Welcome to my home! Sit down and have a coffee or a brew. I'm easy. As I give the blog a 2023 update. Thanks for popping in and I hope you enjoy some stories under the moonlight. I support American products and occasionally will feature some of my favorite finds. Find me on Amazon at Stephanie Burkhart. My website is: http://www.stephanieburkhart.com
I was exploring themes for February and came across the fact
that February was Creative Romance Month. When I tried to look for information
on the inspiration for making February Creative Romance Month, I couldn't find
much.
So I had to wonder, was February named Creative Romance Month
since Valentines Day falls during February or was there another reason? Just
what is "creative" romance?
Approach #1
Valentines Day is a day that celebrates love. We associate
hearts, flowers, hugs, cards, romantic dinners and other gestures with the day.
I suppose all these traditional gestures could get stale after a while. Love, stale? I can't imagine. It's time
to get creative!
Ideas:
Share a coffee & chocolate with your sweetie.
Try a new restaurant you haven't tried before.
Approach #2
As a romance writer, it's about the characters and the
conflicts they have to overcome to become a couple. The more 'creative' the
conflict, the more intriguing the romance. I'd use Creative Romance Month to inspire the conflict.
Question for you: So what approach speaks to you – one or
two? Do you have any creative ideas you'd like to share? How do you keep your
romance fresh and creative?
Author Bio: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 Dispatcher for LAPD.
She writes contemporary, paranormal, fantasy, and steampunk romance. Sharing a
nip of chocolate with her boys and a nice dinner with her husband is her idea
of the ultimate Valentine.
A Polish Heart
Sweet Contemporary/Inspirational Romance
99 cent Novella
Blurb: Can Sofia's faith give Darrin his heart
back?
*****
"He wants to know what you
want to talk about," said Dracek in a heavy accent.
One of my favorite presidents is Franklin D. Roosevelt. Why? Because of the strong leadership he provided the nation during World War II. (This despite the fact he spent his presidency in a wheelchair.) But it wasn't Franklin's spirit and strong will that saw the nation through World War II. He and his wife, Eleanor, were truly a "team," a force to be reckoned with in American Politics.
I've always admired Eleanor. Why? Because she faced many of the same challenges Franklin did – and more. One of my favorite "Eleanorisms" is:
"A woman is like a tea bag. You can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water."
I shared that quote with a class I was in training with recently and they loved it. Eleanor Roosevelt resonates through the ages. Every week I share quotes of hers with my Twitter followers, hoping to inspire and find common ground with others.
What is it about Eleanor that resonates? I think for me, that despite growing up wealthy, she was always approachable to the every day person. Heck, when George VI and his wife visited the USA in the 1930s, they hosted a picnic for the royal couple and served hot dogs. Very down to Earth with honest appeal and charm if you ask me.
Just a little about Eleanor and what shaped her life:
She was born in October 1884. Her father was Teddy Roosevelt's brother, making President Teddy Roosevelt her uncle.
Eleanor's first name was Anna, but she preferred "Ellie."
Eleanor's mom died when she was 8. Her alcoholic father was committed to a sanitarium when she was 10.
Eleanor went to a private finishing school in London, England when she was 15 and learned to speak French.
Eleanor met her 5th cousin, Franklin Delano in 1902.
Franklin's mom did everything she could to discourage the match, but Franklin stuck to his guns. He wanted to marry Eleanor. They got hitched on 17 March 1905.
In 1921, Franklin was hit by a paralytic illness while vacationing in Maine which resulted in permanent paralysis of his legs. At the time, the doctor diagnosed polio, but it's now believed he might have had Guillain-Barre syndrome.
After Eleanor discovered FDR's affair, their marriage almost fell apart, but they decided to stick it out. Why? FDR respected her intelligence and honest and sincere desire to improve the world.
I'll have more on Eleanor and her time as the first lady next week. Here are some of my favorite quotes:
A little simplification would be the first step toward rational living, I think.
Friendship with ones self is all important, because without it one cannot be friends with anyone else in the world.
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.
I have spent many years of my life in opposition, and I rather like the role.
Read more quotes by Eleanor at
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/e/eleanor_roosevelt.html#wAcqAtDwZLTVG6yB.99
Feedback:
I'd love to hear your thoughts on Eleanor. Does she inspire you? Could she? Is she the first modern woman of the 20th Century?
