I've always thought myself as someone who has an open mind. A person who is willing within reason to try new things. I'm not talking about doing anything that would harm myself or others, I'm talking about experiencing something new that I normally wouldn't do.
But as sit here thinking about going out there and selling my books this summer, I think about all the times I was reluctant to do something in the past but after I did it — I loved it.
I remember in high school when my best friend insisted I go with her on a field trip to the Chanhassen Dinner Theater. We saw the play, "Fiddler on the Roof" and I enjoyed it so much I retuned with my parents to see another play.
One time I had traveled with my husband and our two children to the state of Washington. Both my daughter and son had studied Mount St. Helens and wanted to check out the area close to and around the volcano. I thought who cares about an old volcano but I went anyway knowing they really wanted to go on the tour. It turned out to be one of the most awesome things I've ever seen. Even as a writer, it's hard to put into words. The sheer force of what Mother Nature can do is amazing. The eruption took away any and all land marks that had been formerly used to identify the area's entire GPS location. Lakes, towns and mountain sides were suddenly gone without a trace.
I wasn't sure about the play or Mount St. Helens, but I tried to approach them with a good attitude and ’lo and behold I really enjoyed myself. I admit there have been times when I've tried something and didn't enjoy it at all. Needless to say, I won't be doing them again.
But I ask myself why am I sometimes apprehensive towards new ideas? Giving it some thought I've come up with three main reasons.
1.The fear of the unknown. Will I hate it? Will there be something unpleasant to deal with? Will my expectations be met?
2. A physical activity. Am I physically able to do it?
3.The fear of failure. Will I fail to do what I set out to do? Will I look foolish to others?
I believe the fear of looking foolish is the biggest reason why most of us avoid trying something new. I remind myself that as long as we are alive, we'll always be exposed new things and experiences and if we don't try something different once in a while — life can and will get boring. Of course with anything new there are new challenges that go along with them.
So now that I've addressed my concerns about selling my books at trade shows, I see my anxiety as silly and unwarranted. I think my books tell a good story so I do believe them to be a sellable product. And I really do enjoy getting out and meeting new people. Of course someone will have to twist my arm to make me talk about my love for writing. Yeah, right! Wish me luck as I take off down a new trail!
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 I sit by my computer this morning I am so grateful to have what some call an over active imagination. I'm in the middle of a scene about a dream house that my characters are touring in book three of the Heartbeat Series — Only a Heartbeat Away. The reason it excites me so much is because I see it in my head before I bring it to life on the page. I really feel like I'm actually there — feeling the coolness of the shade trees on a hot day and seeing the lush greenery in the yard. I love the charming exterior of the quaint brick house and I can't help but describe the endearing details — a white picket fence, climbing flower trellises, ivy and flower boxes. I'm seeing it through my characters' eyes for the first time. It almost feels like I took a trip somewhere.
To clarify, the strongest thing I had this morning was two cups of black coffee. I simply pictured a place where I'd love to live or have as a getaway home and ran with it. I can still hear the wind rushing through the leaves on the trees surrounding the house.
I view my love of writing as my passion.That's weird because before I started writing I didn't think I would ever be passionate about any hobby. I guess it was something I had inside for years that was just nagging or demanding to be released. If you ask my husband he may tell you at times writing is my addiction. I can start writing and lose all track of time and I'm not talking just a few hours — I'm saying a whole day. It's a good thing I have a loving and understanding person in my life to remind me to step out of whatever world I've created and come back to reality.
I know to some the whole thing sounds absolutely crazy, but that's the way it is for me. Writing is a huge part of what makes me feel complete or right with the world. My husband's passion is fishing and my daughter loves to refurbish furniture. I have a friend who lives to sew and another who can't go through a day without reading.
Now I ask you: What is your passion? What's the one thing or maybe you have more than one, that you consider your passion? That thing you can lose all track of time while doing? It took me years before I figured mine out. If you don't know, hopefully, it won't take you as long as me.
I just want to take this opportunity to thank all of my readers. Your support inspires me to dream and create which ultimately fuels my passion to write!
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.
When my children were young, I used to tell them, "Life is what you make it." I would then add, "So make it something special." It wasn't until the last three years that I really took my own words to heart.
