Plot Monkeys

In celebration of BOYS OF SUMMER, I’m offering this gift basket for this week’s prize, plus a copy of BOYS OF SUMMER signed by all three authors! You don’t have to be a baseball fan to enjoy these yummy cookies!

Just leave a comment…you know the drill! The winner will be chosen on Sunday, so be sure and come back then…and because I’m having it shipped directly from the manufacturer, the winner has to be from the continental United States.

I went and saw Pirates of the Carribean this past weekend, and I absolutely loved the movie. But what I enjoyed the most was Johnny Depp and his character, Jack Sparrow. I thought he was brilliant in the role. He was quirky and funny and an absolutely rogue. His facial expressions were priceless and had me laughing out loud so many times. The man has great comedic timing. For me, Johnny Depp made the movie, and I honestly believe that no one else could have played the part of Jack Sparrow so well.

After the movie I got to thinking about Johnny Depp and his acting career. A man who is such a chameleon when it comes to acting and the characters he portrays. A man who enjoys (and doesn’t care what other people think), about his transformations for the movies he chooses to star in. He doesn’t take on typical acting roles, but rather chooses roles that are different, way out there, and are sometimes bizzare. But he becomes those characters in a way that I find riveting and completely fascinating. He’s one of the few actors that has really carved out a niche for himself as a truly idiosyncratic performer. But despite those idiosyncracies, he entertains us. He makes us laugh and escape from reality for a few hours while watching one of his films. And isn’t that what it’s all about?

It’s hard to believe that Johnny Depp has been around since 1984. I remember thinking “what a babe” he was when I was much younger, and I can remember his face being plastered all over my monthly Tiger Beat Magazine. And now, even at his age of 43, my teenage girls think he’s hot. Most people first remember Johnny Depp as teen idol Tom Hanson from 21 Jump Street. I loved that show and remember watching it faithfully every week. But what some people don’t realize is that Depp got his first big acting break playing a role on A Nightmare on Elm Street.

The man truly has many faces — some of them gorgeous and sexy, (Chocolat) some of them frightful, even, (Secret Window) and some that are downright rakes and rogues (The Libertine & Pirates of the Carribean). He’s played an animated character (The Corpse Bride), and a man with scissors for hands (Edward Scissorhands). He’s done off beat movies like What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, and Benny and Joon (both great movies). Then there was his characters in Platoon (who knew?) and Blow that showed us a much more serious side to Depp’s acting skills. And who could forget his role as Willy Wonka? What a goofball! But I loved that movie, and I really enjoyed Depp’s and Timothy Burton’s spin on Wonka.

The man is definitely mega-talented, and he has many great character roles to prove it. But no matter what “face” Johnny Depp plays, ultimately he’s one of those rare actors that seem to be timeless and ageless.

Just for fun, here are some interesting and trivial facts about Johnny Depp:

1. When Johnny was a child, he would have nightmares about clowns. To this day, he is afraid of the colorful creatures.

2. His mother gave him his first guitar when he was 12. Five years later, he started a band, “The Kidz of Florida”. The band opened for popular bands like The Talking Heads and The Pretenders.

3. Johnny quit school his junior year in high school. He lived in a car, worked as a construction worker during the day and played gigs with The Kidz at night.

4. His former wife introduced him to Nicolas Cage, who liked his scruffy looks and took him to see his agent. Deep landed a part in “Nightmare on Elm Street.”

5. He was engaged to Winona Ryder in the early 1990’s, so after they ended the engagement, Depp had his tattoo that once read “Winona Forever” laser-altered to read “Wino Forever”.

6. Johnny’s daughter (Lily Rose) made bracelets for him that he wears as often as possible.

7. He turned down the lead in the film Speed. He also turned down Pitt’s roles in Thelma and Louise and Legends of The Fall. Also, roles in Titanic, Interview with a Vampire, and Sin City.

8. Johnny enjoys shopping at thrift stores and has a nine foot fiberglass rooster he bought at a Hollywood thrift shop. He keeps it in his living room and affectionately refers to it as his 9 foot cock.

