Liz Flaherty's Blog, page 115

Respite.

I'm sitting in the nook in my daughter-in-law's kitchen this morning. I'm the only one up. Well, other than Bourbon and Blue, the cats who actually own the house here in the Blue Ridge. It's Sunday. Bright and clear and filled with birdsong (which might be driving the feline homeowners just the slightest bit crazy.) It's hot further down the mountain, but not so much here, so the windows are open. This is the view.


It feels good to be removed from the unrest that seems to permeate the days lat...

Writing Contests Make us ALL Better Writers

Recently, I’ve been judging entries to the On the Far Side writing competition for unpublished authors, held by the Future, Fantasy, & Paranormal chapter of RWA (wow, that was a mouthful!). And I’ll soon begin judging entries for the Indiana RWA chapter’s Indiana Golden Opportunity Check out the IGO Contest...
still taking entries until July 1st!
https://www.rwa.org/p/cm/ld/fid=1796contest for unpublished authors.

Even though judging contests take me away from my own writing (not an issue a...

Game Time

by Margie Senechal 

This week, we've kind of stumbled upon a similar theme--character building. And I just discovered this new game to aid in that, so I thought maybe we could all try it out together.

So, this week's WIP, Summer Goddess, is a romance about two characters who barely know each other and are now on a road trip driving from San Francisco to LA along the California coast line.


So, to get to know each other, Hutch brings along the cards from
 the game, Loaded Questions, to...

Randomness from Kristina

A couple of weeks ago (or maybe last week?) my brain misfired and I forgot Wednesday was Wednesday and therefore, no blog. I just spent about two  hours this morning thinking it was Tuesday or maybe Thursday and just realized it was Wednesday and...no blog. So you're getting a little randomness from me. Kind of my version of Margie-Stream-Of-Consciousness.

This is one of my favorite pictures from our February cruise - I'm wishing I was on this beach again.

Yesterday was bebe's birthday. Sh...

Character Building . . . Continued

<!--[if gte mso 9]>

Vive la difference

See? I was right about the blonde part.Sometimes when Nan Reinhardt and I travel together or are just having lunch—which we can make into an Occasion, believe me—we get to talking about our differences. Our thinking is the same on so many things that we are sometimes startled by what’s notalike. Basic likenesses:We were born in the same decadeIn the same stateWe have siblingsWe’re writersWe love road tripsWe drive SUVsWe wear aprons when we cookWe only cook when we have toWe have long marriag...

Life Lesson in my Fingernails

So, I’ve been wandering around this week, not writing (see last week’s post J ) and wondering what I’m going to say for my Friday blog. And not coming up with much inspiration.

Not my nails... Wish they were!Then I happened to glance at my hands while doing some mundane task at work. What a pleasant surprise to see that my fingernails were lovely and long! Not picture-worthy, so don’t expect any hand glamor-shots from me. But, within the scope of my nail history, they looked good. That may no...

Trying For Something Good

 by Margie Senechal
The news is so depressing lately--rapists getting slapped on the wrist, terror hate crimes, Toxic Trump, heat wave in the SW--seriously, 120 degrees??? I decided it was time for some good news. Or just some happy pics, we'll see what develops.
Yesterday I went out to my yard, did some weeding, and transplanted my lavender. Have you ever noticed that what looks big in a planter, seems to dwarf as soon as you put it in the ground? That's kind of how I feel when I go out i...

Twice Upon A Town

There is a book on my keeper bookshelf that is different from any other book. It stands next to love letters sent by the Reagan's one one another, a book of poetry by Jewel, and a few well-worn romances from my teenage years, and I can open it randomly and know exactly what is going on.

The year before RadioMan and I got married we moved to a little town in Nebraska called North Platte. It's a western town in every sense of the word - surrounded by the Sandhills, rich in cattle ranches (my bos...

Why Am I a Romance Writer?

We're currently visiting our kids--it's been great fun spending time with our darling Grandboy and getting to share his birthday with his other Grandparents (that's Namaw and Tapaw) and spending time with our kids. We had a terrific birthday party/summer party on Sunday. Kids tumbled and scurried everywhere, watched over by their parents and the other guests, including Grandboy's godmother, who is a charming woman. Caro and I are good friends and as we sat around at the party, the conversatio...