Anyway
Cupid’s wings are still flapping and I thought
it might be the perfect time to expand on a topic
causing such controversy. The topic this month
is romance. And yes there is a huge difference
between Love and Romance.
Romance
I define as ‘showing the love.’ While we all want
to feel appreciated and special, talk is cheap.
Actions will tell you everything you want to know.
Many of us have met someone quick to use the L
word but couldn’t back it up by their actions.
Of course there are those who have a difficult
time verbalizing their feelings but still demonstrate
they care. They may send you flowers for no reason,
or a greeting card just to say “hi.” They serve
you breakfast in bed for no particular reason
and those are the ones we care about.
Whether
the gesture is big or small, the direct message
is - ‘I care about you. I appreciate you, and
I’m willing and happy to put forth the effort
to let you know how I feel.’ You appreciate them
because they have shown their willingness to “invest
in the relationship.”
I
once dated a man who said he cared about me yet
made minimal effort to make me feel special. He
couldn’t even get off his duff to hold the door
open when I struggled through carrying bags and
a treat. Our time was scheduled around his convenience,
and there was pitifully few of that. He’d pre-warned
me there would be no gifts or cards. If that wasn’t
enough to send me running, if I dared offer a
contradictory opinion or different perspective,
I was criticizing him and putting down his friends.
To this day he still claims to have no idea what
drove me away. Only a masochist would have stayed.
Two
people have to get something from a relationship
if it is to sustain. It’s said we fall in love
with another person because that person makes
us feel special. Being admired is a major boost
to our self esteem. So why not invest in romance
and reap the amazing dividends? Creating romance
is one sure way of safeguarding your love!
Hugs
and Kisses,
Marcia
King-Gamble
Editor
-- Romantically Yours
www.lovemarcia.com
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Tools of the Trade
In
honor of Black History Month all 28 Harlequin
Kimani authors were asked to describe what President
Obama’s slogan “Yes we can” means to them. Go
to www.eharlequin.com and read the
authors blogs under “Dare to Dream.”
Here
is what I had to say.
http://community.eharlequin.com/content/dare-dream-yes-we-can
On
this Presidents Day I feel hugely optimistic and
very proud to have witnessed history. It's an
exciting time in this country and a hopeful time.
Despite a horrible recession, on November 4, 2008
we hurdled the great divide and came together
as a people. It was an emotional moment for me
when I broke down and cried tears of happiness
and pride.
As
a camper I sat around bonfires holding hands with
kids of various ethnicities while singing Kum
Ba Yah. We all felt hugely optimistic and so hopeful
that the world was about to change. As a kid I
remember being released from grade school early
the day President Kennedy was shot. I passed people
in the street with tears rolling down their cheeks,
not quite understanding what had happened.
I
recall feeling outraged that we could not separate
the personal from the professional when another
great hope- President Clinton- was brought down.
Now
"Camelot" has returned and despite the naysayers,
the loss of jobs, home foreclosures etc. excitement
is in the air and the possibilities seem endless.
Hope
comes in the form of President Barack Obama; a
man who truly represents what being multi-cultural
means. Our president, the product of a white mother
and black father, raised by white grandparents,
with an Indonesian stepfather, a half Indonesia
sister, and an African American wife has a greater
understanding of the needs of all. His intelligence,
calm demeanor and warm smile, despite the daunting
tasks he faces is evidence of a man focused on
the business of change.
I
am impressed that he chose a wife who is accomplished,
bright, and attractive and who clearly has no
intention of being window dressing. We overcame
on November 4th, 2008 proving to the world that
united as a people, "yes we can."
We
can and we have! Happy Presidents day to all!
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African
American Writers in the spotlight:
In
honor of Black history month I’d like to introduce
to you a few of my favorite African American Writers.
These are all authors that you might not have
heard of but that I greatly admire. Each has taught
me a thing or two.
First
there is Roslyn Carrington AKA Simona
Taylor. Rosyln resides on the beautiful
island of Trinidad. She is one of the most talented
writers I know.
