Don't I Know You from Somewhere?

   A few days ago I asked and answered the question, "Where do they come from?" Meaning--characters, stories, etc.
    Now I ask, "Don't I know you from somewhere?" Because in the case of my newest "Safe At Home," the characters and the story in this 1Night Stand are related to a few others my partner-in-writing crime, Deanna Wadsworth, and I have come up with.
     While each of our stories is independent of one another, you can find out what happened to many of these folks by reading 'the next book' in a loosely planned series of 1Night Stands.
       Going backward, so to speak, Charly in "Safe At Home" works for an art gallery owned by Paul Strait in "Finding His Fantasy." Paul appeared in my "Wise Men Say" story. Charly and Andy's friend, Casey, is the lead in "For Me," and Deanna swiped a character from that story to pen "The Best Ever."
      If the baseball player in that story sounds familiar, he's Andy's teammate in my latest story. A woman mentioned in "The Best Ever" is the main character in my "Haste Ye Back." The story of the concierge in "HYB" is found in "Accidentally Beautiful," and he takes care of the main character in "The One He Chose." Which brings us back to where this started, with John Godfrey of "Bear It All" who is Charly's old boyfriend.
     While it may sound confusing, it's actually FUN to the point where some think Deanna and I are one in the same. And although I love her, and at times we can finish each other's sentences, rest assured we are two independent people who just find it a challenge and WAY too much fun to steal each other's minor characters and see where their stories go.
     Hope you enjoy these stories as much as we have stealing from one another and finding out where these 'people' end up!"
     "Safe At Home" is up for presale now at the following:  

All Romance E books: www.allromanceebooks.com/product-safeathome1nightstand-2150538-149.html

Amazon: www.amazon.com/Safe-Home-1Night-Stand-ebook/dp/B01M2V8SZU/

BOOKSTRAND:http://www.bookstrand.com/safe-at-home-1night-stand

GOOGLE PLAY: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Wendy_Burke_Safe_at_Home_1Night_Stand?id=2_06DQAAQBAJ

ITUNES:https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/safe-at-home/id1164789661?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

KOBO:https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/safe-at-home-1night-stand

SMASHWORDS:https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/671527

When not playing with the people in her head, Wendy has a full time job behind the scenes in television, a part time job in radio and an even 'parter' time job trying to keep her house clean. She lives with her cute chef husband and two fuzzy felines in the Great Lakes region of the Mid-West. 

And then there were five...

     Friday, September 6th -- another big day for me. My fifth story with Decadent Publishing will be released. As you can see by the banner, it's another 1NightStand story. Although, I would love someday to finish and release a full length novel, for some reason, these intense short stories seem to flow out of my head.

    FOR ME may hit a mark with some of you dear readers, especially if you're of the fuller-figure variety. I'll be honest, I've battled my weight and self-consciousness because of my weight, all my life. Sure, I was a size 8 for a year and a half --but it was a fairly unhappy, overly-obsessed- with-the-scale 18 months. I was a knock-out, but at what cost? I only wish I had the healthy attitude my character, Abby, does about her size. Thankfully, I have a husband, who like her date, Casey, accepts her as she is and more importantly who she is on the inside. Sure, it sounds very hokey and cliche, but his want of her, and their collective acceptance of beauty--inner and outer -- has been terribly maligned over the years. What are we teaching our children through the media's slanted, photo-shopped images of people?

     But, I didn't want to get too serious with this blog--rather PUSH a book! 

     Here's a little taste of what's between the (electronic) covers of FOR ME:

Welcome, Dr. Lewis.

I hope you are finding the Castillo Retreat relaxing and delightful. 1Night Stand takes into consideration both parties requests and appetites when designing their encounter.

Your date will arrive shortly. Please get comfortable by undressing and wearing the robe provided and relax on the massage table in the spa room. He expressed on his application that he has great hands. If you are accepting, he would like to begin the evening with a massage.

