new posts in all blogs
Viewing Blog: Flights of Fancy, Most Recent at Top
Results 1 - 25 of 790
Gina Ardito's Writing Diary Captured In the 'Net
Statistics for Flights of Fancy
Number of Readers that added this blog to their MyJacketFlap: 1
It's Giving Tuesday, a day to provide generously to those less fortunate during the holiday season. As part of my list of charities for the coming year, here's one for animal lovers and patriots alike.
Paws of War rescues dogs from shelters around the country and trains them to become service dogs for veterans suffering from PTSD and/or Traumatic Brain Injury. They're an all-volunteer organization and all donations go directly to the dogs and the vets.They also offer low cost vaccinations (free for veterans!) to the public's pets.Be a hero for someone who's already proved him/herself a hero to us. Please give.Thanks!GinaFind me on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Ardito/e/B001JSBY16
Many years ago, when I was a young teen, my dad lost his job right before the holiday season. We were a big family, living on my father's meager income and supplementing that income with our own homegrown fruits and vegetables and fish from the local waters. But to lose that income in the middle of autumn didn't make it easy for us to subsist, and then, of course, there were the upcoming holidays.
I remember sitting in my family dining room with my mom one night, planning the homemade gifts we could make (I had just learned how to sew in Home Ec at school) when there was a knock on our back door. When Dad opened it, the first thing I saw was a ginormous basket wrapped in plastic and tied with a huge golden bow. Friends and neighbors had taken up a collection for us and presented us with everything we needed for a Thanksgiving dinner: a turkey, stuffing, nuts and fruit, two pre-baked pies, and even a bottle of wine. I'll never forget the expressions on my parents' faces: an enormous weight had been lifted off their shoulders. Even as a cynical teenager, I was moved by the sheer generosity and kindness shown to us that night. It's why I always strive to give as much as I can during the holiday season.
There's a food drive going on in my area of the state today for Island Harvest, a local foodbank. If you're a Long Island resident, please visit their website and make a contribution to help ease the holiday stress for a family or two. If you're not on Long Island and want to help someone near you, find a local foodbank or pantry in your area.
I just want you to remind you: kids are poor, too. They can't do much to help, but your help can ease their parents' burdens a little bit and maybe, put a smile on an otherwise stressed face. Give generously. Choose love.
Find me on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Ardito/e/B001JSBY16
Notice anything different?
Yep. I've updated my blog...again. Over the years, I found the red and gold a little too heavy, through new updates I've discovered difficulty in getting the fonts at a good size, photos weren't popping up on social media the way I liked, and my social media share buttons had disappeared. So, for my benefit and yours, I spent some time cleaning and streamlining this haven for book news, recipes, and my outlook on the world.
This kind of minor upheaval is not that unusual for me. Every half-dozen years or so, I feel the need to declutter, to update, to make a few changes. It's not just online. I'll change my hairstyle (and color--more to come on that!), I'll clean out my closet and update my wardrobe, and I'll renovate a room in my house.
Sometimes, like now, it coincides with my husband being out of the country. I think it has to do with a sudden switch in my priorities. If I'm not worried about cooking dinner or running errands, I can focus my energies elsewhere. Don't get me wrong. I'm not chained into the Happy Housewife role when he's around. It just seems to be easier to get things done when he's not underfoot or voicing opinions.
Or...
Maybe it has to do with the fact that I'm closing in on The End on another book and I'm dragging my feet?
Yeah, that could be it, too.
Either way, look at my new blog! Ain't it pretty?
Find me on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Ardito/e/B001JSBY16
Each month, I'll focus on one of the many charities out there doing good work, in the hope it will inspire you to give something back to those in need.
This month, meet Trinity Place Shelter. From their website:
"...our mission is to help homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ*) youth and young adults in New York City to safely transition out of the shelter system and grow into independent, positive, and productive adults."
Over the last ten years, this shelter based in New York, has sought to provide a safe haven for LGBTQ youth through education, counseling, career guidance, and other benefits. Those with nowhere else to go can find a loving home and safe environment within their walls. Most of all, they receive *acceptance.* Residents learn they are worthy of respect and love and find the strength and support they need to become thriving adults.
Please take a moment to visit their website, learn about what they do, and how you can help!
Thank you. Remember, we're stronger together.
Gina
Find me on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Ardito/e/B001JSBY16
By:
Gina Ardito,
on 11/11/2016
Blog:
Flights of Fancy
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Politics,
Hillary Clinton,
Human Rights,
Climate Change,
Feeding America,
Donald Trump,
Charities,
Post Election,
US Senate,
Planned Parenthood,
US Congress,
Clinton Foundation,
CCE,
Choose Love,
Fair Immigration,
Add a tag
The election is over and many of us have been left stunned, horrified, or maybe a bit of both at the results. Since Wednesday morning, we've heard the comments to "get over it," "give him a chance," and "focus on 2018 or 2020." Sorry, but I don't think we can wait. Not with the potential for so much damage worldwide in the coming years.
I admit, I've always steered away from discussing politics on my blog and social media sites because I didn't want to alienate readers or writer friends who see things differently than I. But when it comes to people (whether I know them or not) suddenly facing the loss of their rights, their very humanity, under the country's new leadership, I can't remain silent. Book sales and readership don't mean squat if someone or a group of someones could have been helped by my speaking up about injustice and I kept silent to maintain my neutral position. That's not who I am.
Now, I'm a middle-aged white woman, an atheist, secure in my middle income life. I didn't vote for Trump; I headed for the Hills from the get-go because I honestly believed she was the best candidate for the job and never bought into the smear campaign that has dogged her for thirty years. So, technically, I don't have a lot to lose in the next four years. Except my self-respect if I sit back and do nothing for those who aren't as fortunate.
A few days ago, over on the Authors of Main Street blog, I asked everyone to join me and "Choose Love." Here, on my personal blog, I intend to elaborate on that ideal because, clearly, going around hugging strangers isn't going to help anyone. What is?
Action! Going forward, I'll be fighting in my own ways. I've always donated to my pet causes. Now, I plan to give more. To more organizations. On both a national and local scale.
