DREAMING THE DREAM - JENNIFER HUDSON

If you an American Idol fan and a Dreamgirl fan then you had a great night at the Oscars!

I'm sure Jennifer Hudson would be the first to admit that she couldn't have dreamed bigger dreams, to land such a great role and win almost every award she was nominated for, even after Simon from Idol hadn't the faith in her (shows he's sometimes wrong) that she had in herself.

I loved her responses to Barbara Walters last night. When asked if Simon's remarks about her limited talent had stymied her. She answered no, if anything they made her even more determined. I like that kind of never-give-up, never-say-die attitude!

Here's some fun facts about Jennifer Hudson.

She didn't think she'd get the role because she wasn't heavy enough! She had to add on 20 lbs.
She's been with her boyfriend since junior high school.
She was voted off Idol in the 7th round. (She was one of my favorites!)

She dreamed the dream, and exceeded her own expectations! Only goes to show what faith and trust in yourself can do!

COUNTRY RADIO ALIVE AND WELL

Last year, while I attended Tim and Faith's Soul2Soul concert at the Staples Center, Tim came out and looked around at the massive crowds, (three nights running, I might add) and said that they've got to get country radio back in L.A. He was met by an outstanding round of applause. Just two days prior, KZLA, our one and only, foremost country radio station suddenly, without any warning to the fans, just went off the air. I remember hitting the button in my car radio, turning the dial and saying "Something's wrong." I didn't get my daily dose of country music that day, or for months afterward!

Now for someone who loves westerns and writes western historical books, country music is a must have! I like other music, but I LOVE country music. I love it because it tells a story in just 3 or 4 minutes and often it inspires, rocks your emotions, shares innermost feelings and makes you think. The songs really have deep meaning, well, most of them. And some are just plain silly fun.

I remember emailing KZLA immediately when it went off the air, and apparently so had thousands of other fans. One of the disc jockeys, Shawn Parr, kept a constant vigil and communication with us, his fans, promising to try to get Country Radio back on the air waves. Over the months, he'd email us, the masses of frustrated country fans in Southern California, and finally, a new station was born. Country 540 and 1260 on the AM dial!
I can't tell you how happy I was that today. I smiled all day long, listening to the music from my favorites, Tim and Faith, Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts, Billy Currington, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Brooks and Dunn and a world of others. It's funny how we take things for granted in our everything life and it's only until they are taken away, that we realize how much they meant to us. I NEVER knew, just how much not having that radio station on the air affected me. I'd go around saying, "They can't do that! There's a radio full of pop and rap stations, and all we want is one country station. It's not fair." But the power of the people (loyal fans) prevailed this time. There's a whole growing market for country music and I'm only glad that LA recognized that fact. And, that Shawn Parr kept the fans informed and landed the AM Morning Show!

So - You think you know everything- I bet you didn't know this!

SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW EVERYTHING?

"Stewardesses" is the longest word typed with only the left hand and "lollipop" with your right.

No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.

"Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt". (Are you doubting this?)

Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.

The sentence: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter of the alphabet. (Now, you KNOW you're going to try this out for accuracy, right?)

The words 'racecar,' 'kayak' and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes). (Yep, I knew you were going to "do" this one.)

There are only four words in the English l anguage which end in "dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous. (You're not doubting this, are you?)

There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: "abstemious" and "facetious." (Yes, admit it, you are going to say . a e i o u)

TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard. (All you typists are going to test this out)

A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.

A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds. (Some days that's about what my memory span is)

A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.

A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.

A snail can sleep for three years. (I know some people that could do this too.)

Almonds are a member of the peach family.

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

Babies are born without kneecaps They don't appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age.

February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.

In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.

If the population of China walked past you, 8 abreast, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.

Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors.

Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite!

Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.

The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.

The cruise liner, QE2, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.

The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket. (Good thing he did that)

The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid.

There are more chickens than people in the world.

Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.

Women blink nearly twice as much as men. (It's called flirting)

Now you know everything!

Losing a Day of Writing

There's nothing worse, is there? Yesterday, I had plans for the day and had to cancel it all, due to a head that wouldn't stop throbbing and a stomach on the blink. I don't know what triggered it all, because this morning, I woke up right as rain, as they say. But I lost a whole afternoon and evening of writing. With three back to back deadlines, that's not a good thing.