Despite knowing you’re a physician, your date is slightly self-conscious about his appearance, so by having you wear the blindfold provided, he’ll feel more comfortable. You may have some concern having one sense taken from you. I suggest you and your partner decide on a safe word. Should either of you feel uneasy at any time, with any action, use the agreed-upon word to stop the encounter.

Have a wonderful evening.

Madame Eve

“What the hell? He’s self-conscious? I’m the one bare-ass naked under nothing but a robe”

Staring at the envelope, she waited for the words to change even slightly. They didn’t. Dammit. With a grunt of irritation, she tossed the paperwork on the table and headed for the spa room.

He’s self-conscious. “Hmmm.” Disfigured from some accident, deformed at birth, marred by a bad case of adolescent acne? “Quit being so ridiculous, Abigail!”

She began to undress and caught a glimpse in the full-length mirror and sighed. She shouldn’t be disgusted—she had a beautiful, round figure, or so her mother told her all through high school, with well-defined arms and shoulders from her love of kayaking and canoeing. Hours in the medical center’s private pool helped as well. Regardless, an evil, self-destructive thought crossed her mind; He’ll wonder who delivered the cow then demand his money back.

Covering with the cozy bathrobe provided for her doused the notion. She lay down on her back on the towel-wrapped table and as directed, slipped the small blindfold over her eyes.

The world went dark. Not a frightening dark, but a deep, restful absence of light, a peaceful black.

Under the blindfold, she closed her eyes to the world. So quiet. She dozed, she had no idea how long, until the closing of the door brought her around.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Dr. Lewis. Or may I call you Abigail?”

“Abby is fine.” She turned her head, following the deep, satiny voice of a man. Quiet steps moved behind her head. He stopped. Fingering the knot of her robe, she tightened it, covering herself, hoping to ward off the odd sensation of him studying her shape.

The lonely spot between her legs pulsed when a heavy hand lit on her shoulder.

His breath fell warm and solicitous on her ear. “What would you like rubbed first?”

     With this story, a 'collaboration' of sorts with dear friend and fellow DP author Deanna Wadsworth, has come to an end. FOR ME is the sixth in the series of a half dozen DW and I have written with overlapping characters.

     And, how are all these books 'related,' well: the furry guy (John) BEAR IT ALL's cover is the brother of the lovely woman (Grace) on my THE ONE HE CHOSE. The cute blond (Martin) on Deanna's ACCIDENTALLY BEAUTIFUL is the concierge at a Castillo hotel where Grace stayed in her story. Martin is an old high school friend of the strapping, kilt-clad Scot (Ian) from HASTE YEAR BACK. The young lady (Bryn) on that same cover is neighbors with the t-shirted guy (Jason) THE BEST EVER, and he's the brother of the woman (Abby) on the cover of my FOR ME.

     (Deanna and I would be thrilled if you read them in order as they appear above. Despite getting a deep sense of the characters in each individual book, their on-going interaction gives even more understanding of their 'situations.')

     So, dear friends, thanks for reading. I hope you'll pick up and enjoy FOR ME!

When not playing with the people in her head, Wendy has a full time job behind the scenes in television, a part time job in radio and an even 'parter' time job trying to keep her house clean. She lives with her cute chef husband and three fuzzy felines in the Great Lakes region of the Mid-West. 

     

Yeah, it's been awhile...

...and for that I apologize. 

But, I've been busy, busy with the matter of life, illness and even death.

It's taken me more than a month to feel comfortable with sharing some personal information publicly, but maybe it's time.

Best Big Brother, ever!

For the past three years, I've been helping my only sibling, my brother, through some nasty stuff. You've seen bumper stickers and other signage reading: 'Cancer Sucks,' well, yes, it truly does. I think we're all know at least one person who has cancer, or who has been taken by it.

Unfortunately, my brother is just one of a half-dozen or more (I lose count) family members (in my family and my husband's) and friends who have died of that horrid disease in various forms. The CRAP that is cancer killed my brother in early December. 

I don't regret any of the moments I spent with him over the past years -- even if it meant driving six hours one way on a Friday only to have to turn around and drive six hours back home on Sunday to be to work at 4 Monday morning.

