Happy Valentine’s Day!
I’m wishing you lots of love today. May your love cup never be empty.
Today I have a fun Valentine’s Day announcement. I’m so grateful to those of you that have followed me over @loftromance on Twitter and The Loft on Facebook, well now I want to tell you about another exciting place to check out from Macmillan. HeroesandHeartbreakers.com
Heroes and Heartbreakers is a cool new site for the romance lover in all of us and it goes live today! Please go and check it out.
I’m sure you’ll fall in love as I did. Over there you can read book excerpts and original stories, happening blog posts and enter to win great prizes. Don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter so you won’t miss a thing.
Oh and look out for some post from me over there down the road because I’ll also be a blog contributor. Whee!! Thank so much for all your support. It means so much to me.
Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
Much Love,
Kwana &
The Jackster
P.S.
Love you DH!! Told you that already but really, can I say it too much? Never.
TBR… why don’t cha?
I often talk, well complain really, about my toppling TBR (to be read) pile. That sad pile of neglected books that never seems to get any smaller but only grows larger the more I hear about another great book or series from a friend, or a blogger or murmurings out there on twitter.
And it’s not just physical books now that I have an e-reader there is a growing digital TBR pile also. It’s quite daunting really.
I was happy when I saw that one of my favorite bloggers Wendy The Super Liberian was hosting a TBR challenge. Head over here to check it out and join if you like.
This month the challenge was to pick up a long neglected category romance. I picked one that hadn’t been hanging on my shelves but on my Sony for a short while. Romancing The Chef by Robyn Amos.
I’ve noticed a surge in chef romance lately and wanted to give this a try. I’m so happy I did. It had a great mix of romance with little of the drama of Top Chef and a touch of Iron Chef tension thrown in for good measure. I enjoyed that though there was a picture perfect heroine, she was new to being perfect after just having lost a significant amount of weight. And having that weight loss being new to her she came to the story with plenty of insecurities to add problems for the romance. This was an enjoyable and quick read and I’m thankful to Wendy for helping to get me to move it from my TBR pile. And that’s one.
As a bit of a bonus I also read another way too long neglected book that literally got buried in my TBR pile. Caitlin Crews’ (aka Megan Crane) Pure Princess, Bartered Bride.
It’s the story of Luc Garnier, the harsh billionaire business magnet on the hunt for his perfect princess titled bride. He meets his match when finds what he’s looking for in Gabrielle, the perfectly well molded princess who has never stepped a toe out of place. But problems arise when Gabrielle finally decides she doesn’t want a life as perfect princess anymore after she becomes shacked to the brooding Luc. A fun and steamy read. You keep turning the paged to see how these two will one up each other and who will win out in the end.
And that’s two! LOL. Thanks Wendy!
Best,
Kwana
Faraway Friends
What’s Jack up to? Today Jack is enjoying yet another snow day with me and the Dear Twins. He’s still on his meds though I have taken off his space cone since he has broken it almost beyond tape repair. And besides that I can’t stand to have that sharp little edge jabbed against my legs one more time so I’m giving him a break there. Poor little Jack and his space cone. I hope he enjoys the snow without it today.
On a more fun note: It is still so surprising how this whole blog world works at times. On Monday I was thrilled to have a chance to meet a longtime blog friend from way across the pond in London. The Lovely Ronke aka Ondo Lady from the always happening pop culture blog The Musings of Ondo Lady.
I’ve been a fan of Ronke’s blog for well over 3 years since Patricia of pve design first told me about her. And happily Ronke and I have been blog buddies since my first comment. Now with the power of Twitter we’re able to chat in more immediate time and the friendship has grown even stronger although I’m always a little miffed when she makes an Eastenders comment (wish I could be watching too).
I was so excited about a month ago to get an email from Ronke saying she would be in New York and would like to meet me. She was kind enough to come up my neck of the woods and I picked her up from the train station taking her for a lunch. I gave her a choice of a places. Exotic but they rush you or not so exotic, but we can linger. I was so happy when she choose to linger.
We chatted like long time friends over pasta and salad the fact that our friendhip was only long distance seemed to hold no bearing.
