Blog
Someday my prince will come...
Posted by Teri Wilson
at 09:45 AM on December 24, 2008
|
comments (2)
|
Finally the astonished prince came to an inner chamber, where was the fairest sight his eyes had ever beheld. A young girl of wonderful beauty lay asleep on an embroidered bed, and she looked as if she had only just closed her eyes. Trembling, the prince approached and knelt beside her. Some say he kissed her, but as nobody saw it, and she never told, we cannot be quite sure of the fact. However, as the end of the enchantment had come, the princess awakened at once, and looking at him with eyes of the tenderest regard, said drowsily, ?Is it you, my prince? I have waited for you very long.?
The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood from ?The Fairy Book? by Miss Mullock
Sigh?
I?ll be the first to admit it. This scene, in all its various versions, makes me swoon. I even have the song Someday My Prince Will Come on my I Pod. (Give me break, okay. I bought the CD while I was at Disneyworld in a fit of Disney-esque nostalgia.)
I know it?s old fashioned ? this antiquated notion of the Prince coming along to rescue the Princess. Nowadays there is a strong trend toward the modern romantic heroine. Many readers prefer a heroine who can kick some butt and take names. She doesn?t need rescuing. In fact, sometimes she does the rescuing herself. Remember the positively adorable movie Enchanted, starring Amy Adams and Patrick ?McDreamy? Dempsey? At the beginning, Amy?s character is rescued by the handsome (albeit animated) Prince. Near the end, she rescues Patrick Dempsey from the evil queen herself. And that?s all in the same story.
Anyone who has read my own blog knows that I?m a big fan of Stephenie Meyer?s Twilight series. Recently, I was urging one of my writer friends to read the first book, Twilight. My friend said she didn?t want to read it because she?d heard the lead female character was wimpy. While I have reason to argue with this statement (After all, she hangs around with a bunch of vampires. How wimpy can she be?), I also wondered what was so wrong about a heroine who needed to be rescued. I?m not talking about real life. I?m strictly referring to romance novels. We all love these books because they?re about our fantasies, the most perfect, happy endings we can imagine. Sometimes it?s okay to want to be rescued, or awakened, by the handsome Prince. Or vampire, or cowboy, whatever you prefer.
In my new Hoofbeats & Heartstrings series from The Wild Rose Press, I really explore the theme of rescue from all angles. All the books take place on a horse rescue farm and all the lead characters are involved in rescuing unwanted animals in one way or another. The best part is, as the hero and heroine come together, their unique talents and abilities mesh collectively in such a way that they can accomplish more than they ever thought possible. Their love makes them stronger, both as a couple and as individuals. True love rescues them both, and a whole slew of horses and dogs too!
And now, back to Sleeping Beauty for a moment. It wasn?t until I started working on this blog that I realized I have two Sleeping Beauty moments of my own in my two most recent books. Honestly, I had no idea. It was strictly a subconscious writer thing. I guess you can take the girl out of the fairy tale, but you just can?t take the fairy tale out of the girl. You?ve got to take a peek at these two very short excerpts. I think you?ll be both surprised and amused.
From Love, Lilies & the Unbroken Straw, Hoofbeats & Heartstrings Book Two (releasing in March from The Wild Rose Press):
Declan gathered the daisy chains and draped them on his arm while he looked down at Christabel?s serene form on the sleeping bags. If they were married, or even engaged, he would have bent down and wakened her with a kiss. Felt her body rouse to life beneath him.
Maybe someday. His heart stirred with hope. Maybe someday soon.
Pretty traditional as far as the Sleeping Beauty theme goes. Right? Now, check out the next one.
From Cup of Joe (manuscript still in progress, nearly complete!):
Goldie supposed she really should wake him. That was her intention when she leaned toward him. But as the distance between them closed, her heart beat faster and more furious. She was honestly stunned that he couldn?t hear it, that it didn?t wake him with a start.
When she was close enough to whisper in his ear, she said simply, ?Joe.?
He didn?t move. A lock of his chocolate hair rippled under her breath, but he remained perfectly still. Sitting this close to him, Goldie noticed for the first time the impossible length of his dark eyelashes. With her gaze, she traced his strong jaw line and the gentle curve of his bottom lip and had the sudden urge to wake him, not with a whisper, but with a kiss.
Ha! Sleeping Beauty in reverse. How do you like that?
Okay, I can?t leave you without a little morsel from Do You Hear What I Hear? This book is the first in the Hoofbeats & Heartstrings series and is out now as an ebook. The print version releases in February 2009. Now get a glimpse at Chet and his feelings for Simone. He doesn?t want to rescue her, but to take refuge in their love. This is a hero who really gets it.
