Mariposa's Musings

“All that is important is this one moment in movement. Make the moment important, vital, and worth living. Do not let it slip away unnoticed and unused.”  ―  Martha Graham As much as I love to travel, the best thing about visiting other blogs is no packing is required. Today, I’m visiting Australian author, Monique McDonnell chatting about Lovestruck Two Step and the best writing advice I ever received.    And on January 26 th you will have the opportunity to get to know this former exchange student to America when Monique is a guest on Mariposa’s Musings.

Since Lovestruck Two Step is all about a making dive bar a local favorite, I asked my production team to describe their favorite hangout. Harris Channing-Cover design Not only has Harris designed all of the covers for The Rhythm & Romance series and Hot Flash, she is also an author . And she did a cool job with Ever After, one of Susan Winters’ titles. What's my favorite hangout?  I am a homebody.  My favorite part of the day is when everyone is home safe and sound and we're just hanging out.  I love watching movies with my daughters. Sitting next to hubby and catching up with how his day went.  Home is my favorite hangout. May seem boring but since I spend most of my time here, wouldn't it suck if I didn't just love it? Marian Kelly-Editing Marian could truly be called a “Writer’s Editor” and she's worked with me on all four Rhythm & Romance titles. She also writes Regency romance as Colleen Ladd . My favorite hangout is a tin...

Like most physical activities, dancing presents a challenge when it comes to dinner.   You don’t want to feel weighted down by a heavy meal, but you don’t want to hit the dance floor hungry either. Also any lengthy prep time in the kitchen takes away from primp time in front of the mirror.😉  Fortunately Mesquite Turkey Quesadillas are short on prep time and long on satisfying hunger. They are perfect to enjoy before a night on the town or for a quiet evening reading a good book like Lovestruck Two Step . Mesquite Turkey Quesadillas 1/4 to 1/2 pound-sliced Mesquite Turkey from your grocery deli counter. Shredded cheddar cheese 1/2 white onion-chopped fine. Several tablespoons Balsamic vinegar (I like to use Golden Balsamic vinegar for milder taste).  Marinade chopped onion in Balsamic vinegar for a few minutes. Assemble chopped turkey, shredded cheese and marinaded onion into flour tortilla and heat in skillet on stove until cooked through....

One of the more unusual assignments in my college literature classes was to write a cocktail party scene involving the various characters from the stories we had read during the semester.  I heard the murmur of collective dismay from my classmates.  I could hardly wait to start writing.  All semester I endured the harsh glare of reality as reflected by American literary icons, Theodore Dreiser and Sinclair Lewis. Now it was time to have some fun. I don’t remember the final grade on that paper only that my ruddy-faced professor with a Hemingway complex noted positive comments in the margin instead of his usual acerbic barbs . I intended to end the Rhythm & Romance series with Wedding Tango . After all, how do you top a whirlwind adventure in Buenos Aires?   One of my girlfriends who’s strictly Ballroom mentioned that her group’s dance socials featured a live band.    Hmmmm…a live band could be interesting.   I started Lovestruck Two Ste...

"Why walk when you can dance." Ellen van Dam I'm thrilled to announce that Lovestruck Two Step , the final title in the Rhythm & Romance series is available as a pre-order. Lovestruck Two Step With her marriage and dance studio wiped out by divorce, Becca Collins reluctantly agrees to teach Two Step lessons at a country bar. Carson Quill isn’t thrilled about spending his Saturday nights playing guitar in a local dive, but a certain dance instructor with long legs and dark curls caught his eye. Does love have a shot in a bar called Last Chance?

"Who really wants to be themselves when they're teenagers?" Stephen Colbert Kam's Place   gave Ladies Man   💖💖💖 1/2 "Ladies Man  is more than a love story. It touched upon real life scenarios parents face daily: teenagers blooming interest in boys and/or girls, underage drinking, and the aftereffects of divorce. We, parents/caregivers, know raising kids is a hard job. At times, our kids will get mad at us. They will yell, shed tears, and keep secrets. However, they also bring us much joy and laughter. "

Winner of the 2017 Contemporary Romance Award from Books & Benches! "This story is so beautifully written that you can't help but become obsessed with it, especially the parts of the old journal. A story within a story, two fabulous endings, and characters that you will fall in love with." ~ The Artful Reader "This book is about love and growth, tears and happiness and healing. I was so deeply affected and moved by this story, I had my own laughter and tears." ~ Amazon reviewer  Everyone in Kathleen's life thinks she's crazy when she decides to spend her well-earned summer working in a tiny, dusty attic sorting through old church papers, but the peace and quiet of working alone is exactly what she wants.  She's back home again and happy, or as happy as anyone who's left behind a troubled past can be. She has amazing coworkers, a wonderful best friend, a supportive family, and not one single person in her life who knows what she...

