Hello Fishy Friends!
Today you’ve caught me in one of those hopelessly romantic moods. My 20th wedding anniversary just passed and now Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. I’ve got heart shaped boxes of candy stashed around the house to surprise my boys with on the big day. Cold Mountain is loaded on the DVR for my daily viewing pleasure. I’m reading the most romance I’ve ever read at once with contest entries to judge, fabulous friends with new releases out and Sherrilyn Kenyon’s latest to devour. I’m telling you, if someone stuck a pin in me right now, I’d probably ooze tiny little heart-shaped bits of confetti!
In all seriousness, I love being surrounded by romance. The community is a wonderful blend of people with big hearts and even bigger imaginations. We’re totally down with love at first sight, lust at first sight, all kinds of crazy mating rituals, sweet fantasies and wild ones alike. We celebrate history, suspense, zombies and goody two-shoes. And yes, we LOVE our princesses and our mermaids.
We also celebrate each other as writers and readers of the genre. And, we take it a step further and come together to recognize the people in our real lives who support us. By chance, I happened to be included in a new anthology that is out this month called Scribbling Women and the Real-Life Romance Heroes Who Love Them. Twenty-eight romance authors (one for each day in February) including Hope Tarr, Lisa Renee Jones, Elisabeth Staab and Leanna Renee Hieber (And me!), shared personal essays about their real love lives and all net proceeds are being donated to the organization Win (Women in Need) which assists homeless women and their children. I knew I wanted to be a part of it because my hubby goes way beyond in his love and support of me and always has. The man has read all four Twilight books at my request AND attended about 5,000 Casey James concerts with me last year alone. All because it has to do with the writing I love so dearly.
I don’t think it’s possible for me to feel any more romantic than I already do. But let’s see if we can squeeze at my heart strings just a little more. I’d love to hear about your romantic notions. Whether you’re in love with a real hero or a fictional one at the moment. Did someone do something extra sweet for you lately? How many heart shaped boxes of chocolate have you already bought and consumed? For the record, my number on that last one falls somewhere between 2 and 4.
Fishy Kisses!
Carlene Mermaid
And Happy Almost Valentine’s Day xoxoxoxo
I’m really into these sweet jellied heart things this year. That’s not very typical of me. And today I have on socks with sparkle hearts. Does that count?
p.s.
I bought your anthology and everyone should. Your story moved me to tears! Love you HERO!
Aww, thank you Hero! Those jellied things sound good. I’ll eat sugar in all its glorious forms. Love your heart socks! Toats ma goats they count. 🙂
Thanks Diana!
Such a fun post, Carlene! I’m in love with my real life hero and I swear every time I go to the grocery store or Target those heart shaped boxes of candy call my name. Can’t wait to read your anthology! 🙂
Hi Dana! I am so happy that you have such a wonderful real-life hero. Mermaid approved for sure 🙂
Carlene,
I can’t wait to read your story in the anthology! I told you once how a mutual friend (that we didn’t know we each knew) was telling me about someone she knew getting recently published in romance. That could have been anyone, so I didn’t ask her who. Then she said how this published writer’s husband was so proud of her and told all the football dads and moms about how his wife was published and to read her book. 🙂 Then I said, “Are you talking about Carlene Love Flores?” Her eyes popped open wide right there in the meat department at our local Giant, and she said, “Yes! How did you know?”
Clearly it was the overly supportive husband comment. You snagged a great hero there, Carlene. And he is equally lucky to have snagged the best of the best. 🙂
Love you! Happy Valentine’s Day!