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

Love Walked In!!! Coming this Summer!!!

 Dear Readers,

My heart is bursting with gladness and anticipation for my forthcoming novel "Love Walked In."

This gem was inspired in May 2020 through a beautiful, real-life connection I've experienced. A wonderful soul walked into my life; his parents were residents at the senior's home where I work. Long story short, over a span of 17 months of knowing this beautiful, loving couple (married 64 years), they both passed in early 2020, just two months apart. They couldn't bear to be apart! Sigh....my heart melts thinking of how incredible that love story is. I can only HOPE to find a connection that powerful and steadfast in this life.

I'm writing this epic story tonight, and it's making me feel SO STOKED!!! The electricity between the two main characters is OFF THE CHARTS...and the sweet thing is....it started as a friendship.

LOVE WALKED IN chronicles the story of housekeeper Rileigh Rhodes, whose husband died of a heart attack and broke her heart. Since then, she's thrown herself into her busy life, working hard and filling that empty space with her workmates and her social life, to avoid her pain.

Divorced Ken Winslow is a hero on a Harley; caring for his elderly parents at the senior's home and ensuring they have everything they need. His wife walked out on him years ago, leaving him with three kids, and he raised them successfully, put them through college and helped them leave the nest to find their way in life. Now, he's footloose and fancy-free, money in the bank galore, and not looking for a woman to tie him down, but eager to enjoy his retiree life in the gorgeous Fraser Valley of British Columbia. 

Neither of them expected to find one another, living 2,700 miles apart. But when Rileigh Rhodes knocks on the door of room 111 at Amberlea Gardens, Ken is in for the "ride" of a lifetime.

Now, discover how their love unfolds in the most unforgettable way.

Second chance love is so exciting, especially when it comes out of the blue, without warning!

COMING SUMMER 2021... LOVE WALKED IN!!!

Stay passionate, stay safe,

RR xo

AGAINST ALL ODDS IS FINALLY HERE!!

 Dear Readers,

My new book, "Against All Odds," is finally here! It was launched Tues. April 27th. I cannot wait for you to read this gem! I penned it years ago, when I was first starting out as a writer. It was created on a typewriter, from May 19, 1993, to April 20, 1994. Those were glorious days for me, discovering my "voice" as a writer, the whole process was fun, and my heart was brimming with big dreams and massive hopes for the future.  This work made me so proud, as a teenager who idolized Danielle Steel and Nora Roberts. One day, I'd hoped to see my name on the NY Times Bestseller list; that dream carried me through many years of hardship, through the highs and lows, the triumphs and tribulations.  

I remember being so excited about writing this one; sometimes, in the middle of the night, I'd have an idea for the characters or plot, and I'd turn on the light and scribble down some dialogue on a pad of paper. 

It's the 9th title of my books to be published and made available for purchase on Amazon, available in both e-book format and in paperback.

I just know you're going to LOVE this bicoastal romance, about the stunning Starr Taylor, news anchor for Channel 10 Chicago, and the sexy, heartthrob music producer in Los Angeles, Peter Adams. Their love for one another is extraordinary, their quest to keep it alive is a journey itself, across 2200 miles and many obstacles. Their PASSION is off the charts!!

Without further ado (28 years in the making since the first page was written), I present you with my "baby" -- my golden child -- AGAINST ALL ODDS. 

Link for purchase, e-book:  https://www.amazon.ca/Against-All-Odds-Rochelle-Renee-ebook/dp/B093TQZFSF/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=rochelle+renee+against+all+odds&qid=1619885083&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

Link for paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Against-All-Odds-Rochelle-Renee/dp/1544605757/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=rochelle+renee+against+all+odds&qid=1619884935&s=books&sr=1-1

Thank you, from my heart, for your continued support! 

Cheering for you always,

RR xo

DESIRE - The Novel - Coming April 2021

 Dear Readers,

I have been faithfully working on a few projects here, amidst my full-time day job, and on weekends I devote my time to writing and music. "Love Walked In" has been another novel in the works, as well as "Falling For Saint Nick." The projected release for all three books is 2021. Thank you for your patience.

"DESIRE" -- my latest labor of love -- was conceptualized in January 2019. 

Just the tiny seed of it, the first love scene, took glorious form at that time, and I set it down for a while to let it marinade. In the Spring of 2020, I began writing again. It's been a tough year for all of us, with the pandemic, family stuff going on, life changes, work, other

stressors, and the collective of humanity going through a massive energy shift.

I felt it was only right to put the writing on the backburner for a bit. My readers deserve QUALITY writing, not specks of details jammed together. Also, I want my characters to fully develop and show up with truth and meaning in the pages of this passionate love story.

My hope is that you love this sexy, powerful novel featuring a loving, vulnerable woman named Reanna Mcleod who has escaped the abusive partner who sent her to the E.R. after a violent episode. She swore it was the last time, and has committed fully to her healing, when the abuser is locked away.

