Nikki Duncan's Blog, page 3

Kids Giving Miracles

It’s that time of year where everywhere you go you see a tree full of cards. Each card represents a child in need of something. In need of someone with more having the heart to choose one. I blogged a little about this last week, about a lesson my youngest taught me in regards to giving at the holidays.

We chose to select someone from the angel tree at school. I figured, for the girls, it’s great to give something to a random person. How much greater is it to give someone in your own school a gift? Even if you don’t know who they are, there’s something much more special in knowing you’ve impacted someone close to you.

So, as we were discussing which student to adopt, as we looked over their lists and how much their items might cost, we migrated into the discussion of whether or not we would adopt more than one angel. A big part of that decision was made when I asked the kids if they were willing to have a present or two less under the tree for the sake of someone else having something special.

My youngest, as you can see from last week’s post was dubious.

We talked about some of the things these kids were asking for. It wasn’t too surprising to see that most all of the elementary and middle school kids had been adopted, or that they asked primarily for toys or clothes. The high school kids were a different story. Their wish lists showed an even larger difference from those of the younger kids.

These children, and they are still children, are asking for things like gift cards to buy their family groceries. They requested toys for their younger siblings. They asked for essentials. Yes, there were kids asking for personal wants, but the majority of the kids were asking for things they needed. As we were discussing how many kids to adopt and how much to do for them we asked our girls if they were willing to sacrifice a present or two for the sake of schoolmates.

Our youngest did come around and agree to sacrifice a gift for someone else. Our oldest, when we asked her, responded with an immediate and certain absolutely. Because of their “sacrifice” we adopted two kids. One daughter gave up enough to buy a pair of tennis shoes. The other daughter gave up enough for the kid to buy some clothes.

I can’t say how proud I am of my girls for giving to others. Do you have kids in your life? What have they done that’s made you proud? Did you tell them you were proud of them for whatever it was? 

And then their mommy learned…

My kids have always picked an angel off an angel tree at Christmas, either with me or one of their grandmother’s. They give things for kids through the church and never question why they’re doing it. It’s just something you do. You give back to others.

Last night I was looking through the angel tree list for the kids in our local school district and was talking about it with my oldest. My youngest, Meme, said she wanted to be an angel for her school. I told her that was very sweet but that all the kids at her school had already been adopted. She was angry with this, which surprised me. So, I explained that it was a good thing that all the kids had been adopted.

Then, she cocked her hand on her hip and asked if I had put her on that tree. This stumped me. She was not impressed when I told her that no she was not on the tree. Then it hit me. She thought the angel tree was a way for kids to get extra gifts at Christmas. I had to explain to her that the angel tree was for children who may not have a gift under the tree without the help of others. Then I took it a step farther and explained that while we weren’t rolling in the money we were lucky enough to be able to give the presents for others.

This conversation went on for awhile, but the whole time I was trying to figure out where we’d failed to explain why we did the angel tree. Do you think it’s because we assume they understand? Or do we just get into too big a hurry to think about it?

The Time is Coming Quickly

I was joking with the family the other day that we should have skipped buying Christmas presents because if the “forecast” is to be believed, we’re not going to be here to celebrate. I mean, it’s almost 12/21/12 after all.

Okay, so I’m not at all worried about the end, but I figure now is as good a time as any to thank each one of you for being a miracle in my life. Whether you read the blog regularly or buy my books or spread the word about my stories or just say hi at signings and conferences you are each a miracle in my life. Your support makes what I do possible. You make it a joy.

As a thank you, I’m going to share the miracle of laughter with you. My oldest daughter showed this to me. It’s too ridiculous not to laugh at.

Have a miraculous week!

WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH A SECOND CHANCE?

Have you ever wondered what you’d do if you had a second chance to do over something in your life?  Maybe right a wrong you’d done somebody.  Or finish something you’d left unfinished.  The possibilities are endless.

I’ve often wondered what I’d do differently if given such an opportunity.  Most of us never get that second chance.  Then I had a dream.  A wounded soul, grieving for a lost brother, the brother who didn’t get to fulfill the thing he wanted most in life, and a wife trying to understand the husband who’s drifting farther and farther away from her.  That dream became the basis of my Christmas paranormal romance novella, Second Chances.

