Leveling the Playing Field

Come visit me at Hilary Grossman's blog and learn about how I leveled the playing field.

~Maggie

Charater Interview Blog Hop - Heroines - Kate Henderson

Hi, and welcome to my character interview! I hope you had time last week to meet Elizabeth's heroine, Rebecca Simmons from When Cupid Came to Town. If you haven't, you're missing out! Go there now. I'll wait :) And while you're at it, here's some info about Elizabeth:

Elizabeth D. Spencer lives on Long Island, New York with her husband, three children, and two energetic Sheltie puppies, Brinkley and Carson. (Named for the dog from You’ve Got Mail and Downton Abbey’s very own Carson, the butler.) She shares a love of history with her family and a love of books.  Her days and nights are spent writing. When she is not writing Appellate briefs for the day job, she is busy writing historical romance novels. The greatest challenge has been learning to balance it all.  Coffee has been a tremendous help!

Okay, back to me :)
I was really looking forward to interviewing Kate Henderson, the forty-year-old widow and mother of two teenage sons from Crazy Little Thing Called Matchmaking- Book One in the Love and Laugh in Seashore Cove series. From what I've heard, she's a lot of fun, but a tad stressed these days.

Inspiration for Kate's home in Seashore Cove

It took me over an hour to drive out east to this interview. Seashore Cove is a small hamlet nestled amongst the many Hampton towns on Eastern Long Island. The drive, although long, was pleasant enough. Who wouldn't want to be surrounded by beaches on this warm summer day?

I quickly discover, however, that Kate's home is not on the beach like I'd hoped, but it's still very impressive. That's it there...well, not the exact one. But pretty close.

A young man of about thirteen greeted me at the door. "Well, hello, madam." He bowed rather gracefully for a gangly teenager.  You're here to interview my mom, aren't you? You're early."

Before I could answer, another young man entered the room. "Dude, you did not just say that."

"What? She's like twenty minutes early. Mom is busy."

I check the time on my cell. He's right, I am much too early. "I'm sorry. Should I come back a little later?"

"Hang on a sec." The 'dude' turns away (thank God) and screams, "Mom! The interview lady is here. Can she come in or should I send her away ?"

"Holy sh--" The older boy glanced at me. "Err, crap, man, Mom's right in the kitchen, not up the friggin block!"

"I know that, Alex, but before, I asked if I could borrow the car and she just nodded, so she's clearly not paying attention."

Despite the ringing in my ears, I heard a much softer, yet clearly agitated, voice answer. "Drew, for goodness sakes, let her in."

With a smile as loud as his voice, the boy I now know as Drew stepped aside. "M'lady," he said and with a sweeping gesture, pointed me in the direction of the kitchen.

The older boy just shook his head. I entered the huge center hall, amazed at its high ceilings and majestic oak staircase. "Sorry if my brother ruined your hearing. This way."

I followed Alex into an enormous kitchen that would bring any good chef to his knees and focused

on the blonde woman sitting at a small kitchenette. Paper and mail were spread out in front of her, a half-filled coffee mug by her side. She held what looked like a bill in one hand while she pecked at a calculator.

"If this is a bad time, I can come back."

Inspiration for Kate

Kate shook her head and pushed the papers aside. "I can take a few minutes. These bills aren't going anywhere." Her smile was genuine, but the bags under her eyes made her look older than she was.

After my eager acceptance for a cup of coffee, Kate sat down. "Let's get to it then." I pulled out my writing pad:

What is your greatest fear?

Instantly, her eyes glazed over, but she forced a smile. "Wow, you really do jump right in, don't you? I've already lived my greatest fear. Losing the love of my life, and then having to tell his children their father was gone."

I'm so sorry. Let's move on to something more upbeat then. Aside from your children, tell me one person who's made a positive difference in your life.

Inspiration for Dr. Jake Harris

Kate glanced down at the slew of bills covering the table, a slow blush rising up into her cheeks. Hmm, looks like I hit a nerve. "Jake. My boss. He's a lot younger than me, but he's helped me
become a stronger person. And, if you listen to my friend, Gladys, a happier person."

Where do you go when you need time to yourself?

"My bathroom." At my perplexed look she laughed and went on. "My husband, William, designed this house. He took pride in everything he did, but the master bathroom was his best work. It has a wonderful Jacuzzi tub that I soak in. It always helps me forget my problems...at least, for a little while."

Do you have a secret? And, if so, why do you feel the need to keep that secret?

