Jeannie Kaye's Blog, page 2

Bring Your Book Boyfriend Home

An article came out a few years ago fraught with accusations against romance novels. It stated they are like pornography for women—addictive and robbing them  of the ability to experience true romance with a real man.

Ridiculous. Thankfully, many articles followed stating the exact opposite. Of course, we all knew that girl in high school that obsessed over celebrities while ignoring the boys that pursued her. Or maybe you saw the Bachelor episode featuring the contestant with the tie tucked in her dress, hoping to make the Bachelor into Christian Grey of Fifty Shades. Those women are anomalies, not the norm.

Truthfully, however, real life romance can sometimes fall into the dull. Book boyfriends are helpful because they remind us that things can be a lot more lively in our romance. So, let’s take a page from our book boyfriend’s novel and look at some ways to pump up the romance in our real relationships.

Here are ten things you can do to reignite the romance in your life:

1.     Write out the Story of How You Met and Fell in Love

        You have a real romance story right there!

2.     Make a List of Every Positive Quality in Your Spouse or Boyfriend

        We often focus too much on what’s not right. Focus on the positive.

3.     Remind Yourself of the Negative Traits of Your Exes

        There is a reason you are not with them anymore. Even if they left you, that makes them an idiot.

4.     Make an Effort with Your Appearance

        Wax, makeup and cute outfits make you feel better and act better. He’ll notice.

5.     New Sexy Lingerie Will Make His Day

        Order online. No matter what your size, everyone looks good in sexy lingerie. Just do it!

6.     Start Dating Again

        Remember how fun it was to just sit in a restaurant and talk?

7.     Take a Trip

        It doesn’t have to be long or expensive, but getting away from the hum drum helps you remember             the ooh la la.

8.     Cut with the Complaints

        When you feel tempted to make a snide remark, zip it.

9.     Compliment Him

        It seems counterintuitive, but it’s like the magic formula. Give him at least three compliments a day,         and you’ll watch Mr. Annoying transform into Mr. Amorous.

10.  Send Him Messages

        Send texts and emails with short and sweet sentiments, promises of fun, reminders of how                        awesome he is, compliments and warm thoughts. Include some photos of fun times you’ve had                 together.

Even though I’m a Life Coach and author of romance novels, I’ll admit it’s sometimes easy to let my own marriage drift into empty space. After twenty-three years of matrimony, I can tell you having a romance that lasts still takes work. Yet, you might find that you can bring your book boyfriend home again by igniting the flame with a little spark.

Blog Tour Begins

I'm so excited to be hosted on so many wonderful blogs over the next two weeks. I've had so much fun writing the posts and hope you enjoy learning more about me, my characters and Ever Locked. I also hope you'll visit the blogs, comment on the posts and enter the $80 Amazon Gift Card raffle!*

My schedule is as follows: 
Today, Ever Locked is promoted on World Literary Cafe,  Night Owl Review, BPI Book Mall
February 3rd: Brook Cottage  Featured Post, Why I Heart Indie Publishing 
February 4th: Girl Who Reads  Featured Post, Critter Control
February 6th: Romance Junkies  Author and Ever Locked Spotlight
February 7th: Life with Two Boys  Author and Ever Locked Spotlight
February 9th: GenGen's Book Blog  Ever Locked Book Review
February 9th: Reading...Dreaming  Ever Locked Book Review and Ten True Things Found in Ever Locked
February 11th: Book in the Bag  Author Interview and The Hardest Writing Lesson I've Had to Learn
February 13th: Caffeinated Reads  Featured Post, Character Interview with Ella Riverwood 
February 26th: The Fussy Librarian  Author and Ever Locked Spotlight

If you are interested in interviewing me for a blog post, reading Ever Locked for a review on your blog, or featuring an excerpt of Ever Locked, contact me!

