I'm guest blogging tomorrow

Tomorrow I am honored to be the guest on a fellow blogger's site.  You can find me starting early tomorrow at this link:

http://melissasnark.blogspot.com/?zx=943d3b4650e719f0

Check out this fun 25 days of Christmas!

See you there!

Roni

A New Year

How many times have I sat here as a writer and made the same resolution - to write more in the upcoming year.  I do pretty good until about February and then it seems its a downhill slide.  These days I'm lucky to get about one book a year out.  This month my long awaited "A Hero for Tonight" releases.  This book is pretty special to me as my son is the cover model.

But now that this project is done, I think its time for Roni Adams to head back to the Double B and finish up the last two books in the series.  So my resolution this year is to get "A Cowboy to Wish For" wrapped up and out by year end.

Let's see how I do.

 

Its March?  What?  Where did February go.  Wow the weeks are flying by but I'm not complaining - every day is closer to summer which is after all my absolutely favorite time of the year.  I'm hard at work on my latest novella entitled "A Hero for Tonight" and it should be released from The Wild Rose Press by late summer.  I need to wrap it up and get it into edits if I'm going to reach that goal.

After that I think its time to get back to the Double B and work on story number 5 in our series.  This next one is the story of our uptight librarian Abigail and the redheaded rancher neighbor - Cole.  When a spontaneous moment finds these two pregnant; it creates a modern day "marriage for the baby sake" situation.  Add to it Abigail's allergy to animals, Cole's 6 juvenile delinquents who do court-ordered work on his ranch and of course our friends at the Double B and this marriage is doomed from the start.  Poor Cole - first dumped by Sara then her sister Beth and now stuck married to Abigail.  But if any of my readers know Cole from previous books, you know what a good heart he has and you can't help but root for him to find his happy ever after, even if its with Abigail.

Watch for "A Cowboy to Wish For" sometime in early 2013.

For this cowgirl, no Sunday could have been better!  This is my new friend Festivo.  He's a world famous Spanish horse-  a PRE stallion who won the title MEJORES MOVIENTOS (Best Movement) in three competitions.  He was brought to the States about four months ago by a friend of mine and I'm honored she's letting me spend some time with him.  Today I brought him a blanket with The Wild Rose Press logo on it to see how it looks.  He's going to wear it in the April Equine show in Ohio.  For someone used to horses in Texas with western saddles, this was a new experience for me and I have to admit I'm a little in love.

Festivo has a great personality, he is handsome and he knows it.  He has a sparkle in his eye that tells you he knows exactly how good looking he is and that he has your heart in his hand.

This handsome guy is owned by Aisling Sporthorses.  If for some reason, you get near the horse show in April http://www.equineaffaire.com/ohio/ look him up!

Fingers crossed!  We will know on Tuesday if "The Chauffeur Wore An Evening Gown" won this impressive award or not.  The CAPA, as it is known, http://theromancestudio.com/capa.php  is sponsored by The Romance Studio and is for excellence in romance each year.  I'm honored just to be nominated.  If you check out their site, I'm in some pretty impressive company.

Whether you are a romance writer or reader, Tuesday is our holiday!  Despite the commercial aspects of it, despite the Hallmark-forced type of feelings - it still is the one day a year when everyone wants to be someone's Valentine.  

I've been with my husband for 29 years this year so we've had our share of Valentine's Days.  Hard to believe the man who was my Valentine at 19 is still by my side.  The words "grow old with me" take on new meaning as the years pass. Watching my sons, especially my youngest who is enjoying his very first Valentine at that tender age of 16 is such a delight and brings back so many memories of teenage romance.  My older two sons have already done their turns at buying the roses and chocolates and are pros at it now. Being the mother of three sons allows me this inside look at romance from the male perspective.  Very enlightening!

Whatever your thoughts on Valentine's Day - here's hoping yours is full of roses, chocolate and love.  

Here's to 2012.

Every year I make resolutions; some I keep, some not so much.  It generally helps me to list out somewhere public what I plan to accomplish.  Maybe this is just my own way of being accountable to someone and maybe its simply a way of me getting it "down on paper" but either way here is my list for 2012.

Absolutely have to join the rest of the world and try to get healthier.  This includes losing at least one size (what's that maybe 15 pounds?).  I need to seriously lose at least 40 pounds, but we'll start with one size this year.  I joined Weight Watchers and I plan to seriously look into a treadmill. I have to do this for my health.  It has to be done this year, no excuses, no more putting it off.  I will be 48 in May - I want to be fit and healthy at 50.

Blogging.  I'm going to update this at least once a month - hopefully more.  Same with my website - keep it current.

