I think I’ve mentioned that I’m a huge Disney nerd. I’ve been to Walt Disney World more times than I can remember, or probably should admit to. Disney animation has always held a special place in my heart, from the groundbreaking classic Snow White to the recent blockbuster Frozen, but my favorite is Tangled.
     It’s a beautiful story in many ways, from the oh-so-handsome thief, Flynn Ryder, to by-the-book royal steed, Maximus, to sheltered-but-kick-butt Rapunzel. But one of the things I love most is that it’s all about following your dream. 
     As we learn at the Snuggly Duckling, dreams come in all shapes and sizes. Rapunzel’s dream is to see the lights that appear every year on her birthday. But as she sits in the boat, waiting for the lanterns to appear, she admits to Flynn that she is terrified, wondering ‘what if it’s not everything I dreamed it would be?’
     I can relate. I have dreamed of seeing my book in print for a very long time now. And as I sit here, on the cusp of realizing that dream, I am overwhelmed by emotion. I’m excited and overjoyed; I can’t wait for everyone to get to know Lizzie and Colin. I’m proud of myself for taking the steps that I needed to take to get her ready to go. I’m nervous, too, because I want my book baby’s first steps in the world to be well-received. And, yes, a part of me is terrified. My stories contain my heart and soul, and opening that up to the world-at-large is a lot to process.  
     What if it’s not everything I dreamed it would be? 
     Honestly? It has already become more than I dreamed. The process of preparing my story has been a tremendous growth experience for me, and I am not the same person I was when I undertook this journey. I have grown and changed; so has my dream.
     What I want now is to know that my story touched you. I want to make you laugh, I want to make you swoon, I want to make you cry. And most of all, I want to make you cheer for Lizzie and Colin. 
     And what if it is everything I dreamed it would be?
     Lucky for me, I don’t have to find a new dream. All I need to do is share the next story and the next. That’s a dream that makes me grin!
     Head on over to Amazon.com on Sunday and order it for Kindle or in paperback (or both!). Read! Enjoy! Tell a friend!
     And remember that dreams really can come true. Not with magic and pixie dust, but with encouragement, commitment, and hard work!

​     Reading has always been one of my favorite ways to relax. Jumping into a story transports me to times past or to exotic, far-flung locales. But the best stories make me fall in love with the characters. They become dear friends, people who I want to know better. So I began thinking about the characters I love the most and wondering what it would be like to have them over for dinner.
     The question is whom do I invite?
     It’s a tough decision. There have been so many characters who have had an impact on my life and my writing. But in the interest of deep conversation and good old-fashioned fun, I’m limiting my guest list to the seven literary women I’d most love to meet (other than my own).
 
1.    Miss Elizabeth Bennet – I doubt this will surprise anyone who knows me. My Lizzie was named for her, after all. Elizabeth is bright, witty, and she speaks her mind, so she will keep the conversation flowing.
2.    Hermione Granger – I adore all things Harry Potter and I’ve always related to everyone’s favorite know-it-all, Hermione. I’d love to get the inside scoop on life at Hogwarts with Harry and Ron. And who wouldn’t love to experience a little magic?
3.    Bridget Jones – Bridget was another character that helped inspire my Lizzie. She’s always a bit of a mess, but Bridget knows how to have fun. She can bring the blue soup.
4.    Margaret Mary O’Neill – Maggie is the heroine of a series by Madelyn Alt. She’s quirky, fun, and a fledgling witch. Also, because this series hasn’t been finished, I’d love to pump her for the ending. (I highly recommend the series, even though it’s left me hanging.)
5.    Miss Emma Woodhouse – Emma loves to meddle so she would be a fun addition to any party.
6.    Nora Gavin – Nora is an American pathologist in a mystery series by Erin Hart. She’s incredibly smart and complicated, and while her career path may not make for the most appropriate dinner conversation, it would be fascinating.
7.    Professor Minerva McGonagall – I had to include my favorite professor! McGonagall is tough and stern, but she cares deeply for her students and her school, and she can kick major butt. Perhaps she’ll bring her biscuits.
 