9. Johnny was paid $18 million dollars to play the role of Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

10. Depp trashed a room at a hotel in New York City in September 1994 and ended up in jail. The damage to the hotel room came to $10,000. According to Depp, a mysterious armored beast was to blame. “He came home and got ready for bed and opened up the closet door. An armadillo jumped out of the closet, ran around, knocked over all kinds of furniture and then jumped out the window and left him with the damage”. This is honestly one of the official versions that he gave to police as his statement.

So, what are your favorite “faces” of Johnny Depp? What character that he played in a movie is your favorite and why?

I’ve always been one to claim that I’m not a shopper. I don’t spend time on my weekends browsing at the mall. My husband owns WAY more clothes and shoes than I do (though admittedly, he’s always been very fashionable.) Most of my clothes come from Target or Sam’s Club–and I’m not lying. My daily wardrobe is usually athletic capris and a t-shirt in the off chance I might actually make it over to Curves for my 30-minute workout.

But I have to admit…once I make the decision to shop, I’m insane.

Now, I shop fast. It used to be my claim to fame that I could buy Christmas presents for both sides of my family in one day–six to eight hours of power shopping. That’s how I like to do it–get in, get what you need, get out. Commando consumerism. And I haven’t changed.

This past Saturday, I decided that I had two choices about my wardrobe for the upcoming conference in Atlanta. I could either try and squeeze into clothes that really didn’t fit and feel miserable and fat the entire week, or I could suck it up and use my budgeted wardrobe money (yes, I budget for this every year) to buy stuff that will look good on my body as it is now with no regrets that hopefully, in six months, nothing will fit any longer. It was a hard choice, but well, Carpe Diem and all that.

So I shopped. I chose wisely. I drove 45 minutes to a Macy’s that puts the Macy’s next to my house to shame. In less than three hours, I had every garment I needed. I had my calendar with my conference schedule. I’ve assigned clothes to each event. I’m smokin’.

Yesterday, I decided I didn’t need shoes…I had all the right colors for what I’d bought. Today, I realized that the pants I thought were black were actually dark brown. I have no decent brown shoes. So I hit DSW.

Do you have a DSW? Oh. My. God. It’s shoe heaven. I never walk out of there with less than three pairs of shoes…and I do not have a shoe fetish. But shoes that are fashionable AND comfortable cannot be passed up.

I bought brown shoes. Two pairs, actually. And these…

A pair of red shoes that match my red dress for the Harlequin party so perfectly, you would think they were made for each other. (In the pic, they’re actually on top of the dress so you can see how well they go together…right down to the bugle beads!)

DSW is set up in really long rows. I bought three pairs only going down two rows. Had I done all six, I’d have to redesign my closet.

Today, the undergarments I ordered online arrived.

Tomorrow, I go through all accessories (earrings and purses). I think I’ll hit Dillard’s for that. (Commando consumerism…one store only. I do not browse. I look, I find, I buy.) Though I do have a $75 credit at Macy’s I just found out about. But I’m not driving 45 minutes for earrings.

But you know what?

I feel great. I’m giddy with fashion! It’s a sickness. I’m wondering if shopping is simply more fun than writing the last paragraph of the synopsis I promised my agent two weeks ago…think there is something to that?

Because next to shopping, procrastination is my best Olympic event. In a sprint, of course. No cross-country shopping for me.

So…how do you shop?

————
BTW, before I went shoe shopping today, I went to Borders. And I found this:

Guest blogger Diana Peterfreund’s book is out in stores right now! Of course, it wasn’t sitting next to Johnny Depp and right under the New Hardcover sign until I did a little creative redecorating, but hey, it’s definitely going to draw attention!

BY THE TIME you read this, I’ll be in Miami. South Beach to be exact.. My husband and I are going with another couple for a few days. Typically I get a lot of writing done while on vacation, so cross your fingers for me. While I’m gone, I decided to give you some basic information about the things I do by way of promotion so you know where to find me other than here:

First, www.carlyphillips.com, my home away from home on the web has been redesigned as of June 1, 2006. I’m in love with the site and I hope you all like it too.

