Mariposa's Musings

Bachata is one of the Latin dances featured in Package Deal and one of my favorites.   Like its musical themes of romance, heartbreak and bitterness, Bachata has an eloquent history. With humble origins in rural neighborhood parties of the Dominican Republic, for many years Bachata suffered a bad reputation in its native country.   Bachata was considered too vulgar, too rustic and too beloved by migrants residing in shanty towns to be respectable. While its cousin, Merengue, enjoyed generous airplay and the limelight of posh clubs, Bachata lurked in working-class bars and brothels.     Whether due to a social-cultural shift or the power of amazing music, Bachata has emerged from the shadows. It is also an easy dance to learn, the basic steps can be learned it a single lesson making it a favorite for club lessons. Many popular songs from “Every Breath You Take” to “My Girl” have been covered with a Bachata beat. Today Bachata’s cool, sexy rhythms are pla...

What inspired you to become a writer? I’ve been a voracious reader since I was a child, but other than some crappy, angsty poetry as a teen, I didn’t do much writing until my late twenties. I think I must have been going through a quarter life crisis, and wanted some form of escapism or a creative outlet. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. Which was a good thing, because I was really, really bad when I first started writing, and realizing that just made me want to work harder and improve those skills. One of my favorite things about writing is that no matter how far I’ve come, there’s always more to learn and more ways to push myself. Who are your favorite romance characters (besides your own?) Right now, I’m totally in love with Claire and Jamie from the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. I read the first book many years ago, and had to watch the Starz series when it was on. I love that Claire is a strong, smart heroine and Jamie is totally masculine, and yet has some un...

Wardrobe Tips for Dancing While Latin dances are inherently sexy, you can still look hot without straying too far outside your comfort zone.   Remember that unlike other dress-up places like the office, you’re going to be moving. Shoes If you’re going to dance on a regular basis or are taking lessons, dance shoes are a worthwhile investment, especially considering the expense of a turned ankle or a wrecked knee.   Dance shoes are designed for comfort and easy movement. If the idea of dancing on spiky heels makes you anxious, look for shoes with a Cuban heel. Dresses vs Pants Either is fine—pants or leggings paired with a sparkly top can be as sexy as a slinky dress.   If the club is new to you, check the dress code before you slip into your favorite jeans.   Whatever you decide, your clothes should allow you to move easily.   As Joan Rivers once said, “Just because it zips doesn’t mean it fits.” Bling I favor sparkly bracelets that are eit...

In celebration of my latest release, Package Deal , the next series of posts will be all about dancing. The biggest mistake people make about dancing is that they talk themselves out of it and stay home. They believe the dance floor is the exclusive realm of the “beautiful people”. As a plus-size 40-something gal, I’ve danced in Country and Latin clubs and I’ve seen people of all ages, shapes and sizes out on the dance floor from college students to grandparents. I can hear the protests. “But I don’t know how.” The good news is that the more clubs offer free dance lessons, usually an hour lesson followed by open dancing. Club lessons are a good way to test the waters without investing in a lesson pa c kage.   Also, some studios have monthly dance socials open to the public with a brief lesson followed by dancing.   One savvy studio kept a full contingent of dance instructors on hand for their Saturday night socials—giving beginners an opportunity to practice wi...

I'm thrilled to announce the release of my third title and first book in my Rhythm & Romance series, Package Deal . I love Latin dances (Bachata, Salsa and Cumbia) and I had a blast writing this one. Widowed attorney, Liz Grant, buries her grief in a deluge of paperwork.   On whim she takes a free dance lesson at the club Eclipse where the mojitos are cold and the Salsa is hot.   She falls for Salsa’s spicy rhythms and Patrick Cavanaugh’s sexy grin.   But can Liz handle the dramatic change of tempo in her well-ordered life?   Patrick has all the right moves, but struggles to keep his balance as his adult daughter spins out of control.   Will their love survive off the dance floor? Special thanks to my production team. Editor:  Marian Kelly-http://www.ravensgateediting.com Formatting by Stevie DeInk-http//www.steviedeink.com Cover design by Harris Channing-http://www.authorharrischanning.com Thanks so much ladies you all did an amazing...

What inspired you to become a writer? There have always been stories playing in my head.   Then, as now, there are rarely any moments of “down-time” from daily life which do not see characters running hither and thither in my brain.   The leap from thinking about them to writing them down came when I was a teenager and a book I loved ended in a way I didn’t.   I recently came across that book, with my hand-written “continuation” tucked neatly in the back of it, and oh my was I a melodramatic child…    The leap from writing my stories down to showing them to people was as simple as finding people interested in reading them, and from there it snowballed, as such things do. W ho are your favorite romance characters (besides your own?) Naturally, as is true of most who work in the Regency period, Jane Austen’s characters loom large, especially Darcy and Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice.   But I also loved (and still love) the brooding heroes of...