Weekend Away
I thought I would share with you some fun pics from my weekend away. Last Wednesday afternoon, I turned in a manuscript (yay!), threw a bunch of (mostly mismatched) clothes into my suitcase, then took off in the car with my husband for a long weekend. We weren’t really sure where we were headed. But somehow we eventually committed to driving the 12 hours from Ohio to South Carolina, (where it is spring), to visit family (so joyous)), and enjoy being outside. Now, you have to understand, even though it’s been a mild winter here in northeastern Ohio, “outside” is still a shocking rarity. I still can’t believe I spent most of the weekend outside in the mild temps (mid-60’s), biking, walking, and even reading!
Here are some things that caught my eye…
The pic on the left below is a sea bird standing on a strip of mud and sand. Still a very wintery photo, all silvers and grays.
Next to that is a bronze sculpture called “Out to Lunch.” This young man is eating a sandwich and reading his book outside, which sounds like the perfect way to eat lunch to me!
On the right is a pretty pic of someone’s garden they planted in a shell pot. There was a lavender plant in there as well as some other things I didn’t recognize. But it was pretty! And again, to see growing things in February…amazing!
Lastly, the thing that is so beautiful about the South Carolina Lowcountry is the marshlands, which change color throughout the seasons. Here is my favorite pic from last summer, when the marsh grass is a bright, beautiful green, compared to a pic I took this weekend, when it was a much different color. Different, huh?!
Anyway, getting away is good for the soul. The trip was a bit arduous but since I spent a total of 24 hrs in the car. But since my husband are still on speaking terms, I consider it…a great success :)!
Happy week, everybody!
Shell garden.
“Out to Lunch,” a bronze sculpture in a plaza on Hilton Head Island.
Maybe a heron?
CAN’T FIGHT THIS FEELING is Up for Preorder!
CAN’T FIGHT THIS FEELING releases March 7th and is up for preorder here. Today I’m excited to share with you the beautiful cover and blurb!
SHE WANTS TO MOVE ON…WITH SOMEONE BLAND AND BORING…
Widowed psychologist Maggie McShae is ready to find someone who won’t make her heart beat fast, her knees grow weak, or make her feel hot and cold at the same time. No one she can really love, because love brings too much pain.
Drew Poulos, son of a billionaire, is hiding out in Mirror Lake, working at his brothers’ brandy company. He inspires those very feelings Maggie’s determined to avoid. The hunky businessman, who left his high society bride at the altar, is the last person she’d ever seriously date…but he might just be perfect for a fling…
HE NEEDS A DATE FOR HIS BROTHER’S WEDDING…WITH SOMEONE WHO CAN CALM HIS QUIRKY FAMILY…
Drew’s too heartbroken to ever trust any woman again, but the sexy psychologist is the perfect person to deflect his family’s attention as his brother marries the woman Drew once thought was his.
As sparks fly, two injured hearts might just find that true love can be even better the second time around…
CAN’T STOP LOVING YOU is a Woman’s World Book Club Pick!
Two happy bits of news this week. I was excited to learn that my book CAN’T STOP LOVING YOU was chosen as a book club selection for the January 23rd issue of Woman’s World Magazine. This was a thrill because for years I’ve read and enjoyed the weekly short romance stories in this periodical and it was a real honor to have my book picked as one of their small town romance reads!
Secondly, this upcoming week, the Heroes and Heartbreakers blog is doing a cover reveal for my March release, CAN’T FIGHT THIS FEELING. The cover is really pretty, stop by and have a first peek!
CAN’T FIGHT THIS FEELING is Book 2 in the Spikonos brothers series and features another hot, gorgeous, and wonderful brother of Greek heritage, Drew, who we first met when he was AWOL from his own celebrity wedding in Book 1, Can’t Stop Loving You. Stop by heroesandheartbreakers.com on Tuesday, January 31st or visit my Facebook Author page for more details!