While doing the research for Wedding Tango , I came across some interesting wedding superstitions. According to Argentine lore to avoid rain on your wedding day you can do one of the following: Stick a knife in the ground. Sprinkle salt in the shape of a cross in the garden. Bury an egg in the ground. However the same article also noted that Argentinians believe that rain on the wedding day brings good luck. So I guess you're covered either way. Speaking of good luck, I'm fortunate to be a guest today on Rebecca Grace's My Writing Corner . Hope to see you there!

In case you were wondering if Tango is for you, here’s what some of the experts have to say: “No other dance takes you over so completely. More than a dance, it becomes a way of life.” Camille Cusamano , “Tango An Argentine Love Story”. “Tango is so strongly associated with Buenos Aires that a visit isn’t complete unless you immerse yourself at least once.”    The Rough Guide to Argentina, 5 th edition Researchers at the University of New England in South Wales and Australian National University in Canberra discovered significant improvement in mood of their subjects after only two weeks of Tango lessons.   “If you get all tangled up, just Tango on.” Al Pacino After that amazing Tango scene in Scent of a Woman can anyone argue with Al Pacino?  Just saying… Wedding Tango : Moira Williams is dismayed when her daughter, Tami, announces her engagement. Sure Jon’s a great guy, but why do they have to get married in Buenos Aires?...

I'm thrilled to announce that Wedding Tango  is now available as a pre-order through Amazon! If you haven't yet started the Rhythm & Romance series, there's still plenty of time to read Package Deal and Ladies Man . Moira Williams is dismayed when her daughter, Tami, announces her engagement. Sure Jon’s a great guy, but why do they have to get married in Buenos Aires?  Though she dreads seeing her ex-husband, Alan, the gorgeous father of the groom has her pulse racing. Widower Alan Rochester buries his grief with non-stop home improvement projects, but a sexy redhead has captured his attention.  He’s eager to show Moira the sights of Buenos Aires from his college days, but is he ready to face the world again? South of the equator, nothing is as it seems.  Can Moira and Alan navigate through their feelings for each other and save their kids’ dream wedding from becoming a nightmare?

Besides choosing what to wear , deciding where to go can be one of the greatest challenges in dancing particularly if you’re flying solo. Even if you discover the latest trendy venue there’s nothing worse than cooling your heels at the hottest place in town.  Here are a couple of suggestions to get you out there. Dance socials Many dance studios host a monthly/weekly social.  The social begins with a group lesson followed by a couple of hours of open dancing.  Often these events are free to the public as a means of attracting more students for private lessons. Socials are best for beginners, but are also great for experienced dancers to brush up on their skills. Club lessons Some of the more savvy venues will host a weekly free dance lesson followed by open dancing.  The inspiration for Package Deal ’s Eclipse generally attracts the twenty-something crowd willing to pay the cover charge and for pricey drinks.  On Friday nights at 7:30, this club w...

Clark Stevens has always had a way with women, but his teenage daughter despises him.  When his daughter comes to live with him fulltime, he enlists co-worker, Julie Wahl, to coach him on parenting skills. As a single mom and paralegal, Julie, has successfully balanced family, work and swing dancing. After heartbreak on the dance floor, the last thing Julie needs is an office romance.  But she can hardly say no to a colleague in need, especially one with dark brown eyes and a killer grin. Since Ladies Man is as much about raising teens as swing dancing, I’d recommend pairing it with Cincinnati-style chili which features two ingredients favored by kids, ground beef and spaghetti. My version is cheap and quick which are key factors when cooking for ravenous teens. 1 pkg chili seasoning 1 pound ground beef 1 can tomato sauce 16 oz spaghetti Optional toppings: chopped onion, diced tomato, shredded cheddar cheese. Cook spaghetti according to package directio...