She
shares a home in the foothills of Northern Trinidad
with her live-in love and true-to-life romantic
hero, Rawle. Roslyn’s more literary novels are
written under her real name and her romances under
the pseudonym, Simona Taylor. Rawle and Roslyn
welcomed their second born, Megan, in June of
2005.
Apart
from doing the motherhood thing Roslyn comes with
fifteen years of experience in the field of Public
Relations. She owns an aquarium full of tropical
fish, has a dog, a garden full of fruit trees
and vegetables, and an obsession with cooking
(the more fattening the dish, the better. She
is also addicted to comic art by the likes of
Keith Knight and Aaron McGruder, and has a chocolate
compulsion. In between she fills the time left
dreaming about romance and writing. You may contact
her at http://www.scribble-scribble.com.
Next
there is Sandra Kitt; a wonderful
friend and mentor. Sandra has been featured in
this newsletter several times. Admittedly she
is one of my favorite people. Her bio only scratches
the surface of her many accomplishments.
Sandra
was the first black writer to ever publish with
Harlequin. She launched the successful Arabesque
line, now owned by Harlequin and published under
the Kimani Press imprint. She is the recipient
of two Lifetime Achievement Awards, and the 2002
Service Award from Romance Writers of America.
A
native of New York, Sandra holds a Bachelor and
Masters Degree in Fine Arts. A one time graphic
designer she has exhibited across the U.S. and
is in several corporate collections, as well as
the Museum of African American Art in L.A. She
has designed cards for UNICEF, and illustrated
two books for the late science writer, Dr. Isaac
Asimov. Sandra is an Adjunct Instructor in Fiction
Writing and Publishing, and is a frequent guest
speaker. She has lectured at NYU, Penn State,
Sarah Lawrence, and Columbia University. www.sandrakitt.com
Then
there is Bettye Griffin, one
of the smartest, most supportive, and funniest
authors I know. Bettye always keeps it real and
as a result she keeps us real.
Bettye
has always wanted to write books since she was
a little girl growing up in Yonkers, New York.
When she learned to read in the first grade (in
those days all kids did in pre-school since kindergarten
was play.) She was given a book about Dick, Jane,
and their dog Spot. It bothered her that none
of the kids in the illustrations looked like her.
(The only thing to be found with a black hue was
Spot's spots.) At six years old, she wasn't yet
familiar with the term "politically incorrect,"
but she felt miffed just the same. A writer was
born. Fast forward about 35 years she’d had some
nonfiction published, and two dozen rather lurid
True Confession stories. In 1998 her first novel
was published. www.bettyegriffin.com
Last
but not least is Michelle Monkou;
a savvy, strategic, and a fabulous writer. She
currently holds the title President Elect of Romance
Writers of America.
Michelle
became a world traveler at three years old when
she left her birthplace of London, England and
moved to Guyana, South America. She then moved
to the United States as a young teen. An avid
reader with a mixed cultural experience, no wonder
she had such a vivid imagination. It wasn’t long
before the stories in her head became stories
on paper. She has a Masters in International Business
and has received several awards and nominations
for her work. Michelle recently debuted a five
book series proving she is one busy author. www.michellemonkou.com
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Happenings:
The
Write Business
Sponsor: Indiana RWA
Location: Radisson Hotel Airport Indiana, Indianapolis
Fee: $75-$250
Date; March 6-7, 2009
Fee: $89.00-$99.00
Southern
Lights Mini-Conference
Sponsor: First Coast Romance Writers
Location: Jacksonville FL.
Date: March 14 2009
Fee: $80.00-$95.00
Let
Your Imagination Take Flight
Sponsor: New England Chapter
Location: Sheraton Tara Hotel Framington, Ma
Date: March 27-28, 2009
Fee:$189- $199
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Did
You Know?
This
year Harlequin celebrates its 60th birthday. Happy
Birthday Harlequin! Thank you for providing us
with such wonderful reads for over half a century.
This month we also celebrate the bicentennial
of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and the NAACP’s
Centennial. Black History month was first celebrated
on February 12, 1926. The week was set aside to
coincide with the birthdays of abolitionist/ editor
Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976
the week was expanded to black history month.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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
mkinggamble@aol.com
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