Author Bio: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She lives in Castaic, CA and likes to write contemporary, steampunk, paranormal and fantasy romance. She also writes for children with 4RV Publishing.
JOURNEY OF THE HEART
Blurb: Set in Sonoma, CA in 1946, can James help Rachel save her winery or will he drift out of her life the same way he drifted in?
4, 5 Star Reviews on Amazon
The story was compelling and not boring, which is often a stereotype of sweet romances. I would recommend this short sweetie of a story. Good job, author. - Angel E
Excerpt:
"Your case threatened to run away, so I bribed it." Her sweet expression was an arrow through his heart.
"Really? What did you bribe it with?" He wiped the sweat off his brow with a handkerchief, caused from a combination of the summer heat and lifting the heavy cases.
"A job."
He hooked his thumb toward his chest. "Are you offering me a job, Miss Santori?"
Just thought I'd like the Olympics Inspire me this week:
Kyla Harrison has the heart of a champion. It's performances like this which inspire me. She played with heart and it showed.
So far, I'm enjoying all the Olympics. My favs: Gymnastics, Rowing is cool. Volleyball is fun - Team and Beach. Sychronized Diving is Amazing. And swimming keeps me riveted to the TV.
So what does the Olympics have in common with writing? For me, I think it comes back to having the heart of a champion. You've got to keep writing to keep your writing muscles tone and firm. You're always looking for inspiration, the next story, doing your research.
I'd love to hear your thoughts - And don't forget to tell me what your favorite Olympic summers you're enjoying this year.
Summer is hot and the best way to cool off is in the pool, at the beach, or by the lake which means swimsuits and swimsuits show off our svelte bodies.
For me, the romance of summer can be found in the locales which only summer can offer. They include the lake, the beach, even a vineyard. A field or a forest is a perfect place for a picnic lunch. How about going for a horseback ride before that picnic?
If you're the adventurous sort, there's always romance to be found in the "adventure." You could share a 2 person kayak, parasailing, snorkeling, or a zip line.
The "heart" of these activities and locales is that you can enjoy them with the one you're falling in love with and making wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. Heck, I remember when I was falling for my husband, racquetball was our game.
Writing the Romantic Formula:
The formula is a "core" element to all romance stories: Developing a relationship between a man and woman. Plot elements to keep in mind when you write: An external conflict (a problem the hero/heroine have to work on) brings them together, but it's the internal conflict that they struggle with which makes falling in love that much more rewarding.
QUESTION: If you were going on a romantic summer picnic, what type of food would you pack?
My latest romance is a short 99 cent dime novel, Journey of the Heart.
Blurb: Set in Sonoma, CA in 1946, can James help Rachel save her winery or will he drift out of her life the same way he drifted in?
Review: 5 Stars, AngelE, Amazon Reader:
The story was compelling and not boring, which is often a stereotype of sweet romances. I would recommend this short sweetie of a story. Good job, author.
Excerpt:
"Your case threatened to run away, so I bribed it." Her sweet expression was an arrow through his heart.
"Really? What did you bribe it with?" He wiped the sweat off his brow with a handkerchief, caused from a combination of the summer heat and lifting the heavy cases.
"A job."
He hooked his thumb toward his chest. "Are you offering me a job, Miss Santori?"
I love fairytales. There's something about the heroic knight, the corrupt nobleman, and the headstrong princess that resonates with me. Perhaps it's a throw back to another time and place that feels achingly familiar. Or perhaps it's the chance to play in a world left in the past. In "Twilight Over Moldavia," my latest paranormal release, there's a heroic prince, a headstrong princess, and a vengeful werewolf for a villain.
The inspiration behind the story was a thought: I wanted to write a fairytale in reverse were the heroic princess saves the handsome prince with a kiss.
Then I had to ask: How do you go about doing that realistically? Especially since most fairytales have the heroic prince saving the princess.
The plot began to firm up. Prince Stefan was cursed to become a werewolf on his 18th birthday by his mother. His mother, however, bargained a condition with the evil werewolf to free her son should he fall in love before his 18th birthday. The evil werewolf, convinced that would never happen, agreed to the condition. Stefan's mother, the Queen, would move heaven and earth to find the perfect girl he could fall in love with – only the perfect girl dies and Stefan must marry her sister, the headstrong princess, Caroline.
