40 for 40 - Dee Tenorio

My very first guest is Dee Tenorio I first met lovely Dee on line when she was a host at eHarlequin. We chatted a lot in the forums. Then we IMed each other and finally - finally - we met at RWA Conference in New York. 

I have one very special thing to thank Dee for - and that is that without her I would never have written or published the 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance.  That happened because we were once having an IM discussion about writing for Presents   and I said/wrote 'There are 10 things you need to know about writing for Presents  and - off the top of my head - I listed the 10 important points, with notes about them all.  Luckily I kept those notes and I added an extra two points  and when I realised that these points  could actually be used for all romance writing not just Presents, I expanded them and so the 12 Point Guide was born.

Thanks Dee!

And thank you too for launching my very special 40 for 40 celebration!

Still In Love After All This Time...   Dee Tenorio



"You guys are so cute. It’s kind of sickening.”

 Ah, yes, the supportive words of a friends and family that I hear at most family events. After twenty-some years together, you’d think they’d be used to it, but no. Every event, someone finds a reason to say it. We gross them out." How?, you might ask. I mean, we’re not lewd or anything. Tempting as it is, I don’t pat him on the butt whenever he passes by. We have yet to make folks super-ill by making out in public (though, it could happen folks! You know we never want you to feel safe or anything!).

Nope, all we do is treat each other nicely. He’ll bring me a drink after holding my chair for me. We still hold hands most everywhere we go. Sometimes, we lean in and tell each other stuff in whispers so as not to bother people or just for a private giggle. Apparently, after twenty some years, we should be over that. Like, totally. Snort.

Maybe there’s something wrong with us, but if there is, in the immortal words of Luther Ingram, I don’t wanna be right. I mean, wasn’t that the whole point of marrying my best friend? So we could enjoy each other’s company and have private jokes and hold hands and treat each other like precious parts of our hearts forever? *scratches head* Well, that’s why I got married anyway. :) And I hope that when my husband and I reach 40 years, we’re still able to play, to tease, to flirt. To smile at each other. At the thought of each other.

I hope that we’re as happy together as you are with your hubby, Kate. I hope we, too, never stop being a man and his bride. Because that’s a true romance story. It’s what we all long for and I’m so glad that’s what the two of you have.

Wishing you another 40 years filled with happiness. With joy and love, come good or bad, rain or shine, and what the hey, go ahead and throw a little inappropriate public displays of affection, just cause you have every right! Congratulations to you both!

Much love, Dee


PS — what kind of guest poster would I be if I didn’t throw a little giveaway in? Just for fun! So, answer the following question in the comments and be entered in a drawing for a copy of my upcoming release from Samhain Publishing, "Trust In Me"! (It’s about an old-fashioned Viking-kind-of-guy who falls like a redwood for a sassy, absolutely-not-having-it lingerie designer from the shop across the street. She’s got secrets, but he’s got determination. I have to warn you, this one may require a lot of tissues. And, uh...a fan. Just sayin'.) Ready for the question? Here it goes: What's the funniest thing you've ever seen at a wedding? Winner will be chosen randomly from the commenters so it's not about the funny—though I'd love to laugh my head off! Have at it, folks! Let's get the party started!


About the Author: Dee Tenorio is a sick woman. Really sick. She enjoys tormenting herself by writing Contemporary Romance (preferably with sexy, grumpy heroes and smart-mouthed heroines) and sizzling, steamy romances of various genres spanning dramas with the occasional drop of suspense all the way to erotic romance. But why does that make her sick? Because she truly seems to enjoy it. And she has every intention of keeping at it!


If you would like to learn more about Dee and her work, please visit her website at www.deetenorio.com. Dee’s next book, "Trust In Me"—Book 5 in her Rancho del Cielo Romance series— releases July 23rd from Samhain Publishing.

Great Big Blog Party 30something (31 I think I said!) Winner

So as I've completely lost count of what Guest Blog we are on - I'll just say that I have Dee Tenorio's winner

And I suspect - well I know - that Dee just wanted to be able to have an excuse to say this:

Christijan's "55 Year Old Ass" wins! (Sorry, it's worth an author copy just to be able to say that! LOL!) Just need her addy and I can get the book to her.

Congratulations Christyjan - you and your 55 year old ass have won. Please let me have your details so I can get the prize organised for you.

Kate Bit - I'm back!

I'm back from RNA where I had a wonderful time at the Conference in Leicester - and what I want to know is how can three days away require so much catching up on?

I have n million (ok a lot )of emails to catch up on

More emails needing writing

Prizes to pack up and sent out from the Romance Junkies guest spot I did last wek (Thank you RJs for a wonderful time)

Washing to do - again - how can three days away create that much washing?

Did somebody mention a deadline??

Some New Writers' Scheme reports to write

A library talk (tomorrow - July 11 - Doncaster 2pm) to prepare

And while I was away my lovely kind editor sent me proofs for my March 2008 book to correct

Can I just cover my eyes and go 'Eeeeeeek'?