From Do You Hear What I Hear?, Hoofbeats & Heartstrings Book One (available now from The Wild Rose Press and Fictionwise, print release in February 2009):
Chet?s temples throbbed. It had been a long night. They had decided to drive straight back to San Antonio instead of stopping for the night. The horses needed to be settled into a safe environment as quickly as possible. Plus, if they arrived under the cover of darkness, he and Ted could wipe away all evidence of where they had been. Someday they might tell Elizabeth and Simone about their rescue mission, but not now. Or anytime soon. The memory of the grisly slaughterhouse was too fresh in their minds and both men were eager to put it to rest. Besides, as Ted had mentioned more than once, Elizabeth would have thrown a fit. Mexico. Bribes. Carrying wads of cash. They weren?t the ingredients for safe travel.
Although weary to the bone, once Chet was back on the farm he was keenly aware of Simone?s presence on the family land. His gaze traveled to his little cottage, dark, quiet and unassuming. To anyone else it looked the same as it always did. But he knew she was inside, her head resting on his pillow. Her long legs tangled in his sheets. What he wouldn?t give to step right out of the truck, strip the bloody, grimy clothes off his back and crawl into bed next to her. Take comfort in her warmth, rest his head on her breast and forget all about the places he had been.
?Bro, what are you waiting for??
Ted?s voice drug him away from his fantasy and he found himself back in the truck instead of in bed wrapped around Simone.
He cleared his throat, dry and scratchy from a night without sleep. ?Let?s get to it.?
Thoughts on Twilight...
|
Posted by Teri Wilson
at 06:26 PM on December 12, 2008
|
comments (22)
|
Last weekend I went to a Christmas party for my writer?s group. Inevitably, the conversation turned to the current Twilight mania currently sweeping the country. One author made a sarcastic comment about the book and everyone joined in?it was like a shark feeding frenzy.
I rolled my eyes and thought, ?Here we go. Let the Twilight bashing begin.?
I don?t get why this book seems to polarize people. There is no middle ground as far as Twilight goes. You either love it or you hate it. Period. Personally, I am on the LOVE IT end of the spectrum. This makes me somewhat unique among writers. I saw the movie before reading any of the books. The same day I saw the movie, I went and bought the Twilight book. I read it in 5 days. That was two weeks ago and I am now about halfway though the third book in the saga, Eclipse. My fascination with this series only grows with each word I read.
So, why all the hostility toward all things Twilight when writers get together? I have to admit, most of it sounds like that pesky little green-eyed monster, Jealousy.
I can understand that to a certain extent. We all wish our books were successful as Twilight. If my paranormal romance, Do You Hear What I Hear, was one-thousandth as profitable I would be thrilled beyond belief. But, come on?we are talking about the kind of phenomenon that just doesn?t happen with any sort of regularity. Instead of fighting it, I say jump on and enjoy the ride.
I adore the romance between Bella and Edward. Still, what makes it so alluring to girls and women of all ages? One big criticism I have heard is about the ages of the main characters. Other writers tend to mock such a soul-altering romance between two people in their late teens. (Technically, Edward is over 100 years old, but I guess that?s beside the point.) To these critics, I say?Hello? Ever heard of a little romance called Romeo & Juliet?? I think both Romeo and Juliet were, in fact, younger than Bella and Edward. And what die-hard fan of romance is going to criticize those two crazy, lovestruck kids? I ask you! I immediately thought of Bella and Edward as a sort of modern day Romeo and Juliet even before I read the second book (New Moon) which pays an obvious homage to the classic romance.
The other main criticism I hear from writers and reviewers of the Twilight saga is this: why would Edward be interested in Bella anyway? She?s ordinary, awkward even. And he is?well, perfect in every way (yum! Excuse me while I mop up some drool for a minute?)
This particular point of view is absolutely key in not understanding the Twilight phenomenon. If you agree with the above, you just don?t get it. Because the fact that Edward loves Bella, despite her ordinariness and clumsiness, is what draws the teen readers in to the story. Tell me this: what teen girl doesn?t feel awkward? Is there a single teenager out there who actually doesn?t feel completely ordinary and non-special?
Edward?s intense love for Bella, a completely average girl, is one of the things that grips the readers? hearts! Get a clue, people.
My favorite thing about Twilight? The way the author develops the intensity of the romance without having to use sex at all. That can be tricky to do. Trust me, I know from writing my inspirational books.
