My Favorite Christmas Present

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It was Christmas 2014, three months after my in-laws “gifted” me a Toyota Corolla to replace my husband’s RAV4 that I was driving with our then-4-year-old while he drove my Saturn sedan (which he hated). I say “gifted” because a month after they “gave” it to me (and after I donated the Saturn to a nonprofit), MIL asked why I wasn’t paying the monthly payments that were being taken out of her account, and when I showed up with a check at their house, FIL asked me why the heck I was paying for something that they’d given me. Needless to say, I hated that thing.

But this isn’t about that Corolla.

This is about the day my older brother drove from Texas to California and parked his tricked-out RAV4 Sport in front of our house and as I rushed outside to greet him, he handed me the keys along with a plastic folder containing the pink slip and other warranty documents, declaring: “Merry Christmas!”

“But… but I already have a new car,” I said, pointing to the Corolla parked in front of the RAV4.

My perplexed brother frowned (he knew nothing about the “gifted” Corolla). “So you don’t want it?”

You better believe I grabbed those keys so fast before he could pull his hand back. “Of course, I want it! And THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!”

Turns out he needed to replace his SUV with a sedan for his work, but instead of trading it in when he bought a brand-new sedan, he decided to surprise me with it. No questions asked. No demands. No bait and switch.

Just a Christmas present given with love that will always be my all-time favorite present… and automobile.

Daily writing prompt
What is your all time favorite automobile?
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Love Romance? Stuff Your e-Readers with Free Romance Books!

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Just as it says on the tin, 2000 romance ebooks are FREE to download to your e-readers ranging from young adult, mystery with romantic elements, sci-fi romance, sweet and steamy contemporary romance, romcom, chicklit and more!

Find your next romance read at romancebookworms.com

It says 12/27 but the free event has started a day early!

Wishing You All A Happy Holidays!

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Already people are celebrating Christmas in other parts of the globe and my social media is filled with merry greetings left and right.

So I’m dropping by to wish you all a happy holidays!

This time of year also brings back a time eight years ago when we told my now-teen that he could pick out the tree of his choice. As we followed him with trepidation because we forgot to give the parameters of what he could pick out (under 5 feet), he ended up choosing the perfect tree. Just his size!

That trip to the tree lot inspired me to write one of my first holiday stories. This one’s a heartwarming and sweet story about reunited love and I hope you enjoy it!

download your free copy

A Place of One’s Own

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I’d build myself a den, spacious and bright
put up shelves, every inch lined with books,
no worries of terabytes
just words on a page that transport me everywhere
to worlds both known and unknown
no concern about airfares
for every journey is free, every adventure unending
just me and my imagination alight
the rules of reason constantly bending
to accommodate every whim, each word I write
a dream and a hope–that everything
will be alright.

Daily writing prompt
You get to build your perfect space for reading and writing. What’s it like?
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Happiness Is A Fast Car

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I’m happy when my oldest son comes to visit and he tells me about his life and his dreams, his reflections about life now versus the way he used to see it. I’m happy to see both of my sons together, the twenty-year gap between them representing two distinct parts of my life, a life I’m still trying to figure out as I go.

I’m happy when I’m around family, especially my side of the family which includes all my cousins aunts, and uncles (I’m biased) whom I got to see this weekend. I’m happy sitting around the table catching up on what they’re up to although I’m not happy to hear about the aches and pains that come with getting older and there’s nothing we can do about it.

I’m happy when I read stories that suck me into their world and don’t let go. I’m happy when I’m writing my stories, each character like an old friend stopping by for coffee or a margarita and regaling me with their adventures and misadventures as I write every word as fast as I can.

I’m happy when I drive. It’s a moment where I have some control of my life, a fast car to somewhere I want to be for just a little while before my life is not mine again.

Daily writing prompt
When are you most happy?
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Sick Day

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No daily prompt today. Instead, a little slice of life…

LilDude and I attended the Tamale & Tequila Festival this past weekend as part of a nonprofit art program where the kids got to sell their creations on mugs and tumblers. He started out with a runny nose that evening while my sore throat crept up on me yesterday and today, I don’t feel too good.

So what to do?

Knitting, of course.

Something simple though because my brain feels like it’s filled with cobwebs at the moment and simple is my speed. I should be in bed, but I hate taking naps during the day unless I absolutely have to.

This is the Basic Baktus pattern being knit on one of the few balls of handspun yarn I did not toss away during the move. I wish I hadn’t tossed them but let’s say Marie Kondo was in full swing in my head then. Or overwhelm, you pick which one.

I don’t even know what to do with hand-knitted items since not everyone likes receiving them as gifts. People I know certainly don’t so they end up piling up in a bin: scarves, mittens, hats.

Probably the only disadvantage to this particular yarn is that it’s pretty stiff. Maybe it’s because it’s been sitting a while but I’ll make sure to wash it in soap recommended for handspun yarns in the hope that it will soften.

Then it’ll end up in the bin along with everything else.