So what did I do? Nothing! I couldn't think much, not even to plot my next scenes in the chapters, not even to flesh out some new ideas. I watched TV mindlessly, without even the strength to put in a DVD. Thank goodness the remote controls were working.

The only good thing about the day, was that I didn't have much of an appetite. Jello and toast did it for me, all day. Hopefully, the scale will register differently today!

And I watched AMERICAN IDOL. Boy, Simon wasn't in a good mood. Ryan thanked Paula and Randy at the end of the show, but Simon's name wasn't even mentioned. Did you notice? They'd had words during the course of the show. For ratings, I'm sure.
But I have to say, Simon is right most of the time. Of course, he's rank and crude and could be nicer with his criticism, but nothing about the male performances rang out to me and screamed NEXT IDOL. I hope the ladies night will be better.

It's nice to be able to think today. And write! I'm not leaving this computer anytime soon today.

Romance Junkies Valentine's Contest

There's plenty of time to enter to win a beautiful ruby red beaded necklace and an autographed copy of Fortune's Vengeful Groom! Check it out. There are some other great prizes listed from publishers and authors. Contest ends April 4th.
Good luck!

Here's the link and be sure to click on the mirror!
Romance Junkies Charlene Sands' Contest

Another Nomination!

Every so often, you write a book you really love. You put your heart and soul into it and try your hardest to portray the characters you love in a way that readers will relate to. That's what happened with Bunking Down with the Boss. The title doesn't begin to depict the emotion that are relayed in this story of self-forgiveness, trust and grief, but they are all there and it's a story in which I'm especially proud. Yesterday Bunking Down with the Boss was nominated for the Cataromance Reviewer's Choice Award. I couldn't be more thrilled. I hope those of you who have read the book, agree and those who haven't will get a chance to read it.

Also, today I found out from my editor that my March release FORTUNE'S VENGEFUL GROOM will be available in e-book format at Eharlequin! That's also very nice news.


Today, I'm working on the Desire I sold last week. Not sure of the title yet, but it will have Corporate Raider somewhere in the title, which pleases me. It's going to be a fun and challenging story to write.

Happy Valentine's Day! A new contest/Capa Awards

It's been a while since I've posted here, mainly because I've been writing, writing, writing. While working on the Spring Bride's Anthology "CALEB'S KISS" for May 2008, I received the go ahead for another historical, "TAMING THE TEXAN" (tentative title)and then I'm happy to announce the sale of another Silhouette Desire, coming in January 2008!

So life is crazy for me, but in a good way!

Myspace Codes: MyNiceSpace.com

But I couldn't let this day go by without saying HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY to lovers of romance and people who believe in happily ever after! It's the day to remember the good things about the people you love in your life. To show them you care. In a simple way, a big way or somewhere in between.

This time I went practical for my hubby, with a One-on-One Coffee brewer using a "coffee" pod insert which gives you a fresh cup of coffee in one minute, no mess, no fuss. And easy clean up. And the Styrofoam cup with lids will provide him coffee on the go, when he leaves for work.

It was all set up late last night while he slept, so this morning when he walked into the kitchen he could simply press the button and waa-laa! I have to admit I felt like Santa stealing around the house quietly putting it all together with balloons and bows too. It was great fun!

And for me - my husband went sentimental again, with an adorable stuffed animal holding a small photo journal depicting our life together for the past 30+ years- something he painsakingly put together while I wasn't looking! Very sweet. I love it!

Please be sure to check out my Valentine's Contest at Romance Junkies today where you can win a beautiful Valentine necklace and a signed book.

The Capa Awards will be given out today from THE ROMANCE STUDIO. THE WAY TO A MAN'S HEART from Cobblestone Press was nominated in the contemporary category, I'm proud to say.

HAVE A SWEETHEART OF A DAY!

Where do I get my ideas?

That's the question most authors get when interviewed. Well, it's a great question and no we don't get them from the IDEA TREE -- but we do get them from everywhere else.

Whenever I'm blocked about a scene, a plot or a new twist in my story, I have to stop writing. I'm not one to stare at the blank screen, so I usually get up and read something I enjoy, or exercise, or watch Martha Stewart. I love the cooking and craft segments and Martha (whether you like her or not) is a very calming influence and her show is top notch. I lose myself in whatever else I'm doing and then:

I take a shower.