Do you agree? Leave me a comment below. And please, be nice. (LOL) I am ordinary in every way (perhaps that?s why I love Edward) and my feelings might get hurt!
Off on a trip to Forks,
Teri
Do You Hear What I Hear named Reviewer's Top Pick!
|
Posted by Teri Wilson
at 06:05 PM on December 12, 2008
|
comments (1)
|
Great news! My Faery Rose, Do You Hear What I Hear?, has been named a Night Owl Romance Reviewer's Top Pick! Check out this great review:
"Ms. Wilson has penned a wonderful story. I loved how the author came up with the creative storyline of Simone being able to communicate with animals and I was truly heartbroken with how she was treated by most people because of her special gift. I fell in love with Simone not only because of her talent with animals, but also how she was the perfect compliment for Chet. I absolutely adored the choice of names chosen for all the animals, especially the horses. I enjoyed this story so much I just couldn't put it down. Ms. Wilson wrote every detail with a purpose and in the end, she told a beautiful story of love between humans and animals. I highly recommend this story and eagerly look forward to reading more from this author." Score: 5/5
Diana Coyle, Night Owl Romance Book Reviews
To read the entire review, simply click here.
Do You Hear What I Hear?, Hoofbeats & Heartstrings Book One, is available as an e-book NOW at Fictionwise and The Wild Rose Press. For more information, visit www.teriwilson.net . Or look for the print version available February 13, 2009!
I am thrilled. Won't you join me for a glass of cyber-champagne?? * sound of glass clinking *
Wink, Teri
Teri Wilson ~ Romancing the pet lover's soul
www.teriwilson.net
Calling all Christmas Ride Bloggers!!!
|
Posted by Teri Wilson
at 07:41 AM on December 04, 2008
|
comments (1)
|
I just heard from Roni Adams. She is having quite a bit of trouble with her blog today. It won't allow her to post (looks like that blog will be on Santa's naughty list). So, to see her post and continue the Christmas Ride, visit her website at www.roniadams.com or The Wild Rose Press blog where she has posted her entry at http://thewildrosepress.blogspot.com/.
Sorry about the confusion!
And, now, the winner of yesterday's ride and recipient of a free download of Do You Hear What I Hear is.....Mindy G!!! Mindy, please shoot me an email at puppylove@satx.rr.com and I will send you your ebook!
Don't forget - the Vera Wang necklace contest continues until Christmas Day and if you want to send me a bonus entry with the dedication information from Do You Hear What I Hear, you can just send that on over anytime.
Blessings,
Teri
The Christmas Ride goes on...
|
Posted by Teri Wilson
at 07:04 PM on December 02, 2008
|
comments (31)
|
Merry Christmas Bloggers!
Ho ho ho to all you Christmas Ride bloggers out there and welcome to my site. Be sure and read all the way until the end of this blog entry to learn about lots of fun prizes! Now, for a little something new?an Old English Christmas carol you probably have never heard before:
The Friendly Beasts
Jesus our brother, kind and good
Was humbly born in a stable rude
And the friendly beasts around Him stood
Jesus our brother, kind and good.
"I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown,
"I carried His mother up hill and down;
I carried her safely to Bethlehem town."
"I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown.
"I," said the cow, all white and red
"I gave Him my manger for a bed;
I gave Him my hay to pillow His head."
"I," said the cow, all white and red.
"I," said the sheep with curly horn,
"I gave Him my wool for His blanket warm;
He wore my coat on Christmas morn."
"I," said the sheep with curly horn.
"I," said the dove from the rafters high,
"Cooed Him to sleep that He should not cry;
We cooed Him to sleep, my mate and I."
"I," said the dove from the rafters high.
"I," said the camel, yellow and black,
"Over the desert, upon my back,
I brought Him a gift in the Wise Men's pack."
"I," said the camel, yellow and black.
Thus every beast by some good spell
In the stable dark was glad to tell
Of the gift he gave Emmanuel,
The gift he gave Emmanuel.
This carol was the inspiration for my new Christmas book Do You Hear What I Hear?, Book One of my Hoofbeats & Heartstrings series for The Wild Rose Press. As a little girl, the heroine, Simone, stays up until midnight on Christmas Eve to see if animals really are given the gift of speech. Sure enough, her pet Dalmatian asks her for a cookie and Simone makes a Christmas wish to be able to talk to animals forever. When Simone is all grown up, she?s still talking to animals and it sometimes throws a kink in her romantic relationships. Until she meets dreamy racehorse trainer Chet Wallace?