Agim Kaba, inspiration for "Stefan."
The novel went through several drafts before settling comfortably into the story that is now "Twilight Over Moldavia." I loved turning the plot of the fairytale on its head. Stefan and Caroline embrace their destinies with noble hearts. Theresa, Stefan's mother, is tortured down to the depths of her soul because of her decision. Amazing where inspiration can take you, isn't it?
BLURB: Would you marry a man cursed to be a werewolf?
5 Stars, Long & Short Book Reviews Twilight Over Moldavia is even better than the first book in the series. It is an excellent story filled with just the right balance of romance, magic, and danger.
5 Hearts, Sizzling Hot Book Reviews The twisting story line will keep your nose in the book until you have finished. Stephanie's ability to add suspense and mystery to romances gives her stories all the more depth. If you love werewolf stories, romances, or a good book, I recommend Twilight Over Moldavia.
4 Stars, Vijaya Schartz, author In this novel full of danger and intrigue, sexy scenes, and unspeakable secrets, the werewolves are the villains, and oh how dangerous they are, and unwashed, and uncivilized. The kind of villains you love to hate.
5 Stars, Mona Risk, Author "No More Lies" Burkhart's writing style grabs the reader from the first page. She keeps you breathless with her suspense as she transports you to exotic areas you will enjoy discovering.
5 Stars, Karen Michelle Nutt, Author of the "Fallen Angel" Series: "Ms. Burkhart paranormal tale is rich in history, painting a picture as clearly as if the reader is standing beside Stefan and Caroline."
5 Stars, Barbara M. Hodges, Author of "The Blue Flame" Twilight Over Moldavia whisked me into a part of the world I knew nothing about, and gave me a wonderful love story filled with suspense too. What more could a reader desire?
5 Stars, Reader's Favorites, Brenda Ballard
BOOK TRAILER:
ENJOY THIS EXCERPT:
She nipped at her lower lip, and the energy between them surged. He tilted his head and drew her close, their mouths awkwardly skirting each other. Her breath, warm and hinting of apricots from the wine she had sipped earlier, ghosted over his cheek. Their lips brushed, and his pulse spiked. Gently, he continued to kiss her with hesitant exploration. She was the first woman he had ever kissed, and her lips were everything he had expected -- and more.
He placed his hands on her waist and tugged her close, pressing her against the length of his body. She put her hands on his shoulders and trailed her fingers along the nape of his neck.
Stefan groaned and increased the intensity of the kiss. Fueled by their mutual desire, his manhood grew hard. He hadn't known that feeling before. He could lose his head to it.
He broke off the kiss and drew in a breath. Confusion pooled in Caroline's expression.
"No." He paused. "I don't think we should go too fast."
"All right."
"Alina, I don't think it's wise for us to discuss Viktor," Stefan's mother said, her proximity startling him. Nervous energy spiked through him at her tone.
He placed his finger over his lips, and Caroline nodded. He furrowed his brow and gestured for her to hide behind the rose bushes near the bench with him. She did so.
His mother's and Lady Alina's footsteps echoed along the walking path.
"Viktor put all of this in motion," Lady Alina said.
Stefan's mother exhaled. "No, I did," she said, her voice heavy with regret. "I made a poor decision."
Julianne Moore inspiration for "Theresa"
"He took advantage of you in a moment of deep pain. You were mourning the death of your son, Hadrian."
"I should have been more guarded."
"Viktor was a cunning wolf. We all thought he could be trusted."
Their footsteps stopped. Stefan prayed they couldn't hear his pounding heartbeat.
"The curse will come to fruition soon," Alina said.
BUY LINKS:
ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-moldavianmoonbooktwotwilightovermoldavia-667833-139.html
A member of Generation X, Stephanie was born in Manchester, New Hampshire. After graduating from Central High, she joined the U.S. Army. She spent 11 years in the military, 7 stationed in Germany. While in the military she earned her B.S. in Political Science from California Baptist University in Riverside, CA in 1995. She left the Army in 1997 and settled in California. She now works for LAPD as a 911 Dispatcher. The New England Patriots are still her favorite football team. Stephanie has been married for over 19 years. She has two boys, Andrew, 8, and Joseph, 4.