No longer will I wait for the local Girl Scouts to take up a collection for the homeless outside my local supermarket, allowing me to buy a half dozen items from a prescribed list and leave, after handing over my piddly donation, feeling good about myself. No. I will buy an extra bag of groceries, health and beauty items, warm socks, etc. whenever I go shopping and turn those items over to my local shelters or pantries.
I'll donate time by volunteering. I will open myself up to those who need my help and pitch in wherever and however I can.
And most important of all, I will be watching. I won't tolerate bullies, ignorance, or selfishness from those I know. And when I see our politicians attempt to enact some heinous legislation, I won't just shake my head or chuckle along with my favorite liberal comedians on television and radio. I'll be contacting my representatives. I'll call them, write them, let them know that they don't represent the small sliver of society I'm a part of, but all of society. And P.S. not only do I vote, I post on social media and I name names.
If they try to take away the right to decent medical care for twenty million citizens, I will do everything in my power to fight them.
If they try to delegitimize the marriages of half a million people, based on who they love, I will do everything in my power to fight them.
If they try to deport eleven million people who fled poverty and/or death threats for the chance at a better life, I will do everything in my power to fight them.
If they try to control women's rights to determine our own healthcare needs or worse, criminalize those decisions, I will do everything in my power to fight them.
If they ignore the warnings about climate change and try to create legislation that will do more harm to the planet, I will do everything in my power to fight them.
I will use my voice, my pen, my money, and my vote to fight. And I'll be sharing much of this with you, friends. Here. On Facebook. On Twitter. In real life.
Care to join me? Feel free to tell me (here, on Facebook, on Twitter, in real life) about something you've done to turn the tide, and I'll find a way to reward you. Writers might receive a review, a free edit, a promo opportunity from me. Readers might get free books or their name in a book I write as a character or a dedication. Anyone could get a gift card or a sweet surprise.
Choose Love and Fight Hate.
That's what we do now. We don't leave the country. We get up and we fight to be the country we always believed were: full of hope, full of generosity, full of love of our fellow man.
Here are some places to start:
National Resources Defense Council
Lambda Legal
Feeding America
Fair Immigration Reform Movement
Human Rights Campaign
Citizens Campaign for the Environment
Planned Parenthood
Find Your Congress Representative
Contact Your Senator
and of course,
The Clinton Foundation
Thank you for reading.
Gina
By:
Gina Ardito,
on 7/28/2016
Blog:
Flights of Fancy
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Reviews,
Amazon,
Sneak Peek,
New Release,
rehab,
preview,
alcoholics,
Calendar Girls,
Homecoming in November,
Add a tag
HOMECOMING IN NOVEMBER is live and now available for purchase. I want to first thank all my readers who pre-ordered their copies. Check your Kindles, friends. It's there, ready for your reading pleasure. And please, when you're finished, be kind enough to leave a review (good or bad). Your opinion actually does matter!
How?
Well, first, it helps other readers find me. Readers do check reviews: some only read the very good and the very bad reviews; some only read the middle-of-the-road reviews; and some read all the reviews, good, bad, or indifferent. But they do read the reviews, absorb the comments, and make up their own minds about purchasing.
Second, it helps Amazon find me. The more reviews a book receives, good or bad, the more the book shows up in Amazon's crazy botland and gets bumped up out of the sea of books available to customers.
Lastly, it helps me decide what to write next. If a reviewer states (s)he can't wait to read a character's story, there's a possibility I might not have considered writing that character's story. Now, maybe I will.
But enough about the business. Let's have some fun! Let's read a sample, shall we?
I stifled the excited screech straining to escape from my lips and stared out the windshield at the line of scrub pines adjacent to the parking lot. Rain dripped off the needles and onto the blanket of dead leaves that had blown there on some other day’s blustery wind. I don’t know why I noticed them. Since finding sobriety, some of my senses had grown stronger, no longer dulled by alcohol. Nowadays, I noticed a lot of things I hadn’t before: the smell of the air before a heavy rain like this morning’s, the softness of a puppy’s fur, the tang on my tongue when I drank orange juice. All of it was new and exciting. Which brought me right back to tonight’s invitation, also new and exciting, and my heartrate kicked up a notch.
Breathe, kiddo. Play it cool. Don’t be a dork.
When I finally got some semblance of control again, I texted back. What time?
Be ready by 5?
Two hours’ notice? Was he kidding? Or did he think I’d just spent the day waiting for him to text me and invite me someplace? Don’t answer that. I know I did, but that didn’t mean I wanted him to know it—or even thinkit. Okay, how did I answer him without looking like the dateless loser I was?
I took another deep breath, let it out slowly, then did it again. I toyed with the leather tassels on my keyring and continued the slow breathing exercises I’d learned in rehab.
My time-wasting ploy had nothing to do with drinking, of course. I didn’t want to look too eager. Let the famous Max Trayham think I had to consider my options. As if I had any other options, besides sitting home with a nuked frozen dinner while binge-streaming some television series from my childhood. Addicts like me never really get over their addictions. We channeled them into other habits: smoking, coffee-drinking, or in my case, TV-watching.
While I wasted time, I wondered what he was doing on the other end of our conversation. Did he worry I might say no? Was he staring at his screen like I was? Or was he scrolling through his contacts list, seeking out better possible dates? That thought had my palms sweating and my heart galloping again, so I typed a quick one-letter reply.
K.
Crap, I was such a dateless loser.
This time, his response came back almost immediately—as if he had it already typed out, just waiting to hit Send.
Don’t shatter the fantasy for me, please. Just go with it.
Great. I need your address so we can pick you up.
We. Right. I should have realized he already had a date. He did say he wanted me to be his guard dog. That’s all I was to him. His sober buddy. Still, I was going to a party in the Hamptons. That was a PBD: a pretty big deal.
What should I wear?I asked.
Whatevs.
Really? That was his answer? Didn’t he understand the horror of being under- or overdressed at an event? Women sweated and died, stressing about looking just right. Maybe not “died,” but I bet the pressure shaved a few minutes off their lives. Add that up over a lifetime…
Is it dressy or casual? I texted.
Both, I guess.
Oh, for God’s sake! My thumbs hammered the keys on my cell. Can you at least tell me where it is? If I knew the venue, I might have a better idea of the dress code.
