http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog What's hip, what's now, what's tomorrow in the romance genre world. Thu, 31 Dec 2009 11:00:58 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Romancing The Blog launched on Tuesday, January 5, 2005, with a post by Katie MacAlister. Nearly five years and over 1500 posts later, the team of volunteer "Kates" has decided to put RTB on hiatus. If things go as planned, RTB will return mid-year with a new look, a new ... http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/12/31/all-good-things-must-come-to-an-end/ Today is the official release date of my new book, THE SECRET OF EVERYTHING. That’s the only thing I’m thinking about today, so that’s what I’m writing about. A couple of weeks ago, I posted to Facebook that every time one of my books arrives on ... http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/12/30/3357/ The end of the year, that is. I cannot believe 2009 is coming to a close when it seems like it just began. 2009 has been a productive year certainly: I've read 89 books. While that's not a lot for some, I'm pretty proud of the accomplishment, considering all the other hats I ... http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/12/29/the-end-is-near-2/ I love these sleepy days between Christmas and New Years. I sleep late, nosh on leftovers, cook soda bread, watch movies with my kids, take Thing Two out sledding, run at the gym with Thing One, marveling at his new speed. (Two years ago, he pushed himself to ... http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/12/28/to-blog-or-not-to-blog-3/ No related posts. http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/12/25/happy-holidays-from-rtb/ As we close in on the big day where the hustle and bustle has us frantic to choose the "perfect" gift for those we love, and sometimes for those we tolerate, I just wanted to remind all of you that books make very good gifts. Here are my top reasons ... http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/12/24/books-the-great-multi-purpose-gift/ One of the most interesting and appealing reasons why I love living in America is due to the diversity. At the end of the year we have Ramadan, Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa, and each celebrates the melting pot that is our American heritage. Also, I find it amusing to know ... http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/12/22/this-diverse-holiday-season/ In many aspects of my life, I'm a patient person. I can wait for cookies to cool so they don't burn my mouth. I can buy clothes off season, knowing it'll be months before I wear them. I can put that bottled sauce in the pantry for ... http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/12/21/how-do-you-order-your-tbr-pile/ In a romance, before you show me the love, you gotta show me the conflict. The HEA only means something if the hero and heroine have to work hard for it. Never is this effort more apparent than when they physically clash during a confrontation in the opening chapter of ... http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/12/20/round-one-fight-when-heroes-heroines-duke-it-out/ (Author’s note: My use of the term “man” only refers to characteristics of many men that I know, and one in particular whom I live with, and not all men in general.  Likewise my use of the term “novelist”.  Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual ... http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/12/18/why-writing-a-novel-is-like-man-flu/