A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes

About 18 months ago, my daughter, son-in-law and only granddaughter moved across country when Ian was reassigned to a new base by the Air Force. Because I've been a single mom for most of my kids lives, we're especially close, so saying good-bye was really difficult for me. I was excited for Vanessa in a way. I've never wanted my kids to live narrow lives, so I was happy that she got to broaden her world, meet new people, and experience new things. Living away has been good for her in a lot of ways. She's growing into an incredible woman, and I'm so proud of her. But that didn't stop me from wanting to be closer, to help when I could, and to maintain a close relationship with her and the incredibaby.

Earlier this year, Wonder Baby #2 came along, and I was lucky enough to spend three months with them, helping out, bonding with the new baby and cementing my relationship with her big sister. it was pure heaven, not just because I got to be with people I loved, but because the area where they're living is truly beautiful. I met many nice people while I was there and other than the humidity, I thought often that I could be happy there.

In fact, my oldest daughter and I set a goal of moving somewhere closer to them by October of this year, and we had every intention of meeting that goal. But then life happened, and plans went askew, and we finally resigned ourselves to staying in Utah for a few years longer. Maybe, we told ourselves, we need to be here, not there. Maybe we should just stay in case Ian gets assigned overseas. Maybe my mom needs me here. Maybe it's just not meant to be.

Last Friday, while I was happily researching for a fun new mystery series I'm working on, the mailman came to the door with a registered letter. Seems our landlady has sold the place we've been living, and the new owner wants us out. He gave us until the 23rd of October to pack up and move. After the shock began to wear off and my head began to clear again, it occurred to me that since we have to pick up everything we own and put it on a truck anyway, maybe we should be in Florida when we take it all off the truck again.

Little by little, the idea began to gel. I did some research. Lots of research. We thought a lot. Talked a lot. Cried a lot, and talked some more. By Sunday afternoon, the decision was made. In spite of myself, I'm actually going to achieve my original goal to be living in Florida by the end of October. It's a little overwhelming, but very exciting.

So here we go -- 23 days and counting! 

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from the blog On My Mind Today

Hats Off to Fans of Romance

In this time of economic stress, here's a little bright news for lovers of the romance genre. It's not surprising, really. Bad times or not, people need entertainment. The arts, in whatever form, are important. It nurtures our souls, breathes life into a dying spirit, and strengthens us to go on another day. Without music, art, and literature, the world would be a sad and dismal place.

This news isn't exactly hot off the presses, though. Earlier this year The New York Times reported that romance sales at Harlequin were up 32 percent over last year. And Barnes & Noble reported that although book sales in general were expected to drop slightly, sales of romance novels were up.Even USA Today
got on the bandwagon, reporting that sales at Harlequin were up 13.5% this year. 

All of this is terrific news for those of us who write romance novels for a living. We love our readers, and we appreciate the loyalty you show your favorite authors and their books. In fact, we happen to know that we have the best fans in the world, bar none.

It's also terrific news for those of us who love to read romance. Some of us might write it, but we're readers first and forever, and we're as fiercely loyal to the genre and to our favorite authors as any other reader.

Recent stories on the nightly news indicate that the economy might be taking a slight upturn, and if that's true, I think it's the best news we've had in a long time. But before we forget what it's been like the past few years, I just want to say thanks to the readers who buy the books I write and who make it possible for me to do what I do. You're the best! 

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from the blog On My Mind Today

Books: A Love Story

I'm blogging today at Finish the Damn Book about who and what inspired me to write.If you get a minute to stop by, I'd love to know where your inspiration came from. 

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from the blog On My Mind Today

They Call Me Mad Charity Cash

Avast me hearties, it's National Talk Like a Pirate Day! 

I don't know why this day delights me so much. It's not as if I run around every September 19th dressed like a pirate. It's not as if I spend all day saying things like "Avest ye!" or "Aye Matey," or even "Arr!" I don't think I've ever used "Ahoy!" in conversation or called someone else a bilge rat, even on ITLAPD.

It's not as if I spend the day plundering and pillaging or scuttling nearby ships. Or swaggering. Or clenching a dagger in my teeth. I don't even use any of the prepared pick-up lines provided (handily) on the ITLAPD website -- although I'll admit that I'm tempted to use #5 for pirate ladies. What true pirate among ye could resist "Aye, I guarantee ye, I've had a twenty percent decrease in my 'lice ratio!'?"

For some reason, the concept of an entire day devoted to utter silliness is almost impossible for me to resist.  So batten down your hatches and hoist yerselves on over to the International Talk Like A Pirate Day website. If nothing else, prepare to be amused by the idea of pirate talk in Mandarin Chinese.

If that doesn't tempt you, maybe this will: 

And who can resist the chance to get your own pirate name?  Oh yeah.

My pirate name is:

Mad Charity Cash

Every pirate is a little bit crazy. You, though, are more than just a little bit. You're musical, and you've got a certain style if not flair. You'll do just fine. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

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from the blog On My Mind Today

Honor our Military Families

This is too important not to share. Read the full text of Dr. Biden's blog post

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from the blog On My Mind Today

World Card Making Day

Oh the stuff you can learn when you're trying to learn something else. Did you know that there's a World Card Making Day? I had no idea. I knew about Talk Like a Pirate Day (which I do try to celebrate every year because ... well, just because) but card making? Who Knew?

Obviously not me.  

There's even a web site devoted to the day with links to important information that I can't access because I'm not a member. So unless I sign up for a World Card Making Day membership, I will never know the purpose of the day, or get a chance to ponder the various suggestions for celebrating the day. Which is really sad when you think about it, because if I could ponder the suggestions first, I might be more inclined to sign up for that membership.  

Not that I'm much of a scrapbooker. Okay, I'll admit that there's something about the concept that intrigues my creative side,

but there's no time. Although maybe I'd make more time if only I knew what the various benefits of card making were.

It's a conundrum to be sure. One that could keep me from producing pages all day if I let it.

Maybe I should go write instead.

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from the blog On My Mind Today