In early 2019, I set out to do something that I always wanted to do, but had thought was out of my reach. I wanted to publish a book and invited all of you along on my writing journey and headed into the woods of the publishing world. I was armed only with the conviction that I wasn't going to let myself or any of my readers down. The trip was filled with lots of challenges and many frustrations from technical pitfalls. Despite some unpleasant set backs, I feel there were many more rewarding things I found on my path to becoming an author. I did reach my goal later that year and published my first book — Ryley.
I went on to publish the first book of the Heartbeat Series —Heartbeat of Desire last fall. Next month I'm planning to publish the second book in the series — Revenge in a Heartbeat.
I hope you continue to stay with me on my writing journey as I publish the third and final book of the Heartbeat Series — Only a Heartbeat Away — coming this fall!
I do try to make the best of every day by filling it with things that move my life forward but also make it something special.
Ryley (A Christmas Romance) at:https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084200
Heartbeat of Desire (A Modern History Romance) at:https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084219
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 believe having a good attitude is an essential part of our happiness. And with all the changes we have gone through in the last year and a half, it's been a challenge to keep those good vibes alive. Many times it requires a little sifting through the unpleasant stuff to find the positive things in our lives. I think if you start with a good attitude it's like putting on a suit of armor.
In the book "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne there is a quote about attitude. It points out how important your attitude is:
"The longer I live, I realize the impact on life. Attitude to me is more important than the facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company ... a church ... a home ... a school. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day. We cannot change our past ... we cannot change the fact that some people will react in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and this is our attitude ... I'm convinced that life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you ... we are in charge of our Attitudes."
I don't always have a good attitude, but I try. My efforts are not just for me, but for the people in my world whom I love and care about. But I know it's impossible to always stay positive, especially in a world where negativity runs rapid. And there are some people who find it truly hard to be happy for themselves or anyone else. To them I say, "It's time for an attitude adjustment."
On my quest for a positive attitude, I find the best place to start is with the simple things. Things like a beautiful sunrise or sunset, time with someone special or maybe just taking a walk with my dog, Keri, who is pretty special, too. I strive to fill my days with little things that make me happy and my life worth living.
Remember to keep your chin up because your attitude is the key to your happiness!
Here's the links to my books:
Ryley (A Christmas Romance) at:https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084200
Heartbeat of Desire (A Modern History Romance) at:https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084219
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 think it all started with Covid and the election when I wanted to stay informed on the political issues and what was going on with the pandemic. I began to watch television at any time of the day. The next thing I knew, I wasn't only watching TV, I was binge watching for hours on end. Some would say what's wrong with that? Well, for one thing, I need more to talk about in my life than the shows I'm watching on Netflix. For me, it felt like I was literally wasting my days. So a few weeks ago,I decided to replace my gigantic, time consuming habit with other things that would be more beneficial to me. Hopefully reading my list will give you ideas, too. The following is what I want to accomplish:
Clean out a closet. Many people are making money selling clothes they no longer need online.
Organize my recipe box. Some organize it on their computer or put recipes in albums with plastic sheets.
Organize pictures in family albums or make your own book through Shutterfly or another online company. What about that trip you took? Are the pictures still on your phone?
Plan healthier meals for you and your family. I fall into a rut sometimes and planning something different breaks up the monotony of eating the same old thing.
Plan out what flowers or vegetables you're going to plant in your garden this spring or summer.
Get more exercise. I like dance around the house to fun music. When the ice is gone I will walk the dog more. I know we both desperately it.
Sewing projects — I still wear shoes with heels but not a high as I used to years ago. I found five pairs of jeans in my closet I could wear if I would hem them.
Take one room at a time and spring clean it — or perhaps just one cupboard at a time.
I'm sure you can come up with lots of things that would make your life easier and more organized. The key is to make your mind up to get them done.
The days are getting longer and by the time I write my next blog, it will be another season. Until then, I'm really excited for spring and I hope you are too!
Here's the links to my books:
Ryley (A Christmas Romance) at:https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084200
Heartbeat of Desire (A Modern History Romance) at:https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084219
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.