Was it difficult - it could be. Was it tiring - more than you can imagine. Was it simple compared to what my big brother was going through - like child's play. So, no complaining here.

He was with me all of my fifty years. And, although no one lives forever, that fifty certainly wasn't long enough in my book.

I know he's sitting in an ugly green and white woven lawn chair, in a sunny back yard with my parents and half of Sheboygan, Wisconsin's Swift Avenue on the 'other side' having a beer (well, at least one!) -  just for me. Other than being here, that's the most perfect image I can conjure! 

When not playing with the people in her head, Wendy has a full time job behind the scenes in television, a part time job in radio and an even 'parter' time job trying to keep her house clean. She lives with her cute chef husband and two fuzzy felines in the Great Lakes region of the Mid-West.Find her books at Decadent Publishing, Amazon and other reputable e-book retailers.

And, here it is..

Yep...it's a bit racier than the my other book covers, but there is something simply beautiful about the young lady. Most importantly, the silhouette in the background is the key to the story.

I love it...simple, poignant, sexy and mysterious.

The really cool thing -- parts of the story take place in my hometown, Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Was there awhile ago, and every time I visit, a new story pops into my head. Next one will include references to this photo: (good luck figuring this one out!)

Now the 'hard' part begins -- waiting for edits. Regardless, you should be able to read Wise Men Say sometime in December.

Happy waiting!
Wen

When not playing with the people in her head, Wendy has a full time job behind the scenes in television, a part time job in radio and an even 'parter' time job trying to keep her house clean. She lives with her cute chef husband and two fuzzy felines in the Great Lakes region of the Mid-West. Wise Men Say, Wendy's latest 1NightStand story from Decadent Publishing,will be ready in time for Christmas reading and giving.

When Characters 'chat'!

Writers talk--a lot--to one another. For example, my pal Deanna Wadsworth and I. But would you believe our book characters talk to one another as well? They do!

So, today we have with us Ian McCallum and Martin Baird. Ian is the sexy Scottish male character in my latest release HASTE YE BACK and Martin is the unwitting hero of Deanna's ACCIDENTALLY BEAUTIFUL, the second super hot tropical romance by her in the 1Night Stand series she and I have been writing with overlapping characters.

Ian and Martin have agreed to sit down and dish about Madame Eve and her 1Night Stand service.

________________________________________________________________________
So Ian, Martin, tell us how you met?

IAN:Oh hell, we've been mates since we wore short pants! In primary school-- 2nd or 3rd level--that's 2nd or 3rd grade to you Yanks. So, what when we were 7 or 8? He was getting the snot knocked out of him on the playground...so I knocked the snot out of those knocking on him...

MARTIN: It was Ian and Martin everywhere we went after that. The best of pals, saw all the good shows at the cinema on Saturday afternoon. You should have seen this bloke with a rugby ball!

IAN: Aye, well, I wouldn't have been playing rugby if you hadn't done all my book reports for me.

MARTIN: It was the least I could do

Sounds like you two were the best of pals. Now, there's something something about a kiss between you two?

MARTIN: (laughing) Oh, I shall take full blame for that. I mean look at the bloke, can't blame a guy for trying, right?

IAN: Try, being the operative word

MARTIN: (nudging Ian) Took him a second to figure that out though, right?

IAN:I love the guy--but it's not something I readily admit anymore---not that I'm ashamed of you or anything Martin--it's just, well--we were young and curious...that's all...forgive me, but I don't even remember if it was good!

MARTIN: (slapping his arm) Don't know if I like being forgotten so readily, its a bloody good thing I've forgotten as well!

IAN: (laughing) I don't buy that!

Now how did you hear about 1NS?

MARTIN: I work for the Castillo Resorts and for the last several years I have been setting up fantasy suites and encounters for Madame Eve's customers. All of which I am happy to report, seem to still be going strong. I never thought that I would be on the lucky end of her matchmaking skills, but I'm damn grateful for it

IAN: I'd been through a pretty rough marriage and had been divorced about six months when I run into this guy and his partner in a pub. He's going on and on about this woman and this 'service,' and well, I figured what did I have to lose! Anyway, he and Garret sure did seem happy together.

