Read-A-Romance Month 2014 - Celebrate Romance by Celebrating You

I'm participating in the Read-A-Romance Month ! After reading my post, please comment to enter my giveaway. At the end of the month I'll choose the winners!

Here is my short essay on Celebrating Romance - the theme of this year's Read-A-Romance-Month! 

Romancing Yourself:

Celebrating romance is a great idea. 

But what do you do when you don’t have a significant over or if your significant other is out of town? I say, there is no reason not to romance yourself!

How?

The ole tried and true bubble bath by candlelight comes first to mind.

Buy yourself some flowers. They will make you smile every time you walk by them.

Get a full body massage. In funds are low maybe you can swing a foot massage. 

Can’t afford to travel to Paris? Yeah, me neither. Stake out a new chic café. Buy a fancy cup of coffee and a decadent pastry. Spend an hour people watching or flipping through a magazine. Rule: No electronic devices!

Forget fast food for dinner! Treat yourself to glass of wine and a plate of the fancy cheese you always wanted to try along with some crusty bread or crackers. Listen to soft music. Rule: No electronic devices!

Questions for Me! 

1 - Describe the most daring, adventurous or inspiring thing you ever did. 

I'm not the most adventurous person as I have anxiety issues but my decision to indie publish is the most gutsy move I made. The fact that I've inspired others to take the leap is humbling. 

2 - Tell us about your journey to becoming a writer. (How did you decide to get started? Did you always know or was there a specific moment when you knew?) I've been making up stories since childhood. My best friend and I used to walk through the woods telling stories about finding a portal and where it would lead us. Eventually these stories had cameo appearance of our latex crushes. 

3 - Tell us about The (or A) Book That Changed Your Life. (Why?)

Athem by Ayn Rand is the that had the most impact on me. I read it in my teens and the theme of individuality really spoke to me. I learned how important it is to think for (and be) yourself. To question authority and not be blind to a 'crowd' mentality.

Authors You Need To Read ( you know, besides me )

Allie Boniface                      CC Mackenzie

Wendy Marcus                    Nana Malone

Jennifer Probst                   

                                                     
Now for the giveaway!
Your choice from my backlist! 
1 winner - paperback  1 winner - eBook  1 - winner audiobook
Answer this question in the comments below and I'll choose a winner at random.

Tell me something nice that you did just for yourself!

“Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strengths.” Charles H. Spurgeon

My social/travel anxiety reared its ugly head yesterday when I was unable to make the trip to the RWA Conference in San Antonio. 

I really thought I would be able to do it. 

I was always shy. Never stopped. I had a stutter that had me in speech classes from the 4th to 6th grades. I overcame the stutter.

And I'm so different than the girl who wouldn't attend her high school or college graduation. Different from the 22 year-old who didn't want a big wedding and said her vows at the town hall in front of a water fountain (with no water because there was a drought than year). 

Sigh... perhaps not so different

I thought I've learned to manage it by knowing my limitations without living a limited life. I keep my life pretty simple, live in the country, have great friends, and a wonderful family. I do go places... places that don't involve plane trips. I'm not scared of the actual flying but the worries of getting to the airport, going through security, missing a connecting flight, the airline losing my luggage, getting to the hotel... just to repeat the process a few days later. Worry...worry...worry

Then I worried I would be a bad roommate since I don't sleep well. I worried about be allergic to something in the hotel which has happened to me before. I worried, worried, worried

The RWA National Conference is huge and overwhelming. The crazy thing is that romance writers are the nicest people on the planet. The ladies I was supposed to present with were so kind and understanding that it sent me on a crying jag. Seriously, what is wrong me!

Because why in the hell would I chose to board a cruise ship headed out of New Jersey into Hurricane Sandy as it cruised to Bermuda and NOT get on a plane bound for a place with awesome people and perhaps great opportunities? What is wrong with this picture? 

So next time I go to the doctor I'll talk to her about it. Meanwhile, a wonderful friend messaged me a website about anxiety so I'll give that a look over. 

And when I get it over it hopefully this won't happen... 

"I remember being onstage once when I didn't have fear: I got so scared I didn't have fear that it brought on an anxiety attack." Carly Simon

but I will worry that it will....

Transmedia Romance!

I'm super excited about being a part of this!

If you are registered for the RWA National Conference in San Antonio please think about attending this session!