A Bit Of Fun For A Caturday

Our first Lovecats crossword!

Let me know if you think it's too easy or too hard, or if you prefer the other puzzles instead. =)

Puzzle has moved to the Caturday Fun Page

Mel Teshco's HER DARK LORD release

Today I am talking with the very talented Mel Teshco on the eve of her debut HER DARK LORD with Silhouette Nocturne Bites

Tracie: Mel since you are a member of LoveCats and my friend - I'd just like to say how excited I am to interview you today.

Mel: Awww thanks sweety!! *kiss* I'm excited to be interviewed by such a rising star!

*clink glasses – Mel with Midori Splice, Tracie with Margarita*

Tracie: Your debut HER DARK LORD is out with Silhouette Nocturne Bites in a few days *squees* - what was it about Harlequin M&B that made you target them?

Mel: OMG a hard one right off the bat! *laughing* - I love alpha heroes, I love paranormal and combined with the fact M&B has a sterling reputation there was no negatives in going with them.

Tracie: Mel, you have a young daughter - does writing short help you spend more time with her?

Mel: most definitely. I have a rather short memory span *grins* and quite a few manuscripts on the go at once, the shorter format helps me to focus on the ms at what is mostly snatches of time during the day.

Tracie: You also have older daughters - what do they think of their mum writing some really hot and heavy stuff?

Mel: *laughs* Miss almost twelve is proud as punch and quite happy to spread the news around school - but then she is a huge paranormal reader too. Miss almost 20 is pretty blasé about the whole thing, but secretly proud I think - though she probably hopes the hot stuff isn't from my personal experience.

Tracie: Your writing style is very visual - do you find yourself looking at things differently now - taking it in for your writing?

Mel: honestly not really. I think my visual way of writing is just from my seeing it like a movie in my head... I try and create different visuals by incorporating other senses. I can spend ten minutes mulling over a few words *groan*

Tracie: Tell us what you love about Ronan - your yummy hero in HER DARK LORD.

Mel: Ronan – he’s the ultimate dark hero, the man totally in love with the heroine who'd do anything to get her and keep her.

Tracie: Kia is a strong and confident woman comfortable with her sexuality - do you like strong heroines in books you read?

Mel: very much! And I adore heroines who are not afraid of their sexuality. They still have morals but they're not hiding behind feminine wiles.

Tracie: Kia is definitely in that category. Okay Mel, one final question. What are you working on now and do you have anything else coming out soon?

Mel: I'm just finishing off ICE COLD LOVER -- the sequel to my Ellora’s Cave novella STONE COLD LOVER -- and tearing my hair out a little with this one. It will be submitted in the next few hours actually. And I have KALLIE REVEALED coming out soon with Ellora's Cave - a contemporary story about a stripper living her fantasy.

Tracie: Thanks for talking to me, Mel. I wish you well with your release of Her Dark Lord – which is out March first with Silhouette Nocturne Bites

Mel: Thanks so much Tracie, it was a pleasure!


Here is a Blurb for HER DARK LORD - Available now for Pre-Order

When dhampir Kia Montana takes a man home, she isn’t looking for names or a relationship--she only wants someone who can satisfy her lust for both sex and blood. But Kia’s new mission is to find Sean Maximillus, Lord Vampire and the lone being capable of curing Kia’s mother. Kia thought she found the key to success with Ronan, a mysterious man who promises to take her to Maximillus…and who shares a carnal passion with Kia even bloodlust couldn't match.

But Ronan also seems to know too much about Kia…things she never told him. And as she is drawn deeper into Ronan’s world, he reveals secrets that will change Kia’s life forever….

You can find out more about Mel on:
Blog: http://melteshco.blogspot.com/
Website: http://www.melteshco.com/
Buy HER DARK LORD here: Harlequin M&B

Catwalk Wednesday

Name – Gizmo O’Hara

Human Adoptive Parents – Tracey and David O’Hara

Likes – Chicken. Having a look in the fridge whenever it’s opened by one of the humans in the house – in case there is chicken in there. Having a look at what the humans are doing in the kitchen – in case they have some chicken. Oh and I love chicken.

Dislikes – not having enough chicken. Getting tuna instead of chicken.

Ambition – I am in intensive training as the first Ninja attack cat. I hone my skills on the calves and ankles of my family member. I like to hide in boxes and jump out and my next training exercise is to learn to climb those slippery door jams.

Favourite Pastime – practicing my ninja attack skills. Sleeping on Dad’s pillow.

