CHAT WITH CHERYL NORMAN

Is 2012 the end of time?

2012-01-13T12:18:00.000-05:00

I'm betting it isn't. But just in case, I have a bucket list for 2012. After I wrote down all the things I hope to do this year (just in case!), I realized what a great idea a bucket list is.

So instead of making new year resolutions, make a list of what you hope to do this year. It's easier to accomplish what you want if you're focusing on the goal instead of behavior modification. At least that's the way I see it!

I hope reading lots of books is on your bucket list, because there certainly are a lot of good ones out there. Writing a new book is on my list, too.

Happy new year!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2011-10-27T16:25:00.001-04:00

I do hope you will check out my article posted October 27, 2011, on AOL Healthy Living Health News titled My Recipe for Recovery. It chronicles how I used writing and humor to heal and recover from breast cancer treatment.

Free e-book!

2011-08-03T19:39:00.000-04:00

Medallion Press is offering a free download of RESTORE MY HEART until August 15. This is a great opportunity to begin reading my "Mustang Sally" trilogy. Even if you've read the other titles (RECLAIM MY LIFE and REBUILD MY WORLD), you can go back and catch the earlier story. Also, REMEMBER MY LOVE is a short story included in the e-book anthology ALL BETS ARE ON! and is a connecting story.

The free download is available in various formats, including Kindle. Hurry! Offer ends soon.

Thank you!

Cheryl

Summer Reading

2011-07-12T13:23:00.000-04:00

We are deep into summer now, a time that always means reading to me. Growing up, I visited the library regularly to return books and find new reads. Now I don't have to! I have a Kindle, one of several amazing e-readers on the market, and I can download new reading material in seconds.

This summer I've enjoyed some great books, including Eyewall by Buzz Bernard (a terrific hurricane thriller) and Water for Elephants (a depression-era circus tale). Now I'm reading Sue Henry's Serpent's Trail. I've also received e-mails and social networking messages from folks who have downloaded and read my books. This is wonderful feedback for an author. Thank you so much for giving Cheryl Norman books a try.

Stay out of the heat. Have a safe and enjoyable summer of reading!

Books by Cheryl Norman

2011-04-12T13:21:00.000-04:00

Attention Readers: I write as Cheryl Norman. I am not Cheryl Scott Norman, author of Through the Shimmering. That lady is a fantasy writer who happens to share my pen name (For the record, I had it first). I do not write fantasy fiction, so please be aware that, although Through the Shimmering is listed with my books, it is not written by me. Sorry for the confusion.

My books are (in reverse order of publication):

Rebuild My World
Reclaim My Life
Romance on Route 66 (anthology)
Running Scared
Restore My Heart
Hasty Tasty Meals in the RV
Full Moon Lullaby
"Chef" Cheri's Hasty Tasty Meals
Last Resort
Storms of the Heart
Full Moon Honeymoon
Last Resort

Rebuild My World is now available!

2011-03-25T17:33:00.000-04:00

For those who have asked for Taylor Drake's story, here it is. Scheduled for an April release, the book is already available on Amazon.com! I do hope you enjoy Rebuild My World. It is a romantic suspense, my favorite genre. Also I have written a companion short story, Remember My Love, for the upcoming Turquoise Morning Press romance anthology Talk Derby To Me, which should be out in time for the Kentucky Derby Festival.

Welcome to Drake Springs, Florida

2011-03-12T20:27:00.000-05:00

Drake Springs exists only in my imagination, but it feels real to me after living with the landmarks and citizens during the writing of Reclaim My Life. So I returned to Drake Springs and many of those "citizens" in my latest book Rebuild My World. It's a romantic suspense story that takes place a year or so after the end of Reclaim My Life, but it's a stand-alone book.

While Restore My Heart introduces the Desalvo family, Reclaim My Life adds the Drake dyansty with Wil Drake and Fia Desalvo's story. Rebuild My World features Wil's sister, Taylor Drake, who retreats to her Florida hometown after surviving a brutal attack that leaves her with both physical and emotional scars.

I hope you'll enjoy Taylor's story. It has romance, mystery, and an important lesson in forgiveness. Available soon in both print and e-book.

Happy Spring!
Cheryl

Attention Ladies!

2011-02-13T15:27:00.001-05:00

Though it isn't October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month), any month is a good month to remind you to do your regular self-exams. I know from experience that early detection and treatment can save your life.

I am a breast cancer survivor whose mammography missed the suspicious growth I found two months later on my own. So ladies, get those annual mammograms, but check yourself regularly, too. Know your body. Breast cancer hits one in eight women. For more information about breast cancer (and all cancers) visit the American Cancer Society Website at cancer.org.