MARTIN: Took more than his fair share of pints to convince him that Garret and I weren't talking rubbish.

IAN: That and they were buying the rounds

 Ian, what happened with your 1NS date?

IAN:During the date! Are you outta your mind?! I'd like to see this young lady again.

MARTIN: Oh, I am sure you will see her again!

IAN: Aye, I know in my heart, I will.

MARTIN: You see, there is a wee bit of the fae about Madame Eve. She knows what you need in a partner, even if you don't. Garret even tried to trick her when he was hiring her but it didn't work

How did he try to trick her?

MARTIN: Well, my Garret, he likes a particular type of chap. He likes to be... how shall we say? In charge?

IAN: Aye, do I wanna hear this?

MARTIN: I’ll keep it clean, ya old bastard. Well Garret didn’t tell Madame Eve, but she knew somehow what he wanted and she handpicked me for him. I didn't evenknow I was being set up, I just thought I was having a bit of luck and met an amazing guy on holiday. But I believe Madame Eve was waiting for Garret to come along because she knew we were meant to be together. Just like she knew that Bryn and Ian were supposed to meet.

Ian tell us about that?

IAN: All I can say is from the moment I met her my heart was full--like she had been with me in the past, through so many things, lives...now I can't wait to see her again!

_________________________________________________________________________
If you want to know all the juicy details that Martin and Ian are apparently too polite to share, you can read Martin and Garret's story in ACCIDENTALLY BEAUTIFUL, by Deanna Wadsworth and Ian and Bryn's tale in my book HASTE YE BACK.

Of course, if you want the full picture why not start at the beginning?
BEAR IT ALL--A 1Night Stand Story
by Deanna Wadsworth

Can desire overcome misunderstanding when these two men bear it all? Or will both men walk away from exactly what they need and desire?

THE ONE HE CHOSE--A 1Night Stand Story
by Wendy Burke

A year after losing her beloved husband, Grace Witzler learns he left a special surprise for her. A fabulous getaway in the beautiful Canadian Rockies that includes a date with a mystery man arranged through Madame Eve’s 1NightStand dating service. She’s shocked and intrigued…what was Ben thinking?

Grace’s date is charming, handsome and about to find out whether the woman of his dreams will return his affection. He’s waited forever, but he’s reading to risk it all on a 1NightStand.

Find Deanna and me on Facebook!

One lucky commenter will win a copy of BEAR IT ALL and THE ONE HE CHOSE so you can start at the beginning of this sexy series!! (If you already have them--well, we'll give you something else!)

Don't forget to leave a comment to win!

---Wendy

Six degrees of (character) separation!

 

You've heard the term 'six degrees of separation.' Basically, you're just six people away from knowing everyone on earth. You know someone, who knows someone, who knows someone who knows someone, who works--let's say--at Buckingham Palace, who knows someone and before you know it, you know the Queen of England!

It happens in writers' heads and with their characters as well. And, what happens when one or two characters know someone in one, two or three books by different authors?

Such is the case when I began writing for Decadent Publishing's 1NightStand line. My writing partner in crime, Deanna Wadsworth, (who has had immense success with her full-length works for DP), started talking about characters, where they come from, and what if they knew one another from one book to the next.

And, so, six 1NS stories were born--three from her and three from me, with overlapping characters. In the end, will they all know each other---maybe! 


For example, take following book covers:

If you haven't read either of these 1NS stories, you may not know that the man on far left and the woman on the far right are brother and sister! And if you read The One He Chose you find out a bit what happened with Travis from Bear It All.

But, it doesn't stop there:

 

You see the cute blond from Accidentally Beautiful was our heroine's concierge in The One He Chose. And, a dear friend of the strapping Scot on the cover of Haste Ye Back.

I don't want to give everything away, but a friend of Bryn's from HYB could be the main character in the next book which Deanna is penning. And, then--well a story about his sister which I will write.