Yes -- that's the best place for me to free up my mind. After all, I HAVE to get dressed sometime during the day. So, when all else fails, I get in the shower and then without realizing it, my mind wanders to my story and I begin to flesh out the scenes in my head, I hear the dialogue, understand the true motivation of my characters and then -- waa-laa, I have my answer. I lose myself in the story as water rains down. And ideas come forth. The only problem with this brand of brainstorming, is that a five minute shower ends up in the double digits. The price of unblocking your brain - killer water bills and fingers that prune up!

Monday Morning Funnies!

As I work on my anthology CALEB'S KISS, a western set in Texas, I came across these PUNS. So for all of you who love twists on words, here goes. Enjoy!

ALL PUNS INTENDED


Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married. The ceremony
wasn't much, but the reception was excellent.

A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, "I'll serve you,
but don't start anything."

A man walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his arm, and says "A
beer please, and one for the road."

"Doc, I can't stop singing 'The Green, Green Grass of Home."
"That sounds like Tom Jones Syndrome."
"Is it common?"
"Well, "It's Not Unusual."

An invisible man marries an invisible woman. The kids were nothing to
look at either.

Deja Moo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before.

I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day, but I couldn't
find any.

What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh.

Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft.
Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your
kayak and heat it too.

A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel, and were standing in
the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an
hour, the manager came out of the office, and asked them to disperse.
"But why," they asked, as they moved off.
"Because," he said, "I can't stand chess-nuts boasting in an open foyer."

Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which
produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very
little, which made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he suffered
from bad breath. This made him. (Oh, man, this is so bad, it's good)....
A super-calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.

And finally, there was the person who sent some different puns to his
friends, with the hope that at least ten of the puns would make them
laugh. No pun in ten did.

Holiday Surprise Winner and New Contest!

Congratulations to Eva Minaskanian for winning the Holiday Surprise Contest!

And our new 2007 FORTUNE'S VENGEFUL GROOM CONTEST is up and running. Win a copy of the third book in Dakota Fortunes series titled Fortune's Vengeful Groom and my Cobblestone-Press.com ebook, THE WAY TO A MAN'S HEART. In honor of my heroine Eliza Fortune, enter to also win a stunning Liz Claiborne circled heart necklace with matching earrings. Don't delay. Enter early. Contest ends March 1, 2007!http://charlenesands.com/contest.html

CONTESTS AND MORE CONTESTS!

We'll be picking the winner soon for my HOLIDAY SURPRISE CONTEST! And we'll announce the winner here and on my contest page. A brand new contest will be going up soon, so keep checking!

But right now, please check out Julianne Maclean's contest, where she's giving away a two-in-one copy of our 2003 Desires, SLEEPING WITH THE PLAYBOY (Julianne) and EXPECTING THE COWBOY'S BABY (Charlene) Here's where you can find the details:
* * * * *

Julianne MacLean is celebrating the release of her new book, SURRENDER TO A SCOUNDREL, which hits stores this month. It's the final book in her American Heiress series, and she'll be giving away a gorgeous pearl necklace, as well as an Australian edition of SLEEPING WITH THE PLAYBOY - the hard to find Silhouette Desire she wrote in 2003. This particular edition is two-books-in-one, and also includes EXPECTING THE COWBOY'S BABY, by Charlene Sands. On top of all that, Julianne will send you coverflats from her pals at AvonAuthors.com! Visit www.juliannemaclean.com before January 30th to enter.

Hope you stick to your New Year's Resolutions List! (You Do have a resolution list, right?) Here's a brief glimpse at mine.

KEEP MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY CLOSE
READ MORE BOOKS FROM FAVORITE AUTHORS
DISCOVER BOOKS FROM NEW AUTHORS
TREADMILL OR PILATES EVERY DAY
WRITE, WRITE, WRITE FOR THE PURE JOY OF IT
MEET NEW READERS AND WRITERS HERE AND ON MY NEW SITE:
www.myspace.com/charlenesands

WANT TO SHARE YOURS?

Happy New Year - Flip-flopping workshop on Cobblestone

Hi all and Happy New Year!