Twitter.  I want to learn Twitter this year.  I need to learn how to Tweet.  Going to spend some time doing this this year.

Writing.  Ok every author knows that writing more is a resolution.  I vow to get at least one full length story finished and released (Book 5 of the Double B series) before year end and I would like to release 2 short stories - "A Hero for Tonight": as well as a summer story.

How about you?  What's your resolutions this year?  Anyone want to publicly acknowledge them?

Roni

Those are my little buddies - Jack and Jenny.  I was in Texas earlier this month on my favorite ranch - the Silver Spur Guest Ranch in Bandera.  What a great time we had relaxing and riding and just hanging out.  There's nothing better than riding horses in the Hill Country to refresh my soul.  It was in the high 80's and since back here in New York winter is closing in quick - I enjoyed every second of being in capris and flipflops for a few more days.

One thing I truly love about the Silver Spur is that the cell service is spotty in fact I can't get a signal at all unless I'm up by the main entrance on the road a good 1/4 mile from the main lodge.  Its nice sometimes to shut out the world.  I warned the ranch manager that I just may show up some day hiding from my real life.  Seriously, though everyone should have a place where they can escape and completely relax.  I hope you have somewhere like the Silver Spur in your world.

But if you don't, I hear rumors that The Wild Rose Press is having its annual retreat there next October.  Maybe I'll see you there.

Roni

As the sun sets over this summer, I can't help but think all in all it was a pretty good one.  Although it started off rainy and cold once Memorial Day hit - everything was blue skies and sunshine.  My family had an awesome time at our place on the lake, tubing, water skiing, jet skiing, just an all around fantastic time.

October in Upstate NY means a couple things to me; cooler nights, gorgeous colors, and apples.  We are blessed to live surrounded by apple orchards and I have always spent this time of year making huge batches of applesauce and freezing it to enjoy all year.  Last night was the first of the apple desserts - apple crisp with vanilla icecream - yum yum.

Tomorrow I'm off  to the home in my heart - San Antonio, Texas.  Spending a few days riding on our favorite ranch - the Silver Spur Guest Ranch in Bandera, Texas (shameless plug!) - before spending a couple days in San Antonio with friends and the SARA chapter of RWA.

I wish I could say I'm hard at work on another story but the writing bug seems to have disappeared.  I'm hoping to find my muse again while I'm relaxing under the stars of Texas.

Have a great fall!  

Summertime on the lake!  Can't beat it.  Have to admit our latest toy in our house has been a blast.  Its a gorgeous summer here in Upstate NY and all of us, my husband and my sons and I are all enjoying every minute of it.That's my son's girlfriend riding with me - we're trying to keep her mind off the fact that our Marine has been gone for two weeks now - but no worries - this is a short deployment he'll be home early August.

Had a great review on my latest short story - The Chauffeur Wore An Evening Gown and I'm hard at work at another one that I hope to get out in early 2012.

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=175_133&products_id=4532

Between our place on Lake Ontario and my gardens at home, inspiration is everywhere.  I sincerely hope you are finding something to write about in every day life.  For me, somehow I think my next heroine is going to own a jetski!

Happy summer - Roni

http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2011/06/cowboys-duet-by-roni-adams.html




A new review is out for The Cowboy Duet and is wonderful!  Nothing feeds a writer's soul than a good review.
I hope you enjoy it and take some time to read the fourth in the Double B series available now in eBook and print.  Enjoy!

Take a chance on me and win a Kindle at the same time.  Visit www.digibookscafe.com for all the details.

My latest release - The Chauffeur Wore an Evening Gown is available for sale as well as the four Double B series books - To Tame A Cowgirl, The Cowboy Comes Home, Trouble in Texas and the latest - The Cowboy's Duet.  All hot summer reads available now from DigiBooksCafe.

Summer has finally arrived!  The temperatures soared this week in Upstate NY and my family is finally settling in at our place on Lake Ontario.  Although this photo is from last summer, it won't be long before  my husband and sons will have our ski boat out and running for another season of tubing, waterskiing, and just riding up and down the lake.

Scott and I met 28 years ago next month (July, 83) pretty much on the water - so our mutual love for the water and boats has been in place since we met.  We've passed that onto our sons and our entire family has already made some amazing memories.

As a writer, I find inspiration comes much easier in the summer.  Waking up on the lake, sitting on our deck having coffee and hearing the waves crash the beach feeds my writer's soul.  I work hard all winter, actually spring, fall and winter but in the summer I give myself permission to slow down and savor the short season and just indulge myself in what I truly love - being with my husband and kids, being on the lake, and soaking up some sun.  I hope you too can find some time to slow down this summer and do what you love best.

Happy writing.