Blog Tour Begins

I'm so excited to be hosted on so many wonderful blogs over the next two weeks. I've had so much fun writing the posts and hope you enjoy learning more about me, my characters and Ever Locked. I also hope you'll visit the blogs, comment on the posts and enter the $80 Amazon Gift Card raffle!*

My schedule is as follows: 
Today, Ever Locked is promoted on World Literary Cafe,  Night Owl Review, BPI Book Mall
February 3rd: Brook Cottage  Featured Post, Why I Heart Indie Publishing 
February 4th: Girl Who Reads  Featured Post, Critter Control
February 6th: Romance Junkies  Author and Ever Locked Spotlight
February 7th: Life with Two Boys  Author and Ever Locked Spotlight
February 9th: GenGen's Book Blog  Ever Locked Book Review
February 9th: Reading...Dreaming  Ever Locked Book Review and Ten True Things Found in Ever Locked
February 11th: Book in the Bag  Author Interview and The Hardest Writing Lesson I've Had to Learn
February 13th: Caffeinated Reads  Featured Post, Character Interview with Ella Riverwood
February 26th: The Fussy Librarian  Author and Ever Locked Spotlight

If you are interested in interviewing me for a blog post, reading Ever Locked for a review on your blog, or featuring an excerpt of Ever Locked, contact me! 

Battling Writer's Bulge . . . It's a Thing

When you're a writer, especially if you are a productive writer, you sit a lot and your gym membership collects dust. 

As a Certified Personal Trainer (with an expired license), I have a mild obsession with being in good shape. I am convinced that the sedentary lifestyle sends the wrong signals to one's physiology. In short, sitting a lot basically tells your body to shut down and die. So, not only does sitting a lot make us pudgy, it can make us sick. You can read more about this here or by reading a book called Younger Next Year, which is very convincing and convicting. Of course, who had time to read when we're writing like madmen and women.

The problem for writers is we must sit. Sure, we can do the stand up desk thing or sit on a large ball instead of a chair, but when we are truly in the zone and our mind and computer meld into one as the story flows like water from our thoughts, we can't be distracted by the discomfort of a stand up desk or a exercise ball. When we are in that perfect writing haven, it's hard to find time to eat and be a human to those we love, much less exercise.

Well, fear not. I believe I've stumbled upon the perfect solution. Do you have twenty minutes to spare each day? Of course you do. Former Biggest Loser trainer, Jillian Michael's has a CD called Ripped in Thirty. It's an inexpensive, quick and effective workout solution that will not steal much from your writing time, and will produce results. 

All you need is a set of hand weights. 


Just do it. 

Battling Writer's Bulge . . . It's a Thing

When you're a writer, especially if you are a productive writer, you sit a lot and your gym membership collects dust. 

As a Certified Personal Trainer (with an expired license), I have a mild obsession with being in good shape. I am convinced that the sedentary lifestyle sends the wrong signals to one's physiology. In short, sitting a lot basically tells your body to shut down and die. So, not only does sitting a lot make us pudgy, it can make us sick. You can read more about this here or by reading a book called Younger Next Year, which is very convincing and convicting. Of course, who had time to read when we're writing like madmen and women.

The problem for writers is we must sit. Sure, we can do the stand up desk thing or sit on a large ball instead of a chair, but when we are truly in the zone and our mind and computer meld into one as the story flows like water from our thoughts, we can't be distracted by the discomfort of a stand up desk or a exercise ball. When we are in that perfect writing haven, it's hard to find time to eat and be a human to those we love, much less exercise.

Well, fear not. I believe I've stumbled upon the perfect solution. Do you have twenty minutes to spare each day? Of course you do. Former Biggest Loser trainer, Jillian Michael's has a CD called Ripped in Thirty. It's an inexpensive, quick and effective workout solution that will not steal much from your writing time, and will produce results. 

All you need is a set of hand weights. 


Just do it. 

Write. Even When it's Hard.

For authors, writing typically isn't a chore. It's something that flows naturally from our head to our hands. It often comes easy. That's why it can be difficult for us to plow ahead and write when we run into those inevitable swamplands in our work in progress. You know what I'm talking about– those places where writing gets so tough you feel as if you're trudging through knee-deep mud with every paragraph, every sentence, every word. We stop making good progress and have a tendency to think we should stop writing and wait for inspiration to return.