Best Friend – my buddy and adoptive big brother Crispin O’Hara.

The Magnificent Georgette Heyer

CAT STATS

What I'm reading: Hot Toy, by Jenny Crusie
Listening to: Peggy Lee Sings the Blues
Watching: Castle
What's making me smile: Walking for 3 hours along the beach yeterday!



For many historical romance readers (and writers), their love of historical romance started with reading Georgette Heyer. Obviously, not every lover of historical romance has read Georgetter Heyer -- but if they haven't, they've missed something!

Georgette Heyer established the regency romance subgenre, writing in the 1920s through to the 1970s. When she was in good form, she absolutely couldn't be beaten. Her books are marvellously written, witty, and meticulously researched.

I know that not everyone enjoys reading historicals, but let me just say that Georgette Heyer is not purely for fans of historical romance. Two years ago, I was at a fantasy writers convention in North America. As I sat waiting for someone, a woman asked me what I was reading.
'Georgette Heyer,' I replied, thinking that she wouldn't know who Heyer was. It was a fantasy convention, after all!
'Oh, I love Georgette Heyer,' the woman said. 'The Grand Sophy is my favourite.'
And then -- get this -- a man sat down with us and asked what I was reading.
'Georgette Heyer,' I said again.
'Oh, I love Georgette Heyer!' he said. 'The Grand Sophy is my favourite.'

So, as you can see, her appeal is broad! And, as you can also see, if you haven't read The Grand Sophy, you really should!

My favourite Heyers are The Grand Sophy, Arabella, Faro's Daughter, and Sylvester (or The Wicked Uncle), all of which are set in the regency period, and Devil's Cub, The Talisman Ring, and The Masqueraders, which are Georgian.

If you read Georgette Heyer, which is your favourite? And if you don't ... go out and get one!

Cat Tray-ler Sunday

Today's Cat Tray-lers Sunday is the creation of a New Cat Tray-ler page.


So check out our brand new Simon's Cat Page is here

Caturday Fun

Another word search puzzle - because I love them. :) This is set to 'hard' difficulty level, so let me know if you complete it!

Puzzle has moved to Caturday Fun Day page here

Audio Books

CAT STATS

I am reading Diggers Hatters and Whores by Steven Eldred-Grigg

I am listening to Kings of Leon

I'm watching Big Bang Theory

Making me smile Memories of my step-daughter's wedding 2 weeks ago.

While I love my life, love the busy-ness of family, job, friends, writing etc., the one major drawback I have is there is never enough time for all reading I’d like to do – what is the meaning of life, after all, if not to read?

Then one day, I had a flash of inspiration of how to utilize the long drive to work: audio books. Bingo! It was love at first tape.

My first book was so good, however, I soon found I couldn’t restrict it to car hours alone – I was spending way too much time either driving around the block or sitting in car parks listening for the ends of chapters. Instead I was forced to dust off my old walkman and suddenly going on long walks became a treat, not a punishment for one too many chocolates the night before. Housework too was transformed and I found myself doing extras like cleaning the oven window in order to finish the side.

The greatest discovery however, was a cure to insomnia. Having suffered for years and having tried everything from TV at 2am, to reading in the weirdest contortions so the light wouldn’t disturb my husband, I found talking books the instant solution. Now when I wake at 2am, I think, “Oh great!” as I reach for my CD player, my walkman or mp3. Usually the story stops the brain from switching into over-analysis of the day’s events and very often I drift quickly back to sleep. On the nights that I don’t, I just get more book time. Win win.

Audio books have made me view writers differently. Maeve Binchy’s novels are superb because she has an excellent ear for dialogue (and I’m always a sucker for an Irish accent). The No. 1 Lady Detective series is even better with the melodic patterning of the Botswana accent. It’s also given me a new appreciation of layout. Sometimes I have to get the printed book out of the library after listening to it because I have a craving to see how the story was laid out upon the page. A writer’s choice of chapters, sections, even paragraphs is idiosyncratic and can be almost as powerful as the words themselves.

Best of all, at my local library, the collection is small. This means I have to browse out of my comfort zone. I cannot turn to favourite authors, rely on preferred genres. I have discovered absolute pearls quite by chance. Currently I’m listening to Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian. I’d never heard of him before but I’ve already ordered two more of his novels.

If anyone out there has any thoughts about talking books or has discovered other ways to make more time for reading, I’d love to hear about them.