At a friend’s house.
Nope. Not a clue. I tried again. What are you wearing?
The usual.
Aaargh! The man was no help at all. I’d have to muddle through on my own, come up with something casual but dressy. Rather than prolong my agony, I surrendered on the topic of clothing and sent him my address.
Great. See you at 5. Tx, Terri. You’re my angel.
Heh. He called me his angel.
Trust me, I texted back. I’m nobody’s angel.
With a satisfied smile, I tossed my phone into my purse, started my car, and headed home. I was going to have to seriously rummage for something “whatevs” to wear.
Go on. Click here to buy your copy. And don't forget to check out the other books in the Calendar Girls series if you haven't already!
Find me on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Ardito/e/B001JSBY16 
I'm celebrating the upcoming release of HOMECOMING IN NOVEMBER (Book 3 of the Calendar Girls series), available for preorder here, and readers get the bennies.
For the next two days, Book 1, DUET IN SEPTEMBER, is available on Amazon for free! You'll not only meet the twin heroines and their sexy heroes, you'll come across a few characters who'll feature in Books 2 and 3 (or in an upcoming book). Snug Harbor is a charming resort town where you'll feel at home during every visit.
Snug Harbor earned its name because the town bordered large water on two sides. On the southern coast, the Atlantic Ocean offered miles of pristine beach with soft white sand, ideal for the tourist trade. The rocky northern coast sat at the edge of the Long Island Sound, creating a perfect waterway for fishermen. Whereas the south end of town prospered due to multi-million dollar properties, five star restaurants, and upscale boutiques, this side—the north crescent—catered to a very different clientele. No-frills motels, bars, delicatessens that opened at four in the morning to serve breakfast for early rising mariners, bait shops, and takeout restaurants ruled here.
The north side also had a wilder beauty than the south, thanks to less development and a more rural flavor. At least, that was my opinion. Buildings were erected farther apart, with lots of open space between. Bulrushes caught the breeze and rustled. Seagulls hovered, squawking as they sought leftover food to scavenge. Across the rocky inlet, the Coast Guard station stood sentry with its lighthouse and flapping flags.
The one exception to this pristine homage to Mother Nature was Coffield’s Wharf, a miniature version of San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf. Our replica boasted a popular clam bar where tourists and locals could grab fresh-caught seafood and pitchers of frosty beer while dining outdoors at picnic tables. For higher end clientele, there was also one five-star restaurant with spectacular water views. The various outbuildings housed a few souvenir shops, an old-fashioned ice cream parlor, an expensive toy store, and of course, a Coffield’s Bluff wine store that offered free tastings on weekends. When Nia and I were kids, our parents often took us to the wharf in the evenings for ice cream or fried clams, or just to walk over to the docks next door to see the party boats sailing back with the day’s catch. At ten on a Saturday morning, I figured most of the crowds would be elsewhere: the beach, breakfast (obviously), aboard party boats, or wherever else tourists went on beautiful sunny days.
The simple joys of childhood echoed around me as I cycled toward the wharf. I passed the old elementary school Nia and I had attended. Behind the school sat the playground where I’d had my first kiss from a boy. Darren Simmons had been eight and I was seven. His family moved to Texas a few weeks later and for a while, I thought my scandalous behavior was the cause of their abrupt departure from Snug Harbor. When I’d finally confessed my deep dark sin to my mother, she’d laughed and explained Darren’s father had been offered a transfer from his company. The peck on the lips I’d shared with Darren was probably his way of saying goodbye. Of course, only a year later, my mother became the poster child for “scandalous behavior,” but at the time, her comments made perfect sense.
On the next block, I rode past the public library, a frequent hangout in my school years—before the existence of the Internet.
Everywhere I looked along my route sparked a memory to make me smile.
Why hadn’t I done this before now? My legs pumped for an uphill climb, then relaxed my feet on the pedals as I coasted down the other side. I felt exhilarated, powerful, and a little bit sexy. No wonder people raved about the endorphin rush that came from exercising. This was amazing!
A higher hill came into view, and I shifted gears to prepare. I had to pedal a bit harder than I’d anticipated, but I pushed myself, knowing I could coast down the other side. Once I reached the other side. Funny how I never noticed how steep this road was when I drove it every day in my SUV. My thigh muscles ached, and I actually rose off the seat to get more power into my pedaling. Sweat broke out on my forehead. Still, the bike and I climbed. My pace slowed with my exertion, making every motion harder to complete. At last, I crested the hill, but only found a plateau. No downhill break to catch my breath. I had to push on.
A few yards ahead of me, a man walked a large, lean dog near the curb that ran along the shoreline. The man had a great build with broad shoulders packed into a tight t-shirt and long, muscular legs in khaki shorts. Nice buns, I contemplated as I drew closer. A good handful, but no excess.
Beeeeeeep! A car horn blared from behind me, and I swerved to keep the front tire straight. The bike veered onto the road’s shoulder and slid on a patch of sand, nearly upending me.
The expensive convertible roared past me at a speed I surmised was double the town’s limit. The blond driver, her long hair whipping with the wind, flipped me the bird as she sped on down the road.
“Nice,” I shouted after her. “I hope you get arrested!” Where was a cop when I needed one?
“Paige, is that you?”
Oh, good God. Mr. Yummybuns looked at me over his tasty shoulder, and I groaned. Why had I wished for a cop right now?
“Hey, Sam.” I tried to play nonchalant as I braked my bike next to him. “Did you see that moron?”
He shrugged. “Yeah, but I’m off-duty right now. If it makes you feel any better, though, Tonya’s at the top of the next ridge with a radar gun.”
Imagining the blonde’s upcoming surprise, I laughed. “No lie?”
“Nope.” Sam’s grin sparked fireworks in my belly.
In the dim hallway last night, I’d found his smile dazzling, but in the light of day, I could easily understand Nia’s attraction to the rest of him. He looked like a sun-bronzed god, all sinew and golden skin with eyes the color of honey and the lushest lashes I’d ever seen on a man.
If only he were mute…
Hurry! This deal ends tomorrow!