We already discussed the fact that I’m a goodie junkie and so as a reminder, to receive whatever goodies I have on hand, i.e. bookmarks, post it notes, magnets, etc. send an SASE (self addressed stamped envelope) with two (2) stamps to: Carly Phillips, Website Goodies, PO Box 483, Purchase, NY 10577.

Another contest, another opportunity to win! This year I am celebrating my favorite things. Visit www.carlyphillips.com and click on the contest link on the front page and enter to win whatever I’m giving away. The prize changes each month and boy do I have fun picking this stuff out. Here’s an August preview: What better way to tote your stuff than with a classic LeSportsac Hideaway Totebag? Perfect for back to school, an every day purse, or just about anything you can think of including an ARC of CROSS MY HEART and it’s canine star DIGGER the Dog, and a set of Carly’s three HOT books. Visit www.carlyphillips.com and enter today! BUT THERE’S ALSO A CONTEST RUNNING RIGHT NOW FOR JULY – Hint – need a new watch? A new PINK watch with a heart on the face? See you at my other home away from home …

I have a fan group made up of fantastic people who like to chat – not just about books but about anything and everything. You can get individual posts or digest summaries. To join my online Fan Group: CarlyPhillips_Romance Author

And lastly, if you want an easy way to know when www.carlyphillips.com is updated, I am now offering RSS Feed link for visitors! Just visit the home page, click on the RSS link and Voila! All Carly all the time. Just kidding. Sorta.

So I’m off in Miami, leaving you all with fun things to do while I’m gone.
Don’t forget when you leave here to check out my guestblog at Michelle Buonfiglio’s site:
Romance by the Blog.

And next week, the Plotmonkeys will be at the RWA National Conference in Atlanta where I’ll be signing copies of …

CROSS MY HEART!

Talk to you soon!

Before I begin, I want to give you guys a heads up. Next week, while all the Plotmonkeys are in Atlanta for the national RWA conference, we’re going to have a special “week of exclusive excerpts.” Carly, Julie and I all have August books and we thought we’d give you a look at our books that you can’t get anywhere else.

For my part, I thought it would be fun for you to choose which excerpt from HERE COMES TROUBLE you’d like to read. So, in your comments below, please vote for excerpt # 1, # 2, or # 3

1. Murderous old ladies.

2. “Butch, sic Kiwis!”

3. Snakes in a plane. (Kidding…no way do I want to see that movie!) Actually this one should be called “Sex in a plane.”

Okay?

Now…on to today’s topic about the beast…

Before I begin, let me clarify. I am not talking about my husband…he’s Prince Charming, as I know you all already know.

I’m talking about the other male presence in my life right now. The black-haired, brown-eyed, 200 pound, lean, powerful creature with the rugged name of Killian.

Okay, so he’s only 5’2, but hey, he’s all solid muscle.

Oh, have I mentioned he’s a dog?

Let me explain. I am currently “between” homes–right now staying in Maryland with my sister to try to wait it out while the house in Florida sells. My very generous, amazingly kind sister has a big, lovely house in the country, with several extra bedrooms, a huge yard, a big pool, an enormous rec room…and a monster dog who runs the whole show.

The dog bends down to drink out of the kitchen sink, for God’s sake! (That’s the kitchen counter he’s facing!)
He’s a great dane. But not just a great dane, he’s the biggest great dane ever created. My brother-in-law, the vet, has said that he’s never seen a bigger dog in his 20 year career. Picture Scooby Doo on steroids. Marmaduke with muscle (and bad breath.) I wasn’t kidding–his last weigh-in, over a year ago, put him at over 200 pounds. He stands eye-to-eye with my eleven year old. When you’re sitting on the couch, he towers over you. (I have the shiny hair to prove it…dog drool: wonder conditioner?!?)

