I've been very busy this summer with book signings and trying to get my latest book "The Keys to Paradise" written. I set some goals to make it all happen and I'm working hard to achieve them. Writing a book takes lots of thought and more than anything — time. My biggest challenge is getting it done on time for my editor. If I don't retain her at least a year in advance, it is hard to get an editor and I end up waiting for them to fit me into their schedule. It can be a six month to a year delay.

I really believe this the most romantic book I've written. I've gotten so involved into the story and my characters. There have been some scenes where I stopped writing to cry because I feel so bad for what the characters are going through. I know some people will not understand, but it's how I write. Believability is so important for me as a writer and a reader.

Here is the rough draft of the book cover blurb:

Somewhere in her heart, Jules Neuberg, found the strength to forgive her husband for impregnating a woman he claimed was a stranger. But when his wealthy parents convince him to make it work with the mother of his child, Jules’s whole world crashes from the unexpected.

Now that her divorce is in the works, Jules’s friends aren't about to leave her alone on her first anniversary without the ex and book a surprise vacation to Key West, Florida. Hearing about their plan, Jules refuses to go, but hastily changes her mind learning about the birth of her husband’s new son.

While in Key West Jules struggles to come up with energy to fake a good time and decides to forget everyone else and work on pleasing herself. When Dalian Carter, the gorgeous hotel owner suddenly finds her interesting, she wonders if he could possibly be for real!

Stay tuned to find out when "The Keys to Paradise" will be out this fall! I know some will say fall isn't soon, but in the writing world most authors start making announcements six months ahead. I hope in the end the majority of my readers say it was worth waiting for.

Happy reading to everyone!

Donna

These are my books:

Only a Heartbeat Away (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084235

Revenge in a Heartbeat (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084227

Heartbeat of Desire (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084219

Ryley (A Christmas Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084200

If you would like to be notified in an email about the release dates of my books  go to:  https://donnalovitz.com/contact/

I promise not to give your email address to others and I won't email you to death.

Wouldn't it be nice if a person could take the three months of summer and spread them out to six? Why you ask? In Minnesota the nice weather is short but the list of things happening at this time of year continue to grow. Graduations, weddings, sporting and community events, anniversaries, birthdays and of course family vacations. Throw in an unexpected funeral and a few last minute get-togethers and things shift into a higher gear. But wait a minute. Aren't these things supposed to be fun? Of course they are. The problem is: they usually come all at once. I talked to someone who had five graduation parties on the same day. It's hard to attend everything you want and if you're working, it can be next to impossible.

My parents both worked and I remember their basic routine in the summer months. They would come home from work and put on a pot of coffee and then talk about their day. When they finished their chat, my mother would start cooking and my father would go into the garden to weed or pick some vegetables for dinner. After we ate, Dad would go outside and sit on a lawn chair by his garden with a cup of coffee and a cigarette. Sometimes Mom would join him, but most of the time he sat out there by himself. I guess he wasn't completely alone, because the dog would follow him and take a nap under his lawn chair. My siblings and I would wander out there from time to time and ask him why he was sitting there basically doing nothing. He would smile proudly and say he was watching his garden grow. We thought he was insane. How could he be so happy and contented to sit there and stare at plants?

Here I am fifty years later and the biggest highlight of the summer for me is being able to sit on my porch and drink my coffee. I love to look at my flowers, listen to the birds sing and feel the warm sunlight on my face. I figured out that my father wasn't just sitting there by his garden. He was likely thinking or meditating or perhaps even praying some. In any case, it was his way to unwind at the end of a hard day.

I realize now the simple things about summer are truly what I enjoy the most and I'm going to strive to make them a priority. Who knows with the inflation and gas prices the simple things could possibly make a come back in all of our lives? Look on the bright side — maybe we'll have more time to relax and read.

Happy reading to everyone!