Find me on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Ardito/e/B001JSBY16
This past week was the RWA® National Conference in San Diego. Because my husband had to be in Los Angeles on business the following week, we thought it might be fun to fly into San Francisco the week before my conference, spend a few days in the City by the Bay, then take the Pacific Coast Highway down to San Diego for conference week.
I should probably mention that Hubster and I are polar opposites. He's a Type A sun-worshiping sports enthusiast. I far prefer indoor activities that require little to no sweat. Still, we do our best to compromise with each other. So when we started to see ads for "Biking the Bridge," I knew he'd want us to do it.
It was supposed to be a leisurely four-mile ride, about an hour and a half, and then we'd catch the ferry back to town when we were done. Okay. I can do that. Can't I?
Apparently not.
First off, a lot of the four mile trek is uphill. Having never owned a bike with speed gears as a youth, I still have trouble figuring out when I should downshift and when I should upshift. (I know, it's not rocket science, but I totally screw it up every time). And with my bursitis, arthritis, and herniated discs, I experience an awful lot of pain when I overexert myself.
Also, that four miles gets you to the bridge. It's another mile over. And then three more to the site where you catch the ferry to go back.
I'm woman enough to admit, I cried. A lot. By the time I made it over the bridge after multiple stops for me to ease my aches and pains (four hours into the ride), I could no longer feel my legs. And because I wasn't prepared for the trip, I hadn't applied sunscreen. Remember, I always say I'm the girl who could burn under a 60 watt bulb. Along the grueling trip, I could feel my skin tightening and I knew I'd pay for my negligence within a few hours. It's been over a week now since this experience, and I'm still peeling from my elbows down to the backs of my hands. Why the backs of my hands, you may ask? Because my hands were curled around the handlebars of the bike for four hours.
When we finally reached the ferry pier, I was ready to kiss the ground. Until I saw the two-hour wait line to "catch the ferry back." We wound up spending $40 on a taxi instead because I just couldn't move more than my eyelids at this stage.
I will admit we took some lovely photos along the way. And the views were spectacular. We even saw whales.
My husband was patient with me (for the most part) and when I talk about the day now, he reminds me that I can boast that "I biked the Golden Gate Bridge." Personally, I'd rather brag I typed "The End" on my next book.
It's all about priorities, I guess.
Find me on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Ardito/e/B001JSBY16
For the last twenty years or so, I've had a love/hate relationship with Mother's Day. As a mom, I love the way my husband and kids have always surprised me with breakfasts in bed, the perfect cards, and idyllic days spent together.
The Past
As a daughter, more of my memories are bitter than sweet. Growing up the fifth of seven children, we all had a "label" to distinguish one from the other. I wasn't the "pretty one," or the "smart one." I wasn't the "oldest" or the "youngest." I wasn't "one of the twins." I was the "other one."
No. Seriously. I would go to family gatherings and relatives would say, "Now, which one are you again? Oh, right. You're not one of the twins or the pretty one; you're the 'other one.'"
There's a helluva moniker to live up to, huh?
That was basically how I lived my life. As the Other One, never feeling like I fit in with my own family. And my parents not only allowed it, they pretty much encouraged it. I was six the first time I begged my mother to tell me I was adopted or the milkman's child--something to explain why I felt like such a stranger in my own home, why I was always the target of all the torment and torture of my siblings. Her reply (every single time) was to say if I didn't react to their abuse toward me, they wouldn't find so much entertainment in it. My father's reply was to mutter under his breath that I was "useless" or "oversensitive" and ignore my tears and pleas for help.
I could write a book about what I put up with over the years, but there's no point. I'm not alone and this post isn't about making anyone relive their own particular brand of misery.
The Decision
It was only when I saw the cycle repeated with my own kids, who were considered not as "special" as the other grandkids my parents had and wound up crushed by the callousness of those who should've loved them unconditionally, that I made the decision to divorce my family. I cut them out of my life. And for the first year or two afterwards, I became the subject of so much online harassment and destructive behavior from my siblings, I had to involve the police.
I can't tell you how many people tried to convince me to return to the fold with comments like, "What if your parents die and you've left this unresolved? Will you be able to live with yourself?"
The answer is yes. I tried. I really did. I spent too many years putting up with the abuse and running back for more, hoping, this time would be different. But it never was. And when my father passed away after our estrangement, I allowed my daughter to attend the wake. Naturally, my family embraced her immediately and told her how horrible I was to keep her from them. She believed them and blamed me. I said nothing and kept my own counsel, allowing her to discover for herself the truth that I knew. It took less than two weeks before my mother showed her true colors and one of my siblings attacked my daughter online, dragging friends and other family members into the mess. My poor girl found out on her own what I'd protected her from, and after that, she vowed to make sure her baby brother never experienced what we had.
When my mother passed away, there was no guilt, no feeling of a lost opportunity. There was a sense of peace for me that I no longer had to hope for some kind of resolution that would never come. Do I wish our circumstances could have been different? Of course. But I also understood that my parents were who they were, crafted from their own pasts and the relationships they had with their own families. Nothing would have ever changed. The limbo would have just continued for a longer period of time.
The Aftermath
My kids have suffered no ill effects from not knowing my side of their family. In fact, they've flourished without that ugliness in their lives. They're independent, bright, witty individuals who know their place in the world and feel sure about where they stand. They don't suffer the self-doubt and insecurities that plague me to this day.
I'm extremely fortunate that I have my mother-in-law. She is the mother and grandmother all kids deserve. She's loving and generous with her time. She adores all her grandchildren. Ask her about my place in her family and she'll tell you, "Gina's not just a daughter-in-law. She's my daughter." I am so grateful for her influence in my family's life.
The Others
I know I'm not alone in my experience. Nor are we the only ones who are less than thrilled to face Mother's Day this year.
For all those who've lost the mother who loved them unconditionally, a woman who gave them support and encouragement and inspiration, I wish you find some peace and comfort in realizing how lucky you were to have that kind of mother in your life. So many of us never knew her or only knew her after we married.
If you've lost a child, there are no words I can provide to ease your burden, and I won't dare to try. I don't know your pain and I pray I never do.
To those who are still trying to find a way to make peace with their toxic families because you're afraid of what people will think if you break away, please know I (and many others like me) understand why you're torn. You can divorce a spouse after experiencing a lot less abuse and receive sympathy and support, but for some reason, it's still not acceptable to admit you have no contact with your parents, no matter what they've done to you.