Now, let me make it clear, I do not dislike dogs. In fact, I quite love them. Especially mine. My little doggie, Cassie, is like one of my children and I utterly adore her.

She’s a shih-tsu/poodle mix, weighs about 12 pounds, has a dazzling personality and is just brilliant. I am bragging, I know, but I’m serious–this dog doesn’t just roll over when you say “play dead” — she collapses into a boneless heap when you point your forefinger at her and say “bang.” (My middle daughter is into stupid pet tricks…you should hear Cassie “count” to ten when they’re playing hide-and-seek. She always hides in the same place and will not come out until someone shrieks, “Cassie, we FOUND you!”)

She’s a cuddle-bug, will curl up beside you and look up at you adoringly with her sweet brown eyes, somehow knows when you’re sad and will just put her little head on your lap to make you feel better. The kind of dog you can tuck into a carry-on bag, take to the airport, and fly across the country with–stuffing her under the seat like luggage–and she’ll never make a peep. For SIX hours.

Cassie has only one bad quality: she does not like other dogs. In fact, she hates them. She thinks she is a human being, and the minute she sees another canine, she goes into attack mode.

So you can imagine how we reacted the first time she met her “cousin” Killian.

I am so fortunate my little Cassie wasn’t turned into great dane chow. Because she went after that dog like she was really going to DO something to him. Killian, to give him credit, didn’t go back at her. He merely lifted his head, cocked on brow in confusion and looked at us with puzzlement in his eye, as if to say, “Where did this mouse come from and how did it learn to bark?”

I’d like to say they’ve gotten used to each other, but the truth is, we never let them on the same floor of the house at the same time. Cassie is too ballsy and Killian is too…unpredictable. He sometimes likes to leap around the house like a puppy (though he’s bigger than most ponies) and he could squash her like a bug if he landed on her.

Now, here are some of the things you have to get used to when you live with a monster dog. You may not–ever–leave food on the kitchen counter, not even while you’re preparing it. If you must cool a cake or a pie, you have to put it on top of the refrigerator.

I learned this the hard way at Christmastime when he devoured the entire batch of Almond Rocka I’d just made. (The candy that has to boil to 310 degrees, and which has caused the scars on my hands and wrists. If you ever meet me, you’ll notice the almond rocka scars right away.) The candy was not, fortunately, still at “hard crack” stage of 310 degrees, so the dog’s tongue and lips were not completely burned off. (Hmm…though, maybe that would have cured him of the eating-off-the-counter thing.)

More about Killian–if you’re sitting on a sofa in the family room having a conversation with someone sitting on the opposite sofa, be prepared to talk around the breathing wall of drool, flatulence and fur. Because he likes being between people. So he stands there–right in front of you–and WILL NOT MOVE. And if you try to ignore him, he will head butt you in the chest. Seriously. Put his head down, and just drive the top of his head into your chest until you’re pinned to the sofa like a butterfly to a display board, all the while dripping great strings of drool on your lap and imbedding black hairs into your clothes.

He likes to bark. Loudly. He eats enough dog food to bankrupt a small country. His water bowl is either entirely full of clean, fresh water…or it’s 1/3 full of stuff that looks like egg whites. (His drool.) And after he gets a nice long drink, he shakes his head really hard, sending the drool flying in all directions. (I leave the room when he’s drinking.)

All that said, you’d think I’d hate the beast. But I don’t. Because there’s something rather sweet about him. Like when I was posing for this picture, both of us looking straight ahead, and he suddenly swung his head up and smiled at me.

Oh, don’t get me wrong, he’s a major pain in the ass…but still, he has a mischievous streak. Like yesterday when he wouldn’t come in, so I walked out of the room and watched from around the corner. He finally stepped in–watching for me all the while and letting out one low, growly woof. I walked back in the room to shut the door. The moment he saw me, he darted back outside. A definite prankster, that one.

He’s also great company to have around when a stranger walks up to the door. I really think the pizza delivery guys draw straws to see who does NOT have to come here every Friday night.