Whew, I get all fluttery just thinking about it. Anyway, the book is available at Fictionwise and at The Wild Rose Press as an e-book and will be released in print in February 2009. So, if you love romance and animals you need to check it out!
Speaking of animals? I have a great craft for you guys. Last year I saw a pattern in Bark magazine for a hand-crocheted dog bed. I decided to take a crack at it, even though I?m not the best crochet-er in the world. (I basically know 1 or 2 stitches, okay!?) So, I tried it and it was really easy. I made my dogs a really nice bed for Christmas. Then this year, I went into overdrive and made ten of them to give away as Christmas gifts (yes, 10). Here?s a photo of my dog, Angel, on her crocheted bed:
Cute, huh? And it?s so easy to wash. You just throw the whole thing in the washer and dryer. So, here are the instructions if you want to give it a shot:
Crocheted Dog Bed
Use up your scraps or color coordinate with your dog.
The interior is stuffed to about 1 1/2? thick, while the trim is about 2 1/2? thick. Made with a tight single crochet (sc) stitch, it?s built to last, and depending on the yarn you use, it is machine wash and dryable. (gentle cycle)
Materials: About 20 oz of worsted weight yarn. About 32 oz polyester fiberfill
Size I crochet hook.
Beginning:
For the interior tube, using any color and size I crochet hook, chain (ch) 2
Round 1: 5 sc in 2nd chain from hook
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc (10sc)
Round 3: *sc in 1st sc, 2 sc in next sc, * repeat around (15sc)
Round 4: *sc in 1st sc, sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc* repeat around (20sc)
All rounds should be done in continuous loop. Do not join rounds with slip stitch and ch 1.
Continue crocheting in a continuous 20 stitches around until the tube meansures about 80? long.
Stuff it with the polyester fiberfill as yo go (for about every 6? of tube, pause and stuff). Don?t over stuff, as the tube needs to be flexible enough to coil and stitch together
To seal off the end, decrease the tube, or just stop, finish off and stitch the end together by hand.
Coil the tube starting at the center, stitching it together with yarn and yarn needle from the inside, working outward.
Middle:
For the outer tube, ch 35, join together and slip stitch to make a loop. Continue working even sc in each stitch until the tube measures about 55? long, stuffing it along the way. Lay the thicker tube around the coiled interior tube to make sure it is long enough. When complete, stitch the two ends together, making it into a circle.
End:
Place the outer tube around the coil and stitch the two together with yarn and needle.
As you can see, you can easily make this bigger.
By the way, if you decide to make the dog bed, please send me a photo when you?re finished. I?d love to check it out!
In the meantime, if you leave me a comment on this blog entry below, I will enter you in a drawing to win a free download of Do You Hear What I Hear! All you need to do is identify the Christmas carol that contains the following lyrics. Please identify this song?s title by midnight CST tonight (Wednesday, 12/3) as a comment on this blog to be in the drawing to win. Hint: it?s not The Friendly Beasts.
?Come and behold him
Born the king of angels?
Good luck and get busy commenting!
And don't forget to add this Christmas carol to your list of carols for the Christmas Ride Grand Prize. Remember, we're giving one lucky person a $75 Wild Rose Press gift certificate! All you need to do to enter is attend each day's blog post, identify the carol, and make a complete carol list to submit after the final blog post of Christmas Eve. Don't forget to check the list twice! Send it to Christmasrideblog@live.com by midnight, CST Dec. 31st 2008!
Tomorrow, the Christmas Ride will take you to Roni Adams? blog at
And now...drumroll...one more contest with a fun prize ~ a Vera Wang Lavender Label necklace from Neiman Marcus. The necklace is very dramatic and looks great with a classic little black dress. I will be having a drawing for this prize on Christmas Day. One lucky winner will get the necklace and two runners up will win a download of my short story Bonbons & Truffles. To enter, just send me an email at puppylove@satx.rr.com and tell me what legend/tradition inspired my Christmas book Do You Hear What I Hear. Hint: you just read about it at the beginning of this blog. If you want an additional chance to win, tell me who the book is dedicated to on the dedication page.
Merry Christmas to all! I?ll bet this year you?ll be wondering what your pets are up to at midnight on Christmas Eve!
