June - a Month of Turning Points and Reassessing ........................ by Delsora Lowe

Hard to believe we are moving into the half-way point of the year. June is known as a month of celebrations; a month when a person celebrates milestones. What comes to mind as visible milestones are weddings and graduations.

I did get married in June, many, many, many years ago. My graduations from high school, and my college associate and bachelor’s degrees, however, were both in late May. So, for me, June is not only about celebrating milestones, but is more about reassessing where I am mid-way through another year. What do I look forward to for the rest of the year, and how do I plan where I want to go (as in both work goals and fun adventures) in the second half of the year.

Some of my June rituals are weekly or bi-weekly visits to the farmers’ market, filling my deck with colorful potted flowers, a tomato plant or two, and a variety of herbs, that grow from seedlings to full-grown plants that I can use throughout the summer in cooking. The grill gets use starting in June, unless we have a few magical, warm weather days in May…or December (HA!). The hum of lawnmowers permeates the air—and at times, the noise snaps me out of drafting an absolutely brilliant piece of writing.

Hey, I have to blame something on the reason why my brain tends to turn to mush as we ease into the summer months.

But, speaking of work, part of my June tasks is to reassess my productivity from January into June. And perhaps tweak my annual goals. Have I edited enough, written first drafts, released books, or kept up my monthly schedule (of which I have a month-by-month grid with story topics,) for producing and submitting 5-minute, sweet romances.

This year, sadly, I have lost a lot of my creative brain. But making a list for the 2^nd half of the year, helps me try harder to actually consult said list and…stick to the plan.

Is it time to reassess my annual goals? ALWAYS! And will I be able take a well-deserved bow at mid-point and celebrate my accomplishments of staying on track as dictated in my new year annual goal plan that kicked off in January? Yes, goal reexamination is part of my personal agenda in June. Is the plan I set out to accomplish this year, reasonable, doable? Or, for sanity’s sake, should I reboot?

But my plans aren’t all work and no play. They also include looking forward to the fun parts of the upcoming summer—my daughter’s family visiting from Colorado in July or August. Spending more time with my grandson here in-state, despite the fact his summer is usually as busy as the school year. And best of all, I'll rejoice in time spent with family and friends, revel in the season of warmth, and applaud the bursts of color that paint our world.

Despite the dreary day as thunderstorms move in, my little corner of the world is ablaze with the color of irises and azaleas and an assortment of flowering trees.

 

What is your favorite part

about

the month of June?

 

The Love Left Behind

A HARTFORD ESTATE (wedding venue) Book

Amazon
(also available in print)

Books2Read  

Delsora Lowe writes small town sweet and spicy romances and contemporary westerns, from the mountains of Colorado to the shores of Maine.

Author of the Starlight Grille series, Serenity Harbor Maine novellas, and the Cowboys of Mineral Springs series, Lowe has also authored short romances for Woman’s World magazine (most recently, an Easter romance in the April 1, 2024 edition.) The Love Left Behind is a Hartford Estates, R.I. wedding novella with Book 2 on the way. A Christmas novel (The Inn at Gooseneck Lane) and novella (Holiday Hitchhiker – the youngest brother of the Mineral Spring’s ranching family) were the most recent releases. Look for book 3 of the cowboy’s series, as well as book 2 of the Hartford Estates series, to be released in late 2024 or early 2025.

Social Media Links:

Author website: www.delsoralowe.com
Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/delsoraloweauthor/community/
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Delsora-Lowe/e/B01M61OM39/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Books2Read Author page: https://www.books2read.com/ap/8GWm98/Delsora-Lowe
BookBub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/delsora-lowe-93c6987f-129d-483d-9f5a-abe603876518
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16045986.Delsora_Lowe
Instagram: #delsoralowe / https://www.instagram.com/delsoralowe/

Images:
Celebrating: celebration clipart images - Google Search
Graduation: Free Vector | Free vector graduation poster (freepik.com) 
TimeFlies: Free Vector | Time flies concept illustration (freepik.com)
FrownieFace: Download | FreeImages / Image by Freeimages.com
Flowers: photo by author

 

Number Eleven - A Power Number in Numerology .... Delsora Lowe

It’s May, and we're honoring the Romancing the Genres anniversary month. In the year 2023, that means RTG is celebrating its twelfth anniversary. Twelve is the RTG Blog’s special number for 2023. So, here’s to a Happy Anniversary to all the regular and guest bloggers who have participated over the years. And to all the readers who visit us!

Since we are celebrating numbers, I chose the number 11, because it reminds me of my youngest grandson.