I don’t know how long we’ll be staying here, at my sister’s very generous behest. (She really is an angel!) One thing I do know, however, is that I really can appreciate all dogs–great and small.

:doggie:

So, fess up, which do you prefer…big ones or small ones?

PS: Don’t forget to vote for the exclusive excerpt!

AND THE WINNER OF FRIDAY’S JUNGLE MADNESS IS …..

#54, JILL VATICAN

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

AND THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO ENTERED.
*Jill, email Carly at: carlyphillips@mac.com with your mailing address so you can receive your prize!

And now for today’s funny … meant more to warm your heart than tickle your funnybone!

ALL RIGHT. WHO CHOSE WHO WE STAND BY? I DO HAVE STANDARDS!

OKAY I’LL BE HIS FRIEND BUT I DON’T HAVE TO LIKE IT!

AND LASTLY ...
(to all the Plotmonkeys ... especially this week!)

NOTHING REPLACES HAVING A FRIEND!

Happy Sunday, all!

It’s been a busy week for the monkeys, so we hope you don’t mind a short question this time around!

Jennifer Yates asked:

What was the first romance you read (if you remember)?

CP: Catherine Coulter’s Sherbrooke Bride and because it was historical and started in the older language, I was lost but fell in love. THEN LaVyrle Spencer’s Separate Beds and I knew I wanted to write like she did!

JEL: Mine was CAPTIVE BRIDE by Johanna Lindsay. My best friend took it from her older sister, read it, then passed it on to me. We were in the 9th grade. The other author who I remember vividly was Linda Lael Miller, but that was in college. That was the first time I realized I wanted to write like she did–sweeping, romantic, sexy, American historicals. My first two (unpublished) books are American historicals. Alas, they were no where near as wonderful as Linda Lael Miller’s books!

JD: I don’t remember the actual first romance I read, but I do remember that it was Loveswepts that originally hooked me on romance novels. Some of my favorites that long ago (nearly 20 years ago!) were Sandra Brown, Kay Hooper, and Iris Johansen. From there, I picked up historical romances, and loved them too — especially Judith McNaught’s KINGDOM OF DREAMS.

LK: My first romance novel was The Flame And The Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss. I read it in the closet with a flashlight when I was twelve and I utterly adored it. I read nothing but historicals for a long time, then gradually started reading Harlequins when I was in high school. Temptation was my favorite line…what a thrill when I actually sold to them! (PS: Janelle, Kingdom of Dreams was also one of my favorites!)

What was your first romance? What was the book that really stayed with you most?

Remember to send your questions to Carly at carly@carlyphillips.com!

It’s FRIDAY and you know what that means, it’s Jungle Madness!

I love Fridays in the jungle and I’m glad it’s my day. Because you’re all so loyal and show up here day after day to hear the ramblings of the crazy monkeys, I have a special treat for one winner:

A signed copy of CROSS MY HEART (the actual book before it hits stores), it’s canine star Digger, and what’s that in Digger’s paws? Yes that’s right, it’s GODIVA chocolate! Now we know chocolate is bad for doggies, so you’re going to have to trash the diet for a day and eat it before she does, or share it with a friend! What else do I see? A fun bag to hold cosmetics or other things, a deck of Doggie playing cards in Digger’s honor (and if you need card games, my girls and I play every morning before the camp bus comes, so I’m loaded with ideas!), and a signed copy of SUMMER LOVIN’ in paperback, also before it hits shelves. Lots of goodies for one lucky winner.

You all know the drill – To enter, just post something, anything in this comments section. Winner will be randomly drawn by a family member on Sunday. We’re sorry but the contest is only available to residents of the U.S. and Canada.

Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for Saturday chit chat and the winner posting and weekly comic or joke on Sunday!
Good luck, everyone!

Yes, that word is DIET. And I’m sure most of us cringe whenever the word is spoken out loud because most of us, at one time or another, have tried to diet to lose those extra pounds. And if you’re one of those people who have NEVER dieted, then I’m going to have to hate you. Okay, I’m just joking. Kinda.

