RT - Be a Cheerleader

Show some support, give a compliment, or offer thanks to the one you love.

Little things like this can add to the romance.

Tina

Mourning My Large Yard

Now that we have moved to California, the size of my yard is about a fourth of the size it was at my old house.

Today, I'm looking back at some of the beautiful features I enjoyed the most at my old house and I'm planning the flowers and bushes I want to plant here.

I just loved my blue spruce and tulips in the front yard.

Over the next few weeks, I'll show you some of the plants I've chosen for my new yard.

Have a great day,

Tina

Birthday Party

We are celebrating 5 years!

Five days and more than $500.00 worth of prizes.

April 27th - May 1st on the Wild Rose Press yahoo groups.

Join us for a celebration in the garden.


The Wild Rose Press Yahoo group

The Wilder Roses Yahoo group

(this is an adult loop with adult content. 18+ only)



How to Win...


For chances to win more than $500.00 worth of prizes all you have to do is party with us. Everyone who participates will be entered into the prize drawings. Non-stop fun from Wednesday, April 27 - Sunday, May 1st. Join the fun and help us celebrate 5 years in the garden.

Wild Wednesday - Pictures

Mike and I visited the San Diego Animal Park this past weekend. He took lots of pictures so I've decide to share them with everyone over the next year.

Hope you enjoy,

Tina

Monday Morning Inspiration

"As for discipline? It's important, but sort of overrated. The more important
virtue for a writer, I believe, is self-forgiveness. Because your writing will
always disappoint you. Your laziness will always disappoint you.
Continuing to write after that heartache of disappointment doesn't take only
discipline, but also self-forgiveness." - Elisabeth Gilbert

Important Things to Know about Romance

There are two types of Romance

1 -- the occasions that you have to remember like birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries. These need to be celebrated.

But I like to give my readers some of the optional time to enjoy romance like for a weekend get-away, a slow day when you can send a card, times to be creative, or just like surprised to spark up your life.

I also like to give tips that are not gender-specific. Man or woman can take the tips and use them to help create a little more romance in their relationship. It is not the responsibility of one person or the other. Both need to do what they can to spark the excitement in a relationship. It takes a 100% from both parties to make a relationship work.

And last if you are questioning as to why romance is important?

My answer -- what would your life be like without it?

I personally need it like air. It fuels my soul and makes life worth living.

Add a little to your life and see what a difference it can make.

Tina

There's a Blogger Born Every Minute

by Cheryl St.John.


Everybody has a blog and most of us subscribe to more blogs than we can possibly read, so what can we do to attract readers to our particular blog? Decide first if this is something you can commit to. You can't hold readers if you're not faithful about new content.


Carve out a niche for yourself: Brand yourself with color, a photo, graphics, content, voice -- anything and everything that makes your content and appearance appealing and unique.


Giveaways: Many readers leave comments if you're holding a drawing. Pick up an extra book or DVD and hold a drawing. Ask your friends for a book or a special craft to give away.


Articles: Currently on Fridays I post blogs on the craft of writing. I feature authors who write the same sort of books I do, whose books I've enjoyed, and books written by friends.


Create a special day (or holiday) event: A few ideas are Hero Tuesday, Wordless Wednesday or Favorite Book Friday. Come up with something unique to you. I hold a Christmas Tree Tour every year throughout the month of December and readers and authors send me photos of their Christmas trees. It's a huge hit and readers have come to anticipate it. I've even had a couple of editors mention it to me.

Lists: People love a list and will often post theirs. Favorite romantic songs, favorite romantic movies or comedies, favorite authors or new TV shows you plan to catch are just a few ideas.



Reviews: Give your opinion on books you've read, movies you've seen, who you think should be voted off American Idol, your choices on Dancing With the Stars, the Olympic performances. When you tag your blog with a popular tag, you'll get hits from people googling that topic.


Recipes: Family favorites or cooking for special occasions. Ask friends to share their favorites. Nearly everyone likes an easy recipe.



Photos and graphics: 1) I make it a point never to post a blog without a picture. People are much more likely to pause in their surfing and read if there's a photo. For a solid year I posted Photo Friday and featured only a photo I'd taken myself. It was a very popular feature. 2) Title your photos. Don't ever post a graphic or photo that is labeled simply DMS00087. Keep tags interesting and people doing google searches will find your photo and come to look. Your photo: Keep it front and center on all promo. Seeing a face lets people think they know you. It's friendly and worth a thousand words.


Be professional: Published or unpublished, it doesn't matter, publishing houses you query will seek out your web presence. If you're published, your editors and the marketing department will look to see how you present yourself and use copyrighted materials. The publishing industry truly is a small world. Word gets around. Persons of influence can show up in the least likely places a year from now.

Don't make a scene if you get an ugly rejection. Don't criticize a reviewer who didn't get your book. Don't bash an editor or another author. Even if you remove a hastily-posted remark, you've left a permanent imprint in cyberspace that can't be completely erased. Even if you write humor, conduct yourself with class and dignity.



Enjoy: Most importantly, have fun and don't let blogging become just one more thing you have to do.


Cheryl St.John


Marrying the Preacher's Daughter, Love Inspired Historical 6/11


Her Wyoming Man, Harlequin Historical 7/11


Visit me on the web: http://www.cherylstjohn.net/

Thanks again Cheryl for sharing.

Romantic Tip - The Right Mindset

If you think about romance, then you will automatically begin to discover ways to make a evening more romantic.

* Maybe by "switching gears" at the end of the day from work mode to pleasure mode.

* Seeing opportunities arise in simple things - like the wild flowers on the side of the road. -- Wouldn't my lover like a few?
-- your favorite wine is on sale - why not pick up a bottle?
-- yeah, I think now would be a good time for a kiss.

See it doesn't take major planning just the ability to see the opportunities when they come up.

Have a wonderful day,

Tina

Poetry - the music of a Romantic

Try saying a few line of a poem to your lover.

That of course means you need to read up on poetry.

Like-

How do I love you
let me count the ways--
(now mention a few things that you love about your special someone)

Remember romance is about having the right mindset. If you think it is romantic then hopefully your lover will too.

Tina