Bzz Agent Info

After I posted a comment about an upcoming Bzz Agent campaign on Facebook, I received a bunch of private messages and emails about how I became a Bzz agent. It's not hard. All you have to do is sign up, fill out a questionnaire, and they start sending you invitations to join campaigns. I've tried a wide variety of products, including cosmetics, nutritional supplements, household cleaners, air fresheners, side dishes, snack foods, coffees and teas. 

Here's a link for anyone who is interested in joining: Bzz Agent. After you get started, drop me a line and let me know what you think.

Conversations About Why I Like to Read and Write Romance Novels

Click/Morguefile.com

I’ve been a published novelist since 2000. With the exception of one mystery written under my maiden name, Deborah Tisdale, and 3 women’s fiction novels coming out this year, most of my books have been classified as romance novels.

Why do I write romance? Because that’s one of the genres I enjoy reading. Here’s a sample of some of the conversations I’ve had with people who don’t understand.

Q: Don’t romance novels give readers an unrealistic expectation of real life? They are not based on reality.

A: No. Most readers of romance novels and other genres are intelligent people. They know they are reading fiction.

Q: Why do you choose romance over something more serious?

A: There are times when I need an escape, and I just want to be entertained.

Q: Since the romance genre promises happy endings, doesn’t it bother you to know how everything will turn out?

A: Skilled romance authors know how to take their readers on the hero and heroine’s journey, make them worry, and evoke emotion with the safety net that the genre dictates. As an author, I know that wrapping up a story with the promised ending isn’t easy.

Q: Do you ever read literary fiction?

A: Yes. I read across all genres, but I always come back to romance.

Q: I don’t think women should read romance. Doesn’t it bother you that those books create unrealistic expectations in real life?

A: Didn’t we already talk about that?

I get that not everyone loves…or even likes romance. That’s the beauty of having so many genres to choose from. You can peruse bookstores and choose mysteries, science fiction, westerns, romances, fantasy, or literary novels. Just don’t get so worked up over the fact that romance is still the single most popular genre in fiction.

Now go find a good book and enjoy it!

In the Garden with Joyce Routh

Joyce Routh beside one of her flower gardens

I know it may seem early to start thinking about spring gardening, but now is the time to start planning.

One of my friends and fellow readers, Joyce Routh, wanted to share some of her gardening experiences, so in honor of the Bloomfield Garden Club, here she is:

“I had a beautiful flower garden all summer on the back patio,” says Joyce. “For Mother's Day I purchased some bedding plants and a couple of large pots, and I planted various flowers and plants in them. My mom and I had red, yellow, orange, and green blooms all summer. We even had a potted rose bush.

Photos courtesy of Mike Routh

“Then not to be outdone, I purchased a large tub planter from Big Lots and filled it with dirt and planted cucumbers, and we had fresh cukes. I put a tomato cage over the pot and had the plant climb it.”

It sounds absolutely delightful, Joyce! And I love the pictures of all those gorgeous flowers! Thank you for sharing!

I hope Joyce's story and these pictures will motivate you to beautify your yard this spring! Enjoy!