     And now I’m wondering about the men …
     Now that would be a fun party, so stay tuned!

​Since Colin’s thirteen-year-old daughter is an important part of Lizzie’s Surprise, I thought it would be fun to chat with her. I was a little worried about getting her into trouble at school, but she assured me it wouldn’t be a problem so …

Lily:  Good evening, Victoria.

Tori:  Tori, please. It’s lovely to meet you.

Lily:  You too. And you’re sure I’m not getting you into trouble for talking on the phone after hours?

Tori:  Well, (giggles), I’m currently sat on the floor of my wardrobe and my roommate is at chess club, so she’ll likely be gone for hours … it’s perfectly fine.

Lily:  Alrighty then, let’s get started. Tell me about a time you got in trouble with your parents.

Tori:  Parent. It’s just Dad and me. So, when I was nine, Dad and I were at our London flat and, as usual, he was buried in paperwork. I’d been begging him for days to take me to the midnight release of the latest Harry Potter book, but I reckon he forgot so … um … 

Lily:  C’mon, Tori. It can’t be that bad.

Tori:  Righto. He forgot about it and was out to dinner with Auntie Nora, so I took the tube to the release party that I wanted to go to and … it was glorious, at least until Dad got home and realized I was missing. He was … honestly, I’ve never seen him that angry. He arrived at the bookstore just after midnight and dragged me home without saying a word, and he confiscated my book for an entire week. Oh, and instead of traveling to Singapore and Tokyo with him, I was sent back to Snowhill and forced to spend two hours a day reading to my great grandmamma, Lady Frances. I suppose I deserved it, but it was worth it!

Lily:  As a fellow Harry Potter fan, I’d have to agree with you! What do you do to have fun?

Tori:  Horseback riding, football (you Yanks call it Soccer), and ballet. 

Lily:  What’s the naughtiest thing you’ve ever done at school?

Tori:  A few harmless pranks here and there, but this interview will likely top the list.

Lily:  Way to make me feel guilty. 

Tori:  Sorry! It will only top the list if I’m caught. 

Lily:  Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen, then! If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

Tori:  Easy. I’d be a horse. There’s nothing like a good gallop!

Lily:  What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?

Tori:  Haggis. Ugh. Good I’m not a Scot.

Lily:  What flavor of ice cream would you be and why?

Tori:  Chocolate because it’s sweet and decadent and always makes you feel better.

Lily:  A young woman of excellent taste. What about your favorite cartoon character?

Tori:  Minnie Mouse as we share a passion for fashion.

Lily:  Good choice. Hmm. What about your favorite candy bar?

Tori:  Cadbury Crunchie. And now you’ve made me hungry.

Lily:  Sorry. I’ll send you a carton. If you were to change your name, what would you change it to and why?

Tori:  I wouldn’t. I’m rather fond of my name. Victoria Helena Blake. Rather elegant and classic.

Lily:  Does your name have any special meaning? Were you named for anyone?

Tori:  Dad chose Victoria because he wanted me to be strong and brave. Helena is for my grandmother, Helen. 

Lily:  Do you have a pet? 

Tori:  It’s never been practical to have a dog or a cat of my own, but I do have a horse called Daisy at Snowhill. I’d adore a small menagerie of my own. 

Lily:  What about siblings? Any brothers or sisters?

Tori:  That would be impossible as my parents’ divorced before I was a year old. I’ve heaps of cousins, but a brother or sister would be lovely. 

Lily:  One last question and then I’ll let you go. Who is your hero?

Tori:  That’s an easy one. My Dad. He’s the best. I just wish …

Lily:  What do you wish Tori?

Tori:  I reckon he’s a bit lonely, though he’d never admit it. My wish is that he finds someone to love, someone to love him back.

Lily:  Ah. True love! Now that’s a wish worth making! I guess we’ll have to close our eyes and toss our coins …

Tori:  And cross everything. Now I must go before they come back round for bed check. 

