Or chocolate? By the way–just so you’ll know–chocolate in any form is always nice, and perfectly acceptable. Hot chocolate . . . chocolate cookies . . . a chocolate lab . . .
A cutesy Valentine card,
Even a bowl of sweet tart hearts will show you didn’t forget what day it is.
I wouldn’t mind a fancy dinner.
Or even one not so fancy–just so I don’t have to cook or wash dishes.
Oh, and something like this–
Always welcome! 🙂
So, those of you who stuck with me till the end, what’s your favorite Valentine’s gift? Do you remember your first Valentine?
I’m a fan of humor, so when I stumbled across a few posts by Michelle Griep, I was hooked. I liked her Facebook page, I followed her blog, I found her books. Why? Because she’s pleasantly funny in a smart, down-home comfortable kind of way (my favorite). So I’m honored to welcome her to Authorview. I hope you’ll enjoy her answers as much as I did. I’m pretty sure you will want to get to know her better!
I am a…Dreamer. A bubble-blower. A java drinking craze-o-maniac with a penchant for beautiful words and stories that feed my soul.
You would like me when I’m…Super angry . . . at least my kids always do because the most ridiculous things fly out my mouth.
You wouldn’t like me when I’m…Singing. No, really. Think rock badger with a sore throat. And a lisp. And possibly a fatal case of bronchitis.
What qualities I like to see in others: Raw, unadulterated, honesty slathered with a coating of compassion.
Favorite way to spend an evening: A tub of buttered popcorn and a movie that’s so engrossing, I feel like I’m one of the characters. Bonus if Jim Caviezel is in it.
Who I love to spend an evening with: The man who’s been shaking his head at me for the past thirty years.
Am reading (or want to read): Currently enjoying a dystopian binge and am just finishing up the Divergent series.
If I had a hammer…I’d bang a roll of caps on the sidewalk. Love that sulphery smell and the satisfying ear-cracking smack of ignition.
My favorite genre is: Seriously? I can choose only one? Grr. All right then, I’ll go with door number three: historical romance.
My work-in-progress: Ahh! Thought you’d never ask! Here’s a blurb:
Officer ALEXANDER MOORE goes undercover as a rogue gambler to expose a traitorous plot against the crown—and a master he is with his disguise, for JOHANNA LANGLEY believes him to be quite the cad. But when Johanna is swept up in the intrigue, Alex must choose between his mission and reputation as a crack lawman or the woman he’s come to love.
My favorite food is: There is nothing I like better in my mouth than dark chocolate. Wedding cake is next on the list. Yep. I’m the one who elbows grannies out of the way when cake is served and have no shame whatsoever in going up three or four times. Oh? What’s that? You have cake left on your plate? Here, I’ll help you.
I’m a collector of: Happy thoughts, if not quirky ones, tucking them away in the back of my mind for the days that are narrow and bleak.
My favorite happily-ever-after: An eternity becoming one with the One who created me.
Betty:So now, I’m fairly certain you’re going to want to know more about Michelle. I’ve provided you more information right here:
BRENTWOOD’S WARD
There’s none better than NICHOLAS BRENTWOOD at catching the felons who ravage London’s streets, and there’s nothing he loves more than seeing justice carried out—but this time he’s met his match. Beautiful and beguiling EMILY PAYNE is more treacherous than a city full of miscreants and thugs, for she’s a thief of the highest order…she’s stolen his heart.
Available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other fine booksellers.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: MICHELLE GRIEP
Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas.She seeks to glorify God in all that she writes—except for that graffiti phase she went through as a teenager.
She resides in the frozen tundra of Minnesota, where she teaches history and writing classes for a local high school co-op. An Anglophile at heart, she runs away to England every chance she gets, under the guise of research. Really, though, she’s eating excessive amounts of scones.
Welcome to Authorview, Becky Wade. She is an award-winning writer of historical fiction and contemporary romance. Her latest novel, Book 3 of The Porter Family Novels, released May 5, 2015 – A Love Like Ours (see below for details). I’m so excited to host one of my mom’s favorite writers! Can you tell I’m excited? I used an exclamation point to illustrate it. I know you will love her candid answers to my questions. Then read her bio, follow the link to her website and check out her books. If you’ve never read a Becky Wade novel, you’re missing out.
So Becky, tell us about yourself–
I am a…Mom, wife, writer, chocoholic. Just typing the word ‘chocoholic’ makes me wonder how many steps are currently separating me from the chocolate in my pantry….
You would like me when I’ve…Just finished a yoga class. I’m quite peaceful for the five minutes afterward.
You wouldn’t like me when I’m…Still trying to wake up in the morning. The process takes about two hours. It involves a lot of rushing around, trying to get the kids to school on time, and very little conversation.
What qualities I like to see in others: Humor. An open, genuine spirit. Humility. Warmth. Kindness.
Favorite way to spend an evening: At a show! It’s a rare treat for me, but I love to see musicals performed live.
Who I love to spend an evening with: My husband.
Am reading: A romance novel that I’m judging for RWA’s RITA awards.
If I had a hammer…I’d give it to someone interested in using it to repair my patio.
My favorite genre is: Romance.
My work-in-progress: Is a contemporary Christian romance that will become the fourth and final book in my Texas-set Porter Family series.
My favorite food is: Chocolate.
I’m a collector of: Chocolate. I also collect Department 56 Dickens Village pieces and set them up each December for Christmas.
My favorite happily-ever-after: My great grandparents had a wonderful, joyful, long marriage full of family and faith. I can remember them laughing together and the closeness and trust of their relationship. My great grandmother passed away first, my great grandfather soon after. It was almost as if, once she went to heaven, he was extraordinarily impatient to join her there.
I inherited their wedding band when I was a teenager. Years later, I had the inside of the ring inscribed with their initials and their wedding date in 1919. It became my own wedding band when I married and I’ve been wearing it ever since.
Betty: What a wonderful story! And readers, do you get the feeling she likes chocolate? I think the message is very clear. Becky, thank you so much for participating in Authorview.
Now — more about Becky Wade:
Becky’s a California native who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and settled in Dallas. She published historical romances for the general market before putting her career on hold for several years to care for her three children. When God called her back to writing, Becky knew He meant for her to turn her attention to Christian fiction. She loves penning funny, modern, and inspirational contemporary romance! She’s the Carol Award and Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award winning author of My Stubborn Heart, Undeniably Yours, Meant to Be Mine, and A Love Like Ours.
A Love Like Ours
Former Marine Jake Porter has far deeper scars than the one that marks his face. He struggles with symptoms of PTSD, lives a solitary life, and avoids relationships.
When Lyndie James, Jake’s childhood best friend, lands back in Holley, Texas, Jake cautiously hires her to exercise his Thoroughbreds. Lyndie is tender-hearted, fiercely determined, and afraid of nothing, just like she was as a child. Jake pairs her with Silver Leaf, a horse full of promise but lacking in results, hoping she can solve the mystery of the stallion’s reluctance to run.
Though Jake and Lyndie have grown into very different adults, the bond that existed during their childhood still ties them together. Against Jake’s will, Lyndie’s sparkling, optimistic personality begins to tear down the walls he’s built around his heart. A glimmer of the hope he’d thought he’d lost returns, but fears and regrets still plague him. Will Jake ever be able to love Lyndie like she deserves, or is his heart too shattered to mend?
Will I get flowers?
Even a bowl of sweet tart hearts will show you didn’t forget what day it is.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Betty Thomason Owens 