achieve with my writing. Thus, I do have a plan. A writer friend has a writing plan that looks much different than mine and is very detailed for when and how he does things. It works well for him.Divide the plan into manageable steps. This is crucial. I’ll use writing a novel as an example. Instead of focusing on a complete novel that is perfect, a writer should focus on drafting a chapter or constructing an outline. The clean-up can come later. It’s like building a house. The structure must go up first before painting the walls. The interior decorators shouldn’t come before a roof is put on. Plans are a building process. Writers develop one chapter at a time—not necessarily in consecutive order. Write the story. Revise the story. Edit the story. Take the small steps to complete the larger goal.Ask for help if needed. For some people, asking for help is difficult, but know, all people need help at some time or another. There is no shame in needing assistance. In writing, I ask my critique partners for their opinion all of the time. I reach out to field experts. Once. I wrote a story and was told that, despite my having researched the subject, my facts were all jumbled and flawed. Well, I reached out to someone I knew who currently worked in the area I had written about. He verified what I’d written and showed me in his manual where it was supported. He then allowed me to speak to his superior with over twenty-five years of experience. The two of us had a lengthy discussion, and he made sure that I understood the process I was attempting to describe in my story. Eventually, I came to the conclusion that I wasn’t incorrect. Rather different areas had different procedures, and the person I encountered had knowledge of that. Instead, her frame of reference was limited to her small region. But here’s the bonus. It wasn’t about my “being right.” These experts helped me improve my story. There’s always room for learning and growing. And something else that I learned was who and who not to listen to, how to take criticism and make it work for me. I had a beta reader point out a serious error I had made with one of my characters. I’m thankful that she caught it because I was able to correct it.Overcoming fear. This is another tough one. I had a cousin who had a dream of becoming a musician. He learned how to play instruments, read music, compose, and studied music theory. However, he was not supported by his family. They informed him that his dream was immature and that he would not be able to make a living to support his family. When it came time for him to make a choice in his career, he opted to follow the dreams his family held for him. In return, he was miserable for many years until he began doing music on the side. Yet, the family criticism for even his side ventures/moonlighting was steep. Eventually, he quit the job he detested and moved hundreds of miles away to do his thing.Have faith in yourself. This is closely related to the previous point. To overcome fear and to be successful one must believe that it is possible. When a person believes he/she will fail, then that’s almost always bound to happen. And how can a person expect others to believe in him/her when he/she doesn’t believe in himself/herself? And why would a person waste time doing something he/she knows she cannot accomplish? I know absolutely nothing about plumbing. If there’s a clog that I can’t fix with a plunger and Drain-O, I’m not about to start rooting around under the sink or house trying to fix it. If I did, I’d surely end up with a more expensive problem than I started.Understanding that setbacks happen but aren’t the end of the line. It’s seen in sports all the time where when one team falls behind and just gives up. Their heart isn’t in their play. Then, something happens. The other team makes a mistake, and hope is restored. The losing team regains a new spirit, rallies, and wins. This is what is known as perseverance. This is the cliché of getting up when one is knocked down. Setbacks are unpleasant, but again, most will offer a learning opportunity. This is why having a plan is vitally important. When building a house and planning the budget, experts suggest leaving room for “unexpected expenses.” Having a plan helps prepare and offset setbacks.Create opportunities. There’s a proverb that anything worth salt is worth the struggle. When striving for a dream, not everything in your path may come easily. There may be many struggles along the way. In high school, I had a friend who did not achieve well academically. For several years, he attended summer school to make up for failed classes. After graduation, he opted not to go to college because he had been led to believe he would fail there as well. Instead of attempting his dream, he did what he needed to do to get by. After several years of moving and working in positions with lower pay grades, he decided to give college a try. Part of this was to advance his position at his then-current job. He enrolled in a program designed for working adults and completed it with flying colors. Not only did he have motivation, but he also had matured. Specifically, his mind biologically had matured. If one is to believe Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, then it is accepted that the brain develops in stages. The rate of this stage of development varies from person to person. If a child is not performing well in school, it may not be (as my friend was led to believe) a matter of the child not applying himself. I watched my friend struggle to understand the lessons. Years later, after graduation and gaining experience working, some of those same lessons he was able to grasp with no issues. As an adult in his mid-twenties, he found school easier. After he received his first promotion, he kept seeking opportunities for advancement. He attended certification courses whenever he could afford them. He networked like crazy. Soon, this person who was at the bottom of his high school graduating class had become a high executive at a prestigious company.Have patience. If Roman wasn’t built in a day, neither are most dreams. It takes time to accomplish big goals. Attempting to rush and take shortcuts may actually prolong the process. Several years ago, an acquaintance wanted to become a teacher. However, she did not want to put in the time and effort. However, at the time, there was a teacher shortage, and the state had developed a “fast-track” certification system. Basically, this allowed applicants to become teachers without having to fulfill the same requirements as someone obtaining a degree in education. It was a quick fix to a complicated problem. But this “fix” didn’t come without stipulations. In short, for being granted an “emergency teaching certificate,” applicants agreed to complete a set of coursework in three years. This would have worked out beautifully if there had been consistent monitoring of progress. However, many of the applicants were procrastinators who never enrolled in the courses. At the end of three years, their temporary certificates were revoked, the state remained short of teachers, and there were some questions about the quality of education over the course of those three years. My acquaintance was highly upset when she was terminated. Yet, all of it could have been avoided if she had had the patience to do the coursework from the start. Instead, she wanted a quick and easy resolution. Educate yourself. No, this does not mean a person has to enroll in an educational course, although, that is an option. Education comes from learning, and a person learns by taking in information and then applying it appropriately. When I began a career in writing, one of my first lessons was that it was far from what I had been taught in English Composition. It was more than grammar and sentence structure and plots. It was a business that aside from storytelling also included marketing, strategy, networking, demographics, and so much more. Not all of this could be taught in a classroom. I learned from seminars, books, other writers, research, and personal experience. I had to learn how to decipher information and feedback. Not everything that I was told was accurate, appropriate, or correct. People have biases and preferences. But the more I delve into the craft of writing, the more I learned what to do and what not to do. And that goes for any profession. The more one knows, the better apt that person is for success.

Now, it’s your turn to chime in. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) takes the ice again. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search for me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting mushy watching pet adoption commercials, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well. Genevive believes in variety, equality, and representation of all and is willing to tackle difficult subjects that may be shunned in many romance novels.