To start the week off right, Cobblestone-Press.com is hosting an all week Historical Writing Workshop which includes a Harlequin Day, Hot Tips on Writing for Harelequin, a Mills and Boon editor to join in, and I'll be speaking about Flip-Flopping from Western Historical to Short Contemporaries. How to write for both and keep the facts straight! The FREE workshop starts today, January 1st and runs all week long. Check it out and come see me on Thursday and Friday this week for my chat times!

CAPA Nominee - A nice early Christmas Present

I just received word that my Cobblestone Press Release, The Way to a Man's Heart has been nominated for the Cupid and Psyche Awards at the Romance Studio for both print and ebooks. Winners to be announced on Valentine's Day 2007. What a nice early Christmas gift!

For Lovers of Words

Thanks to my friend Mary for sending this along. Hope you enjoy:


FOR LEXOPHILES (LOVERS OF WORDS):>>

1. A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.>>
2. A will is a dead giveaway.>>
3. Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.>>
4. A backward poet writes inverse.>>
5. In a democracy it's your vote that counts; in feudalism, it's your> Count that votes.>>
6. A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion.>>
7. If you don't pay your exorcist you can get repossessed.>>
8. With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.>>
9. Show me a piano falling down a mine shaft and I'll show you A-flat> miner.>> 1
10. When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.>>
11. The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine was fully recovered.>>
12. A grenade fell onto a kitchen floor in France resulted in Linoleum> Blownapart.>>
13. You are stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.>>
14. Local Area Network in Australia : The LAN down under.>>
15. He broke into song because he couldn't find the key.>>
16. A calendar's days are numbered.>>
17. A lot of money is tainted: 'Taint yours, and 'taint mine.>>
18. A boiled egg is hard to beat.>>
19. He had a photographic memory which was never developed.>>
20. A plateau is a high form of flattery.>>
21. The short fortuneteller who escaped from prison: a small medium at> large.>>
22. Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.>>
23. When you've seen one shopping center you've seen a mall.>>
24. If you jump off a Paris bridge, you are in Seine .>>
25. When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye.>>
26. Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.>>
27. Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.>>
28. Acupuncture: a jab well done.>>
29. Marathon runners with bad shoes suffer the agony of de feet.

Fortune's Vengeful Groom

My new cover is in! Here's the 3rd story in the Dakota Fortunes Series. Eliza Fortune has been hiding a secret for 6 years. When her secret is exposed in the form of tall, rugged and gorgeous Reese Parker, scandals are exposed, revenge is taken and heads roll. (not literally - it's NOT that kind of book) Coming this March- read the entire series!

The Way to a Man's Heart Reviews and Promo

It's a Shameless Promotion, but I have to direct you all to the December Issue of RWR (Romance Writer's Report) where I have joined in with five other Cobblestone Press authors for a great color ad.

For those of you who only read print books, this one is a reissue set in downloadable form and available from at www.cobblestone-press.com. You might want to try something new - digital publishing!

And check out this new review from JoyfullyReviewed.com :

Growing up, Christy Evans had been leery of her neighbor Kyle Warren. He had been a star athlete, too sure of himself and too capable of being a heart breaker. Having returned home after the death of his father to handle his estate, Christy knew it was time for a tentative showing of friendship. It was something “Pop” Warren would have wanted.

Kyle had never been able to get anywhere with Christy – not that he had even tried. First, Pop would have had his hide, but Christy wouldn’t even acknowledge him for the remotest possibility of friendship. Sure he may have been a bit wilder in his youth, but he was an adult now. It shouldn’t be so difficult to be friends.
Although friendship was not necessarily what Kyle wanted now.

The Way to a Man’s Heart by Charlene Sands is a romance that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster. Kyle is a hero that any woman should want, but Christy has been burned too many times in the past. She can’t, or won’t, take chances again. But Kyle isn’t someone to sit back as a quitter. I enjoyed watching his reactions. Charlene Sands proved herself to be a competent writer by creating a hero who does not react in expected fashion and that was a welcome respite from a more predictable plotline.


Be sure to enter my Holiday Surprise contest, if you haven't already! www.charlenesands.com
And the Desire Fortune's Continuity begins in January! Keep up on all and be sure to read my March release Fortune's Vengeful Groom. Six great stories from January to June!

MELT IN YOUR MOUTH BUTTER COOKIES

This is a recipe handed down from generation to generation in my family. Be aware you can't eat just one. They truly do melt in your mouth.

