Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner--No, an Amazon Gift Card! By Connie Vines #ContestWinner

J. Q. Rose, author at BWL Publishing, graciously invited me to guest blog about my current release.

https://www.jqrose.com/

I had a wonderful cyber time!  There was also drawing for a participation prize for visitors/commentators.

The winner is: Marsha from Texas.  Her Amazon e-gift card is on it's way.

How Can Contemporary Fiction Cope with the Changes of Today? #RR, #RoundRobin

Thank you, Dr. Bob, for this month’s blog topic. 

How can contemporary fiction cope with the rapid changes of today’s world?

First, I’d like to define what I believe defines a contemporary romance. 

·         A bone-deep sense of hope that true love is possible. 

Books that show Love is the way to everything that’s good.

·         Before the HEA there must be character growth and endings can also aim at a broad moral good.

·         A romance doesn’t have to solve the world’s problems.  Sometimes you want to witness the power of love.

 How Contemporary Romance Can Cope with the Rapid Changes of Today.

What trends do I see so romance novels can keep pace with today’s world?

·         Becoming more inclusive (though I have witnessed this trend over the past several years).  Everyone needs to be experiencing his/her happy ending.

·         This means people over 40, people of color, same-sex couples, disabled people, the list goes on. 

Redefining Motivating Factors.

·         Uphold/subvert capitalism.  In so many romance novels, the two seem inextricably tied (more so in historical novels). Marriage and romance over the centuries have been connected.  Therefore, it isn’t easy to liberate romance (Cinderella, Jane Eyre, etc.) from this narrative.

·         Or individualism in the romantic arc, “I need to complete this project so I get a big promotion.”

What do I expect to see in 2020 and in the hear future?

·         Narratives of belonging.

·         The arts

·         Community spirit

·         Family gathered at the dinner table giving thanks for the meal delivered by a ‘home-chef service’ but prepared by all.

What changes to you expect to see in contemporary romance novels?

What plot is your favorite?

What do you believe defines a modern day contemporary romance?

List of this month’s participants:

Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea

Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-1OK

Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/blog

Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/

Judith Copek http://lynx-sis.blogspot.com/

Beverley Bateman http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/

Fiona McGier http://www.fionamcgier.com/

Anne Stenhouse  http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com/

Rhobin L Courtright http://www.rhobincourtright.com

Connie

Poodle Talk #6 Is Your Poodle a Wild Sleeper or a Snuggler? by Connie Vines

As you know,  I belong to several fb poodle groups and poodle-fostering/rescue groups. 

We began a conversation about whether or not 'our' particular poodle, or poodles, had to 'touch' you while sleeping.

Of course none of these findings are verified by animal behaviorists,
or supported by any Random Poodle Polls. 

We had fun sharing the stories, (please post your personal poodle findings in the comment area, if you like 🐩🐩🐩 ).

• Poodle #1 (apricot toy) had to be touching her owner at all times. She was label  the Wildest Sleeper.  She would wake up and change positions all through the night so she always had physical contact with her owner/mom.
• 🐩
• Poodle #2  (white toy) hogs the bed (taking 3/4s for herself). It's amazing how such a small dog can muscle a human to the edge of the bed.
• 🐩
• Poodle # 3 (white poodle-maltese mix) scootches until he rests against his human/mom's. tummy. He was given the 'gentleman's award).
• 🐩
• Poodle #4 (gray miniature) all 4 paws again his human's back.
• 🐩
• Poodle #5 (multiples) all three poodles sleep touching her.  If not, one will wake up the others to re-position the group.
• 🐩
• Poodle #6 (white/tan toy)  Yes, this is Chanel.  She sleeps (flying superman position) paws on one side of the bed, stretched out with her toenails touching me.  Or, sleeps with her head resting on the curve of my shoulder.

Of the 225 comments, pictures, etc.  Not one person stated the poodle slept in a 'dog' bed/ kennel,  or even at the foot of the bed.

Mind you, several poodles claimed a pillow to rest his/her head upon (probably from a now pillow-less human).

Several poodles snored, others were loud dreams, some twitched, while others complained when his/her human claimed more mattress-territory (me) after spending half the night trying not to slide off the edge of the mattress and land on a pile of discarded toys.

So is your poodle a 'Wild Sleeper", or a "Snuggler"?

1. 

Happy Poodle Sunday,

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5.

This month's topic is an excerpt dealing with travel or vacation in one of our novels.

Link to Podcast

I've taken an except from Lynx, Rodeo Romance, Book 1. 
This is just before my hero and heroine take a trip together.
This is also my 1st venture into podcasting.  I am also searching for the perfect mic and filter.

My except takes place in Running Springs, Montana before Lynx Maddox and Rachel Scott travel to Lubbock, Texas to meet his family.

They'd never made the trip to Missoula yesterday for supplies, deciding instead to spend the remainder of morning, in bed.  Afterwards, Lynx had told her stories and snacked on warmed leftover for dinner.

At first, Lynx's stories of his childhood had made her laugh. He'd been just as much of a hell raiser as a boy, evidently.  As he spoke more and more about his family, Rachel's fears mounted and hung over her like a blanket of fog.

Lynx had led a privileged life. And, contrary to Rachel's understanding, his parents were not small-town Texas ranchers.  A..J. and Elizabeth Maddox were founding members of community projects, pillars of the Lone Star State. A.J. Maddox lunched with Congressmen at the local cattlemen'a club, and Elizabeth Maddox arranged charity fashion shows.

No matter how much Lynx tried to reassure her to the contrary, Rachel had a feeling Maddox men did not get involved with someone from her background.

She hurried to the kitchen, as if by the act of making breakfast she could cope with everything. Lynx cared about her, she reminded herself. She'd always been stronger when he was near.

But did he love her?

"Of course he does," she whispered, trying to convince herself.  Why else would he take her to Texas?

Before Rachel could spoon the first ladle of pancake batter, Lynx was beside her, reaching for the coffee pot.

"I missed you," he said, kissing her on the temple.

She wasn't going to ruin the morning by giving into her fears, Rachel promised herself. Everything will work out for the best--it had to...

Amazon

https://books2read.com/Lynx

Bookbub







Podcast for a longer version of excerpt


Stop by and read the fascinating travel/ vacation stories other members of our Round Robin have to share this month!

Diane Bator http://dbator.blogspot.ca/

Marie Laval http://marielaval.blogspot.co.uk/

Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea

Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com

Judith Copek http://lynx-sis.blogspot.com/

Anne Stenhouse  http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com/

Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/blog

A.J. Maguire  http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/

Beverley Bateman http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/

Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-1GK

Rhobin L Courtright http://www.rhobincourtright.com