Finally, our wonderful moderator, Christyna Hunter, is here to share a few words about her relationship with romance books. Please come and meet her, me, and all the lovely women I’ve featured this week, tomorrow, Saturday, February 13th, at 2PM at the Ashburn Virginia Library. The address is below. See you there! Now please help me welcome, USA Today Happy Ever After blogger and Virginia … Continue reading Snickers (Not the Candy)
I’m happy to add to this set of Valentine’s week posts with the fourth member of the Love Between the Covers authors’ panel, Adriana Anders. Please scroll to the bottom for details on how you can see this powerful documentary for free, win prizes, and meet the four of us . In the meantime, please help me welcome, Adriana Anders as she ponders what is at the … Continue reading At the Squishy Heart of Romance
I’m hosting my fellow panelists from the Love Between the Covers event this week as we lead up to the date (details below). I’ve asked them all to write about what romance means to them. Please help me welcome Delancey Stewart as she talks about her Five Most Romantic Things. Enjoy! Diana There are lots of clichéd things that come to mind when we think … Continue reading Delancey Stewart’s Five Most Romantic Things
On Saturday, February 13th, I’ve been asked to participate in an author’s panel discussion and viewing of the new documentary Love Between the Covers (covers as in book covers btw!) at the Ashburn Library in VA (details at the bottom). To celebrate, I’m hosting my fellow panelists this week as we lead up to the date. I asked them all to write about what romance and Valentine’s Day … Continue reading Celebrating Valentine’s Day Alone
Talented author Rachel Stedman recently posted about the unbelievable — censorship of books in New Zealand. She was gracious enough to let me repost her words here: read the rest of this incredible post HERE Continue reading
Sharon Wray did an incredible job compiling this year’s kids summer reading list. I hope that all of you with middle grade and young adult readers will find it as helpful as I do. Thanks Sharon! Continue reading Kiss and Thrill's 2015 Summer Middle Grade/Young Adult Reading List
This is why I love Heather Balog so much. Her words are for the 9 year olds in all of us. Continue reading A Letter to My Daughter
Wonderful Shannon Baker, author of 3 books and several short stories, is back again to celebrate Earth Day with us — this time with her friend Laura Kamala. Laura has lived in the spectacular Canyonlands of southeast Utah for thirty-eight years. During this time she was variously incarnated as a filmmaker, writer, artist, business entrepreneur, and Director of Utah Programs for Grand Canyon Trust. Diana: This is a new … Continue reading Celebrating Earth Day with Shannon Baker: Aliens, Polygamists, and Hopi, Oh My!
Diana: Editors E. Charles Nelson and David J. Elliott have compiled a book about a man I’d never heard of: Mark Catesby. One of the earliest naturalists, as well as an author and illustrator, Catesby studied the fauna and flora of North America over a seven-year period. He influenced Audubon, Darwin, and the explorers Lewis and Clark. The book, The Curious Mister Catesby, is a treasure and … Continue reading Mark Catesby: the Curious and Ingenious Naturalist
Wouldn’t it be great if we could do away with dating and failed relationships merely by doing a DNA cheek swab? It sounds simple and pain free, doesn’t it? In our cells lurk genetic markers that just might indicate who is an ideal spouse and who is an utter cad. My guest today, Peter Schattner, is an award-winning scientist, educator and writer with 30 years experience in molecular biology, genetics, biomedical … Continue reading Finding Love in Your DNA
Several of my friends are donating parting of their sales to worthy charities this year. Krista Hall below, details many of them in her wonderful post. I also wanted to do a shout out to my friend, author Susan O’Brien, who also donates a part of the proceeds from her wonderful book, Finding Sky, which goes to help charities involved with missing children. Tis the Season to … Continue reading Tis the Season to Give and Give Back
My other blog, Kiss and Thrill, and I are actively involved in trying to raise money for diabetes this month — a few of you may have seen this post elsewhere, but it is so important, I hope you don’t mind me reposting it here. Lena Diaz’s story of her daughter’s struggle with diabetes touched my heart and is one of many reasons I am participating in the Brenda Novak Auction for the Cure of Diabetes. My father’s struggle with diabetes, and Brenda Novak’s eloquent request to help fund a cure, are some of the others. We have put together a nifty Kiss and Thrill Gift Basket, Carey Baldwin has donated her Vail, Colorado condo and a copy of her book, and of course there are tons of other wonderful things on the Brenda Novak Auction Homepage. Please take a look around and you’ll be surprised at the inexpensive goodies up for auction. And thank you for helping cure diabetes!
Now here is Lena Diaz’s post:
When I think about what I’m thankful for, I can’t ignore the fact that November is Diabetes Awareness month. Eleven years ago, my daughter was diagnosed with this terrible disease, and for that–I am thankful. Not because she has diabetes of course, but because she’s a survivor. Like most people, I wasn’t aware of the symptoms of diabetes, and because of that, I very nearly lost my daughter.
By sharing this personal story about my daughter’s diagnosis, my hope is that people who think they know about diabetes – but have never personally experienced its impact in their lives – will take a moment to read this. You never know. What you learn might save a life. Continue reading “Why I'm Thankful…A Personal Story about Diabetes”
I’d like to welcome Angi Morgan for being my guest blogger today. I have a special place in my heart for Angi because she presented me with my Golden Heart Award for my book The Spy in the Mirror a year and a half ago.
Thank you Angi for sharing your story! Shout out to Lena Diaz for arranging this blog post, too.
A RANGER KISSED & THRILLED
My May hero is a Texas Ranger. Now, I’m an 11th generation Texan. Seriously. My 
ancestors on my mom’s side received original Spanish land grants and we don’t know when they arrived, but the first recorded death is in 1759 “by Indian arrow.” My father’s grandfather was a Texas Sheriff who owned the local saloon. So both sides of my family have been here quite a while. Die Hard Texan…that’s me.
I have no idea why I became so “Texas Proud.” My family wasn’t crazy about it. I spoke to my grandmothers to receive colorful stories and history. One that pops into my mind is from the Depression about a swinging ham in the smokehouse and my grandmother cutting some fingers off a thief. But I think my real love for Texas came because there is so much to see and write about. My books are all located in Texas and when I wanted to go west…the only logical hero was a Texas Ranger.
I was surprised to discover that the Rangers are the oldest law enforcement organization in the northern continent. Established in 1823, there could be several generations of Rangers in one family–sort of like generations of cop families. Enter Cord McCrea…he’s definitely a ‘Kiss & Thrill’ hero, loyal to a fault, good at his job, and in love with one woman–his ex-wife. Continue reading “A RANGER KISSED & THRILLED”
Today, we’re pondering an age-old question: What is under that kilt? <G> And who better to answer it than my guest, Willa Blair, best-selling and award-winning author of Highland Healer. Her novel is the first in a series set in the 16th century Highlands, when the old ways and old talents still shaped events.
Even Victorian women were curious about Kilts
Have you ever wondered:
– why you never see a Scotsman shining his boots?
– or wearing patent leather shoes?
– why there’s no men’s Scottish gymnastic team?
– Just what does a Scotsman wear under his kilt? Continue reading “What is Under that Kilt?”