Lily:  Good plan! Getting you tossed out of boarding school is not on my to-do list. Thanks for talking to me, Tori. 

Tori:  My pleasure. Cheers!

     As I mentioned before, I was a corporate travel agent for many years. It was an often thankless job and was especially horrible when inclement weather closed airports and canceled flights. I never loved my job; at times I downright hated it.
     But I was good at it, organized, empathetic, knowledgeable, and relatively patient with even the most demanding clients. Being good at it made it tough to walk away, no matter how much I wanted to.
     And I wanted to. But after doing the same thing for so many years, I was afraid of stepping out of my comfort zone to try something new. And I was not ready to pursue my writing as anything but a hobby.
     That began to change when I was forced through a series of different positions in the same company. The more I bounced around, the more miserable I became. At one point, I handed in my two-weeks notice, but I was sweet talked into staying.
     Not my best move. But I prefer to think that I needed that last little bit of bouncing from position to position.
     My final landing place was at an onsite location at a large corporation. I worked at their site, but I worked for the travel agency, not for them. It wasn’t horrible, and I was starting to feel settled and a little less antsy.
     And then the floor dropped out from under my feet.
     And, okay, I kind of asked for it.
     I should probably explain. Last September, around my birthday, I wrote a list of intentions. The top of the list was to find a way out of that job and to find a way to commit to my writing.
     About two weeks later, my work life imploded. 
     On Monday, I was asked to help out on another account for a few days as they were short-staffed and we were slow. I agreed mainly because it meant working with my good friend, Theresa. 
     I had a sinking feeling, though. I don’t always trust my gut, but this time, wow! 
     By Wednesday, I was being ‘asked’ to fill in ‘from time to time.’ How annoyingly vague is that? But my gut knew the answer.
     They wanted me to split my time between my current account and any number of other accounts. It wasn’t something that I wanted to do and, after all of the bouncings, I wasn’t comfortable with it. 
     As the week progressed, I felt more and more uneasy. But I took some action, too. I realized that I had a decent safety net. Leap and the net will appear, right?
     By Friday, I was told that it wasn’t a choice. Funny thing but that day was my twenty-year anniversary with the company. I felt manipulated and disrespected.
     And for once in my life, I spoke up for myself. I told my manager that I wasn’t interested and that I would give her my final answer on Monday. By the end of the conversation, I was on nauseated and on the verge of tears. 
     My worst day ever. Kind of. 
     But I already knew, in my gut, and in my heart, what that answer would be.
     It was long past time for me to move on, to try something new, and to make writing a priority. 
     I leaped. And I leaped hard!
     I couldn’t even wait until Monday. I called my boss on Sunday morning and quit. 
     Best. Day. Ever.
     Okay, I’ll qualify that. It was terrifying. And gut-wrenching. And oh-so-right!
     I know that because I haven’t had a single moment of regret. I know because even when the CEO of my company called me, I didn’t cave in. 
     So that horrific Friday doesn’t seem so bad after all. It was a not-so-gentle nudge out the damned door. 
     It was the best worst day ever!

