My Favourite Colour Is...

We love to play favourites at my house.

What's your favourite day? What's your favourite animal?  What's your favourite colour?

And it's a serious thing for my kids.  It has determined their lunchbox colour.  Party invitation colours.  One daughter has moved through everything from pink to green to rainbow which has kept me on my toes, merchandise-wise.

Now, as they grow, their choices have become nuanced.  Led by a need to stand out from their siblings. For instance, my oldest daughter's favourite colour is 'sea blue'.  Middle loves 'aqua'.  My seven-year-old son prefers 'cyan'.

I know a lot of kids go through the blue stage but not me.

For as long as I can remember my favourite colour has been red. I had a red handbag, red toaster and kettle, red cushions on the couch.  I loved that bold splash of colour. The fierce statement it makes.  Rich, passionate, no holds barred.  I will not be cowed.  I will be seen.

But suddenly, one day, out of nowhere, that all went away.

Who was I if my favourite colour wasn't that deep, intense, extroverted hue?  Did I even recognise that face in the mirror anymore?

It took some time for me to be able to answer when my kids asked me - what's your favourite colour, Mum?  Time and deep reflective thought.  To unwrap the things that now make my senses sing.  Gardenias the day before they wilt and bruise, cream in my coffee, sparks of light, chandeliers, clouds, the soft, warm skin of my son's cheek, a pink lipstick kiss on my daughter's hand before sending her into class.


And over time it has come to me. Like a new understanding of where I have been, how my life has changed, and who I am right now.   

So what's my favourite colour?  Right now, at this exact moment in time - Rose Gold Glitter.

My new wallet is entirely covered in rosy glitter.  My sunglasses case a shimmer of pink.  Even my website has taken on the hue.  It’s pretty, soft, and hopeful. Gentle, gleaming and bright.  I love it to bits.

And yes, it's totally a real 'colour'.  Just ask my kids.

Favourite Quotes that Inspire Us

If there is one thing a writer needs, besides coffee and chocolate, it is inspiration.  We find it in those aforementioned stimulants. We find it in books, by binging on a favourite TV series, browsing Pinterest, when walking or gardening or sitting in a cafe people-watching.

And we find it in the pithy sayings shared every day on social media and often printed and attached to a pinboard right above our desk. 

Today the LoveCats share some of our favourite pieces of inspiration...not only for writing but for life in general.


STEFANIE LONDON:  "We see things not as they are, but as we are."  
I love this Anais Nin quote because it reminds me that we all see things through our own lenses of experience, and that not everyone will see things the same as we do. It's like my little self-check to be more understanding of the different opinions that I encounter in life. Trying to be more open minded is never a bad thing, IMO!

SUE MACKAY:  Mine is short and to the point: "No one can stop you if you don't stop yourself." (Man Chen)

AMY ANDREWS: "If you don't have the time to read, you don't have the time or the tools to write." I think Stephen King is a wise guy and I love this quote of his because I think its easy to forget and where a lot of newbie writers get it wrong. My first advice to people asking what they should do to become a writer is always - READ!

Courtesy of Red Tractor Designs

BRONWYN JAMESON: "It always seems impossible until it is done." (Nelson Mandela)
There are many times--many, many times--when I doubt myself and what I am attempting.  This is a reminder to keep trucking on, to push through the barriers, to get to that magical word:  DONE.

BARBARA DELEO:  I can’t find the origin of my favourite so it’ll have to be our old friend Anon:  “Every kick’s a boost!”


YVONNE LINDSAY:  "Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go." (Hermann Hesse)
My quote resonates because it’s a reminder that sometimes when the door you’re knocking on doesn’t open, it’s because there’s another door you should be opening. I tend to get blinkered with an idea of something I want, to the expense of other things that might work better for me.

MICHELLE DOUGLAS: "Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." (Howard Thurman)
I love this quote because it reminds me that there's more to life than making money and doing housework. Obviously, we need to pay the bills, but we need to make time for our passions too…and we shouldn't feel guilty for following them. I'm pretty certain that on my deathbed I'm not going to be saying, "Oh, I wish I'd done more housework." Life is for living. This quote inspires me to continue living my life as fully as I know how.

