I have recently discovered this invention called a Fit-Bit. Now there is more than one type on the market but I was drawn in by the catchy theme song…Go you chicken fat…go! Diabolical I tell you. It keeps track of my steps each day. Now it sounds innocent and maybe the true problem lays in my competitive spirit. Which is sort of like an inner Warrior Princess. But I find myself checking my groups for the leadership board…Am I ranking? No? I’m sure this means I need to run around the block. LOL! Okay…so I am silly but I am really enjoying my little fitness challenge. In fact, I’ve discovered that those impromptu block journeys really freshen up my imagination. It’s the beginning of the end of summer…so get out there before the chill shows up. Here is a picture of me out with my parrot Ginger. I ride my bike to the park and she comes along in her Pack-o-bird. It’s the green thing behind my right shoulder. My bike is actually a recumbrant trike. My newest book is THE HIGHLANDER’S BRIDE TROUBLE. Its book four in the Sutherlands and the last one contracted. I hope you enjoy it,…

In 2007, I sold my first novel for children. This month it got published. This is not normal. No, it’s normal for a first book to take seven years to sell, but it’s not normal to have to wait seven years for the book you sold to be released. I’m going to tell you about that wait. Because it was worth it. Rewind to 2006. My short story THE WATER FIGHT PROFESSIONAL came out in an anthology. I met the publisher. She was interested in a novel based on the book. So I wrote one. She bought it. I jumped around the house like a cheerleader. Then nothing happened. The publishing company went under. Which was pretty sad. But by that time, I’d also sold a romance novel. So I figured I’d focus on writing romance. (Cue angels with harps.) Except that didn’t work out for me either. (Angels fly away to play cupid for someone else.) The romance sold well, but the second publishing company went under, as well. So where did that leave me? Back at square one. Where to next? This is where the story started to get exciting. See, I received an unexpected email from a…

I’m often asked how I get ideas for my books. I always want to answer, “Where don’t I get ideas?” I get character ideas by people watching. I travel quite often, and while I really detest the whole traveling experience, I use my time wisely—I watch people. I study them. Yes, even been known to snap a picture of one with my cell phone because of a certain hairstyle, or quirk, or expression. All of this information filters down and finds its way into a character. Some of my favorite character traits used have been gleaned from strangers in an airport. Newspapers, television, and yes, even those true-crime shows all provide fodder for my plots. No, I don’t see something or read about it and then just change minor events for my story. I play a game called what-if. For example, I’ll hear a story about a woman who shot her husband for having an affair. My mind starts the game: What if the woman had hired a private detective to get the “goods” on her husband? What if the private detective had a grudge against the husband for some wrong years ago? What if the man wasn’t having an…

One of the most exciting things I did in research for my YA mystery romance novel, THE INCREDIBLE CHARLOTTE SYCAMORE AND THE SECRET TRAPS, was take a trip to London for a behind-the-scenes tour of Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. The top 8 things I discovered: 1.) There are secret hallways in Buckingham Palace that are used only by Queen Elizabeth. Our group was shown how one of the fireplaces swings open from floor to ceiling so that the Queen doesn’t travel the corridors like everyone else, to maintain her privacy and security. 2.) It’s considered rude to turn your back on royalty. During Queen Victoria’s time, all staff had to walk backward out of a room when Her Majesty was in it. This rippled through our culture and is still a matter of etiquette. Have you ever had someone apologize when their back was turned to you? 3.) In North America, we call rivers by their name, then add “river” behind it. Such as Mississippi River, Fraser River, etc. In England they do it the other way around. People call it the River Thames. (Eek! Last minute edit change in my manuscript caught just before printing!) 4.) Windsor Castle…

Most of us are familiar with classics like The Lost Boys, Salem’s Lot, Fright Night, and my favorite, Interview With the Vampire, but I’d like to share some of the lesser known vampire movies. Some are cult classics and others are obscure, but they’re all a ton of fun. Shadow Of The Vampire This is an extremely unique film about the making of the 1922 classic, Nosferatu. John Malkovich plays Max Shrek, the actor cast as the role of Count Orlock. The funny thing is that Shrek actually is a vampire! Dracula: Dead and Loving It I freakin’ LOVE Mel Brooks and this spoof on Dracula has all the slapstick goodness one could desire. Leslie Nielsen spoofs Gary Oldman’s role as Dracula, but I think Renfield stole the show with his flat-out goofiness. The Night Flyer Stephen King does yet another creative take on vampires in this film about a serial-killing vampire pilot. Vampire Party This French Film about a trio who gets invited to an elite private party held in a remote mansion features spoofs on top of spoofs. It’s the ultimate in cheeseball goodness. Vampire Hunter D An incredible, classic Anime, this might be one of the first…