The number of things that include 11, including many mathematical explanations, filled a very long page. There are many sports that have eleven players (soccer, field hockey, football, etc.) on the field at a time. And the number eleven has many meanings in religion and folk lore, and as special holidays worldwide on 11/11. There’s even an eleven-sided die, that when tossed favors certain numbers because of the uneven sides. For more fun facts about the number 11, here’s one source: 
11 Astonishing FactsAbout the Number 11 - 11 Points

But for me, the number eleven has meaning because it was my grandson’s number during his younger years in sports (hockey, lacrosse, and soccer.) Back when he played youth sports and his dad couched, he could choose his number. Eleven was also the number my son wore on many athletic jerseys up through high school. The last few years have been difficult because many athletic events were limited in the number of family members who could attend, due to COVID. So, I missed seeing the last of his number 11 days on the field, and that made me sad. Luckily, I have plenty of photos plastered on my refrigerator of my grandson wearing his various jerseys.

Now he’s older and on various junior high teams and local sports leagues, where he travels all over the state and at times to other states. And he gets assigned a number. I miss #11.

But what I will not miss this year, is celebrating with Romancing the Genres on their anniversary.

HAPPY 12 th ANNIVERSARY,
ROMANCING THE GENRES!!!!!

In honor of the 12th Anniversary:

Happy 12th Anniversary Generistas! Sign up for contributing RTG blogger's Newsletters so you can be eligible to win books, gift cards and 

other fun stuff. 

Drawing May 30th! 

CLICK HERE

The Love Left Behind: Hartford Estate

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Left-Behind-Hartford-Estate-ebook/dp/B08L5N5DS9/

Books2Read

books2read.com/u/mglVqK

~ cottages to cabins ~ keep the home fires burning ~

Delsora Lowe writes small town sweet and spicy romances and contemporary westerns from the mountains of Colorado to the shores of Maine.

Author of the Starlight Grille series, Serenity Harbor Maine novellas, and the Cowboys of Mineral Springs series, and the novella The Love Left Behind, Lowe has also authored short romances for Woman’s World magazine. Recently released were two Christmas stories: The Inn on Gooseneck Lane and Holiday Hitchhiker.

 

Social Media Links:
Author website: www.delsoralowe.com
Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/delsoraloweauthor/community/
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Delsora-Lowe/e/B01M61OM39/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Books2Read Author page: https://www.books2read.com/ap/8GWm98/Delsora-Lowe
BookBub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/delsora-lowe-93c6987f-129d-483d-9f5a-abe603876518
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16045986.Delsora_Lowe
Instagram: #delsoralowe / https://www.instagram.com/delsoralowe/

Photo Credits: 
Anniversary:  Anniversary greetings on happy anniversary clip art 3 - Clipartix 
Number Eleven: Made on Canva  
Grandson: photo taken by family members

Pick a day, any day ...

Here we are in the first full week of March and there are so many fun and exciting things to celebrate. For some reason, this is National Celery Month. My hubby will be excited. Me? Take it or leave it. Though I admit it adds a little something to an egg salad sandwich. 

More exciting for me, March is also National Peanut Month. Given the choice between celery and peanuts, I’ll take the latter any day. And I’ll enjoy the legume in either sweet foods like peanut butter cookies with or without chocolate chips, or savoury foods like Thai noodles with spicy peanut sauce.

When we delve into daily celebrations, well, sorry, but you missed National Pig Day on the 1st. Or maybe you didn’t miss it. I’d love to hear how you celebrated! We also missed If Pets Had Thumbs Day on the 3rd. I’m not sure how that would change the world, but I suspect it wouldn’t be good. However, as you’re reading this on the 7th, you’re just in time to celebrate National Cereal Day. It’s never too late in the day to enjoy a bowl of crispy, crunchy flakes of the grain of your choice. Cereal for supper is a thing. And you can certainly use a cereal grain in savoury cooking – beef and barley soup, anyone? Hm… I’m making myself hungry.

March 9th is Barbie Day. I still have my Barbie doll, in her special carrying case, with all her clothes, shoes, and accessories. My Barbie even had custom knitted outfits, thanks to my Grammy O. Perhaps I’ll celebrate by giving Barbie some fresh air, change her outfit, and relive some of the adventures we enjoyed. And I’ll cap off the day by honouring Popcorn Lover’s Day with a bowl of stove-top popcorn made by my hubby.

Huzzah! The 12th is when Daylight Savings begins at 2:00 a.m. I’m all for dropping the whole time change thing. It’s outlived its usefulness, in my opinion. 

