Why I Disappeared

My last real post was, I believe, May 11th. It wasn't that I got bored or decided not to blog anymore. Nope, a lot was going on. Things seem to just now be settling down. But, this is what kept me busy.

On May 15th my daughter became a bride. The days and weeks leading up to that date were packed full of things that needed to get done. Of course, if you have ever planned a wedding, this isn't any news.

The first picture is my daughter and her new husband (as if it really needed an explanation); The second, my husband and son and lastly, my two daughters. It was a beautiful day, a beautiful ceremony and lovely reception. I could not be happier with my daughter's choice of a husband. In fact, everything was perfect.

As soon as I caught my breath after the wedding, my son graduated from eighth grade. It just doesn't seem possible that I could have a married daughter and a son going into high school. The only explanation is that I must have married and had my children very, very young because I certainly don't feel old enough.

When my daughter and her new husband returned from their honeymoon, we helped move her out and into his apartment. The middle daughter wasted no time in claiming the elder's room as it was larger. My son wanted to remain where he was which left an empty bedroom. Though I miss not having my daughter here, I did gain an office. I stayed with the paint color because I frankly didn't want to take the time to paint, and moved in. This opened my kitchen up so all of it could be used for it's purpose. So, now I have a place I can go and close the door and write.

So, now that things have settled, I plan on getting back into the groove of blogging, reading blogs, writing, researching and all the things I had to put aside during the month of May and beginning of June.

How about you, anything major happen while I was away?

Getting Back in the Groove

I am trying to get back in the groove of blogging. It has been a busy 2 months full of blessings and concerns which I will write about in more detail later. For today, I've blogged about conflicts and www.ladyscribes.blogspot.com I hope you can stop by.

So Blessed

I've been meaning to write this for two weeks now, but God keeps blessing me with things that have kept me busy.

On April 25th I watched my youngest be confirmed. I shed more than a few tears from the moment the processional began, while the 24 young adults entered the church, and when I stood while my son was confirmed. For his Confirmation verse, Luke choose Isaiah 6:8

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I, send me.

I love this verse and can't begin to describe my emotions when I first learned Luke chose this for himself.

I am so proud of my son and the young man he has become. In a few more weeks he will graduate from 8th grade and I am sure a few more tears will be shed.

It Has Been a Long Time

Well, it has been a long time since I posted to my blog. I've done a few at LadyScribes.blogspot.com, I even have one up today about House Hunting with your characters. Unfortunately, with the busyness of spring I've neglegted my own blog. And, I have been very, very bad about commenting on other blogs. I read and moved on, not commenting because I am trying to cram so much into my day between writing, work the family . . . You know exactly what I am talking about because we all have crazy busy lives.

But, one thing is coming up that I am doing just for me. I will be attending the Chicago-North RWA Spring Fling Conference in Deerfield, Illinois on April 23-24. I cannot wait. With me will be Lydia Dare, Samantha Grace (both LadyScribes contributors) and Erin. These are three of my critique buddies and I can't wait to be with them. There will also be a highlight in that I will be doing my first book signing. I am a bit nervous about it, but excited all the same. http://www.chicagospringfling.com/booksigning.shtml

If anyone is going to be at the Spring Fling let me know. I would love to actually meet people in the real world as opposed to the cyberworld.

I am not sure how much more I will be posting until mid to end May. Besides the conference, which I signed up for last fall, my eldest is getting married in May and my son is being confirmed at the end of April. That is why there has been so little blogging and even less writing. However, I am sure that once the wedding passes the schedule will calm down and I will be back to posting and commenting on blogs on a regular basis.

Hope everyone is doing well and I also hope to return to the Sunday Prayer blog.

Blogging at Lady Scribes today

Ever use paperdolls when costuming your characters? http://ladyscribes.blogspot.com/. Stop by and let me know where you get your costuming ideas from. Thanks.

Robin Lee Hatcher at LadyScribes

I thought I would share that today on the Lady Scribes, our guest is bestselling historical and inspirational novelist Robin Lee Hatcher. The author of more than sixty novels, Robin has won two RT Career Achievement Award (Americana Romance and Inspirational Fiction), the RWA Lifetime Achievement award, The Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, and two RITA Awards for Best Inspirational Romance. Her latest novel, Fit to be Tied, is a historical inspirational romance set on a ranch in Idaho in 1916.

Please stop by and leave a comment. Thanks! www.ladyscribes.blogspot.com

Love at First Sight? You tell me.

Each month the writers at LadyScribes introduce a topic for critique. This week we are asking for scenes where the Hero and Heroine first "see" each other. Not meet, but "see" or "notice" the other. It can be from either the Hero's POV or the Heroine's. With a 500 word limit it can only be one of them. If you have a scene you want critiqued, head on over to ladyscribes and post it. The rules are in today's blog. It is not a contest, just a way to get some honest and friendly feedback on your writing. The critiques will be posted next week and each entry is anonymous. Hope to see you at http://ladyscribes.blogspot.com/

Congrats Maria

Congrats to Maria I Morgan. Her name was drawn by Lucy Balch and has won an autographed copy of her book, Love Trumps Logic. Maria, send me your address at amy.detrempe@gmail.com.