Donna

These are my books:

Only a Heartbeat Away (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084235

Revenge in a Heartbeat (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084227

Heartbeat of Desire (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084219

Ryley (A Christmas Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084200

If you would like to be notified in an email about the release dates of my books  go to:  https://donnalovitz.com/contact/

I promise not to give your email address to others and I won't email you to death.

Everyone seems to have a favorite season and mine is definitely spring. I believe it's more than the warmer weather — it's the way this time of year makes me feel. Some people don't look forward to it because of allergies and I can't blame them, but most folks seem to have a complete shift in attitude come springtime. Who can blame us when the sun is shining, the birds are singing and every where you look something is turning green? I especially love the sweet smell in the air and the pungent odor of the soil when we plant the garden. I also enjoy the musky fragrance in the woods when we go morel mushroom hunting. Add fresh cut grass, blooming flowers, campfires, and the magnificent smells from the barbecue and I'm in heaven!

Have you ever noticed how everyone seems to be in a better mood in the spring? I know I sleep better after I spend time outside and that could be a reason for my improved disposition. And of course, getting out to socialize with friends and family helps to lift my spirits, too.

But I feel springtime has something to offer that the other seasons don't. It seems at this time of year we are filled with hope and everything is somehow renewed inside of us. I believe this must be a gift from God because the possibilities seem to be endless. It would be wonderful if we could contain those positive feelings and preserve them somehow. Maybe break out a jar around January 25th when it's been 30 below zero for two weeks.That sure would be great!

I hope you had a good Memorial weekend that left you hopeful and renewed!

Happy reading to everyone!

Donna

These are my books:

Only a Heartbeat Away (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084235

Revenge in a Heartbeat (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084227

Heartbeat of Desire (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084219

Ryley (A Christmas Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084200

If you would like to be notified in an email about the release dates of my books  go to:  https://donnalovitz.com/contact/

I promise not to give your email address to others and I won't email you to death.

Now that the weather is starting to warm after months of heavy snow, wind and subzero temperatures, I can see that our long, cold winter has taken a toll on some of the trees and wild life around our area. But after listening to people lately, it seems old man winter has also been rough on some of our relationships, too.

Being stuck inside for months can really test a person's patience. Human nature always seems to shine through and it's much easier to see the other guy's flaws and not our own. I always say it's possible the disciples who hung out constantly with Jesus maybe wanted to tell him that he tied his sandals wrong. Who knows?

Earlier this winter, I got out to do a little walking but with the extreme amount of ice and mud that plagues our road it turned into a safety issue and I stopped. So now I turn up the radio and do a little dancing. Keeping myself busy was one  thing that helped me this last few months. I've got a good slab of my new book "The Keys to Paradise" written and it's a good feeling.

Someone made a comment to me recently and said they couldn't understand why someone would want read fiction because it isn't true. I told them fiction in any genre isn't about the factual. It's about putting your troubles aside or maybe even taking on the character's instead of your own. And if the story is good, it can transport you to another world for a while. Often times, I think it's healthy to give our brains a break from whatever is going on in our lives.

I hope the warmer weather will come soon but until then I'm going to try and avoid criticizing myself and others around me. Maybe a few kind words or deeds will brighten their world as well as my own.

Happy reading to everyone!

Donna

These are my books:

Only a Heartbeat Away (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084235

Revenge in a Heartbeat (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084227

Heartbeat of Desire (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084219

Ryley (A Christmas Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084200

If you would like to be notified in an email about the release dates of my books  go to:  https://donnalovitz.com/contact/

I promise not to give your email address to others and I won't email you to death.

As a romance writer I'm always looking for ways to keep my stories fresh and exciting. I don't want my characters to be a bland repeat of the last ones, especially when it comes to the heroine or hero. I strive to keep them diverse and interesting.

I'm so excited to be working on my new book "The Keys to Paradise" a spicy love story set in the Florida Keys.

Here is the rough draft of the book cover blurb:

Somewhere in her heart, Jules Neuberg, found the strength to forgive her husband for impregnating a woman he claimed was a stranger. But when his wealthy parents convince him to make it work with the mother of his child, Jules’s whole world crashes from the unexpected.

