"Beige Hell." - Victoria Byrce

My idea for Love By Design (A Sex and the City meets HGTV Romp. Sparks fly on camera as interior designer Victoria Bryce breaks in temporary co-host Aussie Russ Rowland. Arguments over design plans and measurement mishaps ignite passions behind the scenes. But when the past collides with the present will the foundation they built withstand the final reveal?)
started with my love affair with HGTV. I'm addict - though if you took a tour of my house you wouldn't know it. So I wondered what the conversation between Victoria and Russ would be if they walked into my house to do a makeover... and here it is.... they start off in the living room...


 "This is beige hell," gasped Victoria.
 "True, it could use some color."Russ plopped himself on the the leather couch. "Look these seats recline AND have cup holders. Genius!"
 "Cup holders are for cars."
 "Come on, luv, a nice glass of Merlot right at your fingertips while watching a chick flick on this beauty of a big screen TV."
"You know how I feel about designing around TV's."
"I do. Let's go check out the bathroom."
Russ led the way but upon entering he backed out. "No. You don't want to see it. It's a job only Bath Crashers could manage."
"It can't be that bad." Victoria tickled his sides so he would let her by. "OMG! It's blue. The tub. The toilet. Everything is blue!"
Russ and Victoria ventured down the hall to the master bedroom. 
"A romance author sleeps in this room?" Victoria expected a canopy bed with rich bedding and plenty of frilly pillows not the basic bed with a blah comforter. "How does Liz Matis get inspired to write those hot sex scenes?" 
"I'm sure her husband takes care of that."
"How does HE get inspired?"
"All a man needs is a bed. In fact," he circled his arms around her, "I'm feeling inspired right now."
"We can't keep having sex in other people's homes. What if we get caught?"
"She's a romance author, she'll understand."
"True, she might put it in one of her books."


Yep, I sure did! Read about it in Love By Design!


Side Note:  HGTV is welcome to come into my house and do a makeover. Just saying...

And "I love the idea of spending the whole day in bed with my lover." Jennifer Lopez

Another post in my Quotes by Famous Women series. 


I always liked Jennifer Lopez, but I really became a fan of hers through American Idol. She seems really sweet and someone I'd liked to have lunch with. Here are some quotes from J-Lo. 


Beauty is only skin deep. I think what's really important is finding a balance of mind, body and spirit.
Jennifer Lopez



I grew up in the Bronx where you would stay up late with your girlfriends, just being silly in our bedrooms, whatever. And I was always the clown.
Jennifer Lopez



If you kiss on the first date and it's not right, then there will be no second date. Sometimes it's better to hold out and not kiss for a long time. I am a strong believer in kissing being very intimate, and the minute you kiss, the floodgates open for everything else.
Jennifer Lopez


It's a shame to call somebody a 'diva' simply because they work harder than everybody else.
Jennifer Lopez

Living the dream, baby, just living the dream...

 My second eBook/Nook signing was held at the same location - Barnes and Noble at the Palisades Center in West Nyack, NY with members of the Hudson Valley Romance Writers of America. I met some lovely readers (more on that later).

At the first Nook signing all the members were signing at one time - about ten of us. We were located in a section off to the side. After a slow start we had a nice flow of traffic. The management at B&N were impressed enough to invite us back, but this time they extended the time and we did rotating shifts in smaller groups. We were placed in a heavy traffic area - right in front of the steps to the Starbucks Cafe.

My time slot was 1:00 to 3:00. I partnered up with the fabulous Charmaine Gordon. Traffic was slow for the first 45 minutes but then it picked up.

My favorites of the day:

I met a romance reader that reads over 200 books a year and said what is music to every writer's ears - "I'm going to tell all my friends about your books!" Better yet she is part of a book club and when I offered to do a Q&A she was thrilled so I pointed out my email address on the rack cards and told her to contact me if they are interested. I hope they are!

It pays to be nice to the non-romance readers who stop by your table to chat. For instance, a retired fashion photographer stopped by to discuss the book HE was writing. As a former actress, Charmaine Gordon, asked him about the casting couch and he said the photographers didn't need a couch - that the models vied for dates in hopes of being selected - ( he was very honest ) and he had his pick. Well, I'm writing a romance between a supermodel and football player - and lightbulb moment - I know where my story is going!

It's all about connecting with people and learning about them whether they are your target audience or not.

Over the speaker they announced our presence and I did my best beauty pageant wave. People laughed. The management of B&N wants to have us back AND next time stock our print books for the signing!

And, yes, I had to direct a nice gentlemen who wanted a Spanish-English Bible to the information desk. I escaped having to give directions to the bathroom.  Ah, the life of a romance author...

eBook Signing!

Today I'll be at the Barnes and Noble at the Palisades Center in West Nyack, NY. I'll be there from 1 to 3 signing nifty rack cards. If that's not enough to lure you in I have chocolate!