Yes, the first phase of The Big Move is over. We are safely back home in England (including our two cats!) and settling back in to the English way of life. I can’t tell you what a relief it is not to have to deal with all the furniture and stuff for another six weeks while our container crosses The Pond!

Sometimes, it feels like we’ve never been away, but at other times it feels like we’ve come from a different life altogether. We had a wonderful six years in New Jersey - we saw a lot, did a lot, met great people and took advantage of as much of what the USA has to offer as we could. It’s hard not to wish we’d had more time there. (We’ll be back for visits!)

And yet, in a lot of ways, it’s good to be home.

So, what do I miss about NJ?

It goes without saying that I miss the people - both friends and those I met in my daily life. It will seem strange not to see the ladies on the check-out at Kings, the wonderful staff at our vets and at the local post office.

It also goes without saying that I will miss the hockey. Sure, you can follow it on the internet. Maybe even catch a few games on the TV. But, with a five hour time difference, it’s very hard. And there is nothing like being at The Rock to watch my Devils in person!

Other than that, here are 5 things I will miss about NJ.

1. Barnes & Noble

2. Doggy bags

3. A decent sized dishwasher

4. Wide roads and ‘right turn on red’

5. Ihop, Orville Redenbacher popcorn, Peter Pan peanut butter, awesome beef,

But, to add some balance to the equation, here are my 5 things I look forward to having again in England!

1. Internet grocery shopping

2. Buttercups and daisies

3. Sausages, Cornish Pasties, sausage rolls, fish & chips, Indian take-away, real Cadbury’s chocolate

4. Polite drivers who don’t honk and who know how to use their indicators!

5. My own office!

Over to you. If you were to move, what would you miss the most about where you live? Where would you like to move, and what would you look forward to?

Touching someone’s life, leaving a footprint even as simple as a smile, can make a difference.  Have you ever considered how your actions might have made a positive impact on others?  When I started thinking about writing a blog on this subject, I thought it would be easy to jot down a few thoughts to stimulate ideas.  What I didn’t expect was to find the task to be over whelming.   

Recently a friend passed away.  While listening to a testimonial of her life, I started thinking about what people would say about me after I die.  Would they smile when they remembered me?  As far as that goes, would they remember me or would I be gone and forgotten?  I hadn’t thought much about how I had affected the lives of others until then. 

Choices we make each and every day impact someone.  To touch a soul in a positive way is a wonderful thing.  I’ve been blessed most of my life by knowing strong, caring people.  I can only hope that I have followed in their footprints.     

Books widen worlds, giving readers a chance to explore new experiences.  As writers we create stories giving hours of quiet, relaxing time to our readers.  They befriend our characters, travel to new places and times, and hear new ideas.  By sharing parts of ourselves with them, we make an impact on their lives.  A footprint. 

Think a moment about the Literacy Signing Event at our yearly conferences.  RWA has donated over a half million dollars to literacy.  Teaching people to learn to read is a very good thing.  A footprint. 

I appreciate seeing how much joy my quilts bring to people.  It’s a way for me to create something original and at the same time tell someone I care.  A footprint. 

About a year ago I had an occasion to fulfill a life-long quest for an elderly man who’d been trying to find someone in my Uncle Ova’s family for over 60 years.  He found me.  The two had become friends when they entered college, having rooms across the hall from each other.  When WWII broke out, they enlisted in the Army together and kept in touch until my uncle died a hero at the age of twenty-four.  Once the war ended John started his search and by accident stumbled across me.   I only wish that my father and aunt were still living to have had the honor.  He shared memories that no one in the family was privy to and I was able to answer some questions for him.  The tears he had in his voice and the joy that I heard in his wife’s voice touched me deeply.  I know that I made a difference in his life.  He made one in mine as well.  A footprint. 

We influence each other in many ways.  I could list name after name of people who have made a difference in my life, quite a few of them living here on the playground.  Fortunately for me, my playpals leave big footprints which are easy for me to follow.   

Can you think of someone or some experience that has changed your life in a positive way?  Better yet, does that person know what a difference they made?

I love secondary characters, not only for the insights and richness they give to main characters, but also because of their own personalities. Secondary characters, the friends/relations/pets of the heroine/hero, give the main characters depth and a sounding board for events during the story.

Sometimes the secondary character is no more than a “spear carrier,” someone needed for that one scene. Nurse Battle-ax Betty in Terri Garey’s A Match Made in Hell is a “spear carrier.”

Often, though, a secondary character is intriguing enough to warrant a storyline, either within the ongoing novel or in a follow up novel. These days, I read the JD Robb “In Death” series as much for the secondary and minor characters as for the story. I know Eve Dallas, with Roarke’s help, will solve the murder and put the killer in a cage. But I also want to know what Peabody and McNab, Charles and Louise, Mavis and Leonardo are doing.

Sometimes the secondary character tries to take over the whole book.

The first time it happened to me was during the writing of what eventually became Less Than Perfect Family. ”

In an original draft, Sam’s financial adviser, Martha, began to take over more and more of the book. Finally, I cut or copied all the scenes with Martha and put them all into a folder with Martha’s name. “Back off, Martha. You’ll get your own book.” When I started Martha’s story, I needed a hero for her and there was Sam’s best friend Phil suddenly telling me, “Martha’s my ex-wife and I still love her. I want her back. Please?” Hurmph, not Martha, Phil, or even Sam had told me during the first book Martha and Phil had been married to each other. Martha and Phil’s story became Balanced Heart.