     I recently asked for ideas for upcoming posts. My friend and fellow author, Sandra Wright, asked the following via Facebook:  ‘I'm curious to know about your process. Do you write linear or other? My characters show me stuff all out of order and then it's up to me to stitch everything into some sort of sense ...‬’
     It’s an interesting question. There are as many ways to write as there are books on how to do it. And there is definitely no right or wrong.
     I know this because I’ve tried writing according to someone else’s rules and failed miserably. No matter how good the ideas sound in theory, for me, they simply didn’t work. 
     For the most part, I am a linear writer. The story often plays in my head like a movie. I get occasional ‘coming attractions’, scenes or portions of scenes that I know instantly come later. They are typically pivotal moments, such as a couple’s first kiss, so knowing how and when that happens points me in the right direction.
     Otherwise, I fly by the seat of my pants, particularly on the first draft. I once had the privilege of hearing J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, and John Irving speak at an event. As a writer, it was fascinating to learn how each approached their craft. Rowling and Irving are planners; King, like me, is a pantser. He likened writing to finding the end of a ball of yarn and following it to see where it goes.
     That’s what it’s like for me. I get a couple of characters and an idea. I have a basic idea of where the story is going and I know, of course, how it will end; as a romance author, the happily-ever-after is a given. 
     Full disclosure, I don’t work from an outline or a plan. I have an idea of the steps needed to get from the meet-cute (or not-so-cute, depending on the couple), to the together-forever ending. 
     When I sit down to write, I reread the last few pages, formulate a plan, and start running. Over the years, I’ve learned not to plot too far ahead. My stories are character-driven and the characters often (usually) have a different plan. And yes, it’s usually better. They sometimes slow me down, making me throw obstacles in their way to add tension. Once in a while, they push me to speed things up. At this point, I’ve learned that they’re damned good at knowing the correct pacing for their stories. 
     I try not to edit as I go. It slows things down and gets in the way of the story. I fix glaring errors but leave the real editing for the second draft. That’s when I smooth out the transitions, add what needs to be added, and delete what doesn’t work. I used to hate editing. The very idea of cutting any of my hard-won sentences was like cutting off a limb. I’ve become better at it, though it will probably always be a painful process. 
     The writing process that works for me is to pay attention. Honestly, I’m always writing, or thinking about writing. Ideas come at the most inopportune moments – the shower, the car, the middle of a conversation, the moment just before I fall asleep. I’m not always prepared for it, so I’m sure I’ve lost some fabulous ideas along the way. But the ones that I need tend to stick around long enough for me to jot them down. 
     And when I sit down to write, I check in with the vast cast of characters in my head, find out what they want to do, and let them out to play. 

     Books have been dear friends to me since I was tiny. I always have more books than I have shelf space and parting with books is incredibly difficult. There is always sadness and regret when I pack them in boxes and send them off to find new homes, but it’s simply not possible to keep them all.
     Trying to narrow it down to a mere ten (okay eleven in my case) favorites made me feel like I am slighting all of the other wonderful books I have adored over the years. But there are some that hold a special place in my heart, books I will keep until they are dog-eared and taped together.
 
11. Take the Cake by Sandra Wright – Sandra is a dear friend of mine and the first published author that I know personally. I’ve included her story because holding it in my hands pushed me to publish my own. The story is as sweet as the name, the characters real, and the setting, a Greenwich Village bakery, divine.
 
10. The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder – These were my childhood favorites. I read the entire series many times and never tired of the adventures of Laura and the Ingalls family.
 
9. The Flame is Love by Barbara Cartland – This was the very first romance novel I ever read, at the age of twelve. Cartland’s stories are always lovely and ethereal, and I read many of them over the years. This one has some intriguing and dangerous twists and turns, putting the virginal Vada in great peril but, as always, she gets her hero and her happily ever after.
 
8. The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron – This book should be required reading for anyone pursuing a career in the arts. I learned how to nurture my artist and, ten years later, I still do my morning pages every day and my artist’s date every week.
 
7. Infamous Isabelle by Margaret Summerville – I hesitated to include this one because it is a series romance published in 1980! A Candlelight Regency Special, it’s far from perfect, but there is so much chemistry between the main characters that I can ignore the fact that aristocratic titles aren’t used correctly. I decided to include it because years after taking it to the Bookworm, I searched the internet for a new copy.
 
6. Emma by Jane Austen – Like Lizzie, I adore Jane Austen. Her characters are beautifully written and, in many ways, she is the mother of the modern romance novel. I love Emma Woodhouse in spite of her romantic meddling, and Mr. Knightley is my second favorite of Austen’s leading men.
 
5. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert – This is a beautiful story about self-discovery and one of these days I will embark on a journey like hers.
 
4. A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux – Another book that I gave away only to search for a new copy. It’s a gorgeous, romantic story and the time travel element is incredibly well-done.
 
3. Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding – Bridget is a hot mess, which makes her extremely relatable. This is another book where it’s the relationships between the main characters that make it so unique, particularly the evolution of Bridget’s relationship with Mark Darcy.
 
2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen – This is Lizzie’s favorite book. I’ve read it many times (and watched the Colin Firth version more times than I should admit). Elizabeth Bennet is smart, witty, and wonderfully inclined to make snap judgments. Mr. Darcy is my favorite Austen heroine, mainly because I love how he grows and changes over the course of the story. Lizzie Kincaid is named in honor of Elizabeth Bennet, so P & P will always have a place on my bookshelf.
 
1. The Harry ​Potter series by J.K. Rowling – I resisted reading these when they first came out because they were children’s stories. But at the insistence of my niece, Nicole (who refused to go to the movies with me until I had read the books), I read the first one and fell in love. These stories have such a remarkable combination of mystery, humor, and heart! I have read all seven books many times over, and they still make me laugh and cry every single time. I vividly remember attending the midnight release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, as excited for my copy as my nieces were for theirs. Jo’s personal story is nearly as inspiring as Harry’s journey and continues to inspire me. I am fortunate to have attended a reading of hers at Radio City Music Hall (Harry, Carrie, and Garp) with two of my nieces; it was, dare I say it, magical.
 
     But then, for me, every book contains a little magic. They transport us to different times and different places. They help us see the world through different eyes. They teach. They inspire. They grant us permission to dream!

     I’m not a great photographer, but I thought it would be fun to share a glimpse into my writing space. Come on in and take a peek around. 
     It’s only a corner of my living room, but it is warm and cozy. My apartment is not huge, but it’s enough for my cat, Ninja, and me. It’s bright, with tons of windows so I have sunshine all day long. That, in itself, is enough to allow me to forgive the seventies era wood paneling and admittedly ugly green carpet. A little paint and the paneling has a cottagey feel; as for the carpet, it is what it is.
     Most of the walls are a warm cream color, but for my ‘office’, I painted part of two walls in a vibrant orange called Sunset Tango. I chose the color for a number of reasons (and in spite of the fact that many people told me I was nuts)! For one, it is complementary to the hideous green carpet and with a touch of purple it makes for a dynamic combination. Two, I’ve always loved orange and, with my coloring, it’s a fabulous color on me. And three, orange is considered a creatively stimulating color and one that I find personally empowering. Maybe it’s the combination of red’s passion and yellow’s cheerfulness or that its vibrancy elicits the sweet tang of its namesake on the tongue. I am well aware that orange is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it works beautifully for me. 
     The artwork inspires and uplifts me, too. The black cat print on top was a gift from my mom, given shortly after I adopted my handsome mini-panther, Ninja. My talented niece, Nicole, created the stunning orchid, on the left; I love how alive it feels. And the gold leaf fox was a gift from my dear friend and fellow author, Sandra Wright; he reminds me to be playful and to take the time to smell the flowers. 
     It’s exactly what I need. Visually stimulating, organized, and uncluttered. (Okay, full disclosure, I do my best to keep it uncluttered but sometimes life happens.) I draw inspiration from the view outside my window and, weather permitting, from the lilac-scented breeze.
     And when it’s time for a break, Ninja will usually insert himself between my face and the keyboard. (Funny thing, though, how my break times coincide with his feeding schedule, the spoiled little bugger!)
It’s my little nook. Nothing fancy, but created for me, by me. 
     It’s where I’m free to let the characters in my head come out to play.
     It’s where my muses perform their sunset tango from my brain to my beloved MacBook. 
     Writing, for me, is joyful, almost effervescent. In my little nook, I can allow that glee to bubble forth, transcribing the stories in my head to the stories on the page.
     My little nook is like the song In My Own Little Corner from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. I can be whatever I want to be. I can write whatever I want to write. 
     And that is both beautiful and magical.
     If you don’t have a nook of your own, I highly recommend claiming one. You never know what might happen when you do!