Catwalk Wednesday

Name – Phoebe Roe

Human Slave – romance author, Paula Roe

Abode – on and under the bed, behind the stereo, on the sideboard (which is deemed Cats Only and contains nothing but an old towel). Or out in the garden under the trampoline, hiding in the long grass.

Likes – food, head scratches, sleeping, wet towels and sweaty hats, whinging about nothing.

Dislikes – sun cream on the ears, loud noises, being refused food, being blown on (I will scratch you if you do)

Ambition – to train my slave to open the door quicker. To stop Slave’s child from annoying me.

Sociable or Aloof – aloof to outsiders, sociable when I need food or attention

Night Owl or Early Bird – when it suits me, both. I will bash on the screen door to be let in at 3am if the mood takes me. And I expect you to wait until I’ve eaten all my food before you can go back to bed.

Favourite Pastime - Eating and sleeping. Supervising Slave’s father in the vegetable garden.

Favourite Toy – Pegs and lizards in the backyard (when I’m not sleeping). Inside, it’s half of one of those plastic containers you get inside the Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs – makes the most funny noise when you chase it.

What do you like to sharpen your claws on – the sofa. An odd patch of brown dirt in the backyard. Sometimes the grapefruit tree.

Best Friend – Sofy, the white-cross Persian I share the house with.

Stray (Love) Cats

CAT STATS

Reading: The Making of Pride and Prejudice by Sue Birtwhistle & Susie Conklin
Listening to: Peggy Lee Sings the Blues
Watching: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (again)
Making me smile: My friend Sue just sold to Harlequin Mills & Boon!

Two summers ago, an abandoned cat gave birth to a litter of kittens at the winery/vineyard where I worked. Cat and kittens consumed my time for the next two months--making sure they had food and water, that they were wormed, that they were loved and the kittens were socialized--a very important task which entailed hours of playing with them!




Having watched the kittens from the day they were born until the day they went to their new homes, I knew their personalities well. They were all lovely--of course!--but I particularly adored the little black girl who came running to greet me every time I opened the door, and the little grey tabby with the M on her forehead who purred so loudly whenever I picked her up. And then there was the little grey tabby boy who loved to lie belly-up in my hand and have his stomach rubbed...




That litter of kittens made it into my second Harlequin Historical, Beauty and the Scarred Hero, (available in North America now). The heroine, Lady Isabella Knox, has a habit of rescuing strays--a habit that gets her into trouble when she rescues a runaway bride and is catapulted the path of the dangerous Major Reynolds.





In real life, I didn’t get to keep any of the kittens or their mother because my landlord refused to allow me to have pets, but Lady Isabella doesn’t have that problem with the kittens she saves. She gets to keep the two I loved the most!




The vineyard kittens and their mother all found great homes, and the kittens in Beauty and the Scarred Hero do too. One day I hope to repeat the experience by fostering a pregnant cat from the SPCA--it was fascinating to watch the kittens’ day-to-day growth and the development of their personalities. And this time, I’ll get to keep the mother and a couple of the kittens!


Please feel free to share stories about kittens and/or rescuing stray animals with us on the LoveCats blog!

Happy Valentines Cat Tray-ler Sunday

Valentine's Day Cat Tray-lers are all about love.

As usual there is Simon's Cat. The second is a couple of unusual friends - a cat and his mouse friend - it's love.

The third is montage of love cats.

And lastly I have added some cute to make you go aaawwwhhhh!!!!

So enjoy our CAT Tray-lers on its own dedicated page right here

Caturday Fun

I've loaded another puzzle on the Caturday Fun page. This one is a jigsaw of Mel Tescho's gorgeous cover for Stone Cold Lover (yes, you will have to stare at the gargoyle with the solid shoulders for a few minutes... ;)).

Enjoy!

Paranormal Inspiration by Mel Teshco

Cat Stats
Reading: Covet by JR Ward
Watching: So You Think You Can Dance
Listening to: Shakira
Making me smile: Finishing a novella!




Continuing on with my paranormal theme, I'd like to welcome special guest Kylie - co-writer of our single title WIP, Believe - to tell us about her psychic experiences!

To Believe or not to Believe:

"God, I can't do this anymore." The dreams, the apparitions, they scare me, but not as much as the two words 'Mentally ill'"

Huddled in the foetal position, I demand, "If this is all real God, you HAVE to prove it to me, beyond all doubt. Prove it and I'll do what I have to do" The sincerity of my prayer is as real as every tear running down my cheek, every beat of my aching heart.