Website down.  If anyone goes to my website (http://www.roniadams.com/) right now you'll note its a mess.  Sorry about that!  I switched providers and thought everything would transfer - my mistake.  lol.

If any of you are looking for the answer to the hint from the contest - its "Beauty and the Geek". 

I will have the website fixed tonight, sorry!

 I was invited to kick off "The Millionare's Club" series in the Champagne Rose Line for www.thewildrosepress.com and I couldn't think of a more fun story than this one. When Erin has to pitch hit for her brother and climb behind the wheel of JR Stone's limo to drive him and his date to the Governor's Ball, she has no clue how crazy her night will get.  

Josh Stone isn't annoyed at being dumped by his girlfriend just at her timing.  When he finds himself on the way to the biggest night of his life without a date he somehow convinces his chauffeur to slip into an evening gown and onto  his arm. 

They fooled everyone into thinking they were an item, but once they kiss there's no joking about the chemistry that zings between them.  Can a blue collar girl really appeal to this multimillionaire or is Josh playing her for the fool?  

This hot sassy read is just under 30,000 words so its a fun quick read for your summer line-up.  I hope you enjoy it.  Releasing June 22, 2011.   

Finally - seems a long time for this one for some reason but The Cowboy's Duet has been released in print at www.thewildrosepress.com and will be out electronically on May 13.

I let a good friend read it as soon as I got my final galleys and she loved it. Always makes my confidence soar when someone who I know will be honest with me sends me good remarks. Here's her wonderful email note to me:

"I just finished the Cowboy Duet. As usual you have outdone yourself. I loved it. Beth and Tyler’s is still my favorite, but maybe I am just partial to them. But this one was just as good. I love the chemistry between Susan and Teddy. You can feel the attraction come right off the pages as you read. Never a dull moment either. You keep everything moving and keep your readers captivated and wanting more. I love the soft side of Teddy that you brought out in the book. Not at all what I had expected from him. I wish I was a Sampson girl living on the Ranch along with the Westons."

I can't wait for all of you to read it as well. Happy spring.

Buy link:  http://thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=4502&zenid=5f2045d69ce2a29cc930f813d0f93a4c

Here's an excerpt from "The Cowboy Duet" coming out in March, 2011 from www.thewildrosepress.com

Susan stared at Teddy. His fear was really ridiculous. How many deaths happened each year in elevators? Any? She certainly never heard of any. Watching his discomfort grow as the minutes ticked on, she began to feel bad. She’d done it again; gotten him into another mess with her dumb ideas. Knowing the reputation of this old elevator, she shouldn’t have taken a chance. But now, how to get out of it? Or at least get through it until the security guard woke up from his nap and realized the elevator was stuck.

Should she start singing? Chewing her bottom lip, she immediately dismissed that idea; it wasn’t enough. Times like this called for drastic measures.

Her gaze raked him from his boots to his dark brown hair. He was still the sexiest man she’d ever known. Just staring at those muscular thighs through the denim was enough to make her pulse race.

A weird idea began to gel in her brain and her tummy fluttered with the thought. No, she couldn’t do that—could she? Would he even let her?

His evident agitation pushed her to realize she had no choice. She got him into this so she had to do whatever it took to help him get through, even if her own pride suffered. Besides, it wasn’t as if distracting him in the way she was thinking was going to be a hardship.

Before she could talk herself out it, she tipped her head and looked at him. Making her voice husky and low she asked, “You know what I’ve always wondered.”

Teddy didn’t pay any attention or even indicate he’d heard her.

Susan swallowed hard and pushed forward. “I’ve often wondered if all those stories I’ve heard about you are true.”

He turned his head and pinned her with a glare that made all her confidence completely disappear. “What stories?”

Drawing on every bit of her acting abilities yet again, she thrust herself into the role. “The stories that say you’re the best kisser in all of Texas, maybe even the entire Southwest.”

He grunted. “I can’t help it if women kiss and tell.”

She could only hope the tilt of his lips was a slight grin. “I don’t really believe it to be honest.”

He shrugged. “Whatever.”

“Doesn’t it bother you that I doubt it?”

“Not especially. Your opinion stopped mattering to me a long time ago.”

Ouch. That stung. She swallowed back the lump that rose in her throat at his harsh words. “You’re never going to forgive me for that are you?”

“Nope.” He went back to staring at the numbers.

“You know, I’ve kissed a lot of leading men on Broadway and in Hollywood. I’m a pretty good judge of a man’s kissing abilities.”

Tipping his head to the side, he regarded her. “Are you trying to make me prove I can kiss better than some pretty-boy actor?”

“I’m just saying that I can tell a good kisser from a bad one. I could give you my honest opinion.”

“You want to be kissed that bad do you?”