Find your joy, my friends. No matter why you may not be celebrating this day, don't dwell on the misery. Seek out whatever makes you happy and understand there are many of us who share your feelings, even if it's not for the same reason.
Wishing all of my readers love, today and always!
Find me on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Ardito/e/B001JSBY16
By:
Gina Ardito,
on 1/29/2016
Blog:
Flights of Fancy
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
different romance,
I Write Indie,
romance without cliches,
sweet romances,
Reading,
romance,
bloggers,
writers,
Indie Publishing,
I Read Indie,
Add a tag
Recently, I read a blog post from a romance blogger/reviewer complaining that she was "done" with contemporaries because they were all full of the following (this is not the complete list, just what I remember off the top of my head):Step-brother romanceBillionairesSheikhsWomen who can only find self-esteem thru sex with a manPoorly written sex scenesNo emotional connection between the charactersBare-chested men on the cover
Might I suggest...?
You're reading the wrong books. I have none of the above in any of my contemporary romances, and I'm not alone. In fact, I could give you a good, solid list of writers like me who think the emotional connection drives a satisfying happy ending.
My heroes are construction workers, auto body shop owners, radio deejays, a small town police chief, and even a hospital janitor. Not a billionaire or sheikh in the bunch. Even my "wealthy" investment banker is homeless when he meets the heroine!
The sex stays off the page so it doesn't get in the way of the emotional relationship between my characters, and there are no poorly written scenes struggling to come off as erotic. Double bonus: all my covers contain fully clothed individuals, if there are individuals at all.
So, why are bloggers and readers griping about this? You have to *look* for my books. Try typing "sweet romance" into your Amazon search engine and see what comes up. You'll find small town heroes, emotional arcs instead of pages of poorly written sex scenes, and no bare-chested men. The problem is, you haven't been looking for what I write. Not until you glutted yourself on stepbrothers and hot sex and billionaires. And the publishers noticed. So they kept feeding you the same pablum.
In my household, we call this "the Vanilla Swiss Almond effect." When my husband and I first married, a few decades ago, I made the mistake of introducing him to Haagen Dazs's Vanilla Swiss Almond ice cream (at the time, my favorite.) After that, it was all my husband ever bought--until I reached the point where I couldn't look at it anymore. It's been thirty years, and maybe...I might be ready to try a spoonful again in another year or two.
The lesson here is this. If you want books that are "different," try expanding your horizons. Come to the sweet side. We have cookies. And lemonade.
Find me on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Ardito/e/B001JSBY16
 |
| Photo Courtesy of Morgue File |
I'm currently 28,000 words into the next installment of the Calendar Girls series, HOMECOMING IN NOVEMBER. After spending a year working on a manuscript I just couldn't bring to fruition, it feels great to have my groove back.
Writers are sensitive creatures. Every book we write we fear will be our last. Every time we get stuck, we worry that our muse has left us for good, that we'll have no more stories to tell, that our creative well has gone dry.
This year was tough for me. After releasing WAITING IN THE WINGS last spring, I thought I was ready to finish the story for my editor at Harlequin, only to discover (some eight months later), by trying to make the story fit my editor's requirements, I'd created a Frankenstein story that I hated. So...back to the drawing board for Harlequin.
In the meantime, winter arrived and with it, one of my favorite winter activities: a hot bubble bath. And because I like to read while I'm soaking in the tub, I pulled up what I'd previously written on HOMECOMING, rather than taking my Kindle or an anticipated paperback with me. Within minutes, the story started flowing through me. I was caught up in the excitement. I loved the characters, the plot, the humor I'd begun writing last year. With a clipboard, pen, and stack of scrap paper, I wrote. Page after page, adding hot water when the tub grew cold. I must have stayed in there for about two hours. The spark was back.
And now, I'm eager to get this finished, off to my editor, and contact my cover artist to get her started.
So stay tuned, dear friends. I hope to complete at least three stories this year, and thanks to that fateful bubble bath, I'm on my way!
Find me on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Ardito/e/B001JSBY16
By:
Gina Ardito,
on 1/3/2016
Blog:
Flights of Fancy
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Barnes and Noble,
thieves,
Smashwords,
Advice Whether You Want it or Not,
Readers and Writers,
Charming for Mother's Day,
Amazon,
piracy,
finding time to write,
forums,
Add a tag
Dear Readers,
The following is copied from a forum I discovered through a Google Alert (links and actual names of pirate sites have been removed--emphasis, mine):
I was planning to go for a small trip on my holiday. So I decided to read a couple of books on my Kindle. I started searching the internet and I found a lot of rubbish websites. So I am an obsessive reader, but lately I haven't had enough time to go to the store and buy a book so I really want to know a place where I can download or read book online. I am interested in the book Charming for Mother's Day (A Calendar Girls Novella) by Gina Ardito. Thank You
****
That particular title is under copyright, which means that's illegal. If you want a free copy then start with your local library. Most loan ebooks in addition to physical ones. If they don't have it then they may be able to get it for you via inter-library loan.
****
You can spend the whole day looking around for pirated e-book websites, but be sure you won't find anything better than XXXXXlibrary
It's a simple and invaluable goldmine of hundreds of thousands of great e-books. Just give it a try.
Dear Readers, please don't do this.
I do giveaways almost every month. Whenever I have a new book available, I put a call out on Facebook and Goodreads for readers to get advance copies in exchange for reviews. I give away copies to my newsletter readers on a regular basis. I'm an email away via those same channels and my website if you really, really want a copy and can't afford to pay for it. My books are generally priced lower than a price of a cup of coffee in your favorite shop and I have scads of backlist copies in my house that my husband would be thrilled to see disappear.
What bothered me about this particular post was that the original poster didn't say (s)he couldn't afford my book, just that (s)he didn't "have time" to go to the store to buy one. This person has time to check out pirate sites and post on a forum but can't go to Amazon, B&N, iTunes, Smashwords, or any of the other places where my books are sold through legitimate channels online? The thing with these pirate sites, as writers have been shouting about for years, is that authors do not see a dime when you download from the pirates--not on the download, and not toward future sales. Your (ahem!) acquisition (because it sure as hell ain't a "purchase") does not register on our royalty reports, and therefore cannot be used in contract negotiations, even if we received the (dis)honor of "Most Stolen Book."