Spotlight on: Lucy Balch

Author of: Love Trumps Logic
Publisher: Second Wind Publishing
ISBN: 9781935171270
(Release Date): February 2010
(Genre): Historical Romance
Available from Second Wind Publishing and Amazon.


When suitors are baffled by Miss Fiona Fairmont's scientific turn of mind her mother tearfully predicts that her daughter will be doomed to spinsterhood—until Lord Henry Featherstone comes along. Nicknamed "the Mad Scientist," Henry appreciates Fiona's mind as well as her face. Fiona thinks she's found the perfect husband in Henry until notorious Lord Albert Beaumont crashes through her neatly laid plans.

AMY: Thank you for joining me. What else would you like to share with us regarding your book?

LUCY: If you enjoy strong, independent-minded heroines, you’ll like Fiona! Beau is the George Clooney of his era, with enough charisma for ten men and an almost pathological avoidance of marriage—until he meets Fiona.

AMY: Were there any surprises that came about while you were writing Love Trumps Logic, or did your story stick with the plan you had set?

LUCY: There were definitely some changes, but most of them were small. For instance, Lady Wolfrey, who initially was a courtesan, became a respectable lady late in the edits—things like that.

AMY: What inspired you to write this book or these particular characters?

LUCY: I love Regency romances and wanted to write one. I also love homeopathy and hoped to write a book that could combine the two loves. I think I can honestly say that I’ve written the only romance novel that has the word ‘homeopathy’ in it.

AMY: Tell the readers about your writing journey and how you ended up with your publisher.

LUCY: I had shelved Love Trumps Logic, my second book, and was working on my third book. My sister called to tell me that she had heard about Second Wind Publishing on National Public Radio. She thought I might want to submit my book one more time (I had gotten only rejections up until that point). I sent in Chapter one, with almost zero expectations, and got the word back that they wanted to see the full manuscript. On St. Patrick’s Day, 2009, I got the word that Second Wind Publishing wanted to publish my book!

AMY: If there is one piece of advice you could give an unagented / unpublished author, what would it be?

LUCY: If you love to write, never give up! And never stop learning the craft of writing.

AMY: Besides Love Trumps Logic, which we highlighted here, have you published other books or are there some that are yet to be released?

LUCY: Love Trumps Logic is my first published novel. I’m hoping to release another book by the end of this year.

AMY: How can we find you on the internet (facebook, twitter, myspace, blog, website addresses)

LUCY: My website is http://www.lucybalch.com. I also blog twice monthly on Wordpress with Second Wind Publishing, and guest blog on Goodreads and Facebook whenever I get a chance to.

AMY: Is there anything else you would like to share with the readers?

LUCY: You’re not to late to enter my contest. To celebrate the release of Love Trumps Logic, I’m running a contest that will end March 10th. Simply go to this link to enter:
http://secondwindpub.wordpress.com/2010/02/24/prizes-and-giggles-and-games-oh-yes-2/

AMY: Is there anything you would like to ask the readers?

LUCY: I’d love to hear feedback, once you’ve read Love Trumps Logic. Feel free to contact me on my website. While you’re there, take one of my quizzes!

AMY: Readers, are there any questions you would like to ask Lucy Balch?

Lucy Balch has been generous enough give away an autographed copy of Love Trumps Logic. I am sorry but this is limited to U.S. residents only, due to the cost of postage. If you would like a chance to win the book, simply comment and leave your e-mail address. A winner will be picked and announced Saturday night. Good luck.

Agent Interview

Stop by ladyscribes.blogspot.com today. Melissa Jeglinski of the Knight Agency is offering query and submission advice.

I'm in the Romance Section. Where are the Inspys?

Like all markets, the Romance genre is difficult to break into. That is doubly so for the Inspirational Romance Market. There are dozens of publishing houses that print romances, but only a handful who publish inspirational. And, it doesn’t stop with the publishing. Once a book is released, it doesn’t automatically appear on the shelves in the romance section, regardless of the publisher. Just take at look at the aisle of books at your local book store. The romance section contains hundreds of selections, anywhere from contemporary to historical; from time travel to vampires; from Jane Austin to chick-lit. Now step over to Religion/Christian Friction section. It is probably the same size, if not smaller than the entire Romance Section. And, the novels are listed by author’s last name so you need to read almost every type of book offered to find the two dozen or so romances among the bunch, unless you are already looking for a particular author.

To me it just doesn’t seem fair. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good romance, secular or inspirational. You will find me in both sections every time I am lucky enough to spend time in a bookstore, so this is not about one over the other. It is about why Inspirational romances are segregated. As they are romances, why can’t they be shelved in the regular romance aisle? It seems as if only Inspirational Romances are separated out from the other romances. Does anyone know the reason why? Paranormal/Sci-Fi Romances are with romances and not Sci-Fi, and Wild West Romances are not put with Westerns. I could continue to list examples but I am sure you get the idea.

So, is there a reason why Inspys are segregated? And, do you agree with the practice of not shelving Inspirational Romances with all of the other romances? It is simply something I have wondered about. Not passing judgment, just curious.

Regencies - Too Much or Too Little

I am over at http://Ladyscribes.blogspot.com today. Please stop by. I would love your opinions on what is too much or too little with regard to explaining the era in a Regency Romance.