Kate stared into her cup of coffee, gripping it as if doing so would keep a grip on her emotions. "Chances are I'll have to give up this house. I'm not looking forward to the day I have to tell my sons that we have to leave the only home they've ever know. Their father built this home, but he wasn't very cautious with money. William handled all the bills and I was happy to let him be in control of it, never questioning anything." She gripped the mug tighter. "He left us with practically nothing and I am so angry at him for that." She let out a humorless laugh. "I guess that's two secrets."

What one action from your past are you most ashamed of? 

"Allowing myself to be put in the position I am in now. I never questioned where our money was going. I always trusted that William had everything under control. Never. Again."

I closed my pad and pasted a smile on my face as I stood. This poor women. "I think I've tortured you enough. Thank you so much for agreeing to this."

Kate stood also and held out her hand. "It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be."

As I waved goodbye, I offered a small prayer that Kate would find a way to keep her home. I also prayed she'd allow herself to fall in love again.

Next week’s Character Interview will feature Elizabeth D. Spencer’s heroine, Rebecca Simmons from her Historical Romance, WHEN CUPID CAME TO TOWN. You’ll find that interview on Elizabeth’s blog – HERE - See more at: http://www.deboradale.com/character-interview-blog-hop-heroines-eden-widow/#comment-13144

Next week's character interview will feature Gwen Petrarch's heroine, Sirah from her Romantic Paranormal Erotic suspense, Masquerade. You'll find that interview here

Gwen began writing in the womb, much to her mother's chagrin (doctors thought it was gas).  The epiphany that Gwen should spend the rest of her life telling sexy, romantic, thrilling stories came a number of years ago.  She woke, set her intention and then six days and six hundred pages later 'House Husband (soon to be released) was born.  And she hasn't looked back since.  Call her a late bloomer... (she's no longer in the womb and has had a couple of kids of her own) or just a girl amassing a lifetime's worth of fodder to draw her stories from.  Whichever.  It's all about the love of the craft, just like everything else, do a thing because it fills you with joy and hope that you can share and fills your soul with every good thing.

Next week’s Character Interview will feature Elizabeth D. Spencer’s heroine, Rebecca Simmons from her Historical Romance, WHEN CUPID CAME TO TOWN. You’ll find that interview on Elizabeth’s blog – HERE - See more at: http://www.deboradale.com/character-interview-blog-hop-heroines-eden-widow/#comment-13144

Until next time, eat healthy and happy writing!

~Maggie 

Elizabeth D. Spencer lives on Long Island, New York with her husband, three children, and two energetic Sheltie puppies, Brinkley and Carson. (Named for the dog from You’ve Got Mail and Downton Abbey’s very own Carson, the butler.) She shares a love of history with her family and a love of books. Her days and nights are spent writing. When she is not writing Appellate briefs for the day job, she is busy writing historical romance novels. The greatest challenge has been learning to balance it all. Coffee has been a tremendous help! - See more at: http://www.deboradale.com/character-interview-blog-hop-heroines-eden-widow/#comment-13144

Elizabeth D. Spencer lives on Long Island, New York with her husband, three children, and two energetic Sheltie puppies, Brinkley and Carson. (Named for the dog from You’ve Got Mail and Downton Abbey’s very own Carson, the butler.) She shares a love of history with her family and a love of books. Her days and nights are spent writing. When she is not writing Appellate briefs for the day job, she is busy writing historical romance novels. The greatest challenge has been learning to balance it all. Coffee has been a tremendous help! - See more at: http://www.deboradale.com/character-interview-blog-hop-heroines-eden-widow/#comment-13144

Cover Reveal!!!!! Crazy Little Thing Called Matchmaking!!!

Come along, friends, and let me introduce you to the wonderful, sometimes magical town of Seashore Cove, Long Island! Book One is out NOW!!!

Isn't it awesome? If you want to know about the red lollipop...well, I'm not going to tell you :-p. You can pick up a copy TODAY and find out for yourself! And hopefully enjoy a really good read too!

Until next time, eat healthy and happy writing!

~Maggie

Welcome to Seashore Cove, Long Island!

In a few weeks, book #1 in my Love and Laugh in Seashore Cove series, Crazy Little Thing Called Matchmaking, will be released.

Seashore Cove is a fictional town nestled amongst the many Hampton towns on the south shore of the south fork of Long Island. Here are a few things you may not know about the place I call home:

1. Geographically 2 of the five boroughs (Brooklyn and Queens) of New York City are on Long Island. However, when you say you're from Long Island, residents of NY know you mean either Suffolk or Nassau county.

