NANOWRIMO 2022: Hit The Target 8 Days Early!!! 50,000 words: The Heart is a River(novel about BC floods) Beautiful British Columbia Fraser Valley

 Dear Readers:

I am so incredibly psyched to share with you tonight that at 8:28 P.M. EST, I completed my beautiful and inspiring Nanowrimo Project for 2022. The targeted timeline was for Nov 30th but I made it with eight days to spare! So happy and proud!!!

This one was a labor of love, inspired by the tragedy of the November 2021 B.C. floods in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, specifically near Abbotsford. 

My heroine, Ria Brooke, lost her home when it was swept away down the river. She has spent the last six years rebuilding her home after the untimely death of her husband, John.

Now, devastated, and waiting on her insurance claim and browsing the rental homes, she is offered a place to stay by dear friends Bill and Laura Everly, who own a ranch and run the youth shelter, a nonprofit organization that provides food, clothes, and lodging for at risk youth. Ria was hired as an admin person at the shelter shortly before the floods came and washed her home away. She considers herself hugely blessed to have such a loving and supportive couple in her life, Bill and Laura, who brighten her days with their compassion, wit and laughter, not to mention, Laura's home cooking and hospitality.

Laura's other talent is matchmaking, and who better to set Ria up with an eligible bachelor type than Laura herself! She has her eyes on the ruggedly handsome older gentleman, a retiree, who volunteers twice a week at the shelter, using his truck to bring furniture to the youth. 

Keir Weston is tall, lanky and impossibly handsome, with his silvery mane and beard, his sultry voice and aloof demeanor. One look from Ria and sparks fly! The only problem is, Keir got badly burned by a bitter divorce two decades ago, and he's kept to himself and doesn't want to be tied down. He finds a kinship with the lovely, evolved woman, though, and feels a stirring in his heart that he thought he would never feel again, and decides to test the waters.

But Ria is vulnerable and scared. She's lost the one man she thought she had forever with, and now she lost her beloved home. Falling for Keir was not her mission, but she can't help but open her heart to the sexy silver fox who seems vulnerable and sad too, under his well-drawn facade.

When New Year's Eve comes, the big bash of the year is held at the Everly ranch, and Keir decides to show up out of the blue. Ria wants to spill her feelings and tell Keir that he is the only man for her, but will he accept her offer of love, or run for the hills and deny them both the love they both desperately need from one another?

The Heart Is a River is a story of hope, heart and healing. It's a passionate story of deep wounds and old hurts coming to the surface. But it is also the story of finding the courage to light the lamp for love just one more time.

I just know you are going to love this heart-tugging story.

Coming soon!!

Much love,

RR xo

NANOWRIMO -- GRAND FINALE!!!

Dear Readers!

We've reached the finish line for the annual novel writing challenge, NaNoWriMo -- or better known as National Novel Writing Month.

I soared through the finish line with my latest labor of love...5 days early. Completed on November 25th at just over 50,000 words..."CALL MY NAME" was brought to fruition.

Now, for the editing time. Drafts one, two, three and four...and so on.

If YOU were lucky enough to finish your novel on time, CONGRATS!!! Even if you didn't make the 50,000 words, kudos to you for creating something beautiful that you loved working on and brought you immense joy.

Being an author is not for the faint of heart. It takes hours, weeks, months, and years of blood, sweat and tears, in order to hone your craft and become better at what you do

It also takes a huge consumption of time to work on a novel. We are definitely an underrated breed, at best, but I would not trade my natural born gifts for the world.

Look for my novel in coming weeks...to be published by KDP.

I salute all the writers who took part in this year's novel challenge. Thank you also to my faithful readers who've supported me over the years and joyously look forward to every new novel that I release.

With much love and Gratitude,

RR xo

NEW NOVEL!! NANOWRIMO 2019 -- CALL MY NAME --

Dear Readers,

November started with a bang! The annual Novel Writing Challenge, which has an acronym called NaNoWriMo -- for National Novel Writing Month -- has me so stoked!!

It's November 17th and I'm already at 42,000 words!!!! Hey now!!!