And in the end---well---you guessed it, it'll all go back to the beginning and somehow, everyone will be connected.

It's been fun determining how people are connected, it'll be even more interesting once the stories are complete! (For you and us as well!)

Check back Tuesday for a little insight into two of these characters!

Wendy

It's Excerpt Time---Haste Ye Back!

In just a couple weeks, my latest story with Decadent Publishing Haste Ye Back will be released.

So, that means it's Excerpt Time! Please enjoy this little taste of Haste Ye Back!

Ian didn’t deny his immediate attraction to Bryn, and he couldn’t help think she felt the same—gregarious and affectionate, her hand touched his arm, rested on his knee, and during something particularly amusing, playfully slapped his thigh, then lingered there, fingers dancing dangerously toward his inseam.

Maybe Martin and Garret had been right—this service was more than that. Spot on with their description of Madame Eve, even without the massive number of pounds he’d laid out for the arrangement. Obviously the proprietor had some sort of mental extension into the past and present to bring him someone with whom he had an immediate connection, and one who responded to him in the same manner. Like Eve had reached back into their collective conscious and recreated some long lost love and relationship.

Despite the obvious closeness and easy and entertaining conversation with Bryn, it still surprised him when less than two hours into their meeting she nuzzled against his cheek, her lips dragging over his ear when she whispered, “Uh, I hate to be blunt, Ian, but if I don’t get my mouth around your dick—and soon—I think I’m gonna die.”

 

Haste Ye Back and The One He Chose---1 Night Stand stories from Wendy Burke and Decadent Publishing!

First Round!

 Okay, I know...it's been awhile!

But, the good news is, I have completed ROUND ONE of edits for Haste Ye Back, which has a release date sometime later this month or early March. Now that's  exciting in my book!

In the meantime, The One He Chose has been getting amazing reviews. I'm shocked and proud all at the same time. If you look to the right, you can see TwoLips, Whipped Cream and Romancing the Book reviewed the story and all gave it high marks.

Just as a side note, my pal Deanna Wadsworth and I have been writing these 1 Night Stand stories with overlapping characters. Haste Ye Back is the fourth in the series of six we've planned. The series began with her Bear It All, followed by my The One he Chose, her Accidentally Beautiful will be out soon as well, then on to Haste Ye Back. While the stories stand alone in their own right, if you read them in sequence, you'll see what has happened with the characters in the previous book. After these four, well at least two more to come. And for those of you in the northwest Ohio, southeast Michigan area of the country, you may recognize some of the locations!

So, that's what's been going on from this end. Hope everyone is enjoying 2012!

Until next time...
Wendy

COMING SOON!

I know, it's been awhile!

I know, it's been awhile since you've seen something here, and for that I apologize!

Good news is, I have a new book in the works! Haste Ye Back is another 1NightStand story through Decadent Publishing. In the meantime, enjoy the trailer! It's beautiful and hits the mark perfectly! I'm telling you Katelynn Phillips has an amazing gift!

 Recently, The One He Chose was awarded FIVE CHERRIES from Whipped Cream reviews. I'm darn proud of that story!

And, in a week or so, Starla Kaye takes over my blog for a guest appearance! She chose my blog to confess about her attraction to cowboys!

Hope everyone's been well!

Wendy

Sean Casey, Trace Adkins and Me

This blog originally appeared on Decadent Publishing 1 Night Stand site in August. If you haven't seen it, hope you enjoy it! And to find out more about Deanna Wadsworth and my project for 1 Night Stand, check out Carrie Ryan's blog, Monday, Sept. 12th --a chance to win FREE books as well!

------------------------------------------------

What in the hell would those three things have in common this 1 Night Stand story which is on sale now?!

Well, it all goes to the process of how I write. I 'see' a character and I start writing about 'them.' I usually have NO idea what the women look like, but the men, well, no problem there. Now, granted my idea of a good lookin' dude might be completely different from someone else's. My mother once said about my being 'hooked' on some movie star, 'You have all your taste in your mouth.' Oh, well, to each his own and beauty IS in the eye of the beholder.