2. The north and south shores of Long Island are very different for
an island that's only 25 miles from north to south. The north shore is hilly and rocky with wonderful views of the Long Island Sound.

The south shore is flat and sandy, with some of the best beaches in the world. In contrast, it can take anywhere from two and a half to four hours (depending on traffic. And unless it's 3 AM on a Sunday, there will be traffic) to travel from Montauk Point (the eastern-most point of the island) to  Manhattan.

3. We don't live in Long Island, we live on Long Island.

4. And it's pronounced Long Island. I've lived here almost 50 years and I've met maybe three people who pronounced it Lawn Guyland. Anyone else was from out of town :D We do, however; say cawfee and dog doesn't rhyme with log.

5. We really do have the best pizza and bagels. I'm not kidding. I've traveled. And while Chicago can give us a fair challenge in the pizza race (they still lose, IMO :) ) no place comes close to our bagels.

6. We have delis and they are beautiful. When I ask for bacon, egg and cheese on a roll, they know exactly what I mean. Unlike other places I've visited where they stared at me, while slowly backing up.

7. "The Hamptons" is not one town. There are about 6 different towns scattered throughout the eastern part of the island. During the winter, the eastern towns are fairly quiet. During the summer, they're bursting.

8. Much of Long Island is country with many farms and wineries.

9. There are many charming towns on Long Island.

10. Billy Joel is a big deal here. And, yes, I'm a huge fan.

So there you have some of the reasons I stay on this traffic-ridden, ridiculously expensive island. And why I chose this place for the setting in my series.

Have questions? Want to add something to the list of awesome things about Long Island? Leave a comment!

Until next time, eat healthy and happy writing!

~Maggie

So You Like Small Town Romances...

Happy New Year!

It's been a while since I've posted. Just like Emma in my ghostly romance, Ruby's Letters, I own a fireplace and chimney restoration business. As I'm sure you can imagine, the time around the holidays is known as our busy season.

My team and I have been busy finalizing my upcoming release, Book One in my small town series: Love and Laugh in Seashore Cove. This book was originally known as Love Emergency, but after discussing it with my team, we've decide to go with:

*drum roll please!!*

Crazy Little Thing Called Matchmaking

Here's a short synopsis:

Dubbed “The Child Whisperer” by his peers, twenty-nine-year-old Dr. Jake Harris is a lollipop-sucking, video game-playing pediatrician, who moves to Seashore Cove, Long Island in search of starting a family.  What he finds is an immediate attraction to his new nurse, Kate Henderson, a grieving widow with two teenage boys and a list of reasons why she must fight her growing desire for the young doctor. But her sons think the doctor is the perfect match for their mother and decide to try their hand in matchmaking.

Look for the cover reveal coming soon!

Until then, eat healthy and happy writing!

~Maggie

Now that RUBY'S LETTERS is out and my upcoming release LOVE EMERGENCY (book one in my small town romance series) is in the hands of my proofreader I've found myself with some spare time. That's kinda weird for me.

Most of my time is either taken up by my family, my husband's business or my writing. I'm making great progress with the second book in the small town series, ANGELS IN SEASHORE COVE, but every once in a while I like to take a break, relax, let me eyes refocus. So what do I do?

1. Cook: I'll wait while those who know me regain consciousness. All better? Okay, good. Ever since I started the LCHF (low carb, high fat) WOE (way of eating) I've tried to find new and creative ways to make meals interesting. Without the fillers of pasta, bread, potatoes and rice, there are only so many ways you can cook a chicken or steak without wanting to "accidentally" drop it on the floor and proclaim, "Oh, look, honey, dinner is ruined! I guess we have to go out!" It worked a few times. Hubby quickly caught on. I can no longer get away with blaming gravity for my inability to grasp dinner plates.

Happily, I've found some wonderful recipes that are not only healthy, but delicious! And no more wanting to drop plates...accidentally.

For those who want an awesome dessert, I highly recommend this low-carb cheesecake recipe. It's yummy with the almond pie crust or without. If you want a chocolate fix, just add 2 TBL of unsweetened cocoa to the cream cheese in the above linked recipe and Viola'! You've got yourself a sinfully good dessert that's not at all sinful.