These days, I work a full-time job that's more than an hour's drive from home. I leave at 6:30 am and come home twelve hours later. I squeeze in my writing before work, during lunch, and for a brief hour or two after dinner's been cooked, served, and cleaned up after. I also do editing for other authors, cutting deeper into my slice of the writing time pie. What does this mean to you, dear readers?
It means I'm way behind on books I should have released this past year, and I'm struggling to find time to market the books already out there. I'd love nothing more than to have the luxury to stay home and write all day so that I can churn them out as fast as I can think of them. But as long as pirates are still stealing the money from my pockets with posts like this, I'm stuck working a full time job outside the home to keep food on the table and a roof over my head.
For my readers who would never dream of going to a pirate site, thank you. If you want to help your favorite authors keep churning out those stories that you love, buy their books through legitimate channels. Follow them on social media and share their posts. Recommend your favorites to friends, and please, if you have the time, write reviews on the sales sites.
Thanks for listening.
Fondly,
Gina
Find me on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Ardito/e/B001JSBY16
My apologies for ignoring this blog for the last several weeks. 2015 closed with a lot of work that required my attention. What did I learn this year?
I'm resilient. I can take the hard punches and get up again.
I'm fortunate. I am surrounded by love. What else do I need?
I'm not too old to learn new tricks. New job, new challenges, new friends. Every day is an opportunity to discover something new.
I'm poised for another year with new stories to come, roads to travel, and new people to meet.
I'm hopeful. I've got a lot going on in the coming year, but I'm ready. How about you?
Come on. Let's kick this year's butt and sit back on December 31, 2016, stronger and prouder of all we've accomplished together.Find me on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Ardito/e/B001JSBY16
Last night, the Hubster and I spent the day running errands and at around 5 pm, decided to pick up a few things from our local grocery store for dinner. The lines at the cash registers weren't crazy, just a bit busy, with about three customers waiting at each line and eight out of ten registers working. Hubster and I got in line behind another couple and waited, chatting without paying much attention. Until...
The couple in front of us started grumbling. It began with minor nonsense about the wait, but became more and more obnoxious. Apparently, the customer in front of them was having trouble with her payment and was forced to take some items off her bill.
These two graduated from grumbling to insulting and finally became loud. The woman shouted, "Aren't you going to open any more registers? I have an emergency at home and can't wait for people to get their act together." To which the husband replied (not as loud so only heard by those around them), "Yeah. We have an emergency. We gotta go home to eat dinner." And then they started laughing.
I could tell the woman at the front of the line was humiliated, and my heart went out to her. If I'd noticed the issue sooner, I might have offered to pay the difference (I found out from the cashier, it was only $13.00).
My first reaction to the rudeness of that couple was to wish them the misfortune of being in that very same situation while someone publicly drew attention to them. Then, I reconsidered. I don't wish that scenario on anyone, no matter how much they need to learn to walk in someone else's shoes.
Maybe what most people need is empathy.You don't have to have lived an unfortunate incident to connect with the people involved. What you need is a dose of humanity. To that couple in the supermarket yesterday, I hope you find it. Fast.
Find me on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Ardito/e/B001JSBY16
All hail the magic bean juice. We honor thee for all you do to keep us sane, motivated, and energized. And best of all, there are places giving away your magnificence for free today. The only thing better would be a national holiday with the day off from work. But alas! Small steps, dear ones. Small steps.
So go, my friends! Head to your nearest pusher...umm, coffee church...er, retail store...and partake of some caffeinated goodness. Do it for your heart, do it for your brain, do it for all the junkies out there like me. Join us. Come to the dark side. Literally.
Here are some links to help you get started:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/09/27/national-coffee-day-where-get-freebies/72872018/
http://greatideas.people.com/2015/09/28/national-coffee-day-freebies/
http://parade.com/425510/leahingram/11-national-coffee-day-2015-deals/
Find me on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Ardito/e/B001JSBY16
Yes, today's the day. My Cinderella-in-a-pizzeria story is now part of Amazon's Encore program, geared to reintroduce readers to hidden gems they may have missed when they were first released.
A LITTLE SLICE OF HEAVEN was the second book I released, this time with The Wild Rose Press, and it's still one of my favorites. Gianna Randazzo is a kindergarten teacher, who goes back to work in the family's Italian restaurant after a humiliating breakup with her boyfriend. Accustomed to feeding the stray animals in the parking lot, she's unprepared for the homeless man who makes an appearance one blustery autumn evening. But Kyle Hayden isn't the typical homeless man. And when she has to face her past, he just might be the perfect Prince Charming at her side to make all her dreams come true.
You can find the digital version of A LITTLE SLICE OF HEAVEN at its new home at Amazon, currently on sale for $1.99. I hope you'll give it a try. It's as satisfying as a slice of pizza with the works!
Find me on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Ardito/e/B001JSBY16
Here in the States, it's Labor Day weekend, a time to celebrate the working man and woman, to thank those who fought for five-day work weeks, vacation and sick pay, and safety standards. Got some downtime? Why not watch (or rewatch) a great movie that celebrates the workplace and workers who made a difference (fictional or non)? Here's a list of some of my favorites (in no particular order--just how they popped into my head). Feel free to add your own.
1. North Country2. Silkwood3. Norma Rae4. 9 to 55. Office Space6. Baby Boom7. Glengarry Glen Ross8. Network9. The Devil Wears Prada10. Horrible Bosses11. Broadcast News12. Up in the Air13. The China Syndrome14. Mad Money15. Roger & Me16. Thank You for Smoking17. Tucker: The Man and his Dream18. Monsters, Inc.19. His Girl Friday20. Clerks
That should keep you on the couch for a day or two.