I had one of those moments recently where I looked in the mirror and thought “who are you?”. Because I didn’t recognize the woman staring back at me. Sure, our features were the same, but from the neck down . . . it just had to be the body of another woman because I’ve never, ever, in my 41 years, have been at the weight that I am. And it’s a whole lotta extra weight I’m packing these days!

Let me take you on my personal journey about my weight and the reason why I’m talking about dieting today. Over the course of the past ten years, I know I was putting on a few pounds every year. No big deal, I told myself. I’m tall (5′ 9″, and the extra few pounds aren’t so bad. However, it’s been in the past four years that I’ve put on a good 60-70 lbs. Yes, you read that right. And I can actually pin-point in my life when my weight became an issue – when I was dealing with back-to-back deadlines that kept me in my chair too many hours a day. I wasn’t exercising at all, meals were whatever take-out my husband picked up on the way home. And it was never good, healthy stuff.

So, that’s how it started. Another big problem I have is that I’m a huge stress-eater. When I’m stressed, I eat. And those back-to-back deadlines are as stressful as it can get – knowing that book is due and not being able to produce the amount of pages that you want on a daily basis due to your characters or story not cooperating can really rachet up the stress and tension. So, whenever I’d feel that pressure in my chest or needed a sugar boost to keep me up until midnight to finish those pages, I’d reach for something to eat. Like chips, cookies, chocolate . . . everything that drops right to my hips and thighs. And I could easily finish off a bag of any one of those in one sitting – while trying to write, of course.

About a year ago, my 40 year old body broke down on me, LOL. Seriously, I went through a lot of health issues that took months to figure out what was wrong, and to get me back on track. And even then, I was feeling tired all the time, unfocused, unmotivated. Ahhh, more stress and depression . . . eat, eat, and eat some more! Finally, about two months ago my doctor ran MORE blood tests and found out that my thyroid was out of whack. So, add another pill to my daily consumption of pills, and that FINALLY straightened itself out. So, for the past month, I’ve felt really, really good. Better than I have in at least a year, if not more. I feel more energetic, focused and motivated. And I’m back to writing at a pace that has eluded me for too long.

However, those four years combined took it’s toll on my body, and all that unhealthy eating packed on the pounds. Now, I do have to say that I tried various diets over the past four plus years, and I’d be good for a couple of weeks, lose maybe 10 pounds, then just couldn’t pull off the diet for the long haul to lose the amount of weight I need. So, then I’d go back to my old habits, and I’d gain that 10 pounds back, and then some. Sigh.

So, here I am today, a good 60-70 lbs. more than I should be. And that day I looked into the mirror and REALLY saw myself, I knew that now that my physical and mental health were now back on track, I had to get my body back into shape, too. Because if I didn’t lose ALL the weight, and I didn’t learn how to train myself to eat healthy and exercise on a regular basis, I’d just keep gaining more and more weight. I just can’t let that happen.

The next process was deciding what kind of diet to go on, most of which I’d tried in the past . . . and failed. Everyone is different, and I know there are a lot of people that have had huge success with losing weight on different programs. But I had to find one that was just right for me. I didn’t want to do Atkins again, because I NEED carbs and sugar in my diet. That’s non-negotiable, and when I went on Atkins years ago and lost 25 pounds, it came back really, really fast once I started eating normally again.

I looked at all the “pre-fabbed food” diets like Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem, and decided that I didn’t want to have to rely on someone else giving me, or sending me, my food. I wanted to eat normal food I could buy in a grocery store. I wanted to learn how to cook healthy, shop healthy, and eat healthy. Yes, it’s super convenient to have those already done meals, but not realistic for me for the long haul. Besides, I’d still have to cook dinner for the rest of the family!

Of course, there is the liquid diet like Medifast, which I’ve tried before. But after a while, you just want food. REAL FOOD. Not a shake or something liquid.