Are the holidays finally over? I feel like we've been on a whirlwind since Thanksgiving. One fun event is my latest short story came out and even more exciting is the reviews. Glowing! Absolutely phenomenal. There's nothing like a bunch of good reviews to stroke the ego of every author. No matter how many times we might say "reviews don't matter" believe me, deep down inside, they sure do.

Check out the latest one from Seriously Reviewed:

http://seriouslyreviewed.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-past-by-roni-adams.html

or this one from the romance reviews:

http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=1070

I know the holidays are over, but I hope you'll find some time to curl up with this story that takes place between December 26 and ends on New Year's eve.

Next up I'm working hard on my edits to The Cowboy Duet and hoping to have it out sometime this spring.

I wish all of you the happiest of new years!

I know they make your heart flutter don't they? But watch yourselves one of those very handsome Marines is my middle son, Brennan. Thankfully, this was taken over a year ago in Baghdad and he and his buddies are home safe and sound today.

Today is the Marine Corps Birthday and tomorow, of course, if Veterans Day which made me sit down and remind everyone of these amazing men and women who are overseas risking their lives for our freedom.

This year we have four of our sons' friends, boys who are all under 25 and yet fighting hard in horrible conditions. Max - due home any day now, thank God, from a stint in Afghanistan. Luke our next door neighbor who we've known since he was born is Brennan's best friend and we're praying with his parents every day that he is kept safe. Mike - best friend of my older son Ian - he is in Afghanistan with Luke. In addition, we have a very very dear friend Jim who was injured last week in Afghanistan and is currently recovering in a hospital in Germany.

As a romance writer - my goal at the end of every story is to have a happy ever after. We're praying hard that we all get all our servicemen and women home safe and sound for that happy ever after ending.

Hug a Veteran today and tell him or her thank you. They deserve our gratitude every day but especially today..

Saw the movie RED last weekend. Besides the fact that it is the first movie I've seen in a movie theatre since "Walk the Line" - the Johnny Cash movie - this was a blast. The Wild Rose Press had been asked to supply the books for the set and it was fun trying to find the books on the big screen.

Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren and all the characters did a wonderful job of keeping the audience laughing with great dialogue and amazing acting. It was fun and held your attention from the first scene to the last.

I decided that while I will always love reading for entertainment - I've missed watching movies. I have to say I'm not a movie goer or even a big movie renter. Mostly because I live in a house of all men (3 sons and a husband). Their idea of a good movie has to involve action, action and oh did I say action. After awhile I've learned to stop fighting it and I gave up trying to sneak in a good "chick flick" if anyone was home. But watching RED reminded me that I do like the occasional action flick. I used to love the The Lethal Weapon series or the Back to the Future series (of course that has to do with Michael J. Fox as much as anything else) for example. A movie has to entertain me without too much thought involved. That's my biggest requirement for a movie - no thinking. I want to be entertained without having to think too hard.

I think that's one of the reasons I've always enjoyed romance novels. Its not that they are necessarily mindless although thinking too hard when I'm reading for fun is not what I want to do either, but rather- its the warm feeling you get when reading them that makes me happy. Just like watching a really awesome movie - you just feel good when its over and ready to watch another one.

RED is one of those movies. I give it two thumbs up and strongly advise you to go see it. While you're there - watch in one of the opening scenes with Bruce Willis - he has three TWRP books on the table by his phone.

This month was particuarly bittersweet in our household - we moved our firstborn - Ian to his first apartment. He and his girlfriend, Jessica, have moved about 4 hours away so Ian can attend law school. What mother couldn't be proud of that? But at the same time comes the heartache and pain as the first of the proverbial strings are cut. He's on his own now - in his own place, his own city and his own life. No more glares at me for waking up him too early with my vacuuming (noon I swear!), no more leaving extra coffee on when I'm done so he can have a cup, no more "Mom why are there no cookies left?", none of the stuff I've grown so used to over the past 22 years.

We have 2 more sons left at home and while it feels like I still have a while before the nest is empty, I know from experience the time will simply pass in a heartbeat.

To all us Moms out there going through this phase of life - there's no way to say it except it truly stinks. To the Moms of sons and daughters shipping overseas and deploying - our prayers are with you. Our Marine is home this year safe and sound under our roof - but we have 3 dear friends who shipped over to Afghanistan with the Marines this week and our thoughts are with them and their Moms as they begin the horrible journey we took last year.

Someone wise once said - little kids, little problems; big kids, big problems. Oh how I long for the time to go back to when we could protect them from everything and tuck them in at night knowing they were safe.

We've done what we were supposed to do. We've raised our son to be a strong, independent, successful man. So why does it hurt so much to watch him leave?