Marcia’s Romantically Yours
Issue # 34
marcia king-gamble

Happy Holidays All!

I just love this time of year, don't you? I know it's hectic and wearing, yet I can't help getting excited by the twinkling lights and the smell of baked goods in the air (not that I've baked anything recently.)

I'm one of those deranged people who likes crowded malls and civilized fights over that last “have to have” blouse. I enjoy hearing a child's voice exclaim over a coveted toy. Oh to be six again when life was so much simpler.

Here in Florida the weather isn't at all frightening. My a/c is cranked on high and my flip flops sit next to my chair. Outside a cool breeze ruffles the fronds of the palm trees. No shoveling snow for me, at least not this year.

 

 

I just got back from cruising the Caribbean. Think Half Moon Cay, St. Thomas, Turks and Caicos. I had warm thoughts of you as I wandered around the various tropical ports sipping potent rum punches. So have you shopped your little hearts out yet? The best gift I've ever received was one that came directly from the heart. It was an act of kindness and didn't require a fancy wrapping. Just imagine if we gave an act of kindness to everyone we knew what a wonderful chain reaction that would start.

On an entirely different note, should you wonder into a bookstore this season, be sure to pick up a copy of my January release- Hook Line and Single. It makes for awesome holiday reading. You'll get a chuckle when you immerse yourself in the wild, whacky world of speed and cyber dating.

Keep it real this holiday and make it a wonderful and safe season!

Keep Reading!

Romantically Yours,

Marcia King-Gamble
Editor -- Romantically Yours
http://www.lovemarcia.com/

Tools of the Trade

Top 10 days Reasons to continue writing despite the hectic season

    1/ Because writing helps you unwind after a hectic day of shopping.

    2/ Those cookies in the oven are going to burn if you don't get the thoughts in your head down on paper.

    3/That cubby hole you've reserved exclusively for writing serves as your getaway from all the madness

    4/After prancing through those malls and listening to people fight you've accumulated a lot of subject matter.

    5/ Your feet hurts and your head aches. Writing works better than aspirin.

    6/Your holiday guests are on your nerves. You wish they would leave instead you immerse yourself in the world of fantasy.

    7/ You're on a tight deadline and there's no alternative?

    8/Writing beats over dosing on valium

    9/ The season makes you feel especially inspired

    10/ Santa's reindeer ate the last draft.

Make it a great writing Season!

Happenings:

It's Christmas, Kwanzaa, Chanukah. Whatever you celebrate give thanks and express your gratitude for being one of the fortunate ones.


    Southwest Florida Romance Writers
    Writing the Breakout Novel
    Workshop with Donald Maass
    January 26, 2008
    Grandezza Country Club
    Estero, FL.
    $125.00 includes lunch
    http://www.swfrw.org/
    Contact Julie Palella
    Julie@lynxpm.com

 

 

Interview with Marcia Gamble King
See Bettye Griffin's Blog (http://www.bettygriffin.com/)

It's all about me this month of December. Bettye Griffin (www.bettyegriffin.com) a talented author, and dear friend was kind enough to interview me for her Blog. Bettye and I have known each other for a lifetime it seems. I can't think of a finer writer. We shared thoughts on a number of things. I took the opportunity to make a shameless plug for my January book, Hook, Line and Single. I am especially excited since it was picked up by Black Expressions and will be featured in the January edition. Try reading a Betty Griffin novel. She delivers.

Bettye says:

First up is the talented Marcia King-Gamble, who created the Flamingo Beach series for Harlequin's Kimani Romance line. I've known Marcia for nearly ten years. She was the first of my fellow writers to reach out to me, even before our then-publisher, BET, scheduled us to do signings together at locations in Tampa and Orlando quite some time ago, and I will always treasure her friendship.

A little biographical info first:

Marcia King-Gamble is a national best selling author who has written for Kensington, BET Books and St. Martin's Press. She now writes for several Harlequin lines. This self-proclaimed world traveler has spent time in some of the more exotic parts of the world. She maintains the Far East, Venice and New Zealand are still favorite haunts.

In her spare time Marcia enjoys kickboxing, step aerobics and body sculpting. She is passionate about animals, spicy foods and tearjerker movies. Marcia is also the editor of a monthly newsletter entitled Marcia's Romantically Yours. Log onto her websites http://myspace.com/marciakinggamble or myspace.com/marciakinggamble and find out what she's all about.