Now, Weight Watchers is an awesome program – and it ALMOST fits what I need. I can eat real food, snacks, and even have chocolate. But I’ve tried WW before, and while I lost weight, I quit going to the weekly meetings because some of them were just too boring. There was no one-on-one interaction, and I was lumped into a big group of other people. That’s when I realized that I really needed personal attention, on a regular basis. Someone I had to be accountable to and had to check in with on a weekly basis. Someone who would say – “you lost weight and you’re on the right track,” or “you gained weight, let’s see why”.

I saw an ad for LA Weightloss, and was intrigued by it, and the people who claimed to lose so much weight while eating regular food. So, I first checked it out on the internet, liked what I read, then made an appointment with a counselor. Once I was done with my consultation, I just knew this was the diet for me. The program set me up with my own counselor, who I would speak to every week after weighing in. It was like having a coach – someone to cheer me on or set me straight when I might veer off of my diet. Another thing – while they charged a “weekly” fee, instead of PAYING weekly like you would with Weight Watchers, I had to pay for the weeks of weight loss right up front. Gulp. That’s when I really knew that I was committed to this, because no way was I going to pay all this money and not finish out the program! Not only that, they make it hard for you to quit – they will call you if you don’t show up for a weekly weigh in to find out what’s going on, and to get you back on track. Wow.

So, my counselor and I figured out the 60-70 lb. weight loss, and those numbers, to me, are so daunting. But the one thing that made me realize I CAN do this is the fact that they figured out a two pound weight loss per week, and told me that if I stuck to the program, the weight would be off by February 14, 2008. Okay, now that’s seven months away, but I can SEE it in my mind! I’ve never had a goal date before with my diets, and this has made a HUGE difference. With other diets, I’d get too impatient because the weight wasn’t coming off fast enough (even though I know a 1-2 pound weight loss per week is the most healthy), and I’d quit after two or three months. Now, I know how long this diet is going to last, and I’m committed to getting it done because I know how fast those months are going to fly by.

My first week I lost 4 pounds. It’s not much in the scheme of things, but it’s a start. I’m in my second week now and doing great. Eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and protein, along with other “real” food. Snacks and chocolate, too! I’m also walking an hour in the evening. I’m anxious to get back on that scale next week to see how much I’ve lost this week.

Do I think this is going to be easy? Heck, no – I know I’m going to hit a lot of rough bumps along the way. But my new motto with this diet has become: ONE DAY AT A TIME. Because that’s what it’s going to take for me to lose all the weight . . . taking things one day at a time, and doing my best on that day to eat healthy. And if I have a bad eating day, I’ll get right back on track the next day.

I’m hoping by February that I’ll be able to post some “before” and “after” pictures. And that I’ll be able to look into the mirror and recognize the woman looking back at me! I’ll keep you all posted on my progress along the way!

…Diana Peterfreund!

Who, you ask? Trust me, if you haven’t heard of her, you will. Today! And after today! And many of you before today because she has an amazing, informative, fun blog that many people visit. But mostly, you’re going to know her because she’s written a truly amazing book that I’ve already read cover-to-cover, but that doesn’t come out for one more week.

At the bottom, I’m going to give you links…make sure to follow them to her website and to read more about her book, SECRET SOCIETY GIRL. I’m holding off because I want you to read the blog first. :-)

Diana and I met under relatively odd circumstances. See, she was on a plane on 9/11 heading to New York City. The world fell apart and while it did, she was reading my book, EXPOSED. A few weeks later, she wrote me an email. Funny thing was, I’d stopped writing. I couldn’t justify my work anymore in light of the world falling apart. But she told me that my book had kept her mind occupied during her terrifying flight and subsequent journey to her boyfriend. I started writing again and we became friends.