2. Hidden Object Games: I've mentioned this in blogs and articles I've written before, but it really is a great way to just let my mind go off on its own while I search out all those pesky items in these computer games. If you've never played one you should a) be forewarned, they are addictive and b) start with Mystery Case Files: Madam Fate from Big Fish Games. Yes, they cost money (although, you can play them for an hour for free) but, for me, they're well worth it. You can also get a timed version on your tablet for free.

3. Clean the House: Now before you start judging, read this previous blog post. It's long, so grab a cup of tea first :)

Back? So now you see why cleaning the house--or being able to--is a huge deal for me. I still don't love housework, but I do it with flair now. Because I can. Because I want to.

4. Read: (like it needed to be said:) There were a few years where I didn't read as much as I wanted to. Now that I don't have to take afternoon naps anymore, I've found the time to turn off the "critique partner/writer" part of my brain and just enjoy being a reader.

So that's what I do in my spare time. I don't get a lot of it, with my muse, my kids and my husband constantly whispering in my ear, so when I have the precious few moments that are just for me, I use them wisely.

What do you like to do in your free time? Share in the comments below:)

Until next time, my friends, eat healthy and happy writing!

~Maggie

Thursday Thirteen

I've only recently heard about this phenomena through the other blog I participate in, The Otherworld Diner so I decided to give it a shot on my own.

Thirteen ways to go mildly insane (I know, because I made this trip years ago)

1) Having an old dog that does new tricks: Dutch is a German short-haired pointer that I rescued about 10 years ago. Throughout the years Dutch has been a companion, an annoyance and comic relief. Now, at 12, Dutch has learned a new trick; climbing up on my furniture and . . . well . . . who needs to get up and run outside to go to the bathroom? Every night I have to put dining room chairs, guitars and empty hampers on every piece of furniture he can climb on just so I don't have to shampoo my furniture the next morning.

2) Having one of your kids go on vacation: I know, most mothers say I'm insane, but I can't help it. I love my kids and I miss them terribly when they're not here.

3) Having the aforementioned child come home from vacation: Within moments after the hugs, the kisses and the "I'm so glad you're home's!" the other kids remember that they have unfinished arguing to do and the make it all up in the first 24 hours.

4)Having a husband who thinks everything can and should be made into a joke: And worse yet, they're the same old tired jokes that I've heard over the last 20 years! I swear if I say "tongs" and he says "you're welcome" one more time....!!!!

5) You have a child who acts just like his dad: Need I say more?

6) Your worrisome father-in-law lives in your basement apartment: Let's just say, he doesn't call or knock first before he comes up :)

7)Having a nineteen-year-old who thinks it's funny to moon people: I have my brother, Hugh, to thank for that.

8) Having a five-year-old who thinks his brother mooning people is funny and isn't afraid to show it: I just can't wait for kindergarten to start! Oh, joy.

9)The circle game: Do any of you know what this is? If you don't, allow me to explain. Basically you make a circle with your index finger and thumb, hold it below your chest and then try to get people to look at it. But the other people, knowing that you play this insipid game, are too clever to look at you outright, so you need to learn new and clever ways to catch them. i.e. taking a picture of your finger-circle and sending it to your victim as a text message. Yes, that's right. And you'll never guess who plays it all the !@#$ time!

10)You no longer color your hair 'to be different': I remember when I colored my hair just for a change. Now, if I don't color my hair, people think I'm my husband's mother. I'm 40, she's 79! And yet, when I color my hair, people say I barely look like I'm out of my 20's....go figure.

11) Having a younger brother who thinks it's funny to rub his thumbs over the lenses of your glasses: Yes, Heath, I'm talking about you. And people wonder why I wear contacts.

12) Having a child who's a vidiot (video-idiot): It's so delightful when you ask your video game crazed child a question and the answer always, somehow, refers back to Nintendo.

13) Your Italian greyhound, Santa's Little Helper, (yes, that's his name) thinks the only place to lay down in your house is on you: We rescued Santa's Little Helper about 2 years ago. My sister-in-law works for a pet shop and they couldn't sell him because he has a deformed front right leg. He's a loving dog, but no matter what I do, whenever I sit down to write, or read, or watch T.V. Santa feels the need to be right up under my chin. Ever try to type on a laptop with a dog's torso resting on your chest? It's not easy. He's a weird dog anyway, but that's for another time.

Well, I hope you enjoy this post as much as I enjoyed writing it. A special thanks to DD Mills for the fine example of Thursday Thirteen she has posted on her blog. Now back to work on my new WIP (work in progress)