  But, back to Sean Casey. I just think he's cute as a button in a older athletic-guy way. Helps that he's a strappin' 6'4" and, at one time, played a mean first base. I needed an unassuming, all-American type for my hero and he just fit the bill. (I will ignore his one flaw- he hasn't returned my Tweets!)

 
Trace Adkins, on the other hand - well, you can blame that on Deanna Wadsworth - she got me into this whole 1 Night Stand thing, to the tune of THREE stories! Yes, there will be more (granted the Gods of Submissions look kindly on us) because to find out what happens to her massive bear-of-a-character, pseudo-Trace-Adkins look-a-like from Bear It All you'll just have to read The One He Chose! 


Then to find out what happens to my Sean Casey-esque character, well, who knows what Deanna will call her next 1NS story!


It's been a hoot working on this story. To be honest, I feel closer to them than I do/did with my characters in Respite. Don't know why that is, but maybe it's a 'writer thing.'


Anyway, The One He Chose has made people cry. I quote Valerie Mann (submissions editor), 'I read this and couldn't find one stinkin' Kleenex in the whole house and had to resort to toilet paper. You are scum for making me cry.' Best acceptance email ever!

The trailer has been well received as well. 'It gave me goosebumps,' one comment read.

I'm thrilled to find out what you think of it! There's an excerpt below.


Happy reading! 

 

“Grace.” The deep voice worked its way into her consciousness.

She sighed in her haziness and clutched the imaginary hand resting on her tummy. Whoever or whatever held her carried a familiar scent, one that elicited trust and caring.

Out on the porch, the mountain air had chilled. Despite the comfort of the presence around her, her body responded with a shiver.

A hand slipped into the lace triangle of her thong, caressing the area between navel and Nirvana.

Definitely not a dream.

She blinked, slowly coming to life. The frightened tone of her inquiry shocked even her “Who are you?”

“Relax.” His lips lovingly met her shoulder. “Ben sent me.”

He didn’t seem to have any malicious intent—well, at least not at the moment. And Madame Eve wouldn’t allow something hurtful to happen.

“What do you…?” The hand cupped her waxed-for-the-occasion pubic area. His callused digits followed a natural path. It’d been so long since someone had touched her in this manner, nearly two years. She didn’t blame Ben for the extended dry spell, only the disease which had dampened his interest and stamina.

 “I want you to relax and let me make love to you. That’s what you want, isn’t it?”

So, this is how this Madame Eve stuff works.

With little thought, she relented to her physical loneliness. She closed her eyes and shoved the lace below her hips. The stranger assisted until her legs were completely bare. “Yes, please.”

He was strong, agile, and wonderfully gentle.

A warm, sincere, somewhat familiar voice tickled her ear. “Grace.”

She leaned into him, wanting to sigh in happy relief and cry in terrible sadness. His arms about her, she slowly turned into his embrace. She closed her eyes, waiting for the initial kiss.

Then, it came, gentle yet deep and although he was a stranger, she felt a profound connection, a silent conversation. She raised her hand to touch his cheek in encouragement. Blinking in the darkness, desperately wanting to see her soon-to-be lover, her eyes finally focused and the world came to an abrupt halt.

Wendy is a displaced Cheesehead, proud to have been born and bred in Wisconsin. She was a migrant worker for years in the radio business, until she landed in Ohio and refused to leave. When she isn’t writing for pleasure and publication, she is a TV newsroom assignment manager.She shares her clean, yet perpetually dusty, house with her chef husband and two spoiled rotten cats.  Decadent Publishing has been a godsend for her as she can finally stop talking to the people in her head and allow them to speak for themselves!

Find her on Facebook (Wendy Burke Author), Twitter @WendyBurke1994 or send her a nasty email: wendyburke1994@bex.net 

A Bit 'Spicy,' but....

...sometimes you just have to 'go there.'