“Let us read and let us dance-two amusements that will never do any harm to the world.” Voltaire As if I haven’t mentioned enough reasons why you should be dancing , here’s another one. A study by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine discovered that dancing reduced the risk of dementia more than any other physical activity, including cycling, golf, swimming and tennis. Apparently both the mental effort of learning new dance steps as well as the social interaction helped reduce the risk of dementia. Sudoku and crossword puzzles are also reputed to be beneficial toward keeping dementia at bay. However pen and paper puzzles lack the awesome music and the people watching opportunities of the dance floor. Besides you're more likely to meet that special someone on the dance floor than noodling over a crossword.

"We should consider every day lost in which we have not danced at least once." Friedrich Nietzsche If German philosophers aren't your thing, consider a University of London study which revealed that patients with anxiety disorders showed significant improvement when they participated in a modern dance class. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine  noted that dancing may boost memory and prevent dementia. The hippocampus (the part of the brain that controls memory) naturally shrinks as people grow older. Aerobic exercise (like dancing) can reverse volume loss in the hippocampus. Plus dancing is a great way to meet people. Dancing attracts people of all ages from college to retirement from all walks of life. On the dance floor I've met architects, engineers, professional musicians even a doctor who kept her profession on the down low since she wanted to dance not diagnose on Friday nights at Salsa. With one activity you can improve your memory, lose w...

Some writers seem to be everywhere, doing blog tours, leaving clever comments on writing loops and making appearances on all conceivable forms of social media sort of like the popular girl who is always on the dance floor. The gals on the sidelines wonder if they need a shorter skirt, higher heels or darker lipstick to be noticed. Writers watch others cut a broad swath on the Internet and worry about how much blogging, tweeting and commenting is needed to attract readers. You don’t have to be everywhere, but you do need to be seen. One night at Salsa my instructor noticed me pouting at a remote table.  “You need to be closer to the action,” he said nodding toward the crowd at the bar. I moved to a more populated area of the club and my evening improved considerably.  If maintaining your own blog is too much for you, consider being part of a group blog or look for guest posting opportunities at other author blogs. Watch the other dancers for ideas, but ultimately ...

The release date is set for October 27th, but I'm excited to report that Ladies Man  is available as a pre-order on Amazon. My second title in the Rhythm & Romance series and it's all about West Coast Swing. Ladies Man Clark Stevens has always had a way with women, but his teenage daughter despises him.  When his daughter comes to live with him fulltime, he enlists co-worker, Julie Wahl, to coach him on parenting skills. As a single mom and paralegal, Julie Wahl, has successfully balanced family, work and swing dancing. After heartbreak on the dance floor, the last thing Julie needs is an office romance.  But she can hardly say no to a colleague in need, especially one with dark brown eyes and a killer grin. Didn't Harris Channing do an amazing job with the cover! More in the weeks to follow.

Did you know an Italian study discovered that recovering heart surgery patients were happier taking waltz classes than those who cycled or ran the treadmill? I know I'd rather be on the dance floor than anywhere else. Quick update: I've been busy with the final edits on the 2nd title in the Rhythm & Romance series. Harris Channing just sent me the cover and it's gorgeous! I hope to release "Ladies Man" later this Fall. Today I'm guest posting at Louise http://louiselyndon.blogspot.com Lyndon's blog about a certain cowboy who first invited me onto the dance floor. My sister  Wild Rose author is based in Melbourne, Australia and I'm thrilled to be her guest. Hope to see you there!

Did you know you can burn up to 306 calories per hour while dancing? Just imagine an hour of county, line, disco or salsa dancing would burn off that grande latte you had earlier. As if that were not reason enough, today I'm chatting about Package Deal and the Top 10 Reason's You Should be Dancing  at Joanne Guidoccio's blog . Hope to see you there!

One was the surprise hit of the 80's which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, the other featured Richard Gere in an American remake of a popular Japanese film. Today I'm chatting about two of my favorite dance films at  Isla's Grey's blog:  isla's inklings In case you're wondering, the song was "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" which also won a Golden Globe and a Grammy for Best Duet. Hope to see you there!

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...