Men can get breast cancer, too, but they aren't at risk like us women.
Take care of yourselves and Happy Valentine's Day.

ROMANCE ON ROUTE 66 Anthology

2009-08-28T09:35:00.004-04:00

It's out, and it's available to order from your favorite bookstore, online, or even in Kindle format. For details, to to http://romanceonroute66.wordpress.com/. Enjoy the trip!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-26T13:58:00.002-05:00

RUNNING SCARED IS OUT!

2008-09-08T18:12:00.002-04:00

Hey, officially RUNNING SCARED is available, although I don't have my author copies yet. Thanks to a glitch at the printers, it's a bit delayed. But reviewers are getting their copies, and the reviews have been very favorable!

(You can read the quotes on the Reviews page of my website)

Anyway, thanks to all of you for your support and interest in my books.

Cheryl

Paying it Forward

2008-06-23T10:52:00.001-04:00

So many writers have mentored me along my path to publication. I still have much room for improvement and a long way to go, but this past week I discovered something. I also have something to offer! Now it's my turn to guide and inspire beginning writers.

I had the privilege of working with 21 brave souls who'd submitted manuscripts for intense critiquing at the Southeastern Writers Conference (an event I strongly recommend to all writers of all genres). It takes courage to expose your writing to a stranger, especially an author further along in her career. But these talented writers soaked up every word of instruction, some even going so far as to revise and apply our suggestions during the week, offering us a second pass at their work.

These writers will succeed. I have no doubt. Two or three should already be published and will be soon, I predict. Many had farther to travel on their road to success. All humbled me with their raw talent. I returned to my own writing with renewed enthusiasm for my chosen profession. You see, in giving back I got much in return.

To all you great authors who helped me, thanks again. To all who asked for my help, thanks to you, too. This is one of the few careers in which people so eagerly train their competitors. Fortunately!

Cheryl

Photos of the conference site: Epworth by the Sea

IT'S A FINE LINE...

2008-04-19T17:12:00.000-04:00

I've been following this plagiarism business a while now. Today it was announced that Cassie Edwards and her publisher have parted ways over the allegations. Obviously, they are of a different mind regarding fair use. It's brought up the question for us writers: What constitutes plagiarism? A court in England found Dan Brown not guilty in the case of The Davinci Code; and as far as I can tell, these two cases differ only in the fact that Cassie Edwards didn't include a bibliography giving credit for her nonfiction references.

I read everything written by the late Eugenia Price, and she went into exhausting detail in her afterwords about the sources of her material. Sometimes she included entire texts of actual letters in her novels. I certainly didn't think of Eugenia Price as a plagiarist, just a historical writer thorough in her research.

Cassie Edwards, whom I've never met and don't know, has written lots of books depicting the native American people in a sympathetic and realistic light. I suspect she sincerely thought she could use the research materials in her fiction. I hate that her writing is now tainted by this charge of plagiarism. I guess the lesson here is to cite all your sources. Then be sure your publisher includes your remarks in the finished product.

A sweet Valentine Day's post

2008-02-14T17:33:00.000-05:00

I am irritated with the press right now. Don't they know the harm they do when they quote sensational headlines without giving us the whole story? This week's misleading news story is "Artificial sweeteners may make you gain weight."

I say they're confused. Fooling your body with a zero calorie sweetener is not the problem. I drank tons of diet sodas when I weighed 120, so don't tell me they made me eat more! The problem is artificial sweeteners that are not recognized by your body that do have calories, i.e. high fructose corn syrup, which is an engineered sweetener that has tons of calories. It's in everything because it's cheaper than granulated sugar.

Here's the problem the media have now created: Woman stops drinking diet sodas because she hears on the news they will lead to weight gain. Woman loves sodas, so she drinks regular Pepsi, Coke, Dr. Pepper, whatever--all of which are loaded with high fructose corn syrup. Woman has same problem as before except now she gains weight from the added calories. Plus, her dentist notices she has developed dental decay.

I caution you to avoid HFCS. It's artificial, it's sweet, and it's high calorie--not to be confused with calorie-free artificial sweeteners (i.e. Splenda®).

Have a sweet day!

Cheryl

Happy New Year!