This past weekend, my husband and I, along with a few thousand other people, have enjoyed the reenactment of the Battle of Mobile Bay and the Siege of Fort Morgan, Alabama. It was particularly meaningful to us, because our house is a little over a mile from the fort. I cannot tell you how many times I have been to the fort over the fourteen years that we have lived here—but in all those times I never really got the full impact of what happened there. Seeing the re-enactors in their wool pants in the heat of an August day, or watching the soldiers garrisoned in the fort as they made their beds on straw pallets and ate their cabbage soup, or even watching the grass catch fire from the bombardment, I was transported in time, back to 1864. But then while I was walking through, I heard a cell phone ring, and one of the soldiers opened his knapsack and the moment was lost. The same thing happened to my husband when he saw powder charges wrapped in aluminum foil—those were surly anachronistic. And then I thought about my job as a writer of historical romance. I am a…

Since I’ve already shared my mother-of-the-bride gown. I thought I’d show you my wedding speech. Yes, it’s in my special format, but that’s because I’m special, right? Anyway here’s the quiz I gave the two kids. Hint: The right answer can be “All of the Above.” Which of the following is true about Sheri? a. She painted her room in trees that look like dying broccoli and blames her mother for the result. b. She went to bed every night strangling our cat. She hugged the poor creature like a stuffed animal and would not let go no matter what it did back. c. She spent two months singing “I feel pretty.” d. In her bedroom, she had a Barbie town house, Barbie convertible car, Barbie ranch–3 of them, Barbie veterinary hospital, plus the clothing and accessories for all of it. Alex might have dreamed of getting a superpower, but Sheri dreamed about ballgowns, a zillion-acre ranch, and Mustangs. Answer: All of the above. For A, I was trying to be supportive of her creative talents. I knew that artistically she was still growing, but I never thought she’d blame me afterwards. I never stopped her from painting over it….

I’m here today to talk about NATURAL BORN CHARMER, and all the ways in which it is my reading catnip. But first, I need to tell you a story about me, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and pajamas. Last summer, my publisher scheduled lucky me for a book signing with Eloisa James, at a bookstore in SEP’s hometown – and SEP, being the incredibly gracious person she is, invited us both to stay over at her house. AT HER HOUSE. When I found out this was happening, can you imagine my first reaction? Was it, “OMG, I bet her house is gorgeous”? No, though her house was. Was it, “Will she make me oatmeal in the morning?” No, though she did. My response was to immediately take to Twitter, beseeching strangers for shopping guidance. “I need pajamas!” I wrote. “I am sleeping over at SEP’s house, and I have nothing to wear.” Because, you see, I don’t own any decent pajamas. I sleep in ratty old oversized t-shirts. This is all a very roundabout way of saying, I knew Blue Bailey was my kind of girl from the first time she slept in her ratty old oversized “Beer for Breakfast” t-shirt. Actually,…

One Direction is heading to North America for the Where We Are Tour! I don’t know how it is in your house, but in mine, 1D rules. From music to posters to magazines to YouTube and music videos, One Direction is a constant presence in my everyday existence. I’ve been told the future Mrs. Styles even lives with me. She just has to meet him first. Whether you’re a Directioner or not, you’ve probably had that moment where you let yourself fall a little bit in love with a rock star. There’s no denying the appeal of rock stars. They’re talented, edgy, hot, and make singing about emotions look cool. You’ve also probably imagined what it would be like to be the one person a rock star could fall in forever-love with. You could be the person to see past the carefully crafted persona of the rock star. It’s a seductive and tempting dream, but could it ever be more? That dream of more is why this week my top three young adult picks are all about rock stars, musicians, and the people who love with them. WISE YOUNG FOOL by Sean Beaudoin WISE YOUNG FOOL “Teen rocker Ritchie Sudden…

Real life is stranger than fiction. This statement is generally true, and I’m glad, because a lot of my story ideas are sparked by headlines/posts/comments I see on social media. I have a document pinned to my desktop, and its sole purpose is to collect the random things I see and thoughts I have that could one day blossom into stories. I’m inspired by stuff my friends post on Facebook, like: “Entire Family Lives in a Giant Tree House” or headlines on Yahoo! like: “What Would You Never, Ever Do Again, Even for a Million Dollars?” The tree house one…okay, I have to admit that premise would be a stretch for a contemporary romance novel, even though I write humor. But the second one? I think the million dollars challenge would make a great romance novel, because I can put a hero or heroine in that scenario and ask what if? I saw this article the other day about an app called Tinder. Apparently, it’s for singles who want to meet people while traveling. Sightseeing, dinner….fill in the blank. It could be completely innocent, or not, depending on the traveler. Judging by the comments at the end of the article,…