Hello everyone, my name is Kylie and I am so very fortunate to be bringing to life the story of "Believe". My heartfelt thanks goes out to Mel. Without her expertise, experience and patience, it may have only remained that, just 'a dream'.

Ok, wow, psychic experiences, where to start? I have had so many I could write a book on them alone. I've never been comfortable with the word 'psychic' although my dictionary consoles me with the definition of the noun psychic as being: A person apparently sensitive to things beyond the natural range of perception. That I can live with. Over-sensitive, I call myself.

So back to my prayer, my committment to God. Life carried on as normal, well as normal as it gets for me. People popping up in the middle of the night in my bedroom, scaring the living daylights out of me. Scream after scream after scream, it was driving me crazy, maybe I was mentally ill? Sure they looked real enough, each with very distinguishing features, but I couldn't acknowledge them or talk to them, they weren't real, right???

So I talked to God instead. "God, I'm meeting with this woman in two weeks time, tell me what I need to know for our meeting" A man (an apparition) pops up one night just inches away from my face. I acknowledge him and note his features (after screaming of course). Camping at Canarvon gorge (lovely spot), and I am hearing a man's name in my head, over and over. I try to shake it, but it won't go away, so again I acknowledge it and write it down. I go to my meeting with this lady, my piece of notepaper hidden in my bag beside my truth crystal. A man's description and a man's name written on it. I hand it to one of the ladies and as I swallow my pride, I just quietly by the wayish, say "I don't suppose any of this makes sense to either of you." (I'm feeling crazy right about now) "Yes," she says, "he was murdered while he was on duty."
Oh crap, you have to be kidding me! I found out that your knees really do go weak when your stricken with fear. That wasn't enough proof for me though. I was sick the next day (understandably). I fell asleep and dreamt of a road sign which I thought was interesting. I later found out that the name of the road that I dreamt (which I won't reveal out of respect) was one little letter different in a seven letter road name and it sounded almost identical to the road on which this fellow was murdered, just spelt wrong...double crap!! Too close to ignore. "Ok, Ok, God I get the message, I'll do what I have to do."

Since then it's been a whole new world, looking through new eyes with a very different perception of reality. Who's Russell, he's dead, ok ...Who's Barry, he's dead too, alrrrrighty then. I believe they have unfinished business. What about the small plane flying to an island that's going to crash. The female pilot is sick ...Kokoda (more details on my dream blog). What about the missing boy who I saw running around a shed in my dream....enough already, it really hurts to see and feel this stuff. One step at a time, I think.

So on the upside of this gift, where did the story "Believe" stem from? Many years ago I had a dream and I saw a movie being played out, I felt the dream had a important message. It was so real that I thought it was bound to be a best seller. What I didn't realise was that it was going to be my job to ensure that it would be brought to life. Believe is also loosley based on real people with real experiences, including myself, which give it so much more life and meaning. Sometimes the line between psychic and psycho can be very fine and "Believe" expores this as well. Believe is more than a novel, it's a journey.

"Believe" is very unique and interesting, not only for the above mentioned reasons, but also because it was inspired by a dream and it is an ever evolving work of art being updated dream, after dream, after dream...awesome inspiration coming through.

Whether we are cursed or blessed is often a matter of whether we are living out of fear or out of love. "Believe" as inspired by the dream is my depiction of that very fact.

Thankyou.

If I had his time again…
by Nikki Logan

Name: Larry
Abode: Rainbow Bridge
Likes: His people, food, car-trips, naps (in that order)
Dislikes: sharing
Ambition: To rool the world

Last week I lost my writing companion, friend and muse, Larry. Also known as Mister Larry, Larry-the-lounge-lizard, Little Larry, Lazarus, Mister Loo Loo and Laryngitis depending on my (and his) mood. He didn’t care what he was called as long as someone was calling him. The centre-of-attention was his favourite place to be. Larry was in my life for fifteen fabulous years after he was dumped as a puppy by his first family because his legs were a bit wonky. I figure I gave him fourteen-and-a-half extra years he wouldn’t have had and I truly believe they were good ones.

But time (and congestive heart failure) caught up with Larry on a beautiful sunny West Australian day and we had to make the difficult humane decision. Fortunately my sister is an emergency vet and runs a private business where she delivers beautiful, gentle euthenasia for pets in their homes. It meant we could do it in his favourite shady patch on the lawn surrounded by his people and his two best friends in the world, our cat and other dog.

Still a terrible moment in any family.