Blurb:  A firefighter in Denver, Ryan Jackson still grieves the loss of his brother who died almost two years earlier on Christmas Eve.  He thought he’d gotten past the loss until he began having dreams about his dead brother.  In the dreams his brother asks him for something—impossible.

Ryan’s wife, Rose, knows something’s wrong.  For the last several months Ryan’s grown more withdrawn and distant.   She loves him and knows he loves her, but doubts begin to creep in.  She’s determined to find out why her husband is withdrawing from her and win him back—no matter the cost.

An early Christmas gift, an unexpected trip and haunting dreams.  Can the love shared between Ryan and Rose overcome grief and guilt and lend a little magic for a second chance at happiness?

Excerpt from “Second Chances”

Rose walked around the dining room, putting the final touches on the table.  Flowers and candles, even a bottle of white wine.  Long stem crystal glasses next to the good china.  Dinner was ready.  She’d stopped at Ryan’s favorite Italian place on the way home, picked up all the foods he loved.   Though she was no slouch in the kitchen, the horrendous hours she had put in all week left little time or energy for cooking. And besides, she wanted everything to be extra special tonight.

Soft music played in the background, the strains of the classical piano concerto wafted from the speakers.  Soothing and romantic music setting the stage for the evening to come.  The lights were dimmed and tall taper candles cast a warm glow across the dining room.  Perfect.  She’d done her best to set up a long-needed romantic evening with her husband.

Something was bothering him, kept him on edge for the past few months.  She hadn’t pressed.  He’d tell her whatever it was when the time was right.  Still she worried.

Is he unhappy?  Am I not enough anymore?  The insidious doubts niggled at the back of her mind, managed despite her best efforts to creep into her head each day.   She tried to ignore them, push them away, but the fear still managed to insinuate itself into her thoughts. 

I can’t lose him.  He’s my life.  I’ll do whatever it takes, fight whoever I have to fight.  I’m not giving up on Ryan.  On us.

The front door opened and Ryan strode through, paused a moment when the soft strains of Mozart floated across the air.  She watched him inhale deeply and a smile curled his lips as he dropped his gym bag by the console table in the entry hall.

“Honey, I’m home.”

Rose laughed as she always did.  He said the same words to her every single day when he came home.

“Hey, stud.”  There was a little extra sway in her walk and not just from the four-inch heels she wore.  The soft dove-gray dress nipped in at the waist before flaring out at the hips into a tulip skirt that swirled around her legs.  She met him halfway through the living room.

Familiar hands slid around her waist, pulled her forward against his body.  Anxious to feel his strength beneath her fingers, her hands slid up his shoulders and around his neck.  Tilting her head up, she leaned in closer.  A flutter of excitement danced inside her at the spark in his eyes.  Maybe he still loved her.  Maybe she could win him back.  In almost painful slow motion, his head lowered.  Finally, their lips met.  Her mouth opened to deepen the kiss.  She loved the feel of his lips, the slide of his tongue, the tingle that shot straight through her core to the very heart of her at his touch.  Sighing she leaned further into the kiss.  Heavens above, how she loved this man.  Her hands threaded through his dark hair, still damp from his shower at the gym.

He pulled back, breaking the kiss to stare deep into her eyes.  One brow quirked, a habit of his she loved.  Sexy.  “What’s going on, hon?”

“Does something have to be going on?  Maybe I just wanted to have a romantic dinner with my husband.”

“So, I didn’t forget anything important—like your birthday or our anniversary?”  He laughed, wiping his brow in mock terror.

She slapped him lightly on the chest.  “You better not be forgetting my birthday, bub.”

He inhaled again deeply followed by an appreciative growl.  “Something smells great.  Eddie’s?”

“You bet.”

“Have I told you lately how much I adore you? You’re the best.”

Rose stared up into his face.  The doubts she’d had earlier crowded back into her mind.  Did he mean it?

“I love you too, Ryan.”  Her hand lifted to brush against his cheek, her thumb slid down curling against the pulse point in his throat, felt the rock steady beat beneath the pad.

“Let’s eat.  I’m starving.”  His voice broke the silence, and she started to lower her hand.  Grasping it, he raised her fingers to his lips, pressed a kiss into the palm and folded her fingers inward, as if catching it inside her closed fist.

This can’t be over, she thought.  He still loves me.