Find me on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Ardito/e/B001JSBY16
By:
Gina Ardito,
on 9/6/2015
Blog:
Flights of Fancy
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Contest,
Giveaway,
Sneak Peek,
Finalist,
PYHIAB Conference,
NJRWA,
Reunion in October,
Calendar Girls,
Golden Leaf,
Put Your Heart in a Book,
Add a tag
I'm so thrilled that REUNION IN OCTOBER, Book II of the Calendar Girls Series, is a finalist in the NJRW's Golden Leaf Contest for 2015. It is a great honor, especially when I see the list of other authors in my category. I admire them all so I don't envy the judges having to choose between them (though I envy they get to read all those books!)
To celebrate the good news, I'm going to give away several copies (one a week) in digital or paperback to readers who reply to my blog or Facebook posts until the big night, Friday, October 16, 2015 at the Put Your Heart in a Book Conference. *Fine print* Each week, beginning today, I'll use the Random.org generator to pull a winner. Winners will be notified and have 72 hours to claim their prize. If they do not get back to me within the specified time period, another winner will be chosen.
Meanwhile, here's a teaser from the book to whet your appetite:
On my second day in the hospital, I toyed with a lump of beige meat—chicken? Salisbury steak?—swimming in shiny-topped brown gravy. Dr. Stewart had ordered a low-fat, low-sodium, no-taste, and apparently, no-recognition diet for my stay here. For all I knew, this wasn’t meat at all, but some kind of tofu patty.
I’d pretty much given up identifying today’s lunch without a CSI team when a hesitant voice said, “Emily?”
Dropping my fork, I glanced up into the worried expression of Ambrose Chase peering from the foot of my snoring roommate’s bed. “Mr. Chase.” I waved him closer and rolled my bed tray with the unappetizing lunch out of the way. I had no intention of eating that slop anyway. “Come in. Please.”
“I won’t stay long,” he said, inching toward the visitor’s chair, but never making any move to sit. “I just wanted to be sure you were all right.” He stared at the floor. Either a stain on the linoleum fascinated him, or he couldn’t bring himself to make eye contact with me—a complete one-eighty from the guy I met yesterday who hammered me with research questions. “You…umm…had us all pretty worried.”
His obvious discomfort embarrassed me, and I wondered what I’d done at the library to make him so ill-at-ease now. Had I vomited on him? Wet my pants? Said something totally inappropriate before I hit the ground? Whatever had occurred, I’d have to try to smooth over the bumps with casual conversation. After all, Dr. Stewart said I owed this man my life. “Thanks for knowing what to do,” I said. “With the CPR, I mean.”
“Well, to be honest, I’ve…umm…I’ve never done CPR before. You got lucky. I’d just done the research for my book. I mean, like, an hour before you and I met in the library. I was doing all the compressions and stuff from memory. Once Miss Lydia got through to the 911 dispatcher, though, they talked me through the step-by-step. So, you see, you shouldn’t really thank me. Without the directions, I would’ve screwed up and made things worse for you, trust me.”
As I watched him shuffling his feet, staring at the walls, never making eye contact, I couldn’t tell if he had an inflated case of low self-esteem or false modesty. “Who was manning the calls over there?” I asked. “At the precinct, I mean. Rowena or Jake?”
“Jake, I guess. It was a man, so I’d say it was Jake, though I didn’t get a name.”
“Good.” I let out a relieved sigh and settled back against my pillow. “Rowena still needs to read the book to give the step-by-step.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”
“It can be. If you don’t know what to do off-script, you aren’t fully prepared for any possible eventuality. People in an emergency situation don’t have a book to go by, you know?”
He shrugged. “I guess.”
“Lemme put it this way.” I sat up again. “Suppose you’re in a case like what happened with you and me. I go down, you start CPR, based on what you remember, and by the time dispatch gets involved you’ve already screwed up one or two of the steps. Should Jake go back to Step One and make you start all over or should he know how to improvise?”
At last, my visitor sank into the chair beside my bed, his wide eyes and slack jaw showing how engaged he’d grown regarding our discussion. I probably awakened the writer in him. “Improvise, I suppose.”
I wagged an index finger. “Not necessarily. It all depends on what steps you’ve screwed up and how I’m responding to what you’ve done so far. Jake’s good at figuring things out on the fly. Rowena…” I shook my head. “…not so much.”
“And you? Are you a by-the-book-girl, or can you work off-script?”
“I’m somewhere in the middle,” I admitted with a rueful curl to my lip. “It all depends on the scenario. Of the three of us, Jake’s got the most experience. He was an Army corpsman. Did a lot of triage in the first Gulf War and has the nerves of steel to prove it. I, on the other hand, got my training here at home.”
“You were a soldier?”
I laughed. “God, no! I’m just a mom.”
“And a wife,” a woman’s voice said, followed by the click of heels on the floor and the entrance of my greatest nightmare.
My mother-in-law had arrived in her usual indomitable way--like an army tank in designer clothes and a fur-trimmed coat.
Find me on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Ardito/e/B001JSBY16
The birthday celebration continues. I've already mentioned my Goodreads giveaway (which ends on my birthday). If you haven't already entered, use the widget in the sidebar to get your name in there! ---------->
And, if you're friends with me on Facebook, you must have already entered my Name My Heroine's Cat Contest for a free book from my backlist. Or my Nobody's Darling cover kvetch contest. No?
Well, here's your next chance. Today, let's give away an Amazon gift card to my faithful reviewers. Have you read any of my books and left a review? Post the link to the review either here or on Facebook. Reviews must be on Amazon, Goodreads, or B&N, and you'll be in the running for a $10 gift card. I'll give away two on Saturday.
Who's in?
Find me on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Ardito/e/B001JSBY16
From the time I first started dating him, my husband would celebrate his "birthday week" every year in April.
My birthday is in August (the 20th for those of you considering shopping for me) and this year, I'm planning to celebrate all month long. How? By sharing with my friends and readers.
First up, I've got a Goodreads giveaway going on right now for the last book in the Afterlife Series, WAITING IN THE WINGS. I'm giving away five copies so be sure to jump in on this! You can enter the giveaway through my widget on the right sidebar. ---------->
As the month goes on, I'll be giving away all kinds of goodies, including books from RWA's National Conference, special gifts that make Long Island special, and gift cards to your favorite retailers.