Now that her divorce is in the works, Jules’s friends aren't about to leave her alone on her first anniversary without the ex and book a surprise vacation to Key West, Florida. Hearing about their plan, Jules refuses to go, but hastily changes her mind learning about the birth of her husband’s new son.

While in Key West Jules struggles to come up with energy to fake a good time and decides to forget everyone else and work on pleasing herself. When Dalian Carter, the gorgeous hotel owner suddenly finds her interesting, she wonders if he could possibly be for real!

The heroine in the story definitely has some attitude problems as a result of the trauma she has gone through with her marriage. I'm really trying to let her be who she is. Keep in mind there's a rule when you write fiction that everyone likes or can identify with a flawed character. Like in real life— no one is perfect!

Happy reading to everyone!

Donna

These are my books:

Only a Heartbeat Away (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084235

Revenge in a Heartbeat (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084227

Heartbeat of Desire (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084219

Ryley (A Christmas Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084200

If you would like to be notified in an email about the release dates of my books  go to:  https://donnalovitz.com/contact/

I promise not to give your email address to others and I won't email you to death.

February 3rd, 2022: Today, I sit by my computer thinking how beautiful the sunshine looks outside. When I step out the door I find the wind is almost nonexistent but it doesn't seem to make a difference when the high temperature for today is at a whopping 7 degrees below zero. I immediately go back inside and start plotting a road trip to a much warmer place. I'm working on a new book entitled "The Keys to Paradise" and I need to do some research and you guessed it — in the Florida Keys. My story is about a broken hearted woman in her thirties who finds unexpected adventure and love on vacation.

February 27th, 2022: We're home! A little tired after twenty days on the road, but thankful we've arrived back in Minnesota in one piece. It was really an exciting and fun trip. We learned somethings about the culture in the southeastern part of the United States and met a lot of intriguing folks. We encountered people from Maine to Kentucky and onward to the Keys. Most we met were friendly and helpful and shared information not only about themselves but about the area where they live. It was interesting to learn how much we all have in common. Several people voiced their political views without any prompting and it was hopeful to learn that as a rule most desired our country to be united.

The thing that surprised me the most was the kindness and respect people had for us. One man we met in Florida insisted we visit him on the way back home. We drove through the rolling hills of Kentucky to his house and tobacco farm near Airedale. He took us for a drive around the area and out for dinner and we ended up staying there for the night. We throughly enjoyed his stories of his travels around the world as well as his knowledge on tobacco farming. Turns out he once was one of the main stars on a reality television show called "Tobacco Wars" in 2014. The show aired for two or three episodes before it was canceled. He said the producer's wife died during that time from lung cancer and the show was immediately canceled.We did tour Ernest Hemingway's home and museum and I loved it. To my hubby's delight we rode on an airboat in the Everglades and saw some alligators.

I do know that it was worth the trip to the Keys for research. There were so many things I learned that I would've never known otherwise. Questions like: why are there chickens running around every where? I don't want to share too much about what I discovered because you'll read it in my next book "The Keys to Paradise". So I better get busy!

These are my books:

Only a Heartbeat Away (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084235

Revenge in a Heartbeat (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084227

Heartbeat of Desire (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084219

Ryley (A Christmas Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084200

If you would like to be notified in an email about the release dates of my books  go to:  https://donnalovitz.com/contact/

I promise not to give your email address to others and I won't email you to death.

I hope your Christmas was everything you expected it to be. Ours wasn't exactly what we had planned, but it turned out be a fun and interesting holiday. Our daughter and son-in-law came up later on Christmas Day and we exchanged our gifts that evening. On the following morning the electricity went out around at 11:30 am and didn't come back on until 7:30 pm that evening.

It being Sunday and the day after Christmas, the power company didn't post anything online stating what the problem was or how long it would take to fix. Within a few minutes after the power went out, a neighbor called and checked on us and throughout the day the phone rang continuously with calls from others in the neighborhood. Most wanted to know if we were okay or in need of anything. Everyone pulled together and tallied what they had for generators, batteries, and water if need be. One neighbor even offered us his cabin equipped with a wood stove.