Rose stared up into her husband’s face and a wave of something passed over her, sending a shiver down her spine. Chill bumps tingled across her skin and she remembered the old saying her granny used to tell her whenever that had happened as a child.  Somebody from the other side just touched you, child.  They’ve sent their love.

“You know, I think dinner can wait a bit, don’t you?  I’m suddenly hungry—but not for food.”  Ryan bent and nudged his shoulder into her midsection and swatted her on the backside as he swung her into a fireman’s carry.  Jogging toward the master suite, his laughter filled the hall.  Hung suspended over his back, her squeal of protest turned to laughter.

You have to admire the view, she thought, watching the sway of muscles as he carried her through to the bedroom.  Even hanging upside down over his shoulder, the man was magnificent.

Falling onto the bed in a tangle of passion and laughter, she vowed to find out what had stolen away her husband’s happiness and to bring it back. . . no matter what it took.

I hope you enjoy Ryan and Rose’s story in Second Chances as much as I loved writing it.  Feel free to contact me; I’d love the opportunity to chat.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Smashwords | KOBO



Bio:  An avid reader of all types of romance, Kathy writes both romantic suspense and paranormal romance. Kathy makes her home in the heart of North Texas doing her best to deal with the Texas heat. She’s a member of Romance Writers of American (RWA) and the Dallas Area Romance Authors (DARA). Her debut romantic suspense, Desperate Choices, won the 2012 OKRWA International Digital Award for suspense.

The Perfect Gift is THE BEST THING

My friend Jaci Burton has a new book out tomorrow. Check it out!

The Best Thing

Book Three in the Kent Brothers Series

A year ago, Tori let her guard down and Brody Kent slipped right in, planting one hot, unforgettable kiss on her in a dark corner at the company Christmas party. Though the kiss surpassed her wildest dreams, she can’t let it happen again. She loves Brody, but he’s got a reputation for loving and leaving. She’ll have to keep her heart—and her libido—in check.

Brody can’t get the time of day from Tori—ever since that impulsive kiss, she’s avoided him with the same brutal efficiency she uses to manage his family’s construction company office. The company can’t afford to lose her, and Brody’s come to realize that he can’t live without her. But how can he convince Tori that he’s a changed man?

It just might take a Christmas miracle.

Text Copyright © 2012 by Jaci Burton

Cover Art Copyright © 2012 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

Permission to reproduce text granted by Harlequin Books S.A. Cover art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved. ® nd TM are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited or its affiliated companies, used under license.

The Best Thing is available as a single novella, or in a combination collection—Romancing the Holiday—containing The Best Thing and two other contemporary romances from HelenKay Dimon and Christi Barth.

We wish you a merry Christmas…and a happily ever after!

A memorable three-night stand gets rekindled in a cabin in West Virginia. An office romance is sparked by an impulsive holiday kiss. And two best friends scout locations for a marriage proposal and discover that they make a perfect match. ‘Tis the season for laughter, love and a lifetime of happiness.

Edited by Angela James this anthology includes:

We’ll Be Home for Christmas by HelenKay Dimon

The Best Thing by Jaci Burton

Ask Her at Christmas by Christi Barth

 

ORDER THE BOOK

Kindle from Amazon.com

Nook from Barnes+Noble.com

Carina Press

I Got Sidetracked, but It’s Drumroll Time

There were a lot of commenters and comments during the blog party. I want to thank every one of you, for myself and all of the guests, for being here and for taking time to chat.

The last prize to be announced, as many of you know, is for 2 airline tickets. Full details on how the tickets work will be emailed to the winner. There are restrictions (like who you have to book through, flights must be booked by June 2014, and 45 days notice of trip is required), but possible destinations include:

Phoenix or Scottsdale, AZ

Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Diego, or San Francisco, CA

Washington, DC

Cocoa Beach

Clearwater, Daytona Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Naples, or Orlando, FL

Atlanta or Savannah, GA

Island of Hawaii

Chicago, IL

New Orleans, LA

Baltimore, MD

Boston, MA

St. Louis, MO

Las Vegas or Reno, NV

New York, NY

Portland, OR

Philadelphia, PA

Hilton Head or Myrtle Beach, SC

San Antonio or Dallas, TX

Seattle, WA

Nassau, Bahamas

Calgary, Toronto or Vancouver, Canada

London, England

Paris, France

Acapulco, Cancun, Cozumel or Puerta Vallarta, Mexico

Niagara Falls, Ontario

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Montreal, Quebec

Malaga, Spain

And the winner of the 2 airline tickets is…

Deborah P!