We all know it's more important than ever to take care of ourselves these days. I'm not just saying physically, but mentally too. I notice when I work out or take the dog for a walk, I feel more energetic and my creativity level spikes. It also puts me in a better mood. But have you ever noticed whenever you laugh how great you feel? Especially after you've listened to a good comedian or a really funny movie? I find it interesting that when I view something humorous in the evening before bed, I definitely sleep better.
I know a person needs to stay informed on what's going on in the world, but sometimes tuning into the news can be really stressful. I find if I listen too much, it robs me of hope that life will improve anytime soon. And I know from experience it's essential to remain hopeful in any undesirable situation. When my son was diagnosed with a terminal disease we dealt with a neurologist who didn't have a good bedside manner. We saw this particular doctor every six months and whenever I asked him what was new on the horizon in research for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, he got irritated with me. Eventually, he told me there was no sense in talking about it. Needless to say, we switched to a different doctor. I found I can deal with just about anything but I do need at least a shred of hope to get me through. How dare a doctor or anyone else take away my hope?
I know a person can't be happy and hopeful all the time and sometimes we simply chose not to be. But these days with Covid and the present state of the country, I'm going to give it my best shot to be optimistic and joyful. My goal is to eventually form a habit of living in the moment. I realize in order to reach my small personal goals, I'm going to have to let God handle the big things that are out of my control. My job is to keep a smile on my face and enjoy all the beauty this world has to offer.
If your needing something to fill the long winter days or nights, check out my books:
Ryley (A Christmas Romance) at:https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084200
Heartbeat of Desire (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084219
If you would like to be notified in an email about the release dates of my books and ones to follow, go to https://donnalovitz.com/contact/
Get your sparkle on — it's Christmas!
Some families are not getting together for the holidays because of Covid and that's really sad. Don't get me wrong, I am not putting down anyone for playing it safe. For many, it will be the first Christmas ever without family around to help celebrate. The whole situation affirms the Covid pandemic is without a doubt, a war with physical and emotional casualties.Thinking about it as a war, I remember my mother talking about World War II and all the things they couldn't have or do during that time. She spoke about receiving rations for many products like gasoline, nylons, shoes and anything constructed out of rubber. Foods like sugar, dried fruit — and heaven forbid — coffee or any form of chocolate. I'm sure there were more but those are the ones that stuck in my head. It sounded like tough times, especially with the Great Depression having ended just six years prior. In the end, lots of sacrifices were made and for many, they learned to be more resourceful and grateful. Maybe it opened their eyes to see what was really important in their lives?
All I want for Christmas this year is for everyone to be more loving and understanding of each other and keep the faith that the Covid war is close to the end.
No doubt, it will be difficult to be joyous without our loved ones near us. Perhaps, it will make us more appreciative of our families and close friends. Or even better — maybe the real reason for the season will shine a little brighter this year.
Merry Christmas!
If you're going to be alone this year and need something to keep you company, check out my books — Ryley (A Christmas Romance) at:https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084200
Heartbeat of Desire (A Modern History Romance) at:https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084219
I know some people say count your blessings, but I say tally them. You ask what's the difference? Tally means to keep a continuous account of something. Most of us can compose a list of people and things in our lives that mean a great deal to us but do we actually tally them as often as we should? We tend to think about them more when events in our lives tip the scales to the good or bad side. We seldom the take time to think about what we are grateful for when things are running at an even clip.
No one needs to be reminded about the challenges created by the Covid pandemic. We've all been affected by it in several ways. And perhaps the recent election didn't go in the direction many had hoped for. Then after all that, we get hit with another blow — we are told we shouldn't get together with our families on Thanksgiving.
It's hard to remain upbeat about our situation, but there are reasons to be grateful. The first time I actually used a computer was in 2010. During the same time I got a new phone and for a few weeks, it was information overload for this gal. I cursed technology. But without it, where would we be now? I don't know what kind of education the children are actually getting, but at least it's something. Could you imagine how things would have been if the pandemic would've occurred in the 70's, 80's, or even 90's? No child would be able to see a teacher for at least a year or two. I'm also thankful for smart phones that make it possible to see our loved ones. I know it's far cry from giving them a hug or a kiss, but at least we can see their faces when we tell them what a blessing they are.
No doubt for me, this year has been one to tally my blessings. I remind myself what my father-in-law had always said, "It's not all bad." Think about it, the Israelites were stuck out in the desert for forty years — this is only a bump in the road. We got this!