Thanks so much to Ronke for being such a kind soul and proving how alike we are no matter how far apart.
Best,
Kwana
Hanging at The Loft
Hi Friends!
Fun news today on ye old blog. Just to make November a bit more edge of my seat thrilling with you all know college apps, NaNoWrimo, Thanksgiving etc… I’m now part of an exciting new launch called The Loft.
It’s a new Facebook page from Macmillan for contemporary women’s fiction, romance and chicklit where I’m the moderator! And you all know how much I like to talk so this should be fun for me. I’m so excited for this new launch where we’ll chat about all sorts of goings on in women’s fiction and chicklit is not a dirty word! Please stop on by and “like” The Loft on Facebook. Please join in the discussions so that I’m not talking to myself. LoL.
Also friend us on Twitter @loftromance.
Oh and please tell a friend. Thanks so much!
Best,
Kwana
Craving
Stop in by my other web spot BECOMING TRUE ME to see what I’m craving….
And tell me what’s on your mind here. Happy Friday!
Best,
Kwana
image from here
Nesting with Nate
Hello peeps. I’m still in recuperation mode from #nateday921. Seriously who would think going to see the taping of a show sitting in an audience and clapping would be so tiring. But factor in all the smiling and trying not to look all dorky and accidently pick your nose on TV and I’m plum tuckered out.
But Like I said yesterday the best part of the Nate Berkus day was meeting so many wonderful bloggers face to face. Seriously was a warm, generous and fun group of people. As you can see I don’t meet any strangers.
Sidebar: I’m so bummed not to have a pic with the sweet Stephanie of Brooklyn Limestone. Stephanie It was great to meet you!
I could not believe how many folks have from way further than Stephanie (Brooklyn) and I (Westchester). I mean there were folks from Dallas, North Carolina, Utah, plenty from DC and quite a few from Canada. Here are a few pics of all the lovely faces. Now excuse me because I won’t be able to match all the names with the faces but believe me all these people are fabulous. There is the great Tamara from Get It Girl Style, Vanessaand Kristen from Canada, Susan from Shandell’s, Tamara from Nest Nest Nest, The lovely Lisa Ferguson, Roslyn of Ra Decor, Tina of Design in Color, Erika of BluLabel Bungalow and many more…
Then there was the wonderful after party thanks to The Nest complete with fun bar cart challenge for the décor bloggers. What a cute idea and a fun time. I felt honored to be included. Now I hope all this good décor karma rubs off on me and I go from admirer to doer.
It was wonderful to meet all of you. Thanks for being too sweet. Please stop by ye old blog often and give your thought on books, life, oh just whatever you like. If you are new to kwanawrites look around a bit and tell me what you think. Oh and friends if you haven’t please stop by the Mills & Boon contest and give my entry a read and vote if you like. Much appreciated. Thanks for stopping by!
Best,
KwanaLet the Side Show Begin
What’s Jack up to? Poor Jack is not feeling well today which makes me sad but I’m afraid it’s his own fault since while I was out at the Nate show he took the opportunity to get into a box of Fiber One bars. That meant throwing up in the middle of the night for Jack in hall and on the couch and just… Ugh! Poor Jack and poor DH who got up with him and poor me who is still cleaning up today. Fun, uh, not.
Now I had a great time at The Nate Berkus Show. Sure It would have been fun if it was Oprah like and announced that it was blogger show day but you can’t have it all. Nate was just as cute as he is on TV. He did a nice Q and A with us after the taping and we got a scarf and a gift card from Payless as a parting gift. Go BOGO! Though I’d still love a Nate makeover anytime. Hey Nate I’m just up the road and need all sorts of help. Holla. Thanks.
A big thrill for this PR lover was seeing guest Christian Siriano. You know this girl was giddy over that part. Look for me in the audience in the gold (yikes) with the huge goofy grin (natch). BTW I’m totally afraid of how I’ll look on camera. I swear it felt like the camera was in my face all the time and all I wanted to do was scratch my nose. If I’m on camera I’m sure I’ll look quite dorkish. I’m sort of hoping I’m not so I can keep my nice distorted imago of myself just a little longer.
