Even the pace of baseball is suited to summertime. With one hundred and sixty-two games in the regular season, the sport is spread out over time so that we don’t live or die by the outcome of a single game. Win some, lose some is a given attitude, though obviously we want the win column to boast the better number by the time all is said and done. Games are long and languid, with plenty of downtime as pitchers kick the dirt around and batters adjust their gloves. That leaves me enough time to order a beer and a bag of peanuts without missing a beat.

I like the friendliness of baseball and its players, too. The tradition of batting practice allows fans to see their favorite players up close before game time. The ability to catch a foul ball or a home run ball gives everyone in the park a shot at returning home with a free souvenir. Also, the accessibility of tickets means you can afford to take the whole family to a game without taking out a second mortgage, the way you might have to if you want to catch the NFL live.

So summer and baseball go hand in hand for me. I’m already planning a trip to watch the Reds beat the Pirates in Pittsburgh the first week of August. But I’m not just going to root, root, root for the away team. I’m going to savor a family tradition with my glove in hand in case any balls are fouled off in my direction. And with any luck, maybe I’ll lay eyes on a player who inspires the sequel to Double Play…

***As I make a list of what to bring to on my road trip to see the Reds, I wonder what road trips you’ve got in mind for the summer. Water park for the weekend? Picnic at a friend’s camp? Chat with me on the boards about your summer day tripping plans and I’ll give one random poster an advance copy of my August Blaze, Double Play.

Still, I’m convinced that there’s a story inside us all just waiting to get out. Maybe most people don’t have twenty or thirty or a hundred the way some prolific authors do. But I think we all have at least ONE.

Some people don’t have the desire to tell the story, of course. I know some folks flat-out don’t enjoy writing. That doesn’t stop the story from lurking inside us! Haven’t we all thought at some point, “That would make a good story.” It seems like everyone I meet—who isn’t a writer—tells me at some point that they have a great idea for a book. The writers I know, of course, have ideas for books too but they keep them for their own Muse to work on.

One of my favorite authors, Clarissa Pinkola Estes wrote a book called Women Who Run With the Wolves. As a cantadora, or storyteller, Estes talks about the story as medicine and our need to carry on the storytelling legacy. She writes, “Although some use stories as entertainment alone, tales are, in their oldest sense, a healing art.” Look how much we learn about life and ourselves from stories. And frankly, I think some of the stories that are fore entertainment are healing in and of themselves since occasionally we crave the total escape that only fiction can offer. That ability to travel into a book is one of the most healing pastimes I know.

Assuming we all have a story to tell, what would yours be? That’s my question today and I hope you’ll take a moment to think about it. Maybe you’ll shout out the answer the moment I ask the question because you already have an idea for a self-help treatise for people married couples or a memoir about your childhood in a foreign country. But if you haven’t already got a book idea brewing, what kind of fiction story would you tell if you had the talents of a writer at your disposal to put the idea on paper? They say the best story to write is the one you want to read. So maybe you can ask yourself what kind of book you’d like to read in order to answer the question.

I know I’d like to read something historical and paranormal. Something involving magic and romance. I’d also like to read a great twin story in Blaze… maybe as an Encounters. So… what story ideas are brewing in you?

**I’m giving away a copy of any book from my backlist to one random poster today.

In fact, choosing a favorite of anything – books, restaurants, songs, you name it—has always been practically impossible for me. To the point that I never thought I’d really have an individual sense of style.

But lo and behold, it happened sometime over the last ten years. I almost never wear a hockey jersey to the mall anymore (okay, maybe in playoff season). And as I look in my closet now, I no longer see a hodgepodge of pieces I kind of like. I look in there and see ME.

Part of it is a lifetime of seeing myself in mirrors and photos and developing a better eye for what looks best on me. Some clothes I simply have no business wearing—the photo evidence in the family albums don’t lie and they were educational in helping me choose things that were not only more flattering, but more reflective of me.

I find this kind of interesting lately as I sometimes think I suffer from writing personality disorder. I like to write historical, contemporaries, romantic suspense, and hey—if there’s a slot open for a time travel Blaze, I’m first in line. But my recent closet epiphany—the blend of a mishmash of clothing that finally morphed into a genuine sense of style—has encouraged me that maybe the direction I’m headed in professionally is just fine. Maybe I need to try on the romantic suspense and the historical and the fun, warm-hearted stories to find my most true voice. I like to think that—like my fashion sense—I’ll end up with a uniquely blended assortment of influences that culminate in something original. Something truly reflective of my perspective on the world.

Until then, I’m glad that readers seem to be patient with me as I write my way to my most authentic voice. One day, I’ll look back and see just where I was headed all along—a great design taking shape that was evident from the very beginning.