The menu that evening got changed from barbecue ribs to left over ground bologna sandwiches and fixings from the night before. The situation had its upside knowing no one could see the amount of chocolate and snacks you were consuming in the dark. Put it this way — no one suffered from loss of food.

Our biggest challenge was staying warm because the temperature outside was in the lower teens. Lucky for us, our gas fireplace worked without electricity and we sat around it bundled up in blankets. We burned candles while we talked and eventually hung head lamps from the chandelier above the kitchen table in order to play cards. Despite my cool surroundings, the situation gave me a warm feeling inside knowing the important thing was that we were together.

It wasn't like any other Christmas I remember, but it certainly was a memorable one. I'm sure we'll talk about for many years to come. I took a picture of my husband sitting at the table in the semi darkness when we cleaned up.

In the end, the greatest gift I got this year was knowing that even in these crazy times people still care and are willing to help each other out in a crisis.

Happy New Year to all!

If you enjoy reading, these are my books:

Only a Heartbeat Away (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084235

Revenge in a Heartbeat (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084227

Heartbeat of Desire (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084219

Ryley (A Christmas Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084200

If you would like to be notified in an email about the release dates of my books  go to:  https://donnalovitz.com/contact/

I promise not to give your email address to others and I won't email you to death.

Woo-hoo! I'm close to reaching another mountain top on my writing journey as I finish up with the last book in the Heartbeat Series — Only a Heartbeat Away. I'm so excited about this book. I really loved writing Jolene and Michael's story and pulling the entire series together in a rousing conclusion. It's strange, but once again I feel like the book wrote itself with the help of the characters. I do believe, and I hope you will too, that it's a fun, action filled, romantic 70's tale.

Throughout the entire series, I tried hard to make the storyline as close to authentic as possible with music and events chronologically in tune with the times. I wanted it to be a story most people could easily relate to and maybe for some, reflect back upon. One of my goals was to make it applicable for any adult of any age or gender. I found it very interesting trying to capture both the male and female perspectives by looking at life through each heroine and hero's eyes as well as the villains in the story. It was fun to walk a mile in the character's shoes and let them and my imagination lead me. 

A writer friend of mine told me I should celebrate each goal because writing is a solitary game and most people are not aware or don't care about all the challenges involved. I don't know if that is true or not, but I do feel many of you have been with me every step of the way on my writing journey. I cannot put into words how thankful I am for your support and encouragement. Thank you!

I'm planning out another story, but for now, my concentration is on getting to the top of this mountain and finishing the Heartbeat Series!

If you enjoy reading, these are my books:

Revenge in a Heartbeat (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084227

Heartbeat of Desire (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084219

Ryley (A Christmas Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084200

If you would like to be notified in an email about the release dates of my books  go to:  https://donnalovitz.com/contact/

I promise not to give your email address to others and I won't email you to death.

I've been so busy working on the third book of my Heartbeat Series that I haven't found much time to write a blog this month. Yesterday, I decided to take a break and go with my hubby for a ride around the area to see all the beautiful autumn leaves. It was so pretty and relaxing that I had to share a picture with everyone. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so this blog will be much longer than I thought. LOL!

My plans are to have — Only A Heartbeat Away— ready for Christmas. I will be sending the manuscript off to the editor tomorrow, so hopefully she'll get going and return it to me in a month or so. I'm very excited about this story because it wraps up the series and I believe it's a fun read. I hope everyone will enjoy reading it as much I did writing it.

So until next time, be sure to get out there and check out those leaves. They'll be gone before you know it!

If you enjoy reading, these are my books:

Revenge in a Heartbeat (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084227

Heartbeat of Desire (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084219

Ryley (A Christmas Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084200

If you would like to be notified in an email about the release dates of my books  go to:  https://donnalovitz.com/contact/

I promise not to give your email address to others and I won't email you to death.