Longtime neighbor Grant Montgomery has always been the featured heartthrob in Reanna's diary. Through the years, she's kept her secret yearning under wraps, out of respect for Grant's wife and for him also. But when Jean Montgomery dies from cancer, Reanna can't help but face her feelings for the sexy professor who's owned her heart all these years.

When the contents of her torrid diary are discovered by a surprised Grant, he vies to unravel the secrets of the lovely woman who lived across the street for 15 years. Not knowing she was so enamored with him makes his pulse race even more. Grant is determined to pursue her, and soon the two are swept into a blazing love affair much hotter than the Sahara!

Will they find their happy ever after, or will Reanna's past rear its ugly head and destroy them both?

COMING APRIL 2021.

Thank you for reading my novels and supporting this indie author since 2013 when "LONGING" was first published and this blog was launched July 26, 2013. I am excited and thrilled to see what this year brings for my career.

Wishing love and peace to you all!

Stay passionate,

RR xo

LET THERE BE LOVE

Let there be falling leaves
from well-worn trees,
towering oaks,
and silver birch,
etched in time
with lines to tell
what they've been through

Autumn's bounty of
crimson, tangerine, gold
Falling, trickling,
Cascading
to the earth like
dreams and stories
we've carried so long
in hearts brimming with
hope & promise

Let there be September and October nights of
smoky skies
and diamonds in our eyes
as we watch the world slumbering
and we sit hand in hand,
under the blanket of love
sharing, loving & caressing
Just two souls
who've found one another
in the lottery of the cosmic path

We are lucky,
oh so lucky
to be here at this moment
Two flames amid
7 billion

I wanna get lost in your aquamarine eyes
and just forget the world
savor every minute of you
like the whip creme on my lips
and the hint of pumpkin spice on my tongue
from the steamed milk latte
you served me today

Let there be September skies of baby blue
with sunlight pouring through
and evening skies of sapphire
when the firewood burns
in old homes across town
while we share a moonlit stroll
murmuring secrets
only we can know

Let there be joy in our hearts
to whisk away the fear
let there be kindness
to chase away the gloom and doom
of this cruel world
let there be laughter
bubbling over from
our happy, kindred hearts

But most of all,
let there be Love.

--Rochelle Renee --
Sept 5 --2020
12:26 p.m. EST

DESIRE: The New Novel Coming Soon in 2020

Dear Readers,

The New Novel is halfway done!!

I am unbelievably STOKED as I write this from my "writing room" in the dark, with a cold beverage, air conditioning, Dirty Dancing soundtrack blasting and my Scentsy warmer on the desk (scent tonight is "Cozy Fireside." Thanks Julie Cooney!!)

My long weekend here in Ontario Canada is spent lovingly working on my fiction that claims my heart and soul.

DESIRE is like a personal diary of sorts for me, except for the domestic abuse that never happened on the physical level, but still...I have experienced abuse on another level, and it is equally disturbing. Write what you know -- best advice I ever received. I feel my books are enriched with stories, people and elements of what I've personally gone through.

BLURB:

Reanna Mcleod moved back to Silver Springs after her husband John Daly broke her bones and sent her to the E.R. He's in prison now and she decides to make a clean break, back to the charming town where she grew up.

But things have changed. Her parents sold off the "Ponderosa" aka the farmhouse and magical land where she flourished in her novel writing, and called it home for 30 years. When her mother's cheque from the realtor came, she nabbed her $1 million, leaving Reanna out in the cold. "You're on your own," her mother sneered, and Reanna scrambled for a place to live. That's when charming sociopath John came along, sweeping her off her feet and promising her a better life with him in a mansion in another city.

Moving back to her hometown, Reanna is blessed to rent the small room above the coach house her school teacher friend Tracy leases to her on her country property. It brings Reanna back to her roots; small town feeling, clean country air, and a chance to write again.

What she didn't count on was running into her former neighbor, Grant Montgomery. Reanna has carried a torch for him for 15 years, and had to stuff her feelings deep down where they couldn't be found. But now Grant's wife has passed from cancer, and Reanna sneaks into the funeral to give her quiet condolences and pay her respects to the lovely Jean, who was always sweet and welcoming to her.

Grant spies her running off as the funeral-goers leave the premise. When he finally locates her and confronts her, Reanna is reluctant to open her heart and tell him the truth about what she wrote in her diary so many years ago. But Grant isn't blind; the smart-as-a-whip History professor of Remington University can see the love and vulnerability Reanna has been trying to hide from him.

Soon, a blossoming romance is coming to life, and Reanna must face her demons or forever risk her chance of real love with the One Man who's been there for her since day one. Can she let go of the horrors of the past, open her heart to Grant, or will she forever blow her chance at true love?

DESIRE is the story of domestic abuse and a woman overcoming her trauma. It's the story of a narcissistic mother who did more damage than good to a loyal daughter. It is the story of friends banding together in hard times, but most of all, it is the story of a passionate awakening between old friends who never knew how deep a love could run.