Deborah, I will email you the details (probably tomorrow.)

She’s Made Her List, They’re CHECKING IT TWICE

Thanks for having me on your blog today, Nikki. And congrats on your newest release, Her Miracle Man!

One of my favorite aspects of writing is creating characters. I spend so much time with them, sharing their heart breaks, their happiness, the ups and downs as they journey toward a happily ever after. It’s no small wonder that I particularly love writing series books, since it means I can revisit with the characters I’ve come to care so much for. I’ll admit that the majority of the time when I’m writing a new book I’ll deliberately think ahead to possible future storylines for the supporting cast of characters. My latest release, Checking It Twice, is a prime example of this idea at work. Jana Colton, the heroine, first appeared in The Naughty List, and I knew from the very first word she uttered, she absolutely had to have a book of her own. Not to mention she has a fondness for using meat metaphors and her ringtone is dogs barking Jingle Bells. Really, how could I not make her a heroine? One of the heroes, Kevin, also appeared in The Naughty List, but in a very minor role. I really enjoyed getting to tell his story this time around, along with the very naughty Nick’s. In case you’re wondering, the set of main players have been cast for the next book in this series. And yes, one of them appears in Checking It Twice. After that book, I have at least one or two more stories planned within this series. But you never know. With my love of revisiting characters, the possibilities are endless…

And now for a giveaway! One commenter will win their choice of a digital ebook from my backlist. Good luck!

Checking It Twice

Samhain | Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

’Tis the season for double seduction.

The only item on Jana Colton’s Christmas list this year is Kevin Monahan. Preferably naked in her bed. The delicious, hunky chef has been resisting her forever, but she’s pulling out all the sexy stops this holiday. Especially since his acceptance of an out-of-state job threatens to nix her quest to rock his boxers off.

Jana has always been Kevin’s personal Kryptonite, but giving in to her isn’t an option. Relationships are a four-letter word in his book. He cares far too much for Jana to let his emotional baggage ultimately break her heart.

With the arrival of his best friend, Nick Pappas, the balance of temptation shifts. From their past history of sharing women, Nick knows every dirty trick it takes to lead Kevin astray, and he’s not afraid to use them. Particularly since Nick’s convinced that Jana is exactly what Kevin needs to be happy and whole.

Their game of seduction quickly snowballs into something that feels an awful lot like love—in triplicate. But with Kevin dead set on leaving Michigan, there’s a real possibility it could be a blue Christmas for them all.

Warning: This book contains an extremely tormented voyeur, a very naughty and not so saintly Nick, a liberal application of candy cane-flavored body paint, a buzzing butterfly, and enough raunchy fun on a sex swing to melt a snowman…or two.

Excerpt

“I’ve been a very naughty girl, Santa. Think you better spank me with your big candy cane.”

Choking on his swallow of beer, Kevin Monahan jerked his gaze upward just as Jana Colton draped her arm around his neck. Flashing a cheeky grin, she leaned forward and planted a chaste kiss on his forehead that was in direct opposition to the wicked sparkle in her dazzling blue eyes. Her position thrust her generous breasts square in his face, awarding him a bird’s eye view of the luscious cleavage peeking from the scooped neckline of her pink sweater. A sweet and sensual floral scent drifted from her peaches-and-cream skin, tantalizing his already overtaxed senses. The bead of sweat crawling down his nape couldn’t be blamed on the too-warm interior of Hadley’s Bar and Grill.

He and Jana had known each other for five years and been good friends for at least four. He should have been immune to her outrageous flirtations by now. Apparently his libido was too sadistic to let him off the hook that easily.

Jana straightened and tugged off her fingerless gloves before shrugging out of her leather trench coat in a seductive shimmy that officially fried a few more of his brain cells. “Hope I didn’t keep you waiting long.”

Desperately grappling for every ounce of inner strength he possessed, he tore his entranced stare from the outline of Jana’s perky nipples and schooled his expression into the blandest one he could manufacture. “No. I’ve only been here a few minutes.”

Jana arranged her coat over the back of the chair opposite him and plopped onto the seat. He didn’t fail to notice the lewd glances and snickering whispers she garnered from the neighboring table of college frat boys. A completely inescapable flash of protectiveness streaked through him, prompting him to offer the ogling boys a cold glare. Taking the hint, they returned to their raucous conversation and beer chugging. He allowed a fraction of the tension to ease from his shoulders.