Ahh well. Look for me,because, yes it’s all about me, in the audience on The Nate Berkus Show, the one with Dressing from your closet with Christian, and Home Make Overs by Shopping your house.
Now the best part of the day for me was meeting so many wonderful bloggers whose blogs I drool over every day. What a time that was! Bloggers came from all over the country and many from Canada. There was also a fab after party put on my THE NEST magazine way downtown. What a great night out. I will post more ye bloggers and pics tomorrow.
Finally. Let’s all say a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my MA!!!
Happy Birthday MA! All of you out there who know me or stop by often know how wild, unpredictable and fab my mother is. She is one you can’t hold down. You never know when she’ll show up or what color hair she’ll be sporting when she does. This oldie but goodie goes out to Ms. Kay! She always lovs a good side show. Love ya Ma!
Best,
Kwana
Vamp It Up
What’s Jack up to? As I write this, Jack is pacing back and forth and every once in a while stopping to give me “the look” as if to say, “uh when are you going to feed me lady?” Uh oh now he’s just stopped and is starring. Going for the hard intimidation. Oh Jack I know your tricks. Patience please.
I hope you had a good weekend. Mine was nice. I had fun with my new phone until it started to act all wonky and turned on a off a bunch of times and now I can’t find a load of pictures which seems to have disappeared. So now I’ve turned sad and have to visit Verizon and there is nothing I hate more. It really feels like I have bad phone Karma lately. And those were great picture of the DH and I was just going to download them when I noticed they were not there. I hope there is a way to recover them.
In a small silver lining my most recent pictures from the weekend did not disappear. This weekend I had a real treat. The world of blogging is so odd. You have these strange relationships based on comments of snippets of a life a person felt free enough to share. I mean who knows how truthful or authentic the person on the other end of the computer is being? Are they who they portray themselves to be? It could all be smoke and mirrors and you could finally meet a person that you have a little blog crush on and it could be like meeting a star that you’ve seen in the movies and you’re like, “crap, they were much taller on screen.”
Well folks, I’m happy to say I got to meet one, well two, of my blog crushes this weekend when my buddy Patricia (PVE) had Valorie, The Visual Vamp and her sweet love Alberto from New Orleans over for lunch.
I couldn’t wait to grab the DH and run up the hill to see them (not run, drove really, no running for this girl). First off the DH did think I was a little cra-zy. You’re meeting another blogger from where? Well not five minutes into our meeting he was just as taken as I was by Valorie and Alberto. They are two of the loveliest, sweet, funny and genuine people you’d ever want to meet.
And they tangoed for us!!! So beautiful. It’s now on my list.
Sunday afternoon was a great day. Thanks for a great lunch, Patricia. And it was a good feeling for me to come out from behind the computer myself and to meet someone who instantly felt like a friend and who was just what she presented herself to be…really real and a good vamp.
Best,
Kwana
I write like…
I’ve spent way too much time lately on the I write like site. I’ve been putting in random snippets of my writing to see if the results change or not. I’ve tried parts of different books of mine and random blog posts. More times than not I got that I write like Stephen King and twice Dan Brown and look who else appeared, Shakesphere. As if I could be so lofty?! Not once has a female author turned up for me. Odd with my love of romance. Houston I may have a problem though with what I’m going for next this may be a good thing.
I write like
William ShakespeareI Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!
Of course this all means little or nothing, you see according to articles. The leaked Mel Gibson tapes are like Margaret Atwood and Atwood herself tweeted that she tried it and came up to write like Stephen King. Ah well, At least it’s a fun procrastination technique and all that cut and paste really does look like work. Sort off.
You can go here to spend way too much of your own time not writing.
Best,
Kwana
Old is New Again
Thanks to all for all the sweet B-day wishes for my DH yesterday. He was so touched and sends his thanks.
And still today I’ve got more going on. Told you it was a busy week. Whew.
Check me out over here guest blogging over at the Borders True Romance Blog. How thrilled am I to be hanging with all those fabulous romance authors? Eeeeee! Please stop on by and comment all my blog friends so I’m not hanging alone. Thanks.
I’m talking about reading the classics in a new way.
Best,
Kwana