******************************************************

With much love,

RR xo

FINDERS of LOST LOVES

Dear Readers,

SOMEONE has touched my heart --DEEPLY.

He did it many years ago. Unannounced. Without warning, without intention.

I don't think he planned on it. Innocently, he guided and mentored me on a path in which I needed direction. I'd been lost, hurting, betrayed, after a failed marriage blew up and countless other people had failed me. Left me out in the cold. Some of this was partly my fault. I'd forgotten to care for and nurture the NUMBER ONE person who mattered most: MYSELF.

In late 2011, he crossed my path again. We'd first met March 2009 but it was briefly, and I almost missed him! Thank God I slowed down a couple years later, and stopped to enjoy the scenery...and take stock of my life. Because, on a late October afternoon, the 28th to be exact, there he was again! He'd been working in the same office as a person I went to for an appointment. She called him over, and my heart melted. After two and a half years of running from myself, this man caused me to stop and assess everything. Just his presence alone, the kindness and velvety tone in his voice, the charismatic approach and riveting blue eyes, well you get the gist. I was a sinking ship in an ocean of possibilities and wonder.

This person gifted me with THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIFT I could ever hope to receive. He gave me his ATTENTION, his KINDNESS, his GENTLENESS, his TIME, and most of all...VALIDATION... that I was a SOMEBODY. That I truly mattered on this planet.

What emerged from the ashes was a thing of beauty indeed. My once stony heart suddenly blossomed, my writing that I'd long ago had locked away in a box somewhere soon was breathed back to life, and I had a novel that took form in a brief seven weeks, thanks to this wonderful man.

Mister Blue Eyes...let it be said that you've been my Beacon of Light since I met you, and the funny thing is, you never once asked for anything in return but my HONESTY, TRANSPARENCY and ACCOUNTABILITY. All you wanted was for me to SHOW UP with my battle scars, deep wounds, failings and mistakes and my own true self, showing you my soft heart and VULNERABILITY. I cannot tell you what this means to me, after 11 years of knowing you.

I feel a heart once broken has opened the floodgates, and fully opened them to you and you alone.

I know, I know...it's odd isn't it? You're probably smiling at me from the distance and reading this with a smug grin, thinking "here she goes again..."

But the hard facts are there: YOU have been the one CONSTANT thing in my life all this time, that BRIGHT LIGHT shining its luminescence in the dark over trouble waters, guiding me back to the shore.

You might think it's bizarre for me to feel this way, to salute you and praise you the way I do.
Frankly, you deserve it. I've been through a HELL OF A LOT in this life. You've been the ear to listen and the shoulder to cry on; that means a king's ransom to me.


There's a part of me that has just unwrapped a searing truth that is blinding and breathtakingly gorgeous: We were loves in a past life. There is no other explanation for this. I have to be honest, I am sorry if that is brutally honest to you.

I just beam all over with the revelation of finding one of my past life soul connections. God, I loved you way back then, and I love you even more NOW!

You even said so yourself, in your own blog, that love is not just reserved for loved ones, and immediate family...but also for those we encounter in everyday life, who impact us, enrich us, inspire us...so here I am, before God and the world, telling you what you mean to me.

What a thrilling revelation, to discover that we met lifetimes ago, and we've met again in this current life. Thank you, my beacon of hope, for showing up just when I needed you. Never stop showing me your kindness, your smile, your warmth. It's what I truly live for in these hard times and a rapidly changing landscape.

I LOVE YOU XOXO.

Now, I leave these songs for you. Dedicated to you and you alone.

Love always,

Your Rhiannon

P.S. The "signs" and pics posted here will be clues that only YOU will get! (wink wink)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71QrBOkCOeo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm0eA5Qi-Rw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jenWdylTtzs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCRwglZgNXI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3EJfIwZr88

Quarantine Days of Romance, Old Soul Music & Other Ponderings

Hello Dear Readers,

Sorry for being quiet and not posting for a while. This whole Covid-19 business has got me a little bummed out.

I'm trying to type some new fiction, and the words are not coming. As I said on another post, the summer is the least productive time for me to create new novels. There's something about the sun, the distractions of life, the atmosphere is different, and I struggle to get "into the groove" of writing anything juicy.

I'm so very much a "fall time and winter girl" -- I love the swirl of the leaves, that crisp scent in the air, and the crystalline, snowy nights -- pure, festive, sensuality that just gets the creative juices flowing. Summer is just not my thing. I miss my summer concerts, and they've all been canceled this year.

But alas! Here I am, still plugging away. TRYING, at least, to get something going.

You can't force the Muse now, can you? That's what I thought. SIGH...

Something inside me WANTS to create more fiction! Do you ever get writer's block? For me, it's when I can't get the motor running, and it takes forever to type a few paragraphs. Usually, distractions, and my A.D.D. is bad these days!