He knew he had no right to be the slightest bit territorial where Jana was concerned, but it also didn’t stop him from wanting to kick the ass of every punk kid who eyed her like a side of beef while making crude comments to his dipshit friends.

Displaying her typical blasé disregard for the attention she generated in the opposite sex, Jana propped her arms on the pockmarked wooden tabletop and focused the full wattage of her smile on him. As always, it possessed the power to seduce the pants right off him—something Jana would undoubtedly take full advantage of if she knew the true scope of his weakness where she was concerned. For the past ten months, she’d really amped up her quest to take their friendship to the next level. He had no intention of giving in to her and the inevitable fallout that’d result if they slept together, but it didn’t mean his vigilant resistance wasn’t a fierce struggle.

She wiggled in her seat, drawing his rapt, albeit reluctant, scrutiny to her bouncing breasts. He mumbled a soft curse.

Tucking a lock of her shiny blonde hair behind her ear, she twitched her nose in a way that was both adorable and admonishing. “I missed you, you jerk. I thought you said you’d call me while you were in Vegas.”

A niggle of guilt worming through him, he situated his pilsner glass on the coaster, taking his time with the task on the off chance she’d grow bored with his silence and move on to another topic.

She didn’t. “Did you have a nice visit with your dad?”

“Yeah.” If you could call enduring three days of awkward tension remotely pleasant. Then again, it hadn’t been anything less than what he’d expected. Tense visits with his dad were standard fare. Not that Jana knew anything about the harsh reality of his relationship with his father. It was yet another facet of his life he preferred to keep locked away in his closet of dirty secrets.

“Do anything exciting while you were out there?”

His thoughts automatically veered to his meeting with the departing executive chef at the Cinders and the resulting job offer that’d been presented to him. The meeting had merely been a formality. The position was his from the get-go, thanks to his father’s majority share in the Cinders. Richard Monahan wasn’t averse to using his money and power when it came to getting what he wanted. Right now, that something was the prestigious five-star Metro Cuisine ranking that Kevin toted. He held no delusions about possessing any further value in his father’s eyes than that. Still, he owed this to his dad. It wouldn’t absolve Kevin of the guilt he’d lugged around for the last fourteen years, and it sure as hell wouldn’t change the past and the transgressions of his youth. But taking the job was one small act of repentance.

He cleared his throat. “Not really.” It probably made him an ass for lying, but telling Jana he’d accepted the Cinders proposal and would be moving to Vegas in a couple of weeks would only upset her. He didn’t want to ruin her Christmas.

“Okay, on to the most important question of all.” She batted her eyelashes endearingly. “Did you bring an awesome X-mas pressie back for me?”

Her blatant maneuvering tactic did the trick of lightening some of the heaviness weighing at him, and he chuckled. “Actually, I bought your gift months ago, but you’re not getting it yet.”

“I won’t peek.” She sighed when he raised an eyebrow. “Okay, I totally will. Can I help it that I have no willpower?”

She wasn’t the only one. In his case, his personal Kryptonite was a certain blonde with a quirky personality and the prettiest, kissable-looking lips in all creation. He dragged his gaze from her mouth and reached for his beer, slamming another desperate swallow. The frosty ale did nothing to douse his desire. Not by a long shot.

Jana was a crippling addiction he couldn’t kick. Worse, she was a temptation he couldn’t give in to. For years he’d been able to use the excuse of her being the little sister of one of his bosses at the Dockside, but soon he wouldn’t have that flimsy copout to cling to. It was no secret she had a crush on him. If he were a selfish prick, he’d take advantage of what she was openly offering. God knows, it was a battle to resist. Especially when she was staring at him with a sinful glint in her eyes, like she was mentally engaging them in all kinds of naughty acts that were likely illegal in forty-nine states.

Despite her propensity for brazenly flirting with him, it didn’t change the fact she was a good girl at heart. A bit wild, yes, with a vocabulary that’d make a construction worker cringe. But there was no denying that an innate sweetness radiated from within her.