Who are some of the secondary characters who have intrigued you? Did they get their own books?

My family already suspects that I do this (as if I’d ever do something like that!) 

Those of you who have been hanging with us for a while will recall our missing cover model from several weeks ago. We’d scheduled a day of blogging with Christopher Howell who several of us met in Pittsburgh back in April of this year.

Christopher & I had done the interview at an earlier time, so the interview was posted, but our cover model never showed up to play with us that day.

As we had several prizes to give away, we held a contest to see who could come up with the best reason why Christopher never showed.

Here’s a recap of some (but not all) of the entries:

Janice: It was Pat. In the Sandbox. With the wrench. No, wait! I meant with the lead pipe. Uhm, that’s still not right. Okay, let me start over. It was Pat, in the sandbox, with the sword. Yep, that is my final answer!

Jana Mercy: Perhaps it was Dina. In the tire swing. With a flashlight. OR Maybe when Tammy read that Chris was a UPS man she went out and ordered a special package and Chris had to go deliver. Maybe women all across the world have been ordering packages all day and UPS has been overwhelmed by the demand and poor Chris is having to pull overtime.

Covered In Chapstick: I admit it. It was me. In the Lily Pond. With a rock.

Kimmy L: My guess is that Chris had an unexpected guest and is probaly doing the wild thing about now. OR I think he delivered a package to one of you girls and you offered him a drink that was spiked and now you have hidden him.

Jill: My theory is that Christopher Howell fell into the Lily pond and the giant fish ate him.

Jacey: I think Jennifer Y did Chris in the treehouse with the jumprope. Was that supposed to say “it” instead of “Chris

RobynL: In Chris’s interview we were told he can really dance. I think the reason he is late is because last night while out dancing up a storm an agent for The Chippendales saw him. They knew right then and there that he was destined to be a part of their group and so today he had to go and audition. I bet he got a part or position in the group.

Cheryl S.: I’m thinking that while Chris was making his UPS rounds, he was so preoccupied with all this kissing talk that he missed a step, hit his head on the railing and now has amnesia. Once Chris regained consciousness, the lucky woman to whom he just delivered two boxes of books from Amazon.com had persuaded him that he’s her boyfriend and she proceeds to use the setting of the romance novel she’s currently reading as Chris’s life story, casting him as the hero and herself in the heroine’s role.

Anita Mae even gave us a limerick:
“There once was a man named Chris
Whom every girl wanted to kiss
But right on the day
We wanted him to play
He dared to give The Playground a miss!”

The winner was Jennifer Y: Janice brought him to the playground where everything seemed great at first and calm and he was just settling in to teeter totter with Janice and wait for people to start showing up. Suddenly, from nowhere, Terri swung by on the tireswing and swooped him up mumbling something about stars and a bottle of wine (even though it was early in the day).

They disappeared for a bit and then he returned only to have Leslie, Mona, Carla, and few other WAP practically attack the poor fellow as they fought over whose turn it was…something about a kissing booth.

While they argued and shoved and broke the playground rule to share and get along, Christoper managed to disappear again (without saying a word) when Tawny grabbed my…er… the jumprope and asked to see his “sword.” Blushing, the poor guy was dragged behind the treehouse.

Tawny reappeared without Christopher (the Captain Jack comments drew her here) and disappeared again (this time with Captain Jack).

Throughout the day various playmates and playbuddies made comments leading me to believe the poor fellow was being passed around while they figured out what type of kisses they enjoyed (I saw a lot of rumpled clothing and messy hair). They kept his mouth and fingers so busy, he was unable to type and respond to us (have fun with that one, Jana).

Jana appeared late in the day claiming to be hard at work and that was her reason for being late, but I think she was keeping tabs on Christopher making sure he didn’t get overkissed before it was her turn.

Somehow, poor innocent me *adjusts halo* lost out on her turn because she was being a patient observer (and searching for the missing jumprope…got an eyeful when I peaked behind the treehouse, I tell ya).

Now, poor Christopher, is probably off resting and using that extra-strength chapstick on his poor lips

LOL, aren’t these just a riot? They all were. I think we had more fun with our guesses than if coverboy had shown up. I never heard directly from Christopher to find out WHY he really wasn’t here. I thought he’d blown us off, but truth is, he tried to post (although it was ten days later) to let us know where he was, but the SPAM filter ate it and Terri just recently found it.

Here’s Christopher’s comment:

It’s me….the long time no see missing one! I made it back! Well, for now at least I was captured by a named man named T.J. What did he do to me you may ask? hahah nothing bad. Actually, T.J. happened to be a producer of a upcoming chinese soap opera. YES, I’m now in a chinese soap opera hahah too funny hahahah. Sorry if this message is a little short, but I will definitely stop by soon and try to comment back on some of the funny stuff that is posted on here Always remember…very important!…Mc Donalds, Twizzlers, & peanut M&Ms DO NOT MIX!

Yep, this just goes to show, the truth is really stranger than fiction. I mean, who would have guessed a Chinese Soap Opera??????? *snort*

Anyway, thought y’all would enjoy this. I know I did.

Oh, and cover model Luke Walsh is going to be joining us very soon. He and I are working out the details of the interview right now. Yea!

In the spirit of the fun we had with the guessing contest, we’re doing a new contest today–one where we guess what Christopher’s Chinese Soap Opera name is.

Everyone post your guess & at the end of the day we’ll choose 3 winners to recieve autographed copies of Kelley St. John’s To Catch A Cheat.