If your needing a fun little uplift, check out my books:
Ryley (A Christmas Romance) at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084200
Heartbeat of Desire (A Modern History Romance) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734084219
It all started when I went to my parents' house one afternoon for coffee. Somehow we got on the subject of dad's farming days when he was a child. His father and mother had a thrashing machine, six sons and four daughters who helped them run a farm in the 1920's—1950s. They thrashed their own farm fields and also some neighboring farms in the area. As my father talked, I gathered it was a lot of hard work, but some fun, too. He had twin cousins around his age who were practical jokers. When they were quite young, they somehow unhitched the work horses from the wagon without anyone noticing. When my grandfather got onto the wagon he shook the reins and shouted, "Giddy up," and then watched the horses run off toward home. One of the pranks they pulled off you will find in my book — HEARTBEAT OF DESIRE. I don't want to spoil it for anyone so you'll have to read the book to find out!
I went home with my Dad's stories still dancing in my head and dreamt later that night. I had always thought about writing a romance novel and I wanted it to be something that would keep my interest. A book with a Dallas/Dynasty feel crossed with the realities of hard working Minnesota farmers. Something believable that wouldn't be boring or make me want to throw the book across the room and say, "There's no way would that happen in a million years."
Days later, I returned to my parents house and told them I planned to write a romance novel. My mother wanted to know if I was serious, while my dad only smiled. He usually wasn't too encouraging about such things and I expected him to ask me if I were crazy. Instead, he in went into the bathroom and brought out a copy of the Reader's Digest. Inside was a story about Frank McCourt. Frank, who had endured a very hard life in Ireland, came to this country and became a teacher and a renowned author. I had previously read two of Frank's books —Angela's Ashes and 'Tis: A Memoir by Frank McCourt years earlier. While I read them, I discovered just how Irish my own father was. Frank referred to a mirror as a looking glass like Dad had always done, and as a joke they both recited the Irish phrase: "They must have dropped you when you were a kid."
I chose to write about the Watson/Montevideo area because in my dreams I saw a river and flat fields. It was a coincidence that around this time I learned some about the sugar beet farmers from a good friend who is an agronomist. I set the book in the seventies era because I believe it was more of a stress free time and most importantly— I grew up during that time. I went to Montevideo and interviewed as many older farmers as I could to get an idea of what the time period was like. I can't explain it but looking back now, it seems the characters wrote the story not me.
I've come a long way since I decided to write a book and I've still have a long way to go. There is more to writing a book than most people realize. I hope you will read HEARTBEAT OF DESIRE and enjoy it as much as I did writing it.
If you would like to be notified in an email about the release dates of my books go to: to: https://donnalovitz.com/contact/
We all know that we are going through some uncertain times. Between the upcoming election and Covid-19 things couldn't be more crazy. There are too many sources with huge amounts data on all accounts. The media on both sides of the political scale has painted a dreadful picture of what will happen if the candidate on the opposite side gets in or stays in office. And before all that started, Covid created a wave of panic that has taken a huge toll on everyone's mental health for most of the year. What's a person to do?
Shortly after the whole Covid epidemic started, I heard the song by Billy Currington "People are Crazy" and it stuck in my head for months. Of course in my mind, the words changed to wine instead of beer and I reminded myself that some people have always been crazy. But the thing that will never change is the first line in the refrain "God is great." Knowing that piece of information, it gives me the strength to move forward. I'm not in denial of what's going on around me on this earth, I've just chosen to live on in spite of it.
I've also learned that staying busy helps, too. Next month I'm releasing the first book in my HEARTBEAT SERIES — HEARTBEAT OF DESIRE. It's a spicy romance about a fiery widow and neighboring brothers who compete for her heart and her land. Caught up in their endeavor, the brothers forget that using too much fertilizer — isn't always a good thing. The story is filled with cutthroat sibling rivalry, blatant flirting and laced with delicious amounts of small town gossip.
If you would like to be notified in an email about the release dates of this book and ones to follow, go to: to: https://donnalovitz.com/contact/
For those who have already signed up, I will be sending an email to you soon.
Here is the link for Billy Currington's song "People are Crazy" https://youtu.be/PKpQRjj_WbU