2007-12-31T02:57:00.000-05:00

I wish everyone many blessings in the new year. I'm thankful to be published with a terrific company, Medallion Press, who has amazing cover artists. Here is the new cover for my next book:

Cheryl

Why Men Don't Write Advice Columns (author unknown)

2007-11-01T17:42:00.000-04:00

Dear Bob:

I hope you can help me here. The other day I set off for work leaving my husband in the house watching the TV as usual. I hadn't gone more than a few hundred yards down the road when my engine conked out and the car shuddered to a halt. I walked back home to get my husband's help. When I got home I couldn't believe my eyes. He was parading in front of the wardrobe mirror dressed in my underwear and high-heel shoes, and he was wearing my make up. I am 32, my husband is 34 and we have been married for twelve years. When I confronted him, he tried to make out that he had dressed in my lingerie because he couldn't find his own underwear. But when I asked him about the make up, he broke down and admitted that he'd been wearing my clothes for six months. I told him to stop or I would leave him. He was let go from his job six months ago and he says he has been feeling increasingly depressed and worthless. I love him very much, but ever since I gave him the ultimatum he has become increasingly distant. I don't feel I can get through to him anymore. Can you please help?

Sincerely, Mrs. Sheila Usk

Dear Sheila:
A car stalling after being driven a short distance can be caused by a variety of faults with the engine. Start by checking that there is no debris in the fuel line. If it is clear, check the jubilee clips holding the vacuum pipes onto the inlet manifold. If none of these approaches solves the problem, it could be that the f uel pump itself is faulty, causing low delivery pressure to the carburetor float chamber. I hope this helps.

Bob

Camper Cheryl Sounds Off

2007-10-14T16:01:00.000-04:00

October 15 is Blog Action Day. Bloggers everywhere are asked to blog about anything pertaining to the environment. This is my opportunity to stand on my soapbox, so humor me.

I'm sensitive to the environment. I'm not wasteful or destructive. I save aluminum cans, newspapers, and egg cartons for recycling. But I'm tired of being put on the defensive about RVing by folks I call hypocritics. (Hypocritical critics) You know the type who love to berate you for ruining the environment when they don't practice what they preach, the type who criticize me for driving a comfortable Buick that gets 32 mpg on the road when their ugly hybrid import gets no better.

I love traveling and I love camping. Yes, our mini-motor home gets 10-11 mpg, which makes it a gas hog. But that doesn't make me an enemy to the earth. RVers are by far the most conservation-minded folks in the USA. We drive around 60 MPH on the interstates while others whiz past us going 80.

I'll bet few people know how to conserve water as well as we do. A motto of the Good Sam Club is to leave a campsite better than you found it. That means not only picking up after ourselves and our pet but others, too.

We have to conserve power, even when hooked up to shore power. I keep a Volt-meter in my kitchen and manage my power usage, which means I identify and turn off power-hungry appliances. Do the hypocritics have any conception how much electricity they use at any given time? Do they capture dish water and reuse it for flushing the toilet? Do they know about treating holding tanks with environmental-friendly chemicals that won't harm septic systems? Do they understand Gross Vehicle Weight and managing their loads to maximize fuel economy? Do they understand stack-cooking to conserve LP?

RVers do.

So please don't suggest that because we own an RV, we're anti-environment. We were conservationists from the beginning.

Camper Cheryl

High School Class Reunion

2007-09-26T13:56:00.000-04:00

I just returned from my high school reunion. Yes, forty years is a long time, and I'd been feeling old and fat in anticipation. I've gained fifty pounds since my skinny high school years, along with wrinkles and sags. I tried dieting this summer in preparation for the reunion, but lost about nine pounds, total. Oh, well, I wasn't deterred. After all, many I'd be seeing were life-long friends. Surely they wouldn't comment on the deteriorated state of my body, right?

My concerns were unfounded, as it turns out. I arrived, handsome husband in tow, and picked up my name badge (You know, the ones with your name, your maiden name, and a tiny copy of your senior picture on the side) at the registration table, where I was greeted by three familiar faces. (The volunteers who organized our reunion did a terrific job. We had a nice dinner and a dee-jay who played music from the sixties, and a nice area in which to mingle and talk.)

I squinted at name badges then at faces, trying to reconcile the two and jump-start my memory in a millisecond before the other person caught me *LOL * I stopped worrying after I noticed a dozen or so of my classmates squinting at MY name badge and MY face. Since I've spent half of my life in the deep south, I had a decidedly more southern accent than I'd had as a teen, too, which may have thrown off a few from immediately recognizing me.

Then an amazing thing happened. Soon we had reacquainted ourselves with our older versions and forgot all about how we'd changed physically. We talked and looked at baby pictures of kids and grandkids. And dogs, too! We reminisced some of our high school high jinks, and talked about where we'd lived (all over the U.S., as it turns out!), and what our current passions are. One couple follows the rodeo circuit and watches professional bull riding. Another is involved in archaeological and historical preservation. Another share our enthusiasm for old classic cars. Many of us are retired and / or involved in a second career. Nobody at my reunion lives a boring or inactive life!