50k words is the ultimate goal, to be finished by Nov.30th with a complete novel.

Every year, I gift myself with the beautiful offering of a completed love story (first draft, of course). It's the perfect way to get REALLY disciplined and get a novel completed. Rather than to procrastinate and take one's time throughout the course of a year.

Over half a million of us NaNo'ers are taking part in this challenge. I'm always psyched to get to the finish line, but the real fun is in the journey to get there!!! It's all that over-caffeinated, nail-biting, pulse-pounding, key-typing activity that gets the creative juices flowing.

My latest novel is a surefire winner, in the sense that I didn't have to use too much brain power to get it going. I already had the "muse" ready and willing to go. Like a filly on her maiden race at the Belmont, I was "rarin' to go" and chomping at the bit! I've been overjoyed to share my love story of Regan Reynolds and Stephen Silver with the world. I hope you love this power couple as much as I do!!! XOXO

A certain Silver Fox inspired me to craft my current masterpiece. Thank you, S.M., for the wonderful chats, for bringing your Aquarian energy around me and for just...well...making my work days more bearable. You rock my socks!!

To all the NaNoWriMo contenders this year...GOOD LUCK!!! I hope you make it to the finish line with your latest handiwork. If anyone knows how much blood, sweat and tears goes into making a novel, it it surely the NaNo writers every November. Bravo to you!!!

Sending good vibes and much love,

RR xo

This Year's NaNoWriMo Entry -- Moonlight Over Maryland -- New Novel!!!

Dear Readers,

I am pleased to announce my latest novel that is in the works for November 1st....for the annual National Novel Writing Month...better known as NaNoWriMo for all the Nano'ers out there!!

https://www.nanowrimo.org/

My book is called MOONLIGHT OVER MARYLAND,and it's about a female jazz singer whose husband lost his battle to depression and ends his life. She finds love again, in the most remarkable way, and must battle her fears of abandonment, by letting her guard down and allowing herself to love again.

This is just a teaser. I'll share more details as November arrives, and I'm able to spill it.

I'm an avid NaNoWriMo participant. My first year, 2012, was exciting, and I penned WILDHEART, a novel set in Toronto about a divorced woman who meets a troubled musician trying to piece his life back together after a divorce of his own, and he's facing his father's impending death.

Since then, I've taken part in 8 consecutive years of NaNo. It's the most exciting part of a writer's life, aside from getting a book deal, of course.

I love NaNoWriMo for the fact that, despite all the distractions in a writer's life that keeps us from completing a 50,000 word novel (work, family, relationships, health issues, debt, disease, conflicts of all types or Universal complications that we cannot avoid)...well, face it, this chunk of time (30 days) is the only time of the year we can be ACCOUNTABLE for our writing progress. It's the perfect chance to get something FINISHED after all the delays and procrastinating some of us do throughout the year. Ugh. It's horrible!

So without further ado...my fellow NaNoWriMo participants....GOOD LUCK on your writing projects for November....and Happy Writing!!!

See you at the finish line on November 30th.

Love,

xx RR xx

My Forthcoming Novel THE CHRISTMAS KEYS!!!

Dear Readers,

I'm incredibly amped to bring you the final, published product of last November's NaNoWriMo, "THE CHRISTMAS KEYS." Soon, you will have a fresh copy of my latest romance in your hands.

Every November, I partake, along with 600,000 other authors around North America, in the National Novel Writing Month. The goal is to complete a 50,000 word novel in just 30 days! It's a monstrous feat, at best. But by far, it's my annual gift to myself. You could say...an early Christmas gift.

Along with the blushing afterglow of finishing up Derek and Ronnie's story of adopting the concert pianist child prodigy, Jonathan Spence, I'll be promoting the book regionally. Look for me on local TV and for the book in Kindle and paperback format, and on Amazon for sale. Local book retailers will have a copy as well.

Now, I bid you adieu, as I'm back to final edits. Yes, Fall time is here and it won't be long before the autumn leaves turn into that first, heavenly

snowfall.

