Romancing New York – Jolene Navarro
Hola, Jolene Navarro here. Usually I’m checking in from the Texas Hill Country but today I’m going to share New York with you.
Recently I saw a report in Healthy Woman about the benefits of trips with your girlfriends. I totally believe this to be true.
Last week I had a wonderful week in New York City. It was the national Romance Writers of America (RWA) National Conference. This is a week traveling with, spending time with and surrounded by my writing tribe. Who for the most part are women.
It’s a time that fills my well and inspires me.
From seeing the sites in New York to celebrating each other we were on the go.
This tribe is made up of friends that are in my daily life in San Antonio and friends that I only get to see once a year.
Arriving in NYC. Wild ride from the airport to the hotel.
Celebrating Makenna Lee and her Golden Heart nomination.
Ladies of Love Inspired
Late night snacks at Juniors
Talking about Sweet and Inspirational stories with Belle Calhoune and Danica Favorite
Celebrating 70 years of Harlequin with some Dancing!
Closing it down with the last dance at he HQ party.
Celebrating Teri Wilson and her Rita win!
One last dinner in NYC
Heading home to San Antonio. We were tired but recharged to go home and write our stories.
I realized that I love writing about the impact of female relationships in my stories. The Lone Star Legacy series (Texas Daddy, The Texan’s Twins, & Lone Star Christmas) I have a family of four sisters and loved exploring their interaction. In my new series, Cowboys of Diamondback Ranch the relationship is between sister-in-laws and mother/daughter. The Texan’s Secret Daughter has three generations of women trying to get it right and finding a balance in their relationships. In The Texan’s Surprise Return, Selena has been leaning on her sister-in-laws and grandmother to get her through a really tough time…then her husband returns from the dead.
Returning home with amnesia years after he was declared dead, Xavier De La Rosa is prepared to reconnect with family—but he’s stunned to learn he has a wife and triplets. Can he recover his memory in time to reunite his family for Christmas?
It was such a fun book to write and look at those triplets. It is up for pre-order.
The Texan’s Secret Daughter Jolene Navarro
Pre-order The Texan’s Surprise Return Jolene Navarro
Do you have female friends you hang out with?
Jolene’s life, much like her stories, is filled with faith, family, and all of life's wonderful messiness. She knows that, as much as the world changes, people stay the same. Good and evil. Vow-keepers and heart breakers. Jolene married a vow-keeper who showed her that holding hands and dancing in the rain never gets old. She loves creating stories of love and faith in her much loved Texas.
Hi Jolene! Glad you enjoyed and found your trip to NYC uplifting. During the sandwich years, while working full time, caring for hubby, sons, grandsons, and my aging parents; the responsibilities of life took over. Most friends were in the same situation, so a yearly Christmas card, note, letter was our only contact. Now as retirees, health issues often keep us close to home. But whatever state, I try to be content. Best wishes and happy writing.
Hi Jolene, your trip sounds fun. Hanging out with fellow writers would have been wonderful.
I have wonderful friends who I hang out with as often as possible- we all work and have young kids so when we are together it is as families. I feel blessed to have wonderful people to connect with, even it is via a phone call/email because we live so far apart.
Blessings:)
I do have some female friends I get together with, not often enough though.
I do and we have a blast when we are able to get away together. We are talking about a short trip to Shipshewana, just us ladies. Thank you for sharing today.
Thank you for sharing your photos. I took my first girlfriend getaway to VA beach with my BFF and her daughter and granddaughter for three days. It was wonderful.
Thanks for sharing about the conference trip. How fun.
I totally understand how much you like spending time with your sisters, because my sister is my best friend and we’re always doing something together (plus some other friends, but friends vary a lot, and she’s always there).
It looks like you had a great time in NY. :)
Your trip sounds like fun!! A friend I have used to travel together, before life got in the way for both of us!!! I have friends from elementary school that I still hang out with and keep in touch with, and I have my friends that I do Bible Studies with. I know that they’re there when I need them!!
Finding friends online is also a great way to connect. My children are all in their 20s now and I lost my parents when they were still young and healthy so I guess that leaves a lot of freedom. So I’m traveling as much as I can while I still can. Thank you for always being here with me. <3
When my kids were younger, we hung out as families a great deal. Not as much traveling then. :) but it was fun too.
When my kids were younger, we hung out as families a great deal. Not as much traveling then. :) but it was fun too. Today’s technology helps us stay connected too.
It can be hard to give the time to friends with so many other demands on us.
Take it. It can be hard to carve out the time – but it feeds the soul. Thanks for sharing.
Oh I just meet some art teachers for VA Beach. I’ve never been. So happy you were able to go.
I love spending time with my sisters. You’re right. They will always be with you.
I did. Thank you :)
Bible Studies are great ways to stay connected. :)
Jolene, it looks like so much fun!!!
We are going for the women’s retreat at the end of August YAY and this year my daughter is coming with me. I pray that it will be a spiritually fulfilling and uplifting time for the both of us.
Having your daughter there will be a special treat. May you both be uplifted and soar with eagles.
Thank you <3
Last summer, a bunch of college friends rented a house in Nashville for a few days. We had so much fun! It had been 25 years of friendship, and 21 years since some of us had seen each other. I didn’t realize how much I needed it until I went.
My mother is my best friend! I still live at home so I get to spend time with her every day which I love! We don’t often have time for special outings, but we are planning a girls night out to see the Downton Abbey movie next month! So excited! ?
Glad you’re trip was a good one and glad you loved spending time here in New York.
I have a lot of female friends that I hang out with constantly. We go on retreats, concerts and other exciting places together. Growing up in a mostly female household has helped me tremendously to build friendships with females. We are there for each other and through the good and bad times.
I’ve never had many female friends, my closest friends are guys. Any females that I spend time with are within my family, we used to spend a lot of time together when the kids were little but they are all grown now.
Your pictures look like you guys had tons of fun!
So glad you guys enjoyed yourself Thanks for sharing the pictures!
What a wonderful gift. Life slips by and time just moves so fast. So happy you were able to spend that time together.
That’s fun. One of my daughters just moved back home and it has been a treat just hanging out with her.
New York is a fun place to visit – then go home. lol
Thank you for stopping by. It is hard to stay connected to people when your lives are in different places.