A good friend commented that it was surprising how we'd turned out to be productive citizens. Our high school alumni include judges, lawyers, dentists, pilots, educators, Secret Service agents, public servants, entrepreneurs, and authors (Me!).

Dozens, unfortunately, have passed away. Every reunion we lose more of our classmates. I wonder how many of us will be around ten years from now?

[View Photo Album]

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ME!

2007-09-09T20:51:00.000-04:00

Not only is September my wedding anniversary month, but it's also the anniversary of my first published book FULL MOON HONEYMOON. Come reminisce with me at the Wings Authors blog!

Cheryl

My, time flies ...

2007-09-03T10:46:00.000-04:00

The month of September has me waxing sentimental. First, hard as it is to believe, my wonderful (Yes, the best guy in the world!) husband and I are celebrating our 29th wedding anniversary. (The photo is from our honeymoon, as you can tell by the hair styles *LOL*) My, time flies when you're having fun.

September, 2007, is also the month in which I'll attend my high school reunion. And it's not my tenth or twenty-fifth. Nope. I won't say which one, but my! Time flies when you're having fun.

There are a number of birthdays this month, too. My baby nephew who's no baby anymore has a birthday the day after his wife's. My twin nieces (OK, technically I'm not their aunt but they call me Aunt Cheri) turn **gasp** the big something-O (I won't tell) on our anniversary. My best friend from junior high and high school also has a birthday that day. Happy Birthday, Carolyne, wherever you are, friend.

So how am I spending most of September? Writing my book (with its looming Dec. 1 deadline) with the Weather Channel on in the background. I live in Florida, and September is, unfortunately, the peak of hurricane season. I'm praying for calm weather even as a category 5 churns in the Caribbean (Felix).

Happy Labor Day, everyone! Now, back to writing. (My, time flies when you're on deadline!!!!)
Cheryl

Plotting: How do you pace your story?

2007-08-02T13:44:00.000-04:00

I sold another book! If you've read Restore My Heart, you'll know that one of the hero's siblings is at loose ends at the end of the book. In the ensuing two years, a lot happens and ... well, you'll see. The new book's working title is Reclaim My Life and is a Witness Security Program story. The manuscript is due Dec. 1, and the tentative release date is 2009.

This is one that I haven't actually written yet, so I'll be very busy the next four months. I try to write in a 3-act method, like a stage play. I hope to have act one finished by the end of August. I absolutely must be at the mid-point at the end of September, which is that event in Act II when everything shifts.

Any of you writers use this method? It seems to help my pacing, although it's really just another version of the story arc. If you aren't too busy meeting your own deadline, comment on what tricks you use to write toward your deadline, whether it's a contractual one or self-imposed.

Thanks!
Cheryl

Cinema Deja Vu

2007-07-08T22:33:00.000-04:00

How does one keep up with blogging? We have website blogs, MySpace blogs, Yahoo 360° blogs, bebo, and so on. Even though I post the same message on all of these, I struggle for something interesting to discuss.

Today being no exception, I've chosen to talk about remakes of movies. We've been watching an updated JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH, comparing it to the one 45 or so years ago that starred Pat Boone (among others). The new version has convincing special effects and costumes, but it's just not as much fun as the older film. In its favor are Treat Williams and Bryan Brown, but the plot is darker and edgier. Maybe some films weren't meant for remakes.
Some that come to mind are THE TIME MACHINE (Guy Pierce is great, but the remake was just too serious for me.), THE PARENT TRAP (Again, great casting but just didn't feel as cute and fun as the Haley Mills version, which was a remake of TWICE BLESSED, an old 40s film), and JACKAL (Not bad for an action flick, but DAY OF THE JACKAL was more of an intrigue and a superior story IMO. Having said that, JACKAL has an outstanding performance by Richard Gere).

Others are improved, or at least freshened up. For instance, ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD. Loved the original from the 50s, but also loved the re-make with Danny Glover in the 90s. Both have their charm. PLANET OF THE APES was just as good IMO with Mark Wahlberg (Hey, he's my "friend" on MySpace!) as it was with Roddy McDowell. And Rat Pack fans will disagree, but the remake of OCEAN'S ELEVEN far outshone the original. George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt...hell-o! Another remake that far outshined the original (which was a mini-series) is THE BOURNE IDENTITY.

Going back a few years, BODY HEAT, a remake of DOUBLE INDEMNITY (which has since been re-made again!), was an excellent movie. Barbara Stanwyck was a strong actress, but Kathleen Turner (in one of her first roles) turned out a stellar performace in the newer version.

I'm sure you can think of other films that should or shouldn't have been remade. Let me hear from you!

Cheryl

Dressing with Paul Newman?!