KANDY SHEPHERD:  "Just do it." 
My favourite inspirational quote for writers came to me via my husband who stuck the Nike quote on the pinboard above my desk. I am a born procrastinator so this quote is particularly apt for me. It’s such good advice! (That’s not to say that I always follow it!)

ANNIE WEST:   "Day by day, what you choose, what you think and what you do is who you become." (Heraclitus)

 I saw this recently and it appealed to me enormously, I suppose because it’s a reminder that we hold so much in our own hands, if only we take to time to think about what we do and how we choose to live.

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Do you have a favourite quote that informs your life at the moment?  Do you "collect" quotes and inspirational messages?  Do they help you, inspire you, motivate you?

2015 Favourites with Michelle Douglas

Seriously, can you believe we’re in December already? I mean, really? It only seems a few weeks ago that we were packing away the Christmas decorations and cheering in the New Year. I know you’re all nodding your heads in agreement, and I could continue along in this vein for paragraphs…but I shan’t sport with your intelligence by reiterating what we all already know (bonus points if you know what that line is from :-) ).

Because the year is drawing to a close, I thought I’d look back on some of my favourite things from 2015. And there are a lot of them. :)

First on the list, of course, are books:

Favourite Category Romance: this is a hotly contested category, but Vettori’s Damsel In Distress by Liz Fielding wins it by a whisker. This story perfectly captures what falling in love feels like. The hero is drool-worthy the heroine is plucky, the setting is romantic, plus there’s a kitten. What more could you want?

Favourite Single Title Romance: A Single Kiss by Grace Burrowes. A single mom and a single dad, two determined little girls, and a whole lot of secrets. Gorgeous stuff.

 
Favourite non-romance: Jessica Anderson’s Tirra Lirra By The River—an Australian classic. The back blurb doesn’t sound interesting: an old lady returns from London to her hometown of Brisbane. The book, however, is wonderful.

Favourite non-fiction read: I could say Modern Genre Theory, but I’d be lying. While I’ve read some fab non-fiction (Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert being one of them) the winner is Village Vets by Anthony Bennett and James Carroll. Man, I love these guys and I just hoovered back their vet exploits.

Favourite song: This is an oldie that I rediscovered just a couple of months ago—Nobody Does it Better by Carly Simon. It became the theme song for Christmas Wishes, New Year Kisses (my novella that’s in the Hot Christmas Nights box set). It’s been played a lot at my house recently.

Favourite Movie: I only made it to the movies once this year, but The Dressmaker was definitely worth the trip. Besides the fact that Liam Hemsworth is rather, um…lovely, and that are were stellar performances from Kate Winslet, Judy Davis and Hugo Weaving, the story itself is compelling. The main character’s arc is very satisfying. Also, the frocks!

Favourite TV Series: Again, this is a few years old now but I only discovered it this year—The Bridge. The Scandinavian version. Moody, edge of your seat stuff with some seriously interesting characterisations.

Favourite piece of materialistic nonsense: My handbag!

Other highlights:
* Six glorious nights at the beach in February. Oh, happy sighs.
* The ARRA conference in March. I took part in a fabulous panel with Rachel Bailey, Melanie Milburne and Kandy Shepherd.
* The RWA conference in August. It was extra special as I was sitting with Annie West when she won her muchly deserved RUBY! Yay!
* Branching out into the exhilarating self-publishing waters with six of the other LoveCats here to create our own box set of novellas.
* 20th anniversary of the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice. I never tire of watching this!
* Two new Harlequin releases. The Millionaire and the Maid in April, and Reunited By a Baby Secret in September.
* And, of course, getting to spend time with my gorgeous family and friends (including my on-line friends).


What about you? What have been your favourite things from 2015? Is there a book I should add to my to-be-read list, a must-see movie, or a song I should trial for my latest playlist? There's always room for more favourites. :-)

Hot Christmas Nights is available now. Only $0.99 at Amazon.