Now’s a great time to sign up for my newsletter here if you haven’t already, for the latest news about what’s coming. I’m on some pretty tight deadlines now so it’s back to work for me! Happy week 🙂
xo
Miranda
Cuppa Inspiration
I’ve always been one to believe in the power of suggestion. And I’ve always loved motivational quotes, whether they’re sarcastic 
and snarky or very serious. That’s why, over the years, family and friends have made certain to supply me with slogan coffee cups to sit on my desk and motivate me while I write. Today, I’d like to share with you my favorites.
Last spring, my daughter and I went to an antique mall and I saw a smiley mug that reminded me very fondly of my youth. I didn’t buy it but I did take a photo of it and talked a lot about the smiley craze to her. Well, for Christmas she got me my own. I love this mug because there is a broad smile on one side, always inspiring. But it’s the other side I really like because it is subversive. The sly, secretive, winking side tells me in no uncertain terms, You’ve got this, you gorgeous, talented, amazing hunk of writer! Now get to it!” Hard to ignore that message for sure, right? 🙂
Best Day Ever! fills me with optimism as I sit down and write, even if the day
soon deteriorates into so much dog poo. Yes, yes I can! is the mantra it inspires. The Star Wars mug is a gift from my son–notice that the light sabers light up when filled with a hot beverage. Which is just very cool. 
Then, on the last day of edits, I pull out the cup that reminds me I’ve tried my hardest and now it’s time to let go, something I very much need because if it were possible, I’d still be clinging on to the manuscript with my very last breath. I love this mug because when the due date of a manuscript arrives, time’s up and you have to hit that send button.
Plus when you finish your coffee, you get a little surprise in the bottom. I think of this as my little heart attack in the bottom of the cup. It’s a simple exclamation point, which you can take in many ways. Usually, hurry up and get this done and turn it in! or You did it! You finished a book! or just maybe, I wish I could work on this another year. Or two!
Okay, so you may be thinking that maybe writers spend too much time alone. But writing a book is a marathon and as you sit or stand and pluck at the keyboard, you’ve gotta do everything possible to keep yourself going. Might as well get some use out of that container of all that coffee you’re consuming.
May your upcoming week be filled with great coffee (or tea)!
Back to the Routine
Are you recovered from the holidays? It is with bittersweetness that my youngest kid, 19, walks out the door today, back to college. His sisters, 22 and 24, have already left. The house is getting quieter…maybe I can hear myself think again, which might be a little helpful with the deadlines and all!
But while I long for my quiet routine, half of me wants to keep them all here forever.
…But the other half is completely fine with them going out into the world and doing their own things.
Anyway, each of them got me a Christmas gift that is reflective of their personalities. 
Daughter #1 knows that daily I dress in athletic pants and tops, so that when I have to dress up…well, it becomes a challenge! I’m always looking for a classy statement necklace that isn’t too overwhelming…and she found me the perfect one. It came in a special box from a boutique that she bought it from in in Philadelphia. Love it! Not too big, not too gaudy, matches with everything (but not the athletic tops, lol)…perfect!
Daughter #2 created this for me, using a photo of our omnipresent cat. The cat together with the typewriter…hilarious, to me anyway. Great gift. And the Hemingway quote…absolutely true!
Lastly, my son. Mr. Practical and Efficient. He did a craft, for the first time in ten years! He actually went to the craft store, bought stuff which he found of all places on PINTEREST, and created this mug for me. He made ones for his sisters too. I love it (but I’m a little afraid to drink from it, as he said something about “I put some chemical on it to seal it” which makes me a little nervous, lol…).
I will keep it in the kitchen next to the trivet he made me in grade school that has his grinning little toothy smile on it. (Precious.)
Hope you had lovely holidays. I’m happy to leave the Christmas cookies behind and detox! My wish for all of you is a happy and healthy New Year.
Feel free to share your favorite Christmas gifts here or on my author page…and you just might win a backlist book of your choice…
xo Miranda