All sorts of family – Kandy Shepherd

Like many romance writers, family is important in my stories. Family—or lack of family—features strongly in the backgrounds of my characters and shapes the people they become, and the way they react to others—particularly the hero or heroine.

I come from a small and somewhat dysfunctional family. Consequently, non-family people are very important in my life. Close, long-standing friends over many years—some dating right back to early childhood—are as much family to me as blood-tie family. That also includes much loved in-laws and step-family.

One of the most wonderful people in my life is my god-daughter—truly family of my heart. Her mother, too. Not only did her mother generously share her with me for the years before my own daughter was born, my god-daughter became a much-loved stand-in older sister to my daughter. That they actually have the same colouring and similar looks, they were often mistaken for “real” sisters. They continue to have an enduring friendship.

With my sweet grand-god-daughter !

Now there’s another member of that “family”—my darling, grand-god-daughter—daughter of my god-daughter.. She’s ten months old and utterly enchanting with the most charming and outgoing personality. (No, I'm not biased!) Recently, I went to her christening in Melbourne and spent a happy weekend with little Elise, her beautiful mother and wonderful father and a group of people who love this adorable baby. Some of the fun was looking back at the photos from my god-daughter’s christening way back when I was the god-mother. Not family of the blood, but “family” all the same.

Training the next generation of readers! This is a book about inspirational women.

 My recent book Second Chance with the Single Dad features a beautiful baby girl named Nina. Her character is inspired by both little Elise and memories of my own daughter. Different kinds of family! (And different definitions of family are explored in the book.)

What about you? Do you have friends and important people in your life who aren’t related but feel like family? I’d love to read your comments!

Now off to cook a meal for a young visitor who is the son of my daughter’s god-mother but seems like a cousin to her…

My Favourite Things......

By Helen Lacey

I was talking to a friend the other day about things we cherished – things that made us smile, laugh or simply feel good. Like family and friends, our pets, that holiday of a lifetime, the sound of rain on a tin roof. So I had a thought about what were my five favourite things and came up with this list (I’ve left family off this list since that’s a given)

1/ Friends …. This is my writing group and we've been together for 23 years. We don’t get together as much as we used to since we all in different places at the moment, but we catch up as often as we can and have become firm friends. From left - Lesley Millar, Laura O'Connell, Me, Helen Bianchin, CC Coburn & Louise Cusack. 

2/ My horse Zeb…..we’ve been together for six years and I love him to pieces.

3/ The shoreline where I live…..I live on the east coast of Australia at the most southern point of the Great Barrier Reef and it’s a beautiful spot. I never tire of walking my dogs along the beach.

4/ My collectibles….. I love fine china and I collect pink glass. I just love scouring antique stores and yard sales for pink pieces. Here's a pic of some of my little treasures. 

5/ Books....I love books! Particularly category romance books. I read my first Mills & Boon novel when I was eleven...there were two I read and I was hooked - Bride At Whangatapu by Robyn Donald and Winds Of Enchantment by Rosalind Brett. Since then I've read hundreds and here is a picture of a some of my all time favourites. 

So, what’s on your list? 

With a little Help from my Friends

Tracie's Cat Stats
Reading: Lover Avenged by J.R Ward
Listening to: Glenn Miller (would you believe - no heavy Metal)
Watching: nothing - deadline looming
Making me smile: This Blog and the people responding

Friends make the world go round. Some drift into your life for only a short time, while other stay much longer and some forever.

When I was younger I had lots of friends. The fact they were only 3 inches high, dressed in bright clothing and no one but me could see them didn’t really matter. Don’t get me wrong, I did have human friends and four legged friends too, but sometime I preferred the company of my little folk more. I would talk to them for hours, teach them things and tell them stories. Of course they all adored me and did whatever I asked them to. Looking back, I guess the writer in me was beginning to bud, though it would not fully bloom many years later.

And when my writing desire blossomed, I met two of the LoveCats—Rachel and Mel. We all belonged to the Clayton Critters group which sprung up out of the 2005 RWAus Clayton’s online conference. From the first words I read of both Rachel’s and Mel’s stories, I was in awe. These girls
could write.

Now I’m blogging here with these 6 awesome cat pals:

• Zana I don’t know much—well not yet—she’s a new friend.
• Emily I’ve met as several conference including a spectacular Nationals in San Francisco when she was nominated for 2 Rubys and I was a finalist in the Golden Heart
• Sharon and her lovely Mr Archer have been at every conference I’ve been to except last year and they were sorely missed. Their smiling faces are always a joy. When Sharon sold – I was overjoyed and we shared several celebratory emails.
• Nikki I know a little better. I can’t remember when we met. It feels like I have known her for ages. I actually screamed out loud and danced when I heard she was going to be a Harlequin Romance author. I am very impressed.
• Mel, Rachel and I have bit more history. We’ve shared good news and bad; we’ve laughed and cheered; we’ve vented and cried. We told each other the truth when it needed to be said, and supported each other if one of us was down. We used to dream and say “one day when we are all published... blah blah blah”. And now here we are, together. Old friends are a comfort and a joy. It was almost felt like selling again myself when each of them made their first sales.

What is it that you value in your friendships? Or do you have a special friend who has touched your life in a profound way?

Today's Book Giveways to one lucky commentor: The Earl’s Dilemma, Emily May (in Fate & Fortune, with A Country Miss In Hanover Square, by Anne Herries) Quills / Regency Single Father: Wife & Mother Wanted, Sharon Archer Medical Duo of Marriage Reunited: Baby on the Way, Sharon Archer, with Lucy Clark’s Bride on the Children’s Ward Medical Claiming His Bought Bride, Rachel Bailey Desire The Blackmailed Bride’s Secret Child, Rachel Bailey Desire Tonight, My Love, Tracie Sommers Spice Briefs His Housekeeper Bride, Melissa James Harlequin Romance / Sweet Tycoon’s One Night Revenge, Bronwyn Jameson Desire Prince Incognito, Linda Goodnight, including a novella, The Homecoming, Melissa James Harlequin Romance / Sweet Stone Cold Lover, Mel Teshco Ellora's Cave