And if not, at least I’ll have the comfort of a wardrobe that I really like.

*** What about you? Have you gravitated toward a sense of style, or—like me in the early years—are you a likely candidate for What Not to Wear? Tell me your greatest fashion find or faux pas and I’ll give one random poster a signed copy of a book from my backlist (reader’s choice, assuming I have it in stock).

Yet history so often paints these guys as bloodthirsty heathens who murdered and raped their way to power. Well, no surprise there since the Vikings did not leave a written record to tell us their side of the story. We only have the writings of the conquered, and how fair are they going to be?

I bring up the Vikings today because my current release features a Viking hero and I’m fairly partial toward him. And of course, in writing Wulf, I got to thinking about why—as readers—we’re continually drawn to those dangerous types. Vampires, Vikings, international super spies who can kill you silently in ten different ways. And this wondering brought me to my bookshelf—the source of answers to all of life’s questions for a reader.

I found a few different answers, but my favorite came from one of my personal writer heroines, the incomparable Susan Elizabeth Phillps. SEP has a contribution in the classic anthology Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women (Harper 1992, Jayne Ann Krentz ed.) Her essay about “The Romance Novel and the Empowerment of Women” reminded me: “The domineering male becomes the catalyst that makes the empowerment fantasy work. The heroine isn’t as big as he is; she isn’t as strong, as old, as worldly; many times she isn’t as well educated. Yet despite these limitations she confronts him—not with physical strength, but with courage and intelligence. And what happens? She always wins!” No wonder we love those dangerous guys—the harder they come, the harder they fall, right?

The essay is fun to read—the way anything Susan Elizabeth Phillips writes is fun to read. And I think she takes on a fundamental truth about romances that is deeply underscored with the dangerous hero. We don’t just read romance for the happy endings. We read to see a woman take on a man who challenges her in every way possible—and wins his heart. We love to imagine we have that kind of power. Sometimes maybe, we do. I know my Saxon heroine managed the feat. And I envied her the journey! I hope you’ll check out THE CAPTIVE, but either way, I hope you’ll enjoy the next feisty heroine you meet all the more – knowing she’s a reflection of the courage and strength we all strive for.

***So which bad boy hero lingers with you long after the book has ended? A bawdy pirate lord? A sexy bloodsucker? Maybe even a raiding Viking? Chat with me about your favorite bad boy heroes and I’ll give away a copy of THE CAPTIVE to one random poster.

No surprise that he declined to read my quote.

But I digress. The real reason I mention the article is that it’s pertinent reading for the Blaze fan. I mean, chances are good if we’re reading or writing Blaze that we like the idea of “red-hot” for a sensuality level. You’re probably as invested as I am in maintaining a certain amount of your mojo.

The article points out various ways to do that, including my tip about tapping into romantic or sexy tunes from your dating days to create a personalized playlist. I think music has a great ability to transport you to another time and place, instantly reminding you of other steamy moments.

I’d also suggest that reading a Blaze is a good way to remind you of the temptress within. Reading romance, for me, is always mood elevating. Plus, sexy romance in particular reminds me that passion is a gift. Romance heroes and heroines fight so hard for that happy ending that I feel like it’s only right to celebrate my own HEA early and often.

What about you? How do you get your sexy back? I’m officially asking for your quote on the subject. Do you have a go-to dress in the back of your closet that makes you feel on top of your sexy A-game? A date night destination that puts you in a flirtatious frame of mind? Please share on the boards for a chance to win an advance copy of my April Blaze Historical,
The Captive

For example, I spend a great deal of time thinking about what makes for compelling sex. Besides the obvious.

I mean, if we’re going to bill our books as “red-hot,” I want to carry my weight. So I devote creative energy to a) dissecting what makes for a successful love scene and b) how to re-create my own, implementing what I’ve learned while maintaining appeal unique to my characters.

Admit it. This sounds like fun homework, right? So here’s a little bit of what I’ve discovered.

Sex can be intriguing when it’s a game of power. This is why we love captive stories (and because I’m so very trainable, look for my April release The Captive, coming to a store near you). There is a compelling dynamic between hero and heroine when one has power over the other, whether it’s physical, emotional or situational. The stowaway on a pirate ship is at the mercy of the captain. The ward of the rich duke is dependent on his will. The Viking’s captive is subject to his wishes. When the person in power is a villain, of course, the dynamic can have frightening consequences. But with the hero, the same situations are charged with high tension that can lead to very memorable love scenes.