If you're not already familiar with Marcia's work, this will give you an opportunity to do so! So here we go . . . .

Bettye:

Marcia, you had a new book come out in November (Sex on Flamingo Beach, Kimani Romance; the fourth book of the popular series), plus you have another new title coming out in January (Hook, Line, and Single,Kimani/Sepia), and a third in February (More Than A Woman, Kimani/Arabesque). This is great news for your readers, but it had to be a tremendous amount of work, since these books don't write themselves. Do you think you can keep up this pace?

Marcia King-Gamble:

Ah, this is one of the challenges of being a writer. These last few years I gave up having a life. For the most part I've always had a day job along with my writing career. When I decided to move to Seattle something had to give, and that something was a day job with benefits. I set certain financial goals and to meet those goals it meant writing as many books as I possibly could. Word to the wise keep your day job. Sex on Flamingo Beach is my November 2007 release, and the fourth in the Flamingo Beach series. It's gotten great reviews and is published by Harlequin's Kimani line. I tackled the issues of an interracial relationship from an entirely different perspective.

Hook, Line and Single; a Sepia, also published by Harlequin - is my fourth mainstream effort, and my January release. The story is about a woman of a certain ages' venture into the brave new world of cyber and speed dating. And finally, More than a Woman (an Arabesque release -published by Harlequin) should be out in time for Valentine's Day. It's set in the historic and beautiful city of St. Augustine, Florida. Be sure to pick up a copy of all three if you can. I'll have six books out in 2008. Whoosh!

Bettye:

Six books! I am impressed, Marcia! I think the Flamingo Beach set-up is a wonderfully imaginative way to link a series of books, since the majority of series seem to revolve around families. I enjoy interracial romances, provided the conflict comes from something more than disapproving stares and rude remarks from bystanders. Your promise of a "different perspective" has me intrigued! St. Augustine is a lovely city, close to my old stomping grounds of Jacksonville. But I must tell you I'm particularly really excited about Hook, Line and Single. As a woman of a certain age myself who sometimes feels a little lost with the rapidly evolving technology of today's world, I'm tickled when books are published with older characters at the center.

Those are all great titles, by the way! The writer in me can really appreciate a title with that certain zing to it.

Next question: Your other career is in the travel industry, and you've been all over the world. What would you say is your favorite spot?

Marcia King-Gamble:

Having had the opportunity to travel with someone else picking up the tab has been a great experience. The wanderlust still remains in my veins today and every penny of disposable still goes to travel. As for favorites, I'm still partial to places like Hong Kong, Venice and New Zealand because I have such wonderful memories of the times spent there. Traveling to exotic parts of the world is the best finishing school there is.

Bettye:

I agree. Travel is so broadening, although mine has been largely limited to the U.S.

We're at the halfway point, #3 of 5 questions. Marcia, what's the last DVD you rented?

Marcia King-Gamble:

This is an easy question. I don't rent DVDs. I gave up watching television when I began to write. And based on what I'm hearing, I haven't missed much. I do go to the movies, as it gets me out of the house. Of course my favorites are all tearjerkers, similar to the books I like to read and write.

Bettye:

Oh, yes. I agree that there's little on TV these days, and if this strike goes on much longer, it'll get worse. Dancing with The Biggest Loser, anyone? Okay, now for an intrusively personal question. Asparagus . . . love it or hate it?

Marcia King-Gamble:

Asparagus? Love it when someone knows how to cook it. Hate it when it's a soggy mess with no gourmet trimmings.

Bettye:

And now for my final question. Can you write with music playing?

Marcia King-Gamble:

I can write with almost anything going on around me. I can write and talk to you. It's something a busy person learns to do. When you're eternally on tight deadlines there's no such thing as writers block.

I'm working on book number twenty four right now.

Bettye:

You keep writing. We'll be reading.

Who's Acquiring

Did you know?

Harlequin is moving into the world of non-fiction in the fall of 2008. In October 2008, the first of three books written by popular radio personality, Delilah will be released. The second and third will follow in April and October of 2009.

* ABOUT Marcia's ROMANTICALLY YOURS *

Romantically Yours is a FREE monthly newsletter. I would love to hear from you. Please send comments, news, research, or story ideas directly to Marcia King-Gamble at mkinggambl@aol.com.