All hail the mighty potato chip! March 14th is National Potato Chip Day!!! Whether you believe it was William Kitchiner of England in 1817, or George Crum (Speck) of New York in 1853, the inventor should be honoured with much rejoicing. And we should feast on potato chips all day. In fact, NOT eating potato chips should be illegal. I’m rather pedestrian in my potato chip flavours, preferring plain old plain or ripple-cut. With French onion dip (Particularly on March 23, National Chip & Dip Day. But one assumes any type of chip would do, not necessarily a potato chip.). Second choice is salt & vinegar. Third choice is a snack up here called Hickory Sticks, potato chips cut in thin strips with a salty, smoky flavour. Delicious!

My friend, let’s call her Jane, has a son-in-law who I’m sure will celebrate Extraterrestrial Abductions Day on the 20th. I’ll leave it to your imagination as to why.

But for the rest of us, the 20th is the first day of spring, or the Vernal Equinox, or Ostara, or however you want to celebrate longer, warmer days, dreams of picnics in the park, and planting the vegetable garden. 

Almost weekly, I make a trip to a nearby bulk foods store called, wait for it, Bulk Barn. And because I’m being such a good doobie about minimizing packaging (I take my own containers), I reward myself with one of my favourite treats to eat on the drive home. I’ll be sure to indulge myself a little bit extra on the 24th, National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day.

And to round off the month, the 31st is World Backup Day. Holy, moly, if you backup your computer files only once a year, you are a gambler. Playing with fire. Poking the tiger. Putting all your eggs in one basket made of spider webs. 

Now excuse me while I search out a peanut recipe, add potato chips to the grocery list, and make a special treat for my hens on March 19th, National Poultry Day.

Luanna Stewart has been creating adventures for her imaginary friends since childhood. She spends her days writing contemporary romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and historical romance. When not torturing her characters, she’s in her kitchen baking something delicious. She lives in Nova Scotia with her patient husband and five hens.

Website ~ Bookbub ~ Instagram ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

Ten Fun To-Do Activities to Celebrate Getting My Vaccine! ... by Delsora Lowe

May is a special month, as the weather warms up, flowers bloom, and folks start putting in gardens and getting outside. And May 10 marks several different things in my life.

It’s my dad’s 102nd birthday. I miss him so much. I know if he were with us, he’d be celebrating mightily. Before he turned ninety, he decided he would throw himself a big party. My sister and I already had big plans underway, so we ended up telling him about the surprise. Instead of being disappointed he had ruined our surprise, he threw himself into helping us organize. Luckily, everything he wanted, we already had on our list. It was a great party. He passed away a few weeks prior to his ninety-first birthday. But I’ll always have my memories of that fun time—both the organizing and the partying.

On May 10, 2019, I released the first book in my Cowboys of Mineral Springs series. At the time, I had written drafts for five books in the series and started a draft on book 6. I released book two in October 2019. I really need to get back to editing the rest of the series.

On May 10, I will have had my second Covid vaccination and will have quarantined for 2 weeks! Yay! So, without further ado, I will list ten things I really want to do this year—all, sad to say, still masked. But best to continue to be safe. Besides, I discovered when I wear my mask walking, it helps keep the allergens in the air at bay and I am able to walk without wheezing. All good! It’s important to focus on every little positive thing we can and not obsess on the negative.

So, in no particular order, my top ten things to do this year (and in honor of RTG’s Ten Year Anniversary):

1)      Enjoy a backyard cocktail or cup of tea with friends.

2)      Hit the local food truck scene and sit on a bench in the sun on the town mall to enjoy whatever I buy.

3)     Spend the 4^th of July (and my grandson’s birthday, later in July) with my family, watching fireworks over the water, from my son’s front deck.

4)      Enjoy the beach with my 3 grandsons later this summer as they attend surf camp (cancelled last summer.)

5)     Enjoy time spent with my daughter and family when they visit from Colorado (cancelled last summer.)

6)     Sit outside in the sun with my mom at her retirement community. We haven’t had face-to-face time since last summer - except waving to her through her apartment window.

7)     Go to the farmer’s market and other outdoor events.

8)      Get together in person for monthly fall meetings with my writers’ group (also cancelled.)

9)    Attend a fall conference (also postponed from last year.)

10  Attend my daughter’s wedding (which means getting on a plane without freaking out, and still having to wear a mask for the five-hour trip.)

Here’s to a good rest of 2021. 

And huge congratulations to the Romancing the Genres blog on ten years of success!

What is something you really look forward to?