So I sit here in my quiet, quiet office in our quiet, quiet house and realise how much I took Larry’s presence for granted. He was—more than I realised—my constant shadow. The click-click of his claws on our timber floors became part of the normal sound of our household. His gregarious (often grumpy) personality affected, inspired and entertained us all. It will take me some time to sit on the sofa with my feet on the ground rather than tucked up next to me to avoid stepping on a Larry-tail, to put out one dinner bowl instead of two, to not frown at the silence at the front door on getting home, not to check under the table before sliding the chair out. These are where the daily reminders of his life lie.

If I had his time again I’d make some changes. I’d give him all the things he secretly thought were wrong with the way we do things. There’s something in Larry’s Rulz for all of us.

THE RULZ according to Larry

1. Walks will be longer

2. Baths will be shorter

3. Dogs will go commando. No tethers, tags or chokers.

4. The pack stays together. Two-legged members will need to re-arrange their working commitments.

5. Food will be fresh. Preferably moving.

6. Dogs under 10kg are in management. Dogs over 10kg are in shipping.

7. The Cat eats second

8. The pack will sleep together the big bed will be acceptable

9. Gardens will be a minimum of five acres

10. Death, when it comes, will be swift and glorious. Preferably in a fight-to-the-death with a polar bear.

Farewell Little Larry and safe journey home.

What I Love about CATegory Romance

Cat Stats
Reading: A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole
Watching: American Idol! (Can’t help it, I’m addicted)
Listening to: The Battlestar Galactica Soundtracks
Making me smile: Hubby’s back from a work trip!

Since this is a blog for people who love to read (and write!) category romance, I thought I’d share 5 things I love about category:

1) SIZE: It’s not how big it is, it’s what you do with it! Category books are shorter so I can squeeze a great story in between work, writing, family, shopping, cleaning, blogging, Tweeting etc etc. And I love to read and write Nocturne Bites, which are short stories and the perfect length to fit into a busy day.

Image: Alexey Arkhipov | Dreamstime.com

2) NO DISAPPOINTMENT: I hate when I pick up a book thinking it’s going to give me what I want and instead all my favourite characters are dead by Chapter 3, the guy doesn’t get the girl and the hero turns out to be a wimp! With category, I know the books will deliver what they promise (and no, that doesn’t mean the stories are the same).

3) RANGE: I get a huge, new selection of books EVERY month! An obsessive-compulsive reader’s dream.

Desire = wealthy alpha heroes and thrilling settings
Medical = hot guy in scrubs or a white coat (need I say more)
Romance = warm happily-ever-afters that leave me smiling
Nocturne = intense alphas in dark, sensual, action-packed stories
Spice = Bold, naughty and HAWT!
Historical = get whisked away to amazing places from the past
SuperRomance = big stories of love, life and family

4) EMOTION: No matter which genre of category romance you pick up, you’re guaranteed emotion. You’ll feel the intense ups and downs of falling in love—whether the characters are doctors, tycoons, vampires, businessmen, firemen or rakes. I once heard a reader describe category books as her illicit drug—her quick hit of intense emotion! I thought that was a great way to describe them.

5) PRICE: They’re cheaper! Yep, they’re shorter, but I get the same satisfaction regardless the length of a story, so that’s more bang for my buck. And the Harlequin and Mills and Boon websites offer discounts or bundle ebooks for great deals.


So how about other readers out there? What do you love most about category romance?

Sunday Cat Tray-lers

Today's Cat Tray-lers are concentrating on the cat theme.

We have this weeks's Simon's Cat - and if you have feline friends you will definately recognise this one.

The second is a couple of cat pals having a conversation - and boy it sounds about right.

The third is a lovely story about a scuba diving cat and her best buds.

So check out our brand new CAT Tray-ler Page here

A Bit Of Fun For A Caturday

Our new Catuday fun puzzle is Sharon Archer's Cat Minki. :)

Though I have to warn you - this is a hard puzzle!

Click here to take you to today's puzzle

Unexpected Tenant

by Sharon Archer

Warning to arachnophobia sufferers!
Spider pictures to follow!

Cat Stats
Watching: Just finished Season Two of Spooks! Those writers sure know how to leave a hook to make you come back for next season!
Reading: The Dip, Seth Godin.
Making me smile: Finished weeding the herb garden!


I’ve got an interloper in my study at the moment and I have to say he’s been very distracting! He’s a huntsman and he’s living behind the pin board above my desk. These spiders have very flat bodies and their unusual leg joints allow them to scuttle sideways like a crab – which helps them slip into cracks and crevices. Ideal for setting up home behind picture frames... and pin boards!