If you object to stepping over the 'moral' line of what is 'acceptable,' you may want to stop reading now, because ---yes--I am going to push my pal, Deanna Wadsworth's latest story, Bear It All. (and, 'bear' is used properly in the title.)

DW and I became fast friends when we ran into each other (nearly physically) at a Maumee Valley Romance Writers of America meeting. At the time we both wondered what the HELL we were doing there! But, since we both had 'people running around in our heads,' we were obviously destined to be friends. 

The people in her head, however, are a bit wilder than mine! She writes erotica...m/m erotica. And yes, I too had to ask - 'What is m/m?' Well, that would be man on man. Fill in the blanks yourself!

But, she writes m/m so well! Really!  She keeps telling me to 'come to the dark side,' and maybe some day, I might just venture there, because she certainly is selling books! (I would have to change my name again, but...)

There is another reason for mentioning Bear It All. Along with it being released on my birthday, (purely coincidence) it's also the first story in a short series DW and I are writing together. Read BIA, then my latest The One He Chose (release date August 9th) and you'll find out what happens with John and Travis in BIA.(See the woman on the cover here, well she is John's sister.)

So, whether it's m/m, m/f, m/m/f, s/D or whatever - everyone deserves a HEA or HFN. Hope you will find that with our characters in all of our stories!

(BTW...by the way...HEA=Happy Ever After and HFN=Happy For Now.) 

Happy Reading! 
Wen

Bear It All is available now. The One He Chose on sale August 9th.
Check out all of DW's titles at Decadent Publishing - and mine (well the one!) is there too!

See the trailer here!

When not playing with the people in her head, Wendy is a TV newsroom assignment manager. She lives with her chef husband and two furry feline children in the Great Lakes region of the Midwest. You can find her on FACEBOOK,Twitter @WendyBurke1994, and lurking about the internet!

What's really important?

 I know I've been absent for more than a month now. Well, I was a bit busy. Doing what? Well, finding out what's really important.

And, what really IS important can be summed up by this photo: my brother Denny and me circa 1965. As you can tell, he's a bit older than I am, which made for some interesting interactions growing up. I stayed with him for more than a week in June as he's again battling another serious health problem. Yep...that's what's really important...family.

Even more important than getting books written, edited and published. More important than any steady employment. It's a wonderfully-accepted duty and the ultimate honor to help him in any way I can. He's my biggest fan, not of my writing, but of just plain-ole me. Which is the highest compliment.

So, that's where I've been, zipping six hours over turnpikes and interstates to and from where I live, to my hometown where he lives. Even though his couch is lumpy (and always has been!) and I have limited access to Internet (which makes me feel a bit closed in), the important things are getting done - he is getting better, and I've been spending some busy, paper-work entrenched time with him. And, you know what? I actually enjoy climbing over those little bumps in the road with him...it makes us both stronger, and it's what's really important.

At the same time, I can't neglect this 'side-profession' I have.

I don't concern myself with book sales, as to be honest, I don't know what they've tallied! It's said you have to 'spend money to make money.' In my situation, that means GIVE STUFF AWAY. Which I am, Tuesday, 7/19 at Deanna Wadsworth's blogspot and Saturday, 7/23 at The Romance Studio. Go to either site and register to win a copy of my first release, RESPITE, from me and Decadent Publishing. The low spots as of late, have been lessened by some great reviews!

And, what's next? Well, working on the next story for DP. A short, 1 Night Stand series work titled, The One He Chose. Keeping my fingers cross for an August release date.  Dara England of Decadent Publishing again hit the mark with this beautiful cover.

So, that's what I've been doing - finding out what's really important. Those 'dark days' can be harried and stressful, but if you sit back, relax and let 'nature take its course,' you will find those nuggets of peace, joy and happiness in the midst of the chaos.

I know...because I have.

Thanks for reading!
 Wen

When not playing with the people in her head, Wendy is a TV newsroom assignment manager. She lives with her chef husband and two furry feline children in the Great Lakes region of the Midwest. You can find her on FACEBOOK, Twitter @WendyBurke1994, at her local writers' website and lurking about the internet.