Next, sex is hot when it’s forbidden. Maybe that’s obvious as you think back on the time you smuggled your high school boyfriend into the house while everyone else was asleep. But it’s an idea that’s important for the Blaze author to keep in mind as it’s not easy to create these situations with a modern heroine. First of all, a grown woman doesn’t have the same limits as the cheeky high school seductress. Second, contemporary women choose their own partners, so we don’t have the same restrictions our historical heroines encounter. In historicals, there are forbidden relationships between the duke and the groom’s daughter or between the Scotsman and the English lady. Think about how much steamy sensual tension those forbidden, clandestine meetings generate. Scenarios abound in historical where birth control wasn’t an option and the stakes were high for losing virginity. But a Blaze author must be more creative in finding forbidden relationships to capitalize on this.

I’ve got a few more ideas in mind that I’ll bring back next month. For now, I’d be curious to hear about a memorable love scene that’s either been a long time stand out for you or that you’ve read recently and it really perked up your day! I’m not asking for any great detail, just a particular moment whether it was the dressing room scene in Susan Elizabeth Philliips’ What I Did For Love or the first time Wrath showed up at Beth’s place in J.R. Ward’s Dark Lover. If you share a moment with me, I promise to put it to good intellectual use! I’ll also choose one random poster to win a copy of my Blaze Historical, The Captive.

Of course, the topic itself makes it fun too. Discussing film and lit helps me to see my own work with fresh perspective. But recently, I got wondering where the Blaze stories are in modern film.

I know where the home and hearth, mainstream romance stories can be found. I’ve seen romantic comedy done over and over in film even as the market wanes a bit in commercial fiction. Of course, romantic suspense is a staple at the cinema, to the point where filmmakers will try to add a little romance to stories that don’t always need it.

But I don’t see much done with sexy romance on screen. Maybe that’s because of a certain reticence by movie-goers to sign on for something steamy while in a public venue. Perhaps being seated in a crowded theater next to strangers makes us wary about getting turned on vicariously.

Often, sexiness in film is a precursor to trouble. Steamy scenes occur when a spouse is cheating (Fatal Attraction, or when one character needs to lead another astray as part of a suspense plot. Remember Body Heat with Kathleen Turner? All steam, all deceit. Same goes for Black Widow, Basic Instinct, The Last Seduction. It’s almost as if movie characters are only rewarded with hot sex if they’re headed for a disastrous end.

Rarely do we see a sexy affair turn out well in Blaze fashion ala The Thomas Crown Affair. Sure, we see romantic comedy characters rewarded with happy endings. (And I’ll admit that naked Ryan Reynolds in The Proposal counts as sexy even if it wasn’t a steamy movie.) A case could be made for Out of Sight with Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney as filling the bill—after all, there’s a sense she’ll help him escape prison. But rarely do we see the steam factor raised and get the happy ending too. Guess we’ll have to keep reading Blaze.

Hmm… no hardship there!

**
I’d love to have you prove me wrong and bombard me with examples of steamy on-screen romances. Not because I’d love to be wrong so much as I enjoy a good love scene! Either way, please do share a favorite romantic film with me and /or a favorite film love scene. I’ll be giving away a copy of my February Valentine anthology, MANHUNTING, with Betina Krahn and Lori Borrill to one random poster.

I really love the holiday season. And I don’t buy into this idea that we’ve moved away from what the season means. I personally think one of the coolest things about the holidays is that this month encompasses so many ancient religious beliefs bound up with newer ones. No matter if you’re Jewish or Christian, pagan or atheist, you can find something to celebrate this time of year. I don’t think that any of us have the market cornered on the meaning of the season. We celebrate the things that are meaningful for each of us. How cool is that?

If things feel over-commercialized this time of year, I recommend turning off live TV and sliding in a DVD or Bing Crosby in White Christmas. Or turning off commercial radio and testing out Loreena McKennitt’s gorgeous Midwinter Night’s Dream for some holiday tunes. Light some candles and remember to enjoy a few of your favorite things this time of year. Bake your mom’s perennial favorite holiday cookie recipe. Or simmer some nutmeg and cloves on the stove to just make it smell like your baking. The effect is as heavenly and calorie-free. For me, it’s not the holidays without hunting for the perfect tree, watching my kids sled down a snowy, or hosting a big shindig for the whole family.

Beyond those traditions, I have a few faith-based acts that help bring the meaning of the season home to me and my family. But I don’t discount the outward trappings of the celebration that make it so memorable and joyous every year. I hope you remember to pull your family close to you this holiday and enjoy a few of your own favorite things. Happy Holidays!

What are a few of your favorite things this time of year? Favorite holiday CD or film? Beloved holiday tradition? Share with me the sweet and simple things that make the season fun for you and I’ll give away a copy of Blazing Little Christmas along with the NYT Bestseller The Thirteenth Tale, to a random poster, sure to make for fun fireside reading!