The truth is, those muddy trenches aren't going away on their own. We have to trudge through them. We have to keep writing even when it's slow and awful. It's those miry pits in our story that keep us from being productive writers. But if we don't write when it's hard, our muse may go into hiding while that mud pit remains, waiting for us to step in and get to the other side.
Do you want to make progress as an author? Do you want to be a productive writer? Do you want to finish the book?

Write. Even when it's hard. 

Write. Even When it's Hard

For authors, writing typically isn't a chore. It's something that flows naturally from our head to our hands. It often comes easy. That's why it can be difficult for us to plow ahead and write when we run into those inevitable swamplands in our work in progress. You know what I'm talking about– those places where writing gets so tough you feel as if you're trudging through knee-deep mud with every paragraph, every sentence, every word. We stop making good progress and have a tendency to think we should stop writing and wait for inspiration to return.

The truth is, those muddy trenches aren't going away on their own. We have to trudge through them. We have to keep writing even when it's slow and awful. It's those miry pits in our story that keep us from being productive writers. But if we don't write when it's hard, our muse may go into hiding while that mud pit remains, waiting for us to step in and get to the other side.

Do you want to make progress as an author? Do you want to be a productive writer? Do you want to finish the book?

Write. Even when it's hard.

Write Boldly

While I was writing Ever Locked, there were times I worried the book was over the top, exploring the pain of abuse too graphically. Yet, it’s only been days since the book released, and I’m already getting emails from people who were touched, moved and even helped when they read the book. Why? Because someone understood. They knew they were not alone. 

These kinds of comments encourage me to continue to write boldly. To write from my heart. To let the story unfold in all its raw candor. Even if it’s painful. Even if it’s ugly. Even if it shows a part of life that some people don’t want to see. 

Write boldly. Your story may become the key that releases another from his personal prison.

Write Boldly

While I was writing Ever Locked, there were times I worried the book was over the top, exploring the pain of abuse too graphically. Yet, it’s only been days since the book released, and I’m already getting emails from people who were touched, moved and even helped when they read the book. Why? Because someone understood. They knew they were not alone. 

These kinds of comments encourage me to continue to write boldly. To write from my heart. To let the story unfold in all its raw candor. Even if it’s painful. Even if it’s ugly. Even if it shows a part of life that some people don’t want to see. 

Write boldly. Your story may become the key that releases another from his personal prison.

Making Faces by Amy Harmon

So, I thought I'd start the day with a little book review. There are some great authors out there, weaving interesting stories together, and I'd like to shine the light on them from time to time.

Today, I want to share a story I loved, called Making Faces by Amy Harmon.
   
There are four relevant characters we follow throughout the story. We have Fern, the main character, an intelligent, sensitive late-bloomer, who has been considered unattractive all her life, and will still see herself in that light, even when she comes into her beauty. Then there's Rita, Fern's extremely beautiful, but simple-minded and shallow friend. We also have the wonderful character of Bailey, Fern's best friend, a boy with a worsening health condition.  And finally, Ambrose, the male protagnist, a hunky star wrestler, who's everyone's heartthrob.

The story jumps back and forth between present day and childhood for Fern. This can be confusing at first, but it begins to make sense as we watch her come to terms with her lot in life as the unattractive, unpopular redhead who will never have someone like Ambrose give her his time and attention. She focuses her attention on caring for her best friend, Bailey, who becomes wheelchair bound.

During the story, 9/11 happens. Ambrose goes to war. While he's gone, Fern blossoms into a beauty. Of course, she doesn't know this. Ambrose comes home broken, with scars he can't bear. Fern, who truly cares for people, hurts for Ambrose and wants to help him heal. Ambrose and Fern develop a friendship that will have you smiling and hoping more will come of it.

I loved this poignant story. There were moments of pain and sorrow that rip your heart out as well as lots of page turning moments that'll have you on the edge of your seat . Amy writes with her heart and soul. There's meaning here. It's deep, while at times funny, and cute.

I also enjoyed Amy's book, A Different Blue. Quite the plot twist in that one. I'll blog about it at some point. 

You can find Making Faces on Amazon.