A Morning Ritual

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there’s got to be coffee in the morning
I can’t function without at least a cup
then a look inside my little black book
so I’ll know what the heck is up

for I really can’t count on my phone anymore
the one with all the bells and whistles
the moment I switch it on to look at my schedule
distraction lands like heat-seeking missiles

until then I’ll enjoy my coffee,
and savor the morning for a little while
breathe in, breathe out, taking it all in–
this life, the future, your smile.

A Loaf of Bread, A container of Milk…

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This clip has lived rent-free in my head for decades, although these days I add salad (usually a kale salad with poppy seed dressing) and almond or oat milk coffee creamer to the list.

Daily writing prompt
List your top 5 grocery store items.
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The Before Times

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This time last year I couldn’t write in my journal. I could type but I was too bogged down by worries about the future because we didn’t know where we were going to live–we hadn’t received notice to leave yet since the property was sold but we knew it was coming. And it did come a week later which was both a relief and also another fear unlocked: after living in the same place for 16 years, how do you move on?

Well, you just do.

But back to not being able to write in my journal. It hurt to write, physically hurt to write. I couldn’t even hold a pen in my hand it was that bad. I thought I had Dupuytrens contracture. I also couldn’t go up the stairs because I couldn’t lift my right knee. I had to hold on to railings for dear life. I felt like I was 90 years old.

Fast forward a year later and thanks to a chiropractor who specializes in muscle testing or applied kinesiology (and adjustments), I can write without experiencing any pain and run up and down stairs with no problem. After three sessions, I felt like that person who suddenly got up, threw away their cane, and walked. I may even have yelled I am healed!

By then, we’d already moved to where we live now, a first-story two-bedroom apartment where some nights, you can’t miss the neighbor upstairs playing fetch with his German shepherd or hear the next-door neighbor play episodes of Barney and Caillou full blast for their two-year-old daughter.

But it’s all good.

This time last year, I may not have been able to picture my life the way it is now, but I’m grateful it is the way it is. And it’s only going to get better.

Because just like hot air balloons can’t rise up unless you let go of the weights keeping it down, until we finally did, we soared–and boy, is the view from up here pretty nice.

Thanks for sharing it with me.

Daily writing prompt
Is your life today what you pictured a year ago?
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Just The Positive Things, You say?

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Do you have enough time for this? Are you sure?

Well, for starters, we moved to an apartment in January, and while it took some getting used to because we’d lived in a bigger place with a garage, an attic, a garden, and a gazebo for so long, it was just what we needed to declutter. It’s amazing the stuff we collect in sixteen years of living in one place.

I didn’t go Marie Kondo on everything (certainly not my BOOKS! The horror!), but we went from living in a full house, garage, attic, and gazebo to… well, not much else but the essentials. And I’m still working on the remaining boxes, like CDs, DVDs, and religious statues we inherited from my in-laws after they passed away.

I definitely feel much lighter. Like they say, out of sight out of mind, and if you didn’t miss that ice cream maker you got from your wedding, maybe you don’t really need it…

In the author front, I was invited to join a diverse romance anthology this year and in October, we released Forevermore: A Romance Anthology. After being a published author for seven years, I finally attended my first signing at Bel Canto/KuboLB in Long Beach, and then one more event, a book signing and panel on diverse romances moderated by the amazing Middle Grade/YA author Tracy Badua at Verbatim Books in San Diego.

Who knew I’d been hiding in plain sight all this time? (In fairness, turns out I was depressed for years until we moved…)

It was such an amazing experience to meet readers who enjoyed our stories and I’m going to attend more events in the future. I even attended my first ever romance writers meeting and met the lovely Ciara Blume whose books are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.

I definitely enjoyed meeting fellow authors and readers, and who knows? Maybe one day, I’ll meet you!

Clockwise from top left: Forevermore Romance Anthology launch at KuboLB with fellow anthology authors Mia Hopkins, Kaye Rockwell, and Elle Cruz; KuboLB and Bel Canto Books owner Jhoanna, Mia, Liz, Elle, and Kaye; Me holding the anthology on release day; authors Mia, Kaye, Elle and myself attending a panel at Verbatim Books in San Diego, moderated by the amazing middle grade and YA author Tracy Badua, with our lovely readers; attending my first ever romance writers gathering and meeting the lovely women’s fiction and romance author Ciara Blume

In April, we lost my 17-year-old furbaby Truffles and I was devastated (I know it’s not positive but bear with me). As much as I swore we weren’t going to get another dog, in July we marched to the shelter and found Annie, a Cocker Spaniel mix the shelter listed as a chihuahua. Hubby actually picked her after I was ready to walk out of the shelter emptyhanded thinking I was out of my mind to adopt another dog three months after losing Truffles (and she was my soul dog), but Annie has brought so much joy to our lives since she came home with us.

And today, I got her a Christmas sweater.

Yes, I am turning into that dog mom…

Daily writing prompt
What positive events have taken place in your life over the past year?
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