2007-07-01T16:35:00.000-04:00

Got your attention, I hope!

OK, so Paul the doll is 80, but to me he is still the handsomest and nicest guy in Hollywood. I so love the movie CARS because he's the voice of Doc Hudson, the Hudson Hornet.

Now to the topic at hand. Paul the doll has stayed young and active thanks to the attention he gives his health, particularly in areas of nutrition. I recently hopped on his bandwagon and cleared my kitchen of products with unhealthy additives, especially trans fats and high fructose corn syrup. I'm no health nut, but I do like to eat figure-friendly. Those two ingredients are neither healthy nor figure-friendly.

Yesterday I was at Publix browsing their salad dressings in search of something light but healthy. What a minefield! All the store brands and big name brands were sweetened with you-know-what. The fat free varieties were the worst, listing high fructose corn syrup as the first ingredient. Nasty.

Then I saw Paul, winking at me from a lower shelf. I selected a bottle of Lite Ginger Soy and read the label. What a delightful surprise! Nothing but healthful oils and natural sweeteners, weighing in at a mere 35 calories per serving. And, just like the man himself, it's delicious.

I swear this is an unsolicited testimonial. To learn more about Paul's own line of products, visit his website: www.newmansown.com.

Cheryl

Greetings From Smoky Florida!

2007-05-15T20:23:00.000-04:00

Marvelous! I finally figured out how to access the new, improved Blogger! So I'm back. To catch up on what I've been up to lately, visit my redesigned website and check out the Events page for pictures. It's been a very busy year for Cheryl Norman.

Right now I'm voluntarily evacuating the smoke from the fires in north Florida/south Georgia, so I'll catch you later.

Cheryl

Holiday greetings!

2006-12-26T22:00:00.000-05:00

Here I am (left to right) with authors Susan R. Sweet, Tami Sandlin, and Judy Leigh Peters. Behind Judy is her sister, Mary Lou, at our recent Christmas party.

Here I am with author Dolores J. Wilson at her launch party for BARKING GOATS AND THE REDNECK MAFIA.

I wish you a happy and safe holiday season!

Cheryl

Late breaking news!

2006-12-17T16:11:00.000-05:00

Two exciting pieces of news for Cheryl Norman this week! First, Medallion Press has offered me a second contract, this one for my new romantic suspense (working title RUNNING SCARED)! Second, my HASTY TASTY MEALS IN THE RV cookbook is a finalist in the EPPIEs for 2007! For details go to http://epicauthors.org.

On the heels of the Publisher's Weekly article, I'm on a high this month!

I want to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a safe and joyful holiday season.

Cheryl

Publisher's Weekly article on romance

2006-11-26T20:05:00.000-05:00

Hey, everybody! I'm mentioned in an article in this week's issue of Publisher's Weekly! Check out the article about the ten debut romance authors to watch. I'm combing the bookstores tomorrow in search of a hard copy...

Cheryl

What's cooking for Thanksgiving?

2006-11-19T12:17:00.000-05:00

In addition to writing romance and mystery stories, I also write cookbooks, which means I'm always looking for new recipes and dishes. Do you have a favorite holiday recipe to share?

I just returned from nine days in the RV and managed to cook a few yummy meals for us despite the tiny space. I also sold a dozen copies of my newest cookbook. Additional copies are available in e-book, spiral-bound, or regular binding editions. See my website for details.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Cheryl

Restore My Heart's on Amazon!

2006-08-26T15:36:00.000-04:00

Check it out! My new book is already available for pre-order at Amazon!

Also, I'm now on Amazon Direct, which means I have an author's blog there.

How cool is that?!

Cheryl

Cover Flat for Restore My Heart!

2006-07-19T15:10:00.000-04:00

Look! Here's the cover art for my upcoming romantic suspense book. What do you think?

Just to remind you, Restore My Heart is a 2007 Emerald imprint release from Medallion Press.

Cheryl

D's Diner

2006-07-02T19:08:00.000-04:00

Shut out of our usual meeting place for our monthly RWA chapter meeting, we were invited to the home of one of our members. Well, not exactly her home. Behind the house is a "barn" where she has a retro "diner." Nicknamed D's Diner, it's a delightful room for entertaining. Our hostess served us lunch in plastic diner baskets. What fun! Thanks, D, for the use of your diner. Next month the regular restaurant will seem rather blah.

Cheryl

The Idea Boutique

2006-06-04T16:23:00.000-04:00

If you're a blog addict, add this one to your weekly browse list: http://www.ideaboutique.blogspot.com/

I've been invited to guest-blog at the Idea Boutique on June 6, so please stop by and check it out.

Thanks!