With a coffee beside me, it's late afternoon, and I'm in my "bat cave"-- the cool, dimmed, cozy bedroom with the white desk and I've got my Scentsy warmer on with "Cozy Kitchen" as the scent of the day (a blissful batch of warm oats, with brown sugar and cinnamon swirl). I love me some Scentsy (thanks to my rep Robyn --LOL) and lately have the stockpile flourishing with new scents.

What, may I ask, are you doing to help ease the ache of quarantine? Is there a new hobby you've taken up, or perhaps a new friend you've met?

For me, it's just trying to enjoy life "moment to moment," by appreciating what's left in my life. The people who REALLY MATTER and losing myself in soul music that lets me escape the mundane part of life that I'd rather not deal with.

Today's choice track, the Whispers, from the Bay Area, California, from the album "Open Up Your Love," released June 15, 1977: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZHRGSNmQ1g&list=PL_Z62noe2sfFtHh3Cf-vDDt0Na6KTekZE&index=9&t=0s

Remember, this quarantine won't last forever, better days are coming, don't lose hope, and don't forget to hug those people you love and hold them close (the ones who live with you, of course).

Have a wonderful Sunday funday!!

Cheering for you always,

RR xo

What The Christmas Holidays Mean To Me

Dear Readers,

I am posting an essay I wrote tonight about what Christmas means to me. I hope it brings you much joy and reflection on what the holidays mean to you.

Merry Christmas!

RR xo

Remember growing up? You had the curiosity of a cat, always venturing, always questioning...life was a grand adventure and every single day was a mystery to be unraveled, slowly. You loved it, didn’t you? Your little, precocious childlike spirit was always open to the wonder of the Universe, and you truly just let it come to you, one day at a time. Nothing was forced, but rather...RECEIVED...effortlessly.

Remember how simple Christmas was? Most of us didn’t come from a wealthy family, but we fully enjoyed the holidays, because even when money was tight, mom and dad made everything (somehow) seem so special and RICH with love and gifts from the heart.

In Southern, Ontario, I grew up the second born of four kids into a working class family. We didn’t have a ton of money, but we never starved. Sometimes mom got our clothes from the thrift store and nobody cared, because we still laughed, danced and played in style. We had friends who accepted us for who we were, and name brand tags on clothing didn’t affect us in the least bit. It was, after all, the ‘80s and the ‘90s...a time when life was freer than the commercial hype of today.

Christmas was always the sumptuous turkey dinner with all the trimmings...stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, yams, green beans, turnip, corn, hot buttery rolls fresh from the oven...we had mouth-watering, home-baked pies of blueberry, cherry and apple...and delicious vanilla ice cream. Not one person left the table without adjusting a couple notches on the belt buckle! Mom wouldn’t allow it. You were “stuffed to the gills” with all that food. After dinner, we relaxed by the fire and sipped her famous punch, which consisted of a 2 L bottle of 7-Up, a frozen can of orange juice and 1 L of cranberry juice. Just delicious! The other punch she made was a spiced one, eggnog, cinnamon and vanilla ice cream floating on top. My senses were on overload, reveling in all the wonderful scents and flavors of this holiday. I always felt like I was right in my glory.

Snowfall around this time could be abundant. I can recall the snowfall of December 1992 just east of Toronto, in my little village, population 1800. The amount of snow was so significant, the roads were completely bare of cars. You could walk down the middle of the street, and the eerie night time was like a ghost town, save for the glow of the street lamps on the wintry scenery. I loved walking in that winter wonderland! It was the closest to God I’ve ever gotten.

Music in the home was played on the record player, and it was always Amy Grant “A Christmas Album” from 1985, which was by the way, absolutely fantastic! Then there was Burl Ives’ “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” and Mariah Carey’s 1994 masterpiece “Merry Christmas.” So many tender moments of holidays gone by are now flooding my heart as I write this. We always had a white christmas, and went sledding with friends (we had a huge yard and a massive ditch that sloped down -- perfect for tobaganning or the GT snow racer!

Movies viewed every single Christmas Eve on CBC were the classics. First, we’d watch 1949 Little Women, starring June Allyson, Elizabeth Taylor, Margaret O’Brien and Janet Leigh. Right after this, was the 1944 film “Meet Me in St Louis,” starring Judy Garland. On Christmas Day, CBC always aired the 1985 classic “Anne of Green Gables” and I was in absolute heaven, pretending I was Megan Follows as Anne Shirley. She was the first one to make me wish I had red hair! Back then, the holidays were absolutely fun-filled and unforgettable. For once, I’d like to go back in a time machine and relive it. We’d gorge out on ripple potato chips, mom’s homemade french onion dip and a Pepsi. That night, we were allowed to open one present, and it was always a teaser, because even though it was welcomed, we always knew it was not the ultimate one we’d begged Santa for. Mom was always doing her home baking, and the entire kitchen table and counters were covered in flour and confectioner’s sugar. She’d make shortbread cookies, chocolate macaroons, peanut butter marshmallow squares, honeymoon squares, and Nanaimo bars.