What's up for the next blog topic.


BlueTac for supper?




Actually, I think he’s got a bit of a cheek moving in behind my pin board. I read up on them and these timid spiders like nice quiet places that are infrequently disturbed. In my defense, I’d like to say that, just because I’m sitting quietly, it doesn’t mean that nothing is going on!

They’re not aggressive but they are a largish spider and when they get excited, they run around in a flurry of long hairy legs. We had a moment during this photo shoot where we both got a bit hysterical - there was a lot of leg waving (his) and hand trembling (mine) but then he settled down again. They can bite but only when disturbed and they aren’t toxic to humans.


Huntsmans don’t like to get their feet wet and in South Africa they’re called “rain spiders” because their appearance indoors means rain is on the way. So I hope my spider is right – later today is looking promising with the remnants of a tropical cyclone drifting down from Queensland.

Australia has nearly one hundred and fifty huntsman species and Wikipaedia says that there are more than 1000 worldwide. That’s a very big family!

Anyway, it's been a tiring session for my model so he's retiring from the limelight for now!

So how many legs have your office trespassers got?

Catwalk Wednesday

Name:
Little Foot

Abode:
In winter I live mostly in a big paddock as I need the extra food when the grass has died off and browned from the frost. *hmpth* Summer time I can mostly be found in the small paddock, whinnying and carrying on and occasionally pushing my nose on the gate to let my mistress know I'm not happy - I seriously don't care that if I eat too much I just might get a bad case of laminitis!

Likes:
Grass, pony pellets, grass, lucerne, grass. Did I mention grass?

Dislikes:
Sharing my paddock with the 'big' girls. Being a thorougbred doesn't give Sexy Pepsi and Sahara rights to *my* grass. I was here first, and I damn well let those other silly mares know it! FYI - I'm a welsh mountain pony, *much* better than a racehorse!

Ambition:
I've trained two humans - sisters - how to ride, I'm determined not to be too energetic training the third! well, I am twenty now you know and very stubborn!


Do you have a pet photo you'd like to share?

The LoveCats are showcasing Catwalk Wednesday each week! For those readers who'd like us to feature their furred, feathered or scaled friends, please send Mel the snapshot to her email - melteshco@yahoo.com.au with the subject line: Catwalk Wednesday photo. Each week the LoveCats will choose one animal friend. Mel will then send off a list of questions for the pet owner to choose from!

Would you eat the marshmallow?

by Nikki Logan

February is release month for my debut in North America & United Kingdom. My incredulity that this day has *finally* come has made me reflect on my intolerance of delayed gratification. I’m TERRIBLE at waiting. Not that I fight it or make a scene or do inappropriate things about having to wait but I pine horribly for the thing that I can’t have immediately.

I know…I’m sure it’s character building to wait. Patience, apparently, is a virtue. Go figure!

I was a good pocket-money saver as a kid and I didn’t get everything I wanted handed to me on a plate. I’m a good financial budgeter now. So I don’t know where this urge to have things *now* comes from. It’s more than just excitement or eagerness to have my book on a shelf. Part of me is just plain efficient and waiting is simply not efficient.

Someone did a study in the US years ago with children and marshmallows to see if there was any correlation between kids that ate an unsupervised marshmallow (knowing there’d be no more if they did) and their success or otherwise in life. They compared them to kids who didn’t eat the marshmallow having been promised more if they waited. It’s a kind of reverse bird-in-hand science and it doesn’t take a genius to anticipate the outcome.

Sure enough, the kids who took the mallow largely went on to struggle financially in life. They made poorer decisions, married badly and generally weren’t successful. By contrast, the kids that sat and stared at that marshmallow and waited patiently for the payoff of a whole bag of fresh ones (the two-in-the-bush kids) went on almost unanimously to be successful in life. Highly successful.

Delaying gratification, therefore, seems directly linked to long-term success but it flies in the face of the in-hand/in-the-bush wisdom. What to do??? And so, while I’ve smiled stiffly and drummed my metaphorical fingers waiting for this exciting day to come, I can rest assured that enduring the wait will, statistically, lead to success.

What about you? Are you a bird-in-hand kind of marshmallow eater or an invest-in-the-future marshmallow leaver kind of person? Or doesn’t it matter as long as there’s marshmallow at some point?Do you skip straight to the last chapter of books you read (or worse, write!) or is the journey what you’re interested in?