  The Love Left Behind

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Left-Behind-Hartford-Estate-ebook/dp/B08L5N5DS9/

 Books2Read   

books2read.com/u/mglVqK

 

 ~ cottages to cabins ~ keep the home fires burning ~

Delsora Lowe writes small town sweet and spicy romances and contemporary westerns from the mountains of Colorado to the shores of Maine.

Author of the Starlight Grille series, Serenity Harbor Maine novellas, and the Cowboys of Mineral Springs series, Lowe has also authored short romances for Woman’s World magazine. Her newest novella is The Love Left Behind.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Author Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/Delsora-Lowe/e/B01M61OM39/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Author Books2Read Page: https://www.books2read.com/ap/8GWm98/Delsora-Lowe

Author BookBub Page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/delsora-lowe-93c6987f-129d-483d-9f5a-abe603876518

Author Goodreads Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16045986.Delsora_Lowe

Author FaceBook Page: https://www.facebook.com/delsoraloweauthor/

Author Instagram: #delsoralowe

Author Website: www.delsoralowe.com

Author Blog: http://www.delsoralowe.com/blog

CLIP ART:

Fireworks - free fireworks clipart - Google Search

Food Truck - Free Food Truck Cliparts, Download Free Food Truck Cliparts png images, Free ClipArts on Clipart Library (clipart-library.com)

Cocktails - free cocktail clipart - Google Search

Farmer’s Market -  free farmer's market clipart - Google Search

Engagement - https://pixabay.com/illustrations/love-romantic-relationship-together-3581038/

 

Beauty of Blossoms

by Diana McCollum

 "If you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for a moment." ~ Georgia O'Keeffe

 

The language of flowers has been written about in many, many different books. For the most part the books or articles all agree on the meaning for a particular flower. During Victorian times flowers were used to express emotions when words failed.

 

Red roses are the most common for a lover, or husband to give his love at Valentine’s day. Red roses symbolizes romance and love.

 

I want to take a look at a few of the other flowers in the garden and their meanings. Especially now with Valentine’s Day on the horizon and many of you will be receiving bouquets as expressions of love.

 

The Aster with its daisy like petals and sunshiny centers come in a myriad of colors. The definition of Aster is that it represents patience and a love of variety. Maybe because of the many colors?

 

Forget-me-not flowers are true to their name. They represent good memories and true love. A favorite of Victorian times.

 

 Another daisy like flower is the Black Eyed Susan with its yellow petals and deep brown coned center. This flower represents justice, encouragement and motivation.

 

Calla lilies are used in bridal bouquets quite often and no wonder as they represent magnificence, beauty, purity and innocence. 

The Carnation is a symbol of many different things. The color is what determines the meaning. Here is a list I found on a flower website.

• Red means love, pride, and admiration
• A pink carnation stands for the love of a mother or woman
• Purple carnations mean capriciousness
• Yellow means rejection or disappointment
• White means innocence and pure love
• A striped carnation represents a refusal

 

Today it is 19 degrees and snowing. Next month will be spring and thoughts turn to what to plant in the flower bed. Maybe use the meaning of the flower to plant the garden this year?

 What is your favorite flower and do you know the meaning associated with it?

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

by Diana McCollum

If you have a mother, this weekend is her special day! If you are a mother, or grandmother, it is your special weekend too!

Last year was the first Mother’s Day that my Sister, Brother and I celebrated Mother’s Day without a mother. 

My sister and I decided to celebrate our daughters in remembrance of our Mother. It uplifted us to celebrate them and each other.

We have continued this tradition this year too!

I choose an item that is personal to my daughters and daughter-in-law. Last year it was silk pillowcases. They were all surprised and loved it! Oh, and my nephew’s wife I bought a travel mug for, she has four children and is also, a terrific mother!

This year I had a hard time deciding what to get. Hmmm? Well, with all the handwashing and sanitizer what better to get than hand cream sets! I bought sets that have 8 tubes or so that are small enough to carry in their purses!  Two have arrived and the daughters love them!

California poppies from my trip to see family last year!

Do you celebrate Mother’s Day? How?

Have a safe and sane weekend, whether or not you celebrate Mother’s Day!

I Never Would Have Believed It!

By Judith Ashley

Judith and Sarah at Desert Dreams Book Signing

Three years ago on April 30, 2011 Sarah Raplee and I crossed our fingers, held our breath and checked this site.

We were "Live!"

Everything worked so we knew we didn't have to stay up all night although we did hover multiple times a day for several months (years) after our launch.

