Good morning, everyone! I’m coming to you LIVE from my writer’s retreat in (partially sunny) Illinois! Okay. Not live. But it is late Saturday night and I am on a writer’s retreat with Jessica Keller! She writes fabulous Love Inspired books set in Goose Harbor, MI – and she writes YA under the pen name Jess Evander (those books are FABULOUS too!). We’re in Edwardsville, IL – where they apparently play tennis 24/7. Who knew? Seriously – our window looks over some tennis courts and they’ve been there until at least eleven both nights!
Watching the wedding on my phone (while writing!) after the half hour/rush time limit was up at St. Louis Bread Company
We both got here about noon Friday, went to lunch and got all caught up (we talk/email fairly often but hadn’t seen each other in nearly two years). Then we locked ourselves in our room and started writing! We took a dinner break (and found The Cup across the street – YUM!), then back to work again. For me – as of this break to write the blog – I’ve written just under 13,500 words since yesterday – about 11300 of it on a new novella. My goal is to finish it by tomorrow evening (which is why this is all you’re getting about our adventures ;)). Stay tuned for more next weekend! As soon as I’m done formatting this, I’m off to write a couple thousand more words!
I might have also been watching the Royal Wedding in Sweden off and on today (and the replay of it since I missed most of it live). Hey! It’s research! ;) Promise!
At my house, we also had summer school, swim team meets, a new puppy for my sister, my husband’s birthday, and all sorts of other fun stuff! What’s your week been like?
As always, if you’ve won a prize, please email us at:
prizes at inspyromance dot com
The winner of ebook of choice from Carol Moncado’s post last week is Stacey Jones!
Last week
Monday: Lee Tobin McClain talked about confidence builders.
Tuesday: Hallee Bridgeman stopped in to talk about her favorite romance plot.
Wednesday: Lindi Peterson talked about boxed sets and why they’re so great!
Thursday: Lynette Sowell talked about the SPLASH! novella collection and warm fuzzies.
Friday: Kimberly Rose Johnson came by to talk about changes.
Saturday: Annalisa Daughety was here to talk about the debut of Love Finds You in Charm on television last week as well as her upcoming novella release.
Coming Up
Watching the wedding, writing, and studying a map of my new town – back on the laptop after my phone sent me a nasty gram ;) – despite unlimited data!
Monday: Ginger Solomon
Tuesday: Diane Adams
Wednesday: Elizabeth Maddrey
Thursday: Heidi McCahan
Friday: Merrilee Whren
Saturday: Sally Bradley
News & Notes
NEW RELEASES
June 2015
A Pinch of Promise (Taste of Romance 2) by Elizabeth Maddrey
Splash! BOX SET by Narelle Atkins, Valerie Comer, Autumn Macarthur, Heidi McCahan, Lesley Ann McDaniel, Carol Moncado, Lynette Sowell, Jan Thompson, and Marion Ueckermann is now available for pre-order at 99¢.
NEWS & AWARDS
Kept by Sally Bradley has won the Grace Award, a reader-driven award, for best romance published in 2014.
Sweetened with Honey by Valerie Comer has been shortlisted in the 2015The Word Guild Awards.
Splash! BOX SET by Narelle Atkins, Valerie Comer, Autumn Macarthur, Heidi McCahan, Lesley Ann McDaniel, Carol Moncado, Lynette Sowell, Jan Thompson, and Marion Ueckermann is now available for pre-order at 99¢.
Summer of Love BOX SET by Leah Atwood, Valerie Comer, JoAnn Durgin, Kimberly Rae Jordan, Lee Tobin McClain, and Staci Stallings is now available for pre-order at 99¢.
Love Brings Us Home BOX SET by Hallee Bridgeman, Valerie Comer, JoAnn Durgin, Kimberly Rae Jordan, Staci Stallings, Lynette Sowell, and Debra Ullrick is on sale for 99¢.
PERMANENTLY FREE
Raspberries and Vinegar (A Farm Fresh Romance 1) by Valerie Comer
The Wedding List (Love in Store 1) by Autumn Macarthur
To Protect and Serve (Courage 1) by Staci Stallings
His Baby Bond (Sacred Bond 1) by Lee Tobin McClain
Greater than Rubies (Jewel Series 2) by Hallee Bridgeman
AUDIO BOOKS
Raspberries and Vinegar by Valerie Comer
When she's not writing about her imaginary friends, Carol Moncado is hanging out with her husband and four kids in the big yard of their southwest Missouri home, teaching American Government at a community college, reading, or watching NCIS. She's a member of ACFW and RWA, President and founding member for the MozArks ACFW group, and a category coordinator for ACFW's First Impressions.
What a wonderful time to get together with another great author friend & catch up and also get time in to write a few thousand words :-)
Sounds like you’ve had another busy week, but that must be the normal thing for you it sounds like! Happy birthday to your husband, I hope you all had a great time celebrating with him! Both my husband and I will celebrate ours in August.
My week will consist of just my husband and I going away for two nights. We’ll be learning how to clam off the bay where our quaint little motel is located. The guide is also going to teach us how to cook them and has promised a great clam fritter recipe! I can’t wait to try it out….yummy!
Looking forward to this weeks posts….blessings!
Trixie –
That sounds fabulous! And yep – summers are super busy for us! Despite how much time I spend “sitting at the pool” – we’re always on the go!