My point is...life was a big adventure and the joys we shared were not related to money. Sure, it took money to get the baking supplies and buy the presents, but if we’d been forced to resort to making homemade gifts for Christmas, it would all be received with just as much love and gratitude as any other present would be.

What the holidays mean to me? Peace, love and joy. Lots of food, a barrel of laughs, the company of my favorite people...and just being fully PRESENT in the moment. You see, it’s not about the mountain of gifts or the price tag on the items you get. Christmas was always about the warmth of the fire, watching movies with family and having treats. Our stockings were filled with toiletries, soap, toothpaste and shower gel, a candy cane, a chocolate bar, and that shiny clementine at the bottom.

On Christmas Eve, we had a nutcracker and mom would place a huge glass dish of assorted nuts on the coffee table, so we could crack walnut shells and eat them while watching our favorite seasonal film. I fondly remember those days, and they bring a tear to my ear, because it seems so long ago!

What the Christmas holidays mean to me...just loving those people you love. Showing them what they mean to you, without expecting some monetary thing in return. That’s what I’ll hold close to me as the years go by and my hair turns grey. That’s what truly counts. Merry Christmas, everyone.

Rochelle Renee- Dec 7th, 2019.

6:47 p.m.

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

100 Days of Gratitude Challenge -- Day #9 -- Forgive Someone You Feel Has Done Wrong By You

Dear Readers,

We've reached day number 9 of the 100 days of Gratitude Challenge. Today, your mission is to "forgive someone you feel has done wrong by you."

WARNING: this blog post is about to get personal. It contains information on horrors that I went through and lived to tell.

On January 4th, 2008, my second husband who I will name "Ken" for the sake of not receiving backlash from said person...well, he walked out on me and my young daughter, just days after New Year's and my seasonal job had ended. Yes, you read that right. I was broke, unemployed, penniless, and now, had to find somewhere new to live. The rent was paid up til Feb 28th, so I had about seven weeks to relocate.  Worse, he didn't give me a "reason" why he was leaving -- just that he suddenly "picked a fight" in the kitchen and threw kitchen items around and grabbed his 2 young sons, packed them in the car with a bag of clothes and he said "I'm out of here." Later, I would discover he had been cheating and being dishonest, just six months into the new marriage. Don't worry, he cheated on the first wife too, I soon learned through a mutual friend of many years.

Luckily, my family still had the old farmhouse and it was vacant. I would take Rachel, only, eight, and move "back home." Oh boy, was I bitter!! There I was at 30 years of age, thinking "Oh I have finally ARRIVED -- married (successfully?) a second time, and we had a blended family. Things were looking up for me, finally.

But that's where I made a fatal mistake. I'd gone into yet another marriage completely BLINDED and refused to see the RED FLAGS that were obviously there from the start. What was my excuse? Co-dependency. Being 30 and naive. Refusing to stand on my own two feet for fear and anxiety that I couldn't make it. Okay, i'm taking accountability right here and now for my own choice to get into this mismatched union.

Just ten days before the wedding ceremony, a man driving a van EN ROUTE to church around the corner from my designated church of my planned wedding...the man had a heart attack at the wheel and DROVE RIGHT THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR of the church, St. Stephen's, where I was to be married on July 7th! What an omen! How could I not see the warning signs right in front of my face? Because my own stubborn pride refused to see the truth.  I could have spared myself so much PAIN, if I'd only backed out, cut my losses and maintained my sanity.

Sorry for the long post. To summarize, it was a match made in Hell. He swept me off my feet with poems, roses, romantic dinners, talking on the phone til late hours in the night, bringing me coffee in the morning, wanting to INVEST in me. All the things that a woman wants to happen for her, right? But it was LOVEBOMBING -- the typical narcissistic behavior that one does-- COMES ON STRONG -- to blindside their victim, so they can't see the DECEPTION that is really happening behind the scenes. I was that "new supply" that narcs need to feed their ego and soothe their badly damaged self esteem.

Years later, with therapy, research, good mentoring and recovery, I realize I lived through horrors, shame, lies, slander, public humility, mental and emotional abuse, abandonment, financial control and abuse, and poverty. But still -- I don't feel hatred towards this person. I've run into him a few times over the past 11 years since he left. He is bashful, hangs his head, acts like a shy puppy dog, and tries to strike up conversation...I have been diplomatic and kind each time. One of those occasions was at my job at the mall, where I dodged him and hid behind a clothes rack and proceeded to help a customer. Ten minutes later, "Ken" the ex has the nerve to come back into the store and strike up a conversation - "what are YOU doing, working here?"
My reply - "I helped build the store -- and here I am."