Cheering for you always,

RR xo

Hello September!!!

Every year at this time, I do a little happy dance.

Why, do you ask?

Strangely, as a girl who was born in April, I have a hugely over-enthused OBSESSION WITH FALLTIME.

I know, I know. Stop it with the Pumpkin Spice talk, right? But I can't help it. Something abut the days getting shorter, the nights getting longer, and the scent of fall in the air just sends me on a trip to the moon.

We're in September officially today. Here in southern Ontario, that means hot days and cooler nights. Today the mercury hit 34 Humidex (25 celcius but feels like 34c with the humidity) In Fahrenheit for my American friends, it feels like 93.

The sun is shining and I've had my first pumpkin spice latte of the season. Tim Hortons is brilliant, although I do prefer the Starbucks version.

Soon, there'll be the crunch of fallen leaves beneath my feet, those familiar, chilly nights and the scent of wood burning fireplaces in the neighbourhood. This time of year, the night skies get prettier. Everything about Autumn pulls me in. Pure romance. Sweater weather. Cozying up to someone you love. I might even be compelled or inspired to have an Autumn romance myself. Wink Wink.

Romance is always on the brain for me, whether in my fantasies or in the form of a book. I love conjuring up a good ole love story. Right now, I'm drafting the outline for my annual NaNoWriMo entry. It's my yearly novel that I set out to write in November. Something about that 50,000 word count just sends the pulse racing and stirs something deep inside me. I am beyond stoked for this year's novel. The storyline hits close to home and it's got romance, murder and intrigue.
I'd like to say it's a hybrid between DIRTY DANCING, MURDER SHE WROTE, and HARLEQUIN.

TANGO IN THE NIGHT is the working title, but it might very well change when November gets here. Right now, it's just a draft, a germ of an idea.

When inspiration hits, you just run with it. My hero is a sexy, adventurous alpha male who likes to work in the kitchen. The heroine is feminine, smart, intuitive and courageous. There's no telling what mischief these two will get up to! Stay tuned for more on Alex and Rebecca.

Wherever you are in the atmosphere right now, may your weekend be filled with adventures and happiness.

As always,

Cheering for you,

RR xo

Chronic pain, setbacks and NaNoWriMo

Dear readers,

Today, I'm writing in chronic pain. But...I AM WRITING.

Today my Hashimoto's is making me feel terrible, weak, lethargic and sore. My head is pounding and my muscles and joints hurt me. But...I AM WRITING.

How do you overcome obstacles in your journey?? What steps of self care do you practice to ensure you stay on track? For me, it's a hot bubble bath (long soak) with incense, candles and soft music after a long day of work. Sometimes it's a favorite cold or hot beverage. At any rate, one must ESCAPE the madness in order to recharge. When I take care of ME, I am then able to give back. Let's face it, we cannot serve from an empty vessel; we must first fill ourselves up.

This post is not to gain sympathy...but rather...to share my struggles and hopefully resonate with you, as well. I know (most of us) will suffer with carpal tunnel at some point in our writing career, and let me tell you, it's no walk in the park.  Carpal tunnel is now in both of my wrists/arms, forcing me to medicate and to use ice packs.

But...I AM WRITING.

NaNoWriMo is my "WHY"...the reason i'm still plugging away. The battery on my laptop is at 1% and needs to be replaced ASAP. But still, I keep pushing forward, because NOVEL HAPPENS. Because my readers need me, and my book THE CHRISTMAS KEYS has to be written!

NaNoWriMo is my glowing pregnancy...my pride and joy...my Boston Marathon, so to speak. It's what I've done every November since 2012. That first year, I gave up on my script halfway because it grew stagnant and I was bored with my hero. But last year and this year, I am ON FIRE, and determined to finish with the 50,000 word criteria.

NaNoWriMo is my vision for the future. It helps me complete my project on time and with burning discipline. I also get a finished product and a plaque that commends me for my hard work.

So, carpal tunnel be damned! I AM WRITING. Hallmark needs my book and the world needs my message.

Til then,

Stay Passionate,

RR xo