BUTTER COOKIES




1 CUP BUTTER
6 TABLESPOONS CONF. SUGAR
2 CUPS FLOUR
1 TSP. VANILLA
1 CUP chopped nuts (optional)



CREAM BUTTER AND SUGAR, ADD OTHER INGREDIENTS. KNEAD WELL, ROLL INTO SMALL BALLS. FLATTEN SLIGHTLY WITH FORK.
BAKE 12-15 MINUTE IN MODERATE OVEN. WHILE HOT-SHAKE POWDERED SUGAR ON THEM.
Makes 24 cookies.

So easy. Enjoy!

Hint: Only melts in your mouth is you use REAL BUTTER. That's the key.

THANKSGIVING CRANBERRY MOLD

Here's another recipe that's so easy and a way to fancy up your cranberry dish. Enjoy!

THANKSGIVING CRANBERRY MOLD

2 CANS JELLIED CRANBERRY SAUCE
1 BOX ORANGE JELLO (LARGE)
12 OZ SPRITE OR 7 UP


COOK CRANBERRY SAUCE , STIRRING UNTIL BARELY BOILING AND MELTED.

ADD JELLO POWDER – STIR UNTIL BOILING BARELY

TURN OFF HEAT

PUT IN FRIDGE FOR 20-30 MIN TO COOL

PUT SPRITE IN AND STIR

POUR INTO JELLO MOLD WITH NON-STICK SPRAY

UNMOLD IN HOT WATER – IF RUNNY- PUT IN FREEZER FOR A FEW MIN.

**This is easy to slice. You can use a bundt mold, but honestly a Tupperware or other such mold gets the best result.


DON'T FORGET TO ENTER MY HOLIDAY SURPRISE CONTEST! You'll receive your "after holiday" surprises the first of 2007!

Thanksgiving and some great recipes

This week I'll be posting some of my favorite dessert recipes -- traditions that are "must haves" or the family goes NUTS. Sort of like your "auto buys" at the book store. So, these are among some of the family favorites.

NUT CUPS (Great for the holidays!)


1 PKG. CREAM CHEESE 3 OZ.
1/4 LB. BUTTER OR MARGARINE
1 CUP FLOUR

MIX WELL AND CHILL. THEN SHAPE INTO 24 BALLS - ABOUT ONE TSP. AND MOLD INTO CUPCAKE TINS (SMALL ONES)


FILLING

3/4 CUP NUTS (WALNUTS)
1 CUP SEMI-SWEET CHOCOLATE MORSELS
2 EGGS
1/2 CUP SUGAR


BEAT EGGS AND SUGAR WELL. ADD NUTS AND CHOCOLATE CHIPS. FILL WITH MIXTURE - ABOUT 1 1/2 TEASPOONS INTO EACH CUP

BAKE AT 375 FOR 20-25 MINUTES OR UNTIL FILLING IS GOLDEN BROWN. REMOVE FROM TINS WHILE WARM ON PAPER TOWELING. PUT INTO PAPER CUPS AND SPRINKLE WITH POWDERED SUGAR

*These are great to put on the Thanksgiving or Holiday table at each individual setting, in place of after dinner mints. Very festive! And delicious!

FIVE THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT ME

I've been tagged by good friend and fellow Desire author Bronwyn Jameson, to post Five Things You Might Not Know About Me. Now, I've tagged another good friend and Historical author Cheryl St John to play along. All those with blogs, join in too and let me know it's up on your site and I'll post it to mine.

If you don't have a blog, simply post yours in the Comments section. Here goes and have fun!

1. I couldn't blow a bubble with bubble gum to save my life!

2. When not writing, I teach childbirth classes and babycare basics at a local
hospital. It's estimated that I've taught 500 pregnant couples a year for
the past 20 years.

3. My pride and joy cat, Skittles, is known by family and friends as the Devil Cat!

4. When I was sixteen, I was arrested twice. DON'T GET EXCITED! It was for curfew and my "record" was thrown out before I graduated high
school. I really was a good kid.

5. My father never saw my books in print, so I sneak his name Charles
in every book and in every form: names of streets, towns, nicknames, in code,
so he's always with me. See if you can find some.

Now it's your turn. Play along or simply comment.