Patient & Pragmatic Artair Sinclare

It's hard enough having patience, but add being pragmatic to that and you would wonder if a person with those combined attributes could actually enjoy life. That's Zia's precise question upon meeting Artair Sinclare. He's a man who doesn't upset easily and handles troublesome situations calmly, while Zia is a woman with a zest for life. She possesses more of a gypsy nature. Perhaps being a healer and dealing with illness and death gives her more of an appreciation for life. She wants to fully live and part of living is falling in love. On the other hand, Artair being practical thinks much differently.
It was a joy writing Artair and Zia's story. At times I didn't know what they would do next. They both surprised me, especially Artair. Being he's so practical even when it comes to love, I wondered how he'd finally win Zia's heart. He didn't disappointment me, he emerged a true hero.
I'm so excited that there's only six days left until Under The Highlander's Spell is in stores. And don't forget that you can get a sneak peek at the book by going to the Browse Inside widget for Under The Highlander's Spell.

Ageless Love

I was out to supper with a friend who was visiting from out-of-state last night. She was in the throes of falling in love and went on and on about this wonderful man she had met in an art class. She was proof positive that people glow when they're in love, since she was absolutely radiant. She laughed and giggled between sharing the details of their budding relationship.
He had sent her flowers after their first date, her favorite, a mixed bouquet with a card that read, Busy tonight? They had spent almost every day together and endless hours on the phone. They both had been a bit apprehensive about meeting the other's children, but that had turned out better than expected.
She went on to tell me how they were taking another art class together and had signed up for an art history class. With their shared interest in art they hoped to travel to Italy and France and tour the museums.
She confessed that she had known love before, though nothing like this. To her she had finally found true love. He was her hero and she glowed even more when she told me that he was dynamite in bed.
She admitted that she had given up on love after her divorce ten years ago, but love hadn't given up on her. Her new love joined us for dessert. He presented her with a red rose and me with a yellow one. I could see in his eyes and how attentive he was to her that he truly loved her. They were a perfect match.
They left me at my car and I watched them walk away hand in hand, stop for a kiss and continue to their car, hands still clasped.
My friend was right about love. It never gives up on anyone no matter what.
My friend is 72 years young and she's found true love.

Books, My Friends

A friend of mine, a fellow bibliophile, called me with an invite I couldn't refuse. A friend of her neighbor's was moving and couldn't take all her books with her. She had carefully chosen the few she could take and were giving the remainder away, but only to people who would cherish and care for them as she had.
We arrived at a neatly kept Cape Cod style house and was greeted by a friendly woman. We followed her to the back of the house where I expected to find a few bookshelves or perhaps boxes of books. Far from it, my friend and I stood speechless staring at the floor to ceiling bookcases that covered every wall and framed all three windows. I lovingly ran my hands over the books on the shelf closest to me and thought there wouldn't be enough time to peruse them all. The woman patted my arm and said, "Take your time, dear, and take as many as you want."
I had brought only two totes with me and I actually hadn't expected to use both - wishful thinking - that came true.
My friend and I got started, the woman returning now and again to see how we were doing. I couldn't help but comment how hard it must be for her to part with the books. She smiled and told me that she would miss them, but that it was time to find them new homes so that they could give others the endless enjoyment they had given her.
Needless to say, the kind woman provided my friend and I with shopping bags since my two totes and her one weren't near sufficient.
My choices varied from a book of stunning photos on white wolves, to a couple of books on tea (I love tea), to a classic or two, art history, a Seth book which I always wanted to read but never got around to, and of course several fiction titles, romances and mysteries seeming to have been her favorite.
We thanked her profusely and she insisted it gave her pleasure to see her books go to people who would cherish them as she had. On the ride home I thought how some people would think her crazy for giving them away rather than selling them. But I understood that to her, her books were her friends and friends aren't sold - they are shared. And I'm ever so grateful she shared some of her dear friends with me.

Witch "Wise"

In my research into witchcraft for my witch series The Wedding Spell, Magical Moments, Magical Memories and Remember The Magic, I came across information that challenged the fact that witch means "wise." The author made interesting points referencing the Indo-European root of "Weik" and moving through Old English, Old and Middle French, Old Norse, Old High German, etc. to connect that Old English witan "to know" and any aspect thereof were unrelated.
What the author determined through research was that wican meant "to bend." I imagine there are those who would disagree with these findings. However, if you examine the history of witches and even consider neo-paganism isn't that what witches have always done? Witches know when and how "to bend." They know how to connect to Earth's energy and know Her rhythm and so they bend with it, flow with it and most importantly live it.
I took this thought into consideration when I wrote Under The Highlander's Spell. In it you will meet the heroine's grandmother, Bethane. Who at the time would have been declared a witch, but in reality she is a woman of nature, of the Earth, a woman who knows how "to bend" with the beauty, trails and tribulations of life.
Bethane is a favorite character of mine and I do hope you enjoy reading about her.

First Musing

With the unexpected delay in the launch of my new website www.donnafletcher.com, my son Marc suggested that I join blogger.com to keep my readers updated on my books and anything else of interest.
I am a wordsmith, a.k.a a writer. More precisely, a USA Today best selling, historical romance author. I don't claim to be an expert wordsmith, but I'm not a neophyte. Words fascinate me and I love working with them. They are my best friends and at times misbehaved children who refuse to come together coherently. But like a good parent I don't give up.
My most recent efforts turned into my 24th novel, Return of the Rogue. It's the first book in a four book series about four Highlander brothers. The reviews have been great and the numerous e-mails I've been getting tell me they can't wait for the other three books. If you'd like to know more about Return of the Rogue and more about me go to Avon.
I love connecting with readers, wordsmiths and people in general. So opinions, thoughts, suggestions and definitely encouragement are greatly appreciated.
I'll be musing on my books, all areas of writing and more - please join me when you can.
One more thing, my son Marc just published his first comic book Adam Zero the Last Man of Earth. Go to his website www.adamzero.com and find out more about it.