The First Time is Always Special...

Welcome to the first ever blog hop featuring the mainstream writers of the Marketing for Romance Writers group (MFRW)!  Enjoy your time checking out our blogs and our current releases.

Our theme for this first blog hop is "firsts". What an intriguing theme! First time romance? First kiss? Love at first sight? All of the above? What a challenge!

Can a single mom find happiness on a blind date--or at least a male who can cut up his own food?

I scratched my head for a full ten seconds and then decided to write about the first romantic comedy manuscript I ever wrote, The Fixer-Uppers. By coincidence, it's also my latest novel release! Yes, The Fixer-Uppers has found a new publisher and with terrific new cover art, along with great editing, I hope it will have an "happily ever after" ending and remain in publication for years to come.

When I began writing The Fixer-Uppers I wasn't sure I was writing a romance in the traditional sense, but I was sure I was writing a mainstream story that would appeal to many readers who enjoy stories about people like themselves. You know, normal people who struggle to make ends meet, find work, raise kids and keep a roof from leaking over their heads. Mike, an airport baggage handler, and Cassie, a single mom of two young boys and expert cake baker, are my idea of a perfect romantic couple who deserve to find true love. And you can really cheer them on! 

When I first marketed the story, I was told by some that no one would ever want to read a story about "everyday people" and that I should write about rich business tycoons or oil sheiks or movie stars as heroes. My heroine should look like a fashion model and not be the mother of two who is constantly hoping to shed a few pounds.  

But why should I rewrite my vision? Why write about rich men that a woman like me would never meet, let alone marry, and who really don't "do it" for me personally? I stuck to my guns and wrote the story of my heart... and from the nice comments I've received for The Fixer-Uppers, it touches a lot of others' hearts, too:

"I loved it... The Fixer-Uppers was so compelling, I just kept going forward until the happy ending. You keep up the good work." --avid romance reader Christina D.

"An exceptional writer with a flair for humor." --Romance Reviews Today 

So, this is my blog about "firsts". It was the first time I published a mainstream romance, and I still feel The Fixer-Uppers is one of my best attempts to create memorable characters. I hope you'll give it a read and agree with me, too.

 Okay, now for the blog hop part. Click on the link that will take you to the other blogs. (MFRW BlogHops Home: http://is.gd/mfrwbloghops) But before you go, please leave a comment in the comment box below letting me know what sort of mainstream romance stories you like to read and what questions you have about my other books (click Cynthianna's book page link  or click on the bar above). Be sure to leave me a good email address to send your prize of a free e-book if I draw your name out of the hat, too. Good luck! ;)

 The Fixer-Uppers is available in Kindle and all other popular e-formats from Devine Destinies books: http://www.devinedestinies.com/the-fixer-uppers

Read a short excerpt: http://momsday.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-fixer-uppers-now-available.html
 
 

Starting 2013 off right with a Liebster Blog Award

I received this nomination for the Liebster Blog Award from AJ Matthews and his AJ's Wargames Table blog. Thanks, AJ, my biggest supporter and bestest friend ever! ;)

Now, by the rules, I must nominate five others for the award. In no particular order they are:

1.)  The Log Line Blog -- Lynn Crain has put together a wonderful promo blog for her fellow authors. Short and sweet, your log line will sell your book!

2.) MFRW Authors Blog -- A great group of great romantic fiction authors.

3.) Paranormal Cravings -- Whenever you have an urge to read about vampires, werewolves and shapeshifters, this is the blog for you!

4.) Romance Excerpts Only -- To get in the mood, exactly the blog to check out for inspiration!

5.) Unstoppable Heroes -- Author Kayelle Allen shares writing tips, her new releases and other fun stuff.

My thanks again to AJ for the nomination. Here are the rules to follow if you're nominated:

Copy and paste the award on your blog linking it to the blogger who has given it to you. Pass the award to your top 5 favorite blogs with fewer than 200 followers by leaving a comment on one of their posts to notify them that they have won the award and listing them on your blog.

Sit back and bask in that warm fuzzy feeling that comes with knowing you’ve just made someone’s day!