There are so many weird kismet things about us…her hometown is actually about thirty minutes from mine. She was a reporter and ended up writing a feature article on me. She loves Star Wars and Harry Potter as much as I do. She’s a foodie! (Even did time as a food critic!) Even when she had her reporter hat on, I realized immediately that she UNDERSTOOD romance novels the way only another writer could. I encouraged her to give it a shot. Eventually, she joined my local writer’s group. I’ve watched her career evolution and I can’t be happier for her. So without further ado…
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When a Romance Isn’t a Romance

I adore romances. I’ve been reading them since high school when my friends and I used to smuggle Johanna Lindsay novels back and forth in study hall. In college and beyond I left petticoats behind for contemporary romances. I read all the Plotmonkeys. I discovered Julie with her amazing book EXPOSED, part of Harlequin Blaze’s “Sexy City Nights” series, and have read every book she’s written since. Her heroine Ariana opened up a whole new world of female heroines for me. (Carly and Janelle also participated in the Sexy City Nights miniseries. You can find Carly’s BODY HEAT re-released as a single title about a sexy, injured detective named Jake and the physical therapist he lusts after.) I may have been one of the first in my crowd to discover the wonder of the Bad Boys series, not least because of Janelle’s story in I LOVE BAD BOYS about a very hot challenge between two old friends. And then, who can forget that magical scene in Leslie’s TWO TO TANGLE when Trent dances in the rain?

That was it: sexy, fun contemporary romances for me! I was going to write them. And I tried. In fact, I wrote three, three award-winning, highly lauded, ultimately unpublishable manuscripts, one of which got the memorable rejection of, “I love your writing, but what this story lacks is romance. Please submit to us again, and remember: romance romance romance!” I was absolutely crushed. What I was writing was so romance.

But what it wasn’t was mostly romance. So then I found women’s fiction (or chick lit, or whatever the powers-that-be choose to call it today). Here there was also romance, hot, sexy, fun, contemporary romance like I love in my romance novels, but standing in the background. I started writing one of these, and a publisher bought it. It’s coming out next week, as a matter of fact, and the thing that blows my mind is that I keep hearing from reviewers and booksellers and readers who have advanced copies about how much they like the romance.

Of course there’s romance in the book. Me writing a book without romance is like me writing a book without dialogue. But I didn’t expect Booklist to call my novel a secret society story with “a romantic twist.” I’m thrilled. Yay, someone finally thinks I’ve got a romance!

But it’s not strictly a romance. Like Julie’s Marisela books, my heroine Amy has more than one romantic interest, and though the book has a happy ending, it’s not necessarily a romantic “happily ever after.” But that’s okay. My girl Amy is still pretty young, and she’s got a little more work to do before she deserves her HEA. Still, everyone who has read the book has definite opinions about whom she should be ever after with. There are camps. Two main ones, of course, but also some votes for some of the dark horses in her life. But whatever hero they pick to root for, they root for him a lot. There’s all manner of mayhem in my book, but apparently, it’s the cute guys that really make an impression.

At first, I was a little mystified. My book’s not a romance like Julie’s or Carly’s or Leslie’s or Janelle’s. But then I thought about it. Many of my favorite ‘romances’ don’t take place in a romance. The Empire Strikes Back. The Terminator. Working Girl. So maybe that’s what I write. Romances not in romances.

I’m cool with that idea. I still get to write all those wonderful moments that I adore in romances: the tingly feeling the heroine gets when she first lays eyes on the hero; the accidental hand-brush; the thrill of the first kiss; that moment of awareness when the two first realize that, despite all their obstacles, they are going to become lovers; the slow burning passion; the growing affection; the agony of wondering if they can make it work; the absolute terror of maybe losing the person just when you realize you love them; and of course that incomparable “I love you.” Raise your hand if you don’t live for moments like that in your fiction. I certainly do. And I’m going to write them.

Romance, romance, romance, indeed.
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Check out SECRET SOCIETY GIRL here at Diana’s fabulous new website, where you can read an excerpt and pre-order a copy of the book. And don’t forget to visit her blog…she’s having all sorts of fabulous contests and you might just win an ARC of SSG or perhaps (hint, hint) Pomegranate Martini Lip Gloss.