Cheryl

The Romantic Times Convention in Daytona Beach

2006-05-21T15:34:00.000-04:00

Medallion Press authors gather for the 2006 Romantic Times BOOKReviews magazine Booklovers Convention in Daytona Beach.

Thanks to Dolores J. Wilson for hosting us in her suite Tuesday night. Is she a great cook or what?!

Cheryl

I finished!

2006-05-14T17:21:00.000-04:00

Man, it feels great to be able to put the final manuscript for my second cookbook to bed. I hope to have CHEF CHERI'S HASTY TASTY MEALS IN THE RV out later this year in both print and download versions. Stay tuned for what's cooking with Cheryl!

Heather Waters's list of seven

2006-04-28T20:48:00.000-04:00

I've been tagged by author Heather Waters. Click on the survey and give me your own answers to her questions, just for fun.

Cheryl

MARCHing forward: Restore My Heart

2006-04-13T16:31:00.000-04:00

Did you see the Medallion Press website? Restore My Heart is shown with a release date of March, 2007. That's eleven months from now, less than a year! I can't help but feel excited.

It isn't too early to be thinking about promoting the book, so I've been playing around with animated graphics. I have much to learn but what do you think about my first effort?

Let me know!
Cheryl

Dennis Weaver--A Tribute

2006-02-28T16:19:00.000-05:00

I had the privilege of meeting Dennis Weaver and am saddened by his passing. We used to spend summers in Montrose, Colorado, not far from his home in Ridgeway. It wasn't unusual to run into him and his wife shopping at the local Safeway Supermarket. He was a regular guest at our RV Park and entertained us with stories about his adventures in show biz.

In 1994, he allowed us to tour his "earth" house, which was built of old tires and other recycled trash. Dennis and his life-long partner/wife, Gerry, were avid environmentalists and vegetarians. If not for the cancer, I believe he would've reached 100+.

The last time I saw the Weavers (in 1997 waiting tables at their restaurant in Ridgeway, Colorado), they were in their 70s and as energetic as any of us younger folk. In fact, later that evening they jitterbugged on the dance floor (they took first prize in a dance contest in the 1940s) and were absolutely amazing. They'd been married for 61 years, a rarity within the general population and an absolute miracle among celebrities.

I treasure my photos of him, cherish his memory and will remember his wife and three sons in my prayers. I imagine he's shaking hands with Don Knotts and Darrin McGavin in the afterworld, probably swapping stories and singing a song. Yes, we've lost 3 Hollywood legends this past week.

Cheryl

Wilson Pickett died but MUSTANG SALLY lives on

2006-01-23T15:33:00.000-05:00

According to the Associated Press, "Wilson Pickett, the soul pioneer best known for the fiery hits "Mustang Sally" and "In The Midnight Hour," died of a heart attack Thursday in a Reston, Virginia, hospital, according to his management company. He was 64."

The day of his death, I was in the audience where Rick Kelly, a Detroit-based entertainer who came to Tampa to entertain us at the RV Super Show Rally, led the entire audience singing--complete with coordinated hand movements--In the Midnight Hour.

I'm a Pickett fan, and especially a fan of Mustang Sally. It's no coincidence that I named the heroine in my upcoming RESTORE MY HEART "Sally" or her fictional auto-restoration business in Louisville, Kentucky, "Mustang Sally's." She drives a 1964½ Mustang, earning her the nickname she shares with Wilson Pickett's hit song.

Coincidentally, Wilson Pickett will be laid to rest next to his mother in a cemetary in Louisville, Ky. His music lives on and on. As the Righteous Brothers sang, "If there's a rock-n-roll heaven, I know they have a helluva band."

Cheryl

Starting a new year

2006-01-08T16:48:00.000-05:00

I don't want to wish away my life, as my mother used to say, but now it's 2006. This means that I can now say, "Restore My Heart will be out next year." Now that it's 2006, 2007 doesn't seem as far off. Yippee!

I don't have a release date yet, but I do have my ISBN#s. Check it out at the Medallion Press website. There I am, listed among the other Medallion authors. How cool is that?

I wish all of you a happy new year and look forward to blogging with you in 2006.

Cheryl

May your holidays be merry and bright!

2005-12-04T18:51:00.000-05:00

The Christmas parties have begun. We had our first holiday party of the season this weekend camping on the beautiful Suwannee River with our friends. It turned out to be a weekend-long feast. Now I'm back to my diet. *burp!*

Many thanks to Kathy Hupp for the photo.

I wish you a joyful and safe holiday season. Here is my greeting to you, a photo of Ginger in her holiday bandana. Many blessings!

Cheryl

Sporty Car Stamps!