As I write this 6637 comments have been made on 947 posts. Our stats say we've 108,204 page views and also show that just over 1200 are from stat-gathering robots or whatever they're called (they "visit" you and use your link to build their stats or something like that).

I digress.

One half of the original Genre-istas are still with us.

When a Genre-istas life goes in a different direction, we add them to our Alumni Page and continue to support them in various ways including featuring a new release or award in our Headlines. (You'll see our Saturday guests include former Genre-istas as well as popular guests).

How do we fill a vacancy? We stay focused on diversity and inclusiveness and invite someone who writes in an under-represented romance sub-genres, is from another part of the United States or country, and as we are well aware men write romance we've had a male romance writers as Genre-istas and guests.

Three years ago today I might have dreamed of this much success but I didn't believe it possible.

Judith and Sarah at Desert Dreams with L&M poster

What else did I believe impossible?

Coming from the "old school" where you sat down with someone, sized them up and got to know them, I knew with a certainty any relationship developed over the internet would, of necessity, be superficial. Romancing The Genres blew that right out of the water. Reading thirty plus posts and some of their books as well as engaging in cyber conversations with them, I've come to know and value the relationships I have with other Genre-istas.

I've made a fast-friend in my co-founder and co-Blog Queen, Sarah Raplee although that did happen the "old-fashioned" way. As I sit and type this post, I'm doing so directly into the "new post" setting on Blogger. When I finish the text, I'll go back and add links and pictures. If it doesn't work the first time, I will try again. No panic, no stress (well, maybe a little if I've tried a couple of times and nothing is working - after all, it is less than 10 hours before this is to go "live").

Three years ago I never would have considered sitting down and writing my post this way. I had a website but was not published. My technical skills were better than some but sorely lacking when it came to the internet, blogging, etc.

So much has changed and yet I can honestly say three years ago "I Never Would Have Believed It". And today? Well today I'm saying "We've Come A Long Way!"

Thanks to each and every one of you for your support!!!

Check out Judith's website at www.JudithAshleyRomance.com
You can find Judith's books here

Let it Snow! by Laura Simcox

AUTHOR LAURA SIMCOX

Ah, the holidays! 

You either cringe the minute you start seeing cheap snowmen figurines displayed in the ‘seasonal’ aisle at your local drugstore…or you clap your hands with glee. At the risk of being smacked, I must admit that I’m in the latter category. I tend to float through the season with pumpkin bread in the oven and a smile on my face, hoping desperately for snow (which doesn’t fall much in my part of North Carolina). 

I love snowy holidays. So much so—that when I began writing my contemporary romantic comedy, Ivy Entwined—I decided to set it in upstate New York, when a nice snowfall could logically already be on the ground as the Thanksgiving turkey hits the table. And so it is—and so it continues throughout the story. Ivy Entwined is packed full of swirling snow and blossoming romance.

My story of love during the holidays is about smart, funny Ivy Callahan, who has returned to her small hometown of Celebration, NY to fill her father’s shoes as the new mayor. Celebration, despite its name, doesn’t have a whole lot to celebrate. The biggest business is closed. Smaller businesses are, too. Unemployment is rampant. But one thing the town does have is a holiday spirit—Celebration loves festivals, parades and any reason to make merry. 

A very tall, suave and handsome reason comes in the form of Marcus Weaver, who has targeted Celebration as a new location for a giant box store. He intends to build it, open it and then get out of the town that holds nothing for him but bad memories. But once he sees Ivy, all bets are off, because he doesn’t want to leave, even though she is tough as nails about his plan.

FROM ENTANGLED PUBLISHING

 Ivy vows that her high school crush on Marcus will not affect her…not the least little bit—because his plan will kill what’s left of the downtown—right when she’s planning a renewal project. But Marcus is a consummate charmer and as the holidays go into full swing in Celebration, sparks fly between them even as the snow continues to fall. 

What’s more fun that love blooming at Christmas time? Throw in a cast of wacky characters, including Ivy’s snarky ex-fiancé and her potty-mouthed, match-making grandma—and this holiday in Celebration is one to remember. Stop by the downtown for the annual Christmas festival. Come over to the Callahan’s house for an ugly Christmas sweater party. (Just be careful of the punch…it’s spiked!) And take a first row seat to experience Ivy and Marcus do battle—both for the town and for each other’s hearts. 

Happy Romantic Holidays, everyone!  ~Laura Simcox

You can find Laura online at :

Website: http://www.laurasimcox.com

Facbook: https://www.facebook.com/authorLauraSimcox

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simcoxwriter