The heaviness from earlier settling in his heart, he plunked his glass down. It’d rip him apart if he hurt Jana. And sooner or later, that’s precisely what would happen. He wasn’t any good at letting people into his life. His dysfunctional past guaranteed that. No way in hell he’d drag Jana into the hot mess of his psyche. She deserved better than that. Deserved better than him.

Shoving aside his glum musings, he waved the waitress over. After ordering a glass of sangria, Jana picked up her napkin and fidgeted with it for a second before spreading it across her lap. “So I was thinking…” Despite her casual tone, a slight nervous flutter wavered through her voice. “Why don’t we make an entire night of it next Saturday? After The Nutcracker, we can hit a few clubs downtown, maybe even the casino. It’d probably be easiest to get a room while we’re at it, so we won’t have to worry about driving home. I hear the hotel at the MGM Grand Detroit is super nice.”

The unspoken part of her proposition hung sultry and oh so irresistible between them, tempting and teasing him with seductive possibilities. It didn’t take much creativity on his end to mentally conjure a scene straight out of his fantasies. A sumptuous suite and a king-sized bed big enough for two. On the nearby nightstand—chilled wine, chocolate-dipped strawberries…a blindfold and wrist restraints. He swallowed. Hard. Damn it, he wasn’t even into bondage, for the most part. What the hell was wrong with him?

He took a steadying breath, digging deep for the right words. They weren’t the ones he wanted to say, but his conscience reminded him of the necessity of them, regardless. “Jana, I don’t want to lead you on.”

She tried for an innocent look that fell far short from working its mark. “In what way would you and I sharing a room be leading me on?”

He lowered his voice. “Because I know you’ll finagle for a single bed.”

“Would that be so terrible?”

The taunting fantasy of the blindfold and restraints paraded through his mind again, and he discreetly adjusted the uncomfortable snugness of his zipper.

“Not a good idea.” His overheated libido grumbled in protest.

Wetting her bottom lip with the tip of her tongue, she traced the pattern engraved on the handle of her fork with her fingernail. “Did I happen to mention I sleep naked?”

His erection perked up even more in interest, and he silently groaned. You’re killing me, baby.

 

 About Jodi:

At the ripe age of seven, Jodi Redford penned her first epic, complete with stick figure illustrations. Sadly, her drawing skills haven’t improved much, but her love of fantasy worlds never went away. These days she writes about fairies, ghosts, and other supernatural creatures, only with considerably more heat.

She has won numerous contests, including The Golden Pen and Launching a Star. When not writing or working the day job, she enjoys gardening and way too many reality television shows.

She loves to hear from readers. You can email her at jodiredford@jodiredford.com and visit her online at www.jodiredford.com and her blog www.jodiredford.blogspot.com . You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

All I Want For Christmas… is Candace Havens?

Let’s welcome Candace Havens to the party! Guys, if you’ve never had the honor of meeting Candy you are missing out. She is hands down, without a doubt, one of my favorite people in the world. She’s a friend and a mentor and just an awesome woman.

I love me some holidays, and this time of year is my favorite. My tree was up, thanks to my lovely assistant Pasha Carlisle, two days after Thanksgiving. I’m even buying my dogs little Christmas scarves. (I never thought I would be one of “those” kinds of people, but evidently I am.) I also love Christmas romance novels. So, imagine my surprise last year when my editor called and asked if I’d be interested in working on an anthology with two of my favorite writers, Lori Wilde and Kathleen O’Reilly.

Took a millisecond for me to say, ‘Hell, yes!” But then, as they always do, the insecurities set in. These are amazing writers, and so far above my league it isn’t funny. I wrote the story I’d talked about with Lori and Kathleen, and turned it into my editor. She loved it, which helped those insecurities a bit. There weren’t too many edits, which is always a good sign.

Flash forward about six months later, and the book, “All I Want for Christmas,” shows up on my doorstep. It has my hot fireman on the cover, and I love it. I’m so happy. Then those insecurities seeped back in. But the universe was determined to get me on the right track.

I had to interview the lovely Lisa Kleypas for the movie, “Christmas with Holly,” which ABC adapted from her book. As writers do when they get together, we talked about everything. She asked what I had coming out, so I told her. I briefly explained about my insecurities. She told me she’d felt the same way years ago when she’d been asked to do an anthology with some of her favorite big named authors. She said, “Someone told me this, and I’ll say it to you. They wouldn’t have asked you if they didn’t think you were just as good.”

I love that woman.