2005-10-16T21:53:00.000-04:00

Check it out! The Kaiser Darrin (a green one, no less!) has made a U.S.P.S. commemorative stamp. I'm going to order some from my local post office.

Cheryl

More on the Kaiser Darrin

2005-10-16T20:36:00.000-04:00

Here is another view of the 1954 Kaiser Darrin as featured in my upcoming romantic suspense, Restore My Heart.

Cheryl

Restore My Heart--2007 release from Medallion Press

2005-09-30T11:35:00.000-04:00

Restore My Heart is a romantic suspense/mystery that involves a restored 1954 Kaiser Darrin. For its time, Kaiser's sports car was highly innovative.

Here is a photo of me standing beside the Darrin I used as the model for my story. Thanks to Mike and Beth Devlin of Colorado for the "use" of their Darrin.

Cheryl

A Writer's Dream Weekend!

2005-09-18T16:58:00.000-04:00

Retreaters at the Stephen Foster museum.
What more could I ask for than a weekend brainstorming with five imaginative and talented authors? How about an offer for my mystery, Restore My Heart?! That's right, Friday, Medallion Press called to tell me they are interested in publishing Restore My Heart as a 2007 mass-market paperback.

All in all, I had a productive, exciting, and chocolate-filled week-end!

Cheryl

Writers' Retreat Weekend

2005-09-16T09:25:00.000-04:00

This weekend I will be at an intensive two-day writing session with five other authors. We'll be in a cabin on the Suwannee River. Hence we call ourselves LOTS, an acronym for Ladies of the Suwannee. We "retreat" periodically to brainstorm plots and characters for new projects. It's fun, too. I hope to return with a plan to write my English-professor-amateur-sleuth mystery, Dress Rehearsal.

My wonderful, supportive hubby will be staying at home with Ginger. What a great guy I married!

Hope you have a good weekend, too!
Cheryl

What a day for a Jeep ride!

2005-09-07T21:20:00.000-04:00

With tropical storm Ophelia off the East coast, we enjoyed a pleasant break from the heat with cloud cover and cooler temperatures. Perfect weather for four-wheeling through the woods!

Now you know why my characters often drive Jeeps. There's nothing like it!

Cheryl

Disaster in the South

2005-08-31T20:20:00.000-04:00

The news from Louisiana and Mississippi just keeps getting worse. Grim. The footage shown on the news looks like a disaster movie set. I feel guilty for whining about having no air conditioning a couple of weeks ago. No A/C? Thousands have no power, drinking water, or homes to return to. Or jobs.

I pray that the thousands of people who are feared dead are rescued safely. I want to help, but how? Right now, all I can do is make cash donations to charities earmarked for Katrina hurricane relief. Yes, I just shelled out a lot of money for a new heat pump, but hey! I have a comfortable, air-conditioned house. I'm blessed! I think I can dig deep down into my pocket and find something to share.

If you're a Katrina victim, you probably aren't able to read this. But if you can, please know that you're in my prayers. Hang in there.

Hugs,
Cheryl

Storms of the Heart

2005-08-29T15:31:00.000-04:00

Ginger and I enjoyed walking outside today, relieved that we were spared Katrina's wrath. But I join all of you in prayer for the safety of those who weren't. What a nasty storm!

A few years ago, I wrote a book that is set in North Florida during a category 3 hurricane called Storms of the Heart. It's a departure from Debbie, Noel, and the gang from the Full Moon series and Last Resort, so you may have missed it.

Anyway, in the wake of hurricane Katrina, my mind returned to Stephanie and Red, who battle not only a hurricane but a killer or two. Then there's the matter of a romance that developes between the two at the worst possible time (isn't it always?).

So if you like romantic suspense and are up for a hurricane story, check out Storms of the Heart at Wings ePress today!

Cheryl

At last! Rain and Air Conditioning, too!

2005-08-25T15:00:00.000-04:00

Hi from steamy Florida! Yes, our new heat pump is installed and working great, so the house is cool. Also, we're having a bit of rain, which we need. All in all it's a good day to sit and write.

No one answered the question of why Dog Days are called such, so I guess that trivia will go unanswered. I still like the idea of the constellations arranged a certain way this time of year. It's a lot more romantic than rabies fears!

Romance is what I'm about, of course, and it's what I write. Right now, I'm writing a time-travel (A first for me) and the heroine's name is Katrina. Lo and behold, that's also the name of the hurricane now headed for south Florida!

It's not my fault!!

Cheryl

Dog Days ...

2005-08-16T16:30:00.000-04:00

These are the Dog Days of summer. I can't remember exactly why late July and August days are so named. Seems I remember vaguely something from my childhood about rabies. Or maybe it has something to do with the constellation Cirius lining up a certain way this time of the year. If you can enlighten me on why these are called the Dog Days, please add your comment.