Blessings and Christmas cheer,
Teri
Dogs in costume...
|
Posted by Teri Wilson
at 05:04 PM on November 02, 2008
|
comments (1)
|
Hi all! So I've decided to update my blog a little more often and let everyone in on all the fascinating little details of the life of a writer. When you hear how non-glamorous it is, I hope you're not too disappointed. LOL
My dog, Angel, and I attend a rally obedience class every Monday night. Anyone out there who participates in Rally Obedience will be happy to hear that Rally is featured in the manuscript I am currently working on! Yes, it is a romance. In fact, the hero and heroine attend dog obedience classes together. The hero has a Siberian Husky and the heroine has.... Wait, I can't give away everything right off the bat! You'll just have to wait and read it for yourself! Hopefully, it will get contracted soon and I can tell you when it's coming out.
So, back to Angel and me. Since Halloween was this week, our Rally Obedience class had a special spooky Halloween-themed class. It was great fun. All the dogs came in costume and the rally obedience course had all sorts of fun Halloween things mixed in it. We weaved through Jack-o-Lanterns instead of traffic cones. It was a hoot. Here is a photo from that fun evening:
Blessings to all!
Teri
Teri Wilson ~ Romancing the pet lover's soul
Coming Soon - Do You Hear What I Hear?
|
Posted by Teri Wilson
at 05:14 PM on April 24, 2008
|
comments (1)
|
It?s official! My first full-length novel, Do You Hear What I Hear?, has been contracted for publication by The Wild Rose Press. Woohoo! Oh, it is set on a horse rescue ranch, so shall I say Yeehaw?!
Do You Hear What I Hear? is a fun, sweet romance with something for everyone ? a beautiful heroine who has a way with animals, a witty Jack Russell Terrier, a slew of beautiful rescue horses and a hunky horse trainer hero. It is the first book of my Hoofbeats & Heartstrings series of novels about a horse rescue ranch in Texas and the mysterious events that take place there.A portion of the proceeds of all the Hoofbeats & Heartstrings books will be donated to horse rescue.
Mark your calendars! Do You Hear What I Hear? will release electronically in time for Christmas 2008, and in print Summer 2009.
And? believe it or not? I?ve already seen a rough draft of the cover. It?s not quite finished yet and is a work in progress by the talented cover artist Tamra Westberry, but here is a sneak peek:
Bonbons & Truffles a bestseller!
|
Posted by Teri Wilson
at 03:03 PM on February 21, 2008
|
comments (0)
|
A huge hug and kiss to everyone who has purchased Bonbons & Truffles. Apparently there are more than a few of you! Bonbons currently sits at #3 on the Wild Rose Press bestseller list. Woohoo! It brings tremendous joy to my heart to see such a sweet story on that list. But, afterall, who could resist that adorable puppy on the cover? I ask you.
Today is a great day. Not only is Bonbons & Truffles doing well, but I'm at last putting the finishing touches on my new manuscript. Do You Hear What I Hear? is a full-length Christmas romance with a few suprises here and there. And don't worry - it's jam packed with wonderful animal characters - from a whole slew of rescue horses to a impish little Jack Russell Terrier.
I'm sending the proposal and first three chapters off to the publisher next week. Cross your paws it gets contracted!
Blessings, Teri
Bonbons & Truffles releases today!
|
Posted by Teri Wilson
at 03:03 AM on January 30, 2008
|
comments (2)
|
Woohoo! Or, should I say woof woof!? My new e-book short story, Bonbons & Truffles, releases today from The Wild Rose Press.
Bonbon has a face!
|
Posted by Teri Wilson
at 12:36 PM on January 04, 2008
|
comments (1)
|
Have you noticed that as soon as the Christmas trees disappear rows and rows of heart-shaped boxes suddenly line the grocery store shelves?
That's right, folks! Valentine's Day is right around the corner. What better way to celebrate the holiday than with a cuddly puppy and a box of chocolate? My Sweetheart Rosette, Bonbons & Truffles is a special Valentine story coming soon from The Wild Rose Press.
Bonbons & Truffles tells the story of Melody Sweet, a lonely girl who has a special way with choclolate. On Valentine's Day she acquires both a precious new puppy and a mysterious secret admirer. Can Melody and her puppy, Bonbon, solve the mystery of who is leaving flowers and dog biscuits on their doorstep?
Bonbons & Truffles is perfect for anyone who loves a sweet romance, puppies or chocolate. It is also great for anyone who has had to spend St. Valentine's Day alone. There's hope for all of us!
The cover was recently released and features Bonbon the puppy front and center. Isn't she adorable? I dare you to take a peek and not say AWWWWW.
Hugs and kisses, Teri
« View Newer Posts | View Older Posts »
Get a Free Website at Webs.com!