No

OK then - I'll apologise to Dee for scrambling her in as Guest Blogger which was all I could find the time to do while I was at the RNA . Thank you for stepping in, Deedle!

I'll apologise to Jane W-H, and the lovely Liz Fielding who have picked their winners and I haven't got around to posting them

And apologies to and from Trish Wylie who has also chosen her winners but not yet had them posted - and who never managed to get to the blog to answer any of the comments because . . . well, check out Trish's Blog to find out why.

If you do that you'll also get to meet her small but perfectly formed travelling companion - Sean - and some of you, the observant and Sid fixated members of you - might well recognise Sean.

Remember this? Well that was the formal photo - here are a couple more that were taken while Sean and Sid kicked back at the end of the official photo shoot.

As you can see, they got to be pretty good friends, But now Sean is off travelling the world with Trish while Sid is just happy that mum is home.

If you wabt to watch Sean's Travels - then look out for reports on Trish's Blog and on the Pink Heart Society blog every Tuesday and you'll be able to read an update.

And I'll be back with more of the Great Big Blog Party soon - I have lots more wonderful guests - and all with great prizes on offer - lined up for you so keep watching this space.

Great Big Blog Party 31 - Dee Tenorio

Hi again from the RNA Conference in Leicester. Things have been pretty hectic and I've done a lot of talking and eating and reading and a drinking a little wine and some more talking . . .


It's been tricky to find time to write a blog or anything. So now I'm dashing in to introduce you to my Guest Blogger today to give you something to read until I get back to my blog on Monday.

Today's blogger is Dee Tenorio - who is another of the lovely and hardworking hosties on the eHarlequin web site. Dee helped so much when I first ventured on to the boards - so much so that she earned the name of Kate's Slave for all the help she gave me. Then, like Heather Rae Scott, I met Dee in person at RWA Denver where one of the highspots of the event was the way that Dee crowned me Queen Bee at the eHarlequin pajama party.

We met again in New York and since then she's been pretty busy - she's become the mother of beautiful twin girls, as well as her handsome son Gio - and - as I always expected she would - she's been published - several times. I can't wait to get my hands on print copies of her books as I saw them in their first incarnations and I knew they had such potential then. I'm just so glad that a publisher saw the same qualities in them that I did.

So here's Dee Tenorio.

50 Reasons I Love Kate Walker:

I met Kate Walker during a particularly difficult time in my life. I was a young mother, living with my in laws while hubby and I got on our financial feet, and as you can imagine, the writing wasn't going so well. I admit, I had moments of potential...but for the most part, I was writing some really awful stuff. I hadn't yet found my voice, I definitely had no sense of plot, no understanding of craft whatsoever and, of course, no idea that I was in the presence of greatness.I was, without question, really, really dumb.

But Kate liked me anyway.She started teaching me how things work, And how to improve. And how, if I applied myself, I could make my publishing dreams a reality. And she's been setting an example for me ever since.

Which is one very special reason that I love Kate Walker. But there's more.

49 more to be exact.You probably think I'm exaggerating, but believe it or not, I really do have 50 reasons to love Kate. I can even enumerate them.

I should start with 5 reasons--one for each year that Kate has been my friend and mentor.

Then I'd have to add 12 reasons--one for each point in her 12 Point Program, which she used to crack open my head and teach me that not only did I not know it all...I had soooo much more to learn.

5 more reasons are the five books I've sold as a result of Kate's gentle lessons and never ending cheerleading.

1 reason is that she made New York an unforgettable experience. I'd always wanted to go there and when I did, she gave me tips that proved invaluable to not looking like a complete and total hick. .

15 reasons are the various hugs she gives, from the one that makes you see stars, to the ones that make you cry. The one where you both bounce because you're laughing or the one where she lopes an arm around your shoulders and makes sure you know you belong. If there is a mood, Kate has a hug for it.

7 reasons are every day of the week, because whenever I have sent a message her way, she has never been unavailable if I've needed her. She's a 24/7 kind of friend, which I can say is true even in the middle of the night, when she talked me through a crippling nightmare and my equally stupid fear of the dark for an hour.

2 are for the frequency of times she generally has to send me a birthday present each year, which she always does, because I have a Kate Walker Stalker, who steals my packages from her--while politely leaving me the cards so I know how much she cares.

1 is for her lovely husband, whom she chose because he's kind and good to her and in turn, good to everyone who is good to Kate. I just love that he's willing to share you with all of us.

And my last reason for loving Kate? It's the most important one of all. Because Kate loves me too. The best part about this reason is that everyone who knows Kate, who has the privilege of being her friend, gets to have that reason too. :)

So, I get to offer my congrats on this, your 50th book, and I can only hope for 50 more. :)

Giant hugs!
Dee


Giveaway Prize: Signed Copy of "Betting Hearts"

Giveaway Question: What is the funniest joke you've ever heard? Post it in the comments, best joke wins the romantic comedy!