The truth is, all of us have insecurities whether it’s about our work, bodies or just life in general. We should give ourselves grace, and then get over it. I tell my students in my writing classes this all of the time. The only thing keeping you from succeeding is fear of the unknown. So just dive in and see what happens. If you fail, get up, dust yourself off, eat a cupcake and move on.

Life is what you make it.

So tell me something you are afraid to try? How do you plan to overcome that fear? 

Nikki’s running a great contest that includes airline tickets so make sure to post. And I’ll give two copies of “All I Want for Christmas” to one lucky poster.

Happy Holidays Y’all!

A Family of Miracles

For this week’s Midweek Miracle, I thought I’d make a list of the five biggest miracles in my life. Technically I’ve mentioned 6, but I’m counting 2 as 1.

~ A mother who taught me I could be strong and fight for my dreams without hurting others along the way. She was always there for me as I grew up, teaching me right and wrong. She encouraged me to discover my dreams and go for them while showing me the balance of responsibility.

~ Two sisters who taught me it’s okay to fight and yell and scream at loved ones. If the love is strong enough it will get you past the arguments. It was through those arguments with my sisters that I began to learn when to fight and when to back down. My sisters are more dear to me than I ever thought they would be.

~ A husband who taught me how to frame a house, and then helped me fill it with love. He’s always made me laugh, even when I don’t want to. He understands me and accepts me despite my flaws. He supports me even when he doesn’t agree with my approach to things. He cooks and cleans and is a partner in every aspect of our lives.

~ A daughter who is a well-balanced combination of my husband and myself. She’s a strong and loyal friend. She loves to laugh, is goal oriented and quick witted. She’s a teacher’s pet with a bright future and a willingness to do anything to help her friends. She also makes arguing on twitter a favorite pastime.

~ A second daughter who’s as much like me as she is unlike me. She’s unpredictable, high-spirited and beneath a fragile appearance is an unrivaled fire for life. She loves to laugh and carries me to the stars with her smile. She’s as content reading a book as she is kicking butt in Tae Kwon Do.

What are some of the miracles you’ve been blessed with?

 

Barnes & Noble – Nook

Special Delivery by a Red Radio Flyer Wagon

Tissue Warning: Have them handy before reading

You may know by now that Her Miracle Man is the first book to send me on a research trip. In an effort to do justice to the emotions conveyed in the story I headed to Indianapolis with my mom and daughters to get a feel for the town and see what I could learn about the real life hospital I was going to use in the book. Mom visited family. My girls and I met up with my editor Tera to hit the town.

We went to the Indianapolis Zoo and the Children’s Musuem before going to Ronald McDonald House at Riley Hospital for Children. At Ronald McDonald House, where we were granted a tour of the on-site and off-site locations, we were met with the generosity of the women who help run the locations. They shared touching story after touching story. A few of them made it into the book.

The story that had the most impact on Jennalyn was about the red wagons. See, at Riley’s, many children are driven around in red, Radio Flyer wagons equipped with special wheels and an IV Pole. It’s much more fun than a wheelchair.

These wagons can be sponsored in the name of a child lost, and each sponsored wagon boasts a license plate: In memory of ___.

I knew if I had a scene at the hospital that I would have to have the wagon – the place wouldn’t be the same without them. I wasn’t prepared, though, for the story about a dad who lost his son and sponsored a wagon. His commitment to his son’s memory didn’t end there. This dad began volunteering in the hospital Ronald McDonald House. He served meals and provided support to families facing the same struggles he’d faced.

Each time he went in he asked if his son’s wagon had been seen. Each visit he looked at the plates on every wagon he saw. He never saw his son’s though, until a year had passed. Then, on the day he was scheduled to volunteer, the wagon rolled in. When he saw it, he immediately began to cry, saying it was like his son was telling him he was okay.

As the dad continued volunteering, he continued asked about and looking for the wagon. For another year this went on and again the wagon found its way back into Ronald McDonald House. This time the staff hid it away until the dad came in. When he did they gave him the wagon, having all chipped in to purchase it for him.

I know how touched I was by the story. I can only try to imagine what it feels like to be the recipient of such generosity. I wonder how many of us will ever experience or have the chance to give something so great to someone else.

Follow me over the next weeks if you want more of these amazing stories.

Her Miracle Man releases TODAY from Samhain Publishing.

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