Right now, Ginger has her own definition of Dog Days. When it's too hot to be outside--even in shade--she comes in from her walk and collapses on the carpet or sofa. She barely has energy to bark. Today I picked her up from the groomer's and she looked oh!-so-cute. I tried and tried to get her to pose for a picture. Finally, I contented myself with this shot and decided to let sleeping dogs lie.

The A/C saga continues. Yes, we have A/C at the moment, but only until the Freon runs out. Then we'll have to get another shot. The part that was ordered, a cooling coil(?), takes a week to get here and costs 1/3 the price of a whole new heat pump. Today we made the difficult decision to replace the whole enchilada. It'll be Monday before it can be installed, but that still beats the repair date. After suffering through last weekend's mid-90s, we hoped to chill through this coming weekend. Hmm.

Stay tuned . . .

Cheryl, sweltering in Florida

True Story, stranger than fiction!

2005-08-12T16:27:00.000-04:00

My sister e-mailed me the story from AP about Melvyn Reed, a British man who woke up from his coronary bypass surgery to find all three of his wives waiting to confront him. Yep, he was a double bigamist! He'd tried to stagger their hospital visits, but the three met up in the parking lot.

This is so much like a Stephanie Bond book I read a few years ago called OUR HUSBAND (which I recommend). Seems truth really is stranger than fiction!

It's 95° here and our AC is on the blink. The AC repair guy can't get here until Monday morning. I've managed to get the temperature down to 82° here in the house by closing all the blinds and curtains and running the ceiling fans on high. I promised hubby chicken fajitas tonight. I have everything cut up and ready to throw in the pan, but even a little bit of heat can sure drive up the temp in the kitchen.

Whew! I look forward to fall.

Cheri

Doggone Right!

2005-07-14T22:03:00.000-04:00

My little poodle, Ginger, is great therapy. How can I be discouraged or down when this adorable little creature wags her tail excitedly when I come into view?

Ginger is the smartest dog I've ever known. It's scary sometimes! Lately, poodles have made their way into many of my works-in-progress.

Well, we writers are told to write what we know, right?

Cheryl

Rejection Blues

2005-07-11T20:18:00.000-04:00

Today I received another rejection letter. :(

The editor made the effort to give me detailed feedback, for which I'm grateful. I can use it to revise the story and make it better. But not yet.

I have to set aside that manuscript and work on something else. Rejections are a part of the writing business but still manage to give me a 24-hour case of the blues. Ordinarily I'd drown my sorrow in a big Hershey bar, but I'm on Week 3 of the South Beach Diet. :

So today I'm celebrating the 5 pounds I lost in 2 weeks instead of the disappointment of yet another of my "children" being turned down for publication.

My critique partners have been wonderful to commiserate with me. However, there's no benefit to prolonged pity-parties, hence the 24-hour limit. Tomorrow I'll begin again with another project and renewed passion. Tonight I'm drinking hot tea and wishing it were a Pecan Cluster Blizzard from Dairy Queen. :)

Cheryl

Welcome to my blog!

2005-07-10T20:51:00.000-04:00

Howdy!
I write a grammar column and often get questions, so I decided to open a blog. I'm open to all kinds of discussions here, except politics and religion! We aren't limited to writing mechanics, but that's where I'll start.

My website has many of my columns; but loading files to a website is time consuming and labor intensive, especially since I have only dial-up.

I also love to talk cooking, especially healthy cooking, which has little to do with writing other than I've written a cookbook. Really, almost anything goes on this blog.

So here is my grammar rant of the day: Near miss. Literally, this translates to almost missed the target. Excuse me, but isn't that a hit? Today I worked the Sunday crossword puzzle and one clue was A close call. The answer? You guessed it. Eight letters: N E A R M I S S. I grumbled as I filled in the spaces, "A near miss is not a close call. The answer should be miss."

I'll try not to let it ruin my day! After all, Hurricane Dennis missed us, although it brought us a lot of rain and wind. It came near but missed us. Hmm. Could I have at last found the origin of this strange expression?

Cheryl

*Heather's List of Seven*
What song/artist/album do you listen to while writing...if any?	Enya
Clinch covers. Love em or hate em?	I don't hate them, but they've become clichéd
Cartoon covers. Love em or hate em?	Some I like, some are silly
Why write romance?	To offer hope and to show the power of love
What is your favorite smell?	freshly baked bread
Recommended blog, not your own.	http://heatherwaters.blogspot.com
What's the first romance novel you remember ever reading?	Haunted Mesa by Louis L'amour