For those of you who’ve forgotten (pardon me while I channel my ninth grade teacher), it was Romeo and Juliet that kicked off with the rather stark introduction: “From forth the fatal loins of these two foes/A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life.” Admittedly, this wasn’t going to be a romance with the same fun pay-off as The Flame and the Flower. But still, it sounded like racy fare for a fourteen year old.

I thought about the whole star-crossed bit this week as I plot out my next book and turn to the astrological inspiration of Linda Goodman’s Love in the Signs. Over the course of brainstorming many novels, I’ve frequently consulted astrological guides for character ideas. I like all kinds of psychological tools to develop my characters—from enneagrams to Myers Brigg profiles—and astrology is something I come back to time and again. Not because I believe I can predict my character’s future or anything (ha! Imagine how fast I’d be writing if I knew what would happen in the next chapter), but because the sun sign profiles depict identifiable, relatable character types that resonate with readers.

It helps keep my characters consistent when I use profiles like this. Midway through the book, if I’m not sure how my heroine would react, I can remind myself that she’s a Pisces and she’ll need to sit by the lake for a little quiet reflection to get her head on straight. Or that she’s an Aries and as such she’s itching for a major confrontation with the hero.

But the best reason to use the astrological profiles is so I can cast my hero and heroine in diametrically opposed signs to give them the most conflict possible (a romance isn’t a romance without a worthy battle for the HEA). I pit the Cancer woman against the Leo man. The Virgo woman against the Aries man. Literally, I cross their stars, just like The Bard suggested so many years ago.

It still works like a charm. And you know what? It turns out I was wise to tune into the racy stuff and save my napping for algebra. That wild and crazy couple from Verona sure gave me a lot to think about…

Well? Are the sun sign charts hogwash in your book? Do you fit your profile? Are you star crossed in your relationship? Chat with me today and I’ll give away a signed copy of any Blaze from my backlist to a random poster.

Compare that to hockey, the longest season. They play 81 games next to football’s 15-18. As for the MLB, those guys are toughing it out through 162 games in the regular season. It’s those guys I seem to identify with the most since my writing season has been year round lately.

The idea of an off-season ran through my head this week as I was feeling bad for the Detroit Tigers (facing a longer—well, more frustrating and seemingly longer– off-season than normal due to the ridiculous way baseball playoffs are set up). I began to wonder what I would do in an off-season if I could take one as a writer.

Now, of course I can schedule a yearly off-season for myself. I could put out books for six months of the year and then take the rest of the time off. Except what if readers forgot about me? Fans don’t forget about Derek Jeter in January, but I don’t exactly have that kind of following.

But if I could have a yearly off-season, I would put it to good use. While the NFL guys are pumping iron for their next games, I’d be studying my craft. Downtime from writing could be devoted to reading the classics and thinking about how I could learn from them. Or I could read more how-to write books that could inspire new approaches to my work. That’s the writerly equivalent of bulking up.

I could also spend my time reading travel magazines for some exotic locales to set stories. Maybe I’d revisit the Kama Sutra because, well, you know. I might have forgotten some things my heroes and heroines would be glad to know. Then, I’d pursue some really different interest that doesn’t have much to do with anything—wine-making, for example—and pass along this enthusiasm to a character. Three-dimensional characters only arise from an author’s pen if they’ve taken time to give intriguing facets to their fictional creation. It’s the sports equivalent of studying the playbook and adding a few new twists.

My favorite part of the off-season would be the occasional team-building exercise—getting together with author friends and readers to remind myself of the most fun aspects of the job. Ideally, people play sports because they love the game. I know I write because I love it! But the little stresses of any job can pick away at your love of it if you’re not careful. Scheduling an outing with enthusiastic friends and supporters is important to maintain focus on the good stuff and to solidify your sense of community on the field.

But maybe one of the most important functions of the off-season is to create a hunger for the game. It’s not fun to do the same thing day in and day out for years on end, even if you love it. Taking a break from what you love helps give you renewed respect and appreciation for it. Sometimes we take our favorite things for granted when we indulge in them constantly. Absence makes the heart grow fonder during the downtime. You not only come back recharged and energized, you come back grateful to get to do what you love all over again. Just ask Brett Favre.

Of course, I haven’t instituted a full-fledged off-season for myself as a writer. But in the years since I sold that first book, I’ve gotten better about scheduling more breaks between projects. More than ever, I’ve seen how the breaks aren’t breaks at all—they’re necessary to the ebb and flow of creativity, the quiet dead of winter that makes the spring possible. I hope you’re able to give yourself the gift of an off-season this year. Or two.

**If you could take a break from work right now—a whole three weeks off—what would you do? Take a trip if you could take paid leave? Or would you settle into the house in our pjs and soak up the feel of doing nothing? Chat with me on the boards today and I’ll giveaway a signed book from my backlist to one random poster. ***