All this time, I still felt ...NOTHING for him. No hatred, no emotion, no sadness, not even regret. I think it's safe to say I've reached the point of FORGIVENESS for this person who used to call me his "Queen" and "Goddess" and "the best thing that ever happened to me."

I wish him well, I really do. Last I heard, he'd moved onto a 3rd marriage. I'll leave that one alone.

This post is about FORGIVENESS, and I truly feel, after moving on and up to better things, I do forgive "Ken." He taught me to stand on my own two feet, to not easily trust people as I had back then, to OWN my power, to believe in myself and myself alone, and I became an entrepreneur of sorts, learning to sell furniture and household goods to feed myself and young daughter, so I've become a master of adaptability, tapping into my God-given gifts of sales, leadership, communications, etc.

That old girl back then in 2008....ugh...I don't even know her!! If I met her today, I'd actually feel ashamed and pity her big time. I'd tell her to pull up her bootstraps and GET THIS DONE, GIRL!

"Ken" -- thank you. I am grateful for you abandoning me. I found myself. I found self love. Self empowerment. I found FREEDOM, not being owned by anyone. I discovered I didn't NEED to be married to someone, to feel validation and worth. I was ALREADY somebody.

To all the abused women out there who think they can't stand on their own two feet -- I urge you to take back your power now -- pack up your things and leave that horrible wretch. God will provide for you, just as he feeds the sparrow.  He will make it possible for you and your children to be fed, sheltered and clothed.

Praying for you always,

xx RR xx

PASSION!!! RE-RELEASE!!!! FREE ON KINDLE From July 9 to 13th!!!

Dear Readers,

Get my book PASSION for FREE!!! It's a re-release party for my novel!!!! To celebrate 7 years since its inception....I am offering it FREE on Kindle July 9 to 13th!!!

Grab your copy today!!!!

Much love,

RR xo

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TX7X4SW

SMALL STEPS OF PROGRESS STILL COUNT!!

Dear Readers,

On this "almost Spring weather" Saturday, I am filled with reflection...for what COULD BE...WILL BE...

You know me...the hopeless romantic, the dreamer, the idealist, the visionary. Always looking for that silver lining in the midst of the hurricane or thunderstorm.

PROGRESS is something I'm tabulating right now. Examining whole-heartedly. You see, I can be my own worst enemy (as my massage therapist Peter told me). I'm critical of myself, I can be a downright horrible perfectionist, and I'm most certainly hard on myself more days than most.

That being said, I am also my own best friend, too. Because people have let me down, discarded me, walked away, ghosted...whatever term you want to use. Why? Because humans are flakes. They have their own hidden agenda, and if you do not rise up to meet that agenda (be it monetary, physical, mental, etc) then, be prepared to be abandoned and forgotten. It's okay, I'm cool. I don't need flakes and shams in my life.

What have I learned and why the ramble? Well, my dear readers, I have learned being a Life Path #1, that in numerology, it is a good sign to be discarded. I learned to stand on my own two feet and not to give a damn what others think. See, I spent the better part of my life trying to FIT IN (foolish little girl!!). Why even try that insanity? I'm a DIAMOND, not some sheep destined to follow the crowd and fade into the cluster of confusion.

To speak of this PROGRESS...I am stoked about the latest body of work (mmm, body...) that has manifested. I've decided to answer the "call for submissions" at Love Inspired (Harlequin Imprint). It's nearly four weeks since I submitted my proposal for a novel about a woman who moves across the country after losing her husband in the line of duty and relocates to the small town in Upstate New York called "New Canaan" and runs into her ex from 20 years ago. This one I have a GOOD FEELING about, and so far, no rejection slip...but no news is good news, right?

Fingers crossed that this "progress" will bring a nice reward with it. The turn-around time for things like these is generally four weeks.

David and Shania are my main characters. Former lovers who were together at age 25 and 20, and split when Shania's mother forbade her to see him because the preacher's son was "not good enough" for her sheltered daughter. Now David's back, he's amassed a fortuned as the #1 renovations king in the Deep South, and when he sees Shania, that old spark is set aflame once more!! Shania has won an essay contest titled "win a ranch with Victorian home" complete with horses, cows and chickens. The problem is, she has no clue how to run a ranch. David and his infinite wisdom and experience offers to help renovate the farm for minimal cost. But stubborn Shania and her pride stands in the way, and she rejects him at first, maintaining that she can do it herself, along with the help of ranch foreman Hank, who's been there 15 years. When you carry a torch for someone over two decades, there is a flame that never blows out. Once Shania relents, and lets David in, progress happens. The ranch begins to look promising, and they become friends, but she keeps him at arm's length. The past is too painful, and losing her husband Jack was debilitating. She can't afford to risk her heart all over again.