What do you have to do? Comment here, add a review of any of my books you've read to Amazon (and let me know!), sign up to follow my blog on one of the two options available in the sidebar, or tag me on Facebook and/or Twitter in posts about my books, the giveaways, or my birthday. Help me get the word out. You could win big.
Find me on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Ardito/e/B001JSBY16
By:
Gina Ardito,
on 7/7/2015
Blog:
Flights of Fancy
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Fibromyalgia,
Adrenal Function,
Endocrinologists,
Graves Disease,
Stop the Thyroid Madness,
Synthroid,
Thyroid Armour,
Qsymia,
Health,
Cortisol,
Doctors,
Metabolism,
Add a tag
So about six months ago, I posted a fairly long screed on my medical struggles, thanks to my treatment for Graves Disease and the long-term effects of doctors who wouldn't listen to me. You can find that post here, if you want to travel down that rocky Memory Lane.
How'm I doing these days?
Thanks for asking!
I'm 1000 times better. I'm still not 100% normal (which, if I'm a thousand times better, gives you a pretty good clue how screwed up my body was!) but I'm getting there.
First and most important, I no longer suffer from fibromyalgia. Like, seriously, kids, I haven't had the slightest twinge in six months. And when I was first diagnosed with this insidious condition, I could barely move due to the constant pain.
I'm calmer and more emotionally even-tempered. No more outbursts, no more bouts of depression I used to call "fugues," no more highs and lows. I smile, even when things suck. I can find the humor in the little things that go wrong and remain optimistic when the big things go wrong.
I've found my coffee intake (the only stimulant keeping me moving on a daily basis, thanks to my burned-out metabolism) dropped from six to eight cups a day, down to two--max.
My hair is no longer falling out and feels soft again. And take a look at my fingernails!
This photo was taken yesterday. And yes, I know. I desperately need a manicure. Don't judge. I've got a wedding to attend this weekend so I'm waiting til Thursday to get 'em done. But look how long they are! Those aren't fakes--they're my real nails.
The biggest struggle is still the weight, but, I'm happy to announce that, as of this morning, I'm down ten pounds. This may not seem like a lot over six months, but when you consider that I have no metabolism left, it's a huge success. Over the last ten years, no diet or exercise plan (including Weight Watchers and the diet-pills-from-hell, Qsymia) has ever helped me lose more than four pounds in the same time span--weight I always put back on within days of losing it, regardless of my continuation in my goals. Even more important to me, I notice a difference in the way my clothes fit and the way I feel.
It's a slow progression, thanks to the loss of thyroid function, but it's still progress. And in the meantime, I'm happier about my other improvements.
I'm still a work in progress, but the keyword there is *progress.*Find me on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Ardito/e/B001JSBY16
 |
The Afterlife Series
Available Now from Amazon |
I'm often asked, "Why romance?" Why do I write them, why do I read them? I always say it's because anything can happen, but there's always a happily ever after in the end.These last few months, the universe has thrown me a curve, and as I read my morning paper or watch the news, I discover new reasons to mourn and feel disappointed in humanity.
Then I pick up a romance or dive headfirst into my latest WIP, and somehow, the world warms up and I can smile again.
Scoff if you want. Drink your scotch, sneer at the "others" who aren't faring as well, or blame someone else for the miseries around us. You have your way of coping. I have mine.
Find me on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Ardito/e/B001JSBY16
I'm stuck. Hopelessly, impossibly, irretrievably stuck. I'm working on a story and I've ripped it apart, pieced it back together, hated it, ripped it apart, pieced it back together, hated it, ripped it apart...
You get the idea.
So I'm taking a break. The book hasn't beaten me. Not by a long shot. But it's time to step back, spend some time replenishing my creative juices. I'll be reading, tossing things over, playing with scenarios, and strengthening my story-telling muscles.
Then...
I'll be back. Count on it..
Find me on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Ardito/e/B001JSBY16
Did you detect sarcasm in my title? Good for you. But it's not why you think.
Look, I get it. Moms do a lot for us. And it's nice to have a day to honor the women who gave us life, wiped our butts, sat up at night when we missed curfew, and loved us unconditionally.
What I don't get are the "experts" telling everyone what to buy their mom for Mother's Day. In the hour I've been awake this morning, I've seen people tell me "what Mom really wants" is a skin care system, an embroidered pillow, a set of retro glassware, a box of scented candles, new makeup, a calligraphy kit, jewelry from a major department store, and a card that says "Mom" signed by the artist.
Maybe it's me, but...
Pass.
Wanna make me happy for Mother's Day? Here's a few things I'd like (and I bet a few other moms might agree):
Clean the house without being asked.
Make dinner (instead of breakfast in bed). Reservations don't count. And clean up afterward.
Planning to get flowers? Get plants and put them in the garden instead.
Write Mom a letter. Share memories of special times, pour out your heart, give her something she can read over and over and cherish each time.
Plan a Mom's day off. Not on Mother's Day. Spend that day with her (if she wants) or send her off on her own to do things she never has time for (whatever that may be). This includes watching little ones if necessary so she can truly enjoy her day.
If you don't live close, call. Not just on Sunday, but other times. Let her know you're thinking of her.
Tell Mom you love her. Not just on Sunday, but every dang day.
Or you could always get her a book...
.jpg)
Find me on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Ardito/e/B001JSBY16
Book III of the Afterlife Series is just about ready for release and I'm currently looking for readers who are willing to read and review an ARC. Honest reviews only, of course. I've got very thick skin.
Here's the blurb:
In the third and final installment of the award-winning Afterlife Series, she’s got nothing left to lose; he has everything to gain…
A longtime resident of the Afterlife, Xavia Donovan has vowed to do whatever it takes to get out of the realm of the dead and move on. She didn’t expect “whatever it takes” to mean counseling the baddest bad boy to cross her path—in life or death.
On Earth, Osiris Cavanaugh spent lifetimes betraying his country, betraying his compatriots, and betraying the one person now assigned to help him become a better soul: Xavia.
With the help of an unusual child on Earth, they’ll conquer their pasts. But now that they’ve come together, will their futures tear them apart?
If you're interested in reading and reviewing this (or any of my books), please contact me for information.
Find me on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Ardito/e/B001JSBY16
View Next 25 Posts
.jpg)
.jpg)