Then a tornado rips through New Canaan, destroying any progress on the ranch that they worked on together. Shania sees this as a "bad sign" and puts up walls once again, pushing David again. Can the two resolve the pain from the past and learn to forgive? Or will theirs be a love story doomed forever? HER PROMISED LAND is a story of love, forgiveness and redemption. Coming soon, Autumn 2019. (R.Renee)

Stay tuned for an update. This work-in-progress is just a baby of an idea right now. But I am having fun outlining each character sketch and writing the first draft. Sink or swim, I think it's important that when you set a dream in motion, you should by all means carry it out. Let yourself fall in love with it, even if it doesn't nab the book contract or Pulitzer. Every nuance, layer, thrill and simple joy will take over and you will revel in your playful creativity again. It's like a reward is being presented, simply in the context of giving yourself the gift of your own presence, and writing is a satisfying act of self-love. I've never felt more fulfilled in my life, than when I am writing. No person, place or thing on this planet has ever given me the gratification that I feel when creating my own magnificent work. Keep this in mind. A thing of beauty is a joy forever (John Keats).

Bottom line: writers. Please embrace your talents and gifts. They are a present to the Universe. We MUST remember that our own presence is a priceless offering to those who walk in our midst.

Keep up the PROGRESS...even if it's baby steps. Even if an editor declines on what you deem your "best ever novel" or project. If the world rejects your masterpiece. Keep that treasure close to your heart. Keep working on it, perfecting your craft, loving up on it...I promise you...there IS a reward at the end!!

Cheering for you always,

RR xo

ENTER TO WIN!!! GIVEAWAY FOR THE RE-ISSUE OF MY NOVEL PASSION

Dear Readers,

I'm hosting a giveaway for 5 lucky readers to win a FREE copy of my sensational romance novel "PASSION."

To celebrate the 7th year anniversary since its conception, the giveaway starts February 5th til Feb 12th.

You can enter here:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/8ace7b7d1/?

You will love my romantic comedy "starring" a wonderful, lovable, comedic cast of characters such as the hunky heart throb Keane Mitchell, and the irrepressible Rhiannon Rose, along with her witty daughter Paige, and Rhiannon's hilarious best friends, Lizzi Morgan and Susan, the feisty redhead always up for a good time.

To find out more on this book, please go to Goodreads or Amazon. The original book and blurb is posted there.
https://www.amazon.com/Passion-Rochelle-Renee/dp/1501014323/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1548619327&sr=1-3&keywords=passion+rochelle+renee

Thanks for all your support over the years!

Stay Passionate!

RR xo

I LOVE THE WAY

I love the way
your agile,
slender fingers

Dance
across my skin
Making love
with the cells
of my soul

I love the way
your full, exquisite
lips
form a sentence
so eloquent
and how your
big, beautiful
Brain
Just holds so much
knowledge
and wisdom

I love the way
your face forms creases
around your mouth
some call it wrinkles
but i call them
laughter lines
to show me where
your soul is
to show me
how you light up

I love the way
you look at me
as if we are
meeting
FOR THE FIRST TIME
in a lover's greeting
and time and space
stands still

I love the way
your blue eyes
just catch me off guard
and I drop everything
I am doing
in the moment
and the world just ceases
to exist

I love the way
you same my name
"Rochelle"...
as if a lilting love song
from the gods
has just played
with a full, heavenly
orchestra
and no other sound
can be heard

I love the way
your hands reach around
the small of my back
and you hug me
SO TIGHT
and i know
I AM SAFE
because you feel
my honesty

I love the way
Your manly innocence
just shows up
so authentic
that I cannot see
anything else
in my path

I love the way
Your magnificence
just steals my breath away
and i'm in awe
in REVERENCE
of you
My Love
The one who calls to my soul

I love the way
your voice
like satin
drapes itself
around my body
cascades
all down my skin
and makes me come alive
once more

I love the way
we could be in a crowded room
and suddenly
all i see is you
just you

I love the way
you remember small details
of something i told you
long ago
and my heart just stops
for a moment
to say "thank you"
silently

I love the way
your firm, lithe body
fits with mine
in a warm embrace
that lets me know
no other woman
has your attention

I love the way
we greet and part
effortlessly
and the love
is still there
even if time may
separate us

I love the way
You hold space
for me
in your busyness
and chaos
but you seek me out
and never forget

I love the way
your lips claim mine
imprinting my soul
with the exact blueprint
we created long ago
before the sands of time

I love the way
you just understand me
without my need
to explain myself

I love the way
we wind up in bed
our limbs entangled
our hearts entwined
I am yours
and
you are mine

I love you

RR XO

BRAND NEW KEYS!!!

Dear Readers,

I can't contain my joy!!! My brand new holiday novel has just dropped and it's beautiful!!!

Even better, I am offering it for FREE on Kindle from Dec 10th to 14th!!!! Get your copy now!!!

Please, kindly leave a REVIEW for me on Amazon and Goodreads. Let's get this book to Number One!!!! Thanks for all your wonderful support.

Special Thanks and Dedication to Mr. Derek Giberson, my inspiration behind the hero, Mr Derek Keys.

Happy Holidays and much love,

Rochelle xoxo

Letter To A Special Muse

Dear Muse,

From the very first moment I heard your voice (Wed. July 6, 2017) at the bandshell at Memorial Park, I've been in love.

I couldn't see your face, because i was sitting so far away ( the picnic tables by John street and Centre). But that voice! It mesmerized me in seconds. 

The song was "Move On Up," originally sung by Curtis Mayfield. Your band, a rockin' and groovin' 9 piece of pure soul and funk reminiscent of Motown and the Philly soul sound, was just unforgettable. 

How I loved your rendition of that song! Your vocals were prime. Your soulfulness just captured me, swept me away to another time and space. I was catapulted into orbit. I knew this connection would be STELLAR.

What I didn't know is that it would spawn a hit novel.  How proud I am that I could write such a beautiful, satisfying piece for generations to enjoy. THE CHRISTMAS KEYS...it's endearing, heartfelt, passionate and timeless. I'm so proud of my "baby."

It wasn't until September when I'd finally get to see your face. My God. You're perfect. When you owned that stage at the small, intimate club, I swear I was moved beyond words. I loved how you brought Motown with your own flavor, and how you dazzled the crowd with your little growl as a throwback to The O'Jays("For The Love of Money"), Stevie Wonder ("Sir Duke"), Toto ("Georgy Porgy"), James Brown ("Sex Machine"), Sly & The Family Stone ("If You Want Me To Stay"),  the Spinners ("I'll Be Around"), Earth, Wind & Fire ("September"), War ("Galaxy") to name a few. The repertoire is ASTOUNDING. All that "SOUL" from a slim white man -- lol.

How proud I am of you ...and all that you are. My beloved muse, I'm in awe of you. I wish to someday be as prolific and inspiring as you are. PLEASE --never forget that your presence has left a mark on this city, your footprint forever etched in time as someone who is a born leader. The homeless you have helped, the disabled you have championed for. The voiceless you created a platform for. Your social consciousness and convictions are what also pulled me in. I am blessed by our meeting...divinely blessed in ways I cannot measure. 

I bless the day I found you. I can't wait til you are declared "Oshawa's new mayor." That would bring such drastic and fulfilling change to the city. I have all encompassing faith in you.

Forever your friend, forever your ally, forever your lady.

With much love and gratitude,

RR xoxo

APRIL FOOLS & SPRING TIME!!

Dear Readers,

We've got Easter Sunday AND April Fools on the same day this year. Remarkable.

How are you spending your holiday? Hopefully, with loved ones and family...surrounded by feasting and joy.

Easter, for me, has always been the traditional family dinner of ham, potato, veggies, salads and pies with ice cream for dessert. I'm the middle one of 4 kids, so it's an endearing time to gather round the table and share sumptuous food. Afterwards, we'll sit around (stuffed to the gills) savoring coffee and tea, while watching a classic film that's been in the family forever. Every year, the Ten Commandments (1955) is on TV...so that's exciting.

I've been blessed to have 3 days in a row off work, so I've been resting up...but also indulging in...MUSIC!! It's been my first love since I could walk and talk. I really LOVE the GOOGLE PLAY library where I have my own customized playlists and each novel I write has its unique soundtrack, compiled by Yours Truly.

I am posting the link here for some songs I compiled for the soundtrack from my "LINGER" novel that will be released soon. One song in particular that I absolutely ADORE was written by Clint Eastwood and Linda Thompson-Jenner for an Eastwood film. It's sung by the lovely Diana Krall, and it's called "Why Should I Care." The jazzy, sensual mood of this song really got me INTO THE MOOD of writing LINGER...the love story of Rosalind Baker and Mark Garland. I know you're going to LOVE my characters and their "out of the blue" passionate affair that arose from the chance meeting after Rosalind lost her beloved fiance, Jack, killed in the line of duty. There's something about Serenity, Ohio and the charming town with their laid-back people and English gardens. Mark's sister Janine runs a pastry and catering business, so she's always welcoming people into her kitchen and cooking up a storm. I'm most proud of LINGER, because it features elements of my own life, woven into a rich, humorous, poignant story that will leave you breathless. Can't wait to release this amazing book and share it with the world.

Busy bee here... working on TWO novels at the moment -- editing and polishing for publication. Stay tuned for their release dates!

Wherever you are, enjoy the holiday...put your feet up...relax with a tea and a good book.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KANG1y5p8eEhttps://play.google.com/music/playlist/AMaBXymS56FxxweK-NC2SYXdKbhhFibca3YZd8rTovl5TeslBLG8cVJzv_DVjQIDyD-gi8_i0vKiIzuUCOJTSUcag6FPxBLAkg%3D%3D

To all the April Fools & Hopeless Romantics out there...Keep on Loving and Keep on Living It Up!!

Cheers,

RR xo