On Monday, July 4th, millions of US citizens will celebrate our Independence Day. It's a day that recognizes our official declaration of no longer being a part of the British empire in 1776, to put it succinctly. There will be fireworks and parades and all kinds of fun stuff going on as people revel in the fact that we are no longer subject to eating kidney pie or blood pudding, unless we want to, or drinking non-French wine because of some ongoing kerfuffles between England and France.
For some of our romance heroes and heroines, independence--or the seeking of it--is a driving force that motivates our characters. It's that important. Gaining one's independence in some area of life can be a major milestone, and as this day approaches this year, I find myself trying to remember what my first taste of independence was and when it was. When was that moment that I truly did something on my own? For many people, it's going off to kindergarten or pre-school. For others, it's riding a bike around the neighborhood. For some, they truly didn't feel independent until they got their first job or got their driver's license.
Looking back, there are many instances where I gained my independence, whether knowingly or not, but one does stand out to me. I was probably in the 3rd grade, and we were working on numbers from 1-100. We had to write them out as digits on sheets of paper with big squares on them. I knew mine already, and it was just a matter of writing them out. I remember my teacher at the time, who was a nice lady, telling the class that if we didn't get our number sheets done, we'd have to stay in at recess and do them. For some reason that day, I didn't want to go out to recess. I thought it would be nice to just sit in the empty classroom and write out my numbers leisurely, and so I didn't hurry to complete my work. Because I wasn't done when recess came, I had to stay in and complete the assignment, but it was what I had chosen to do. It was probably the first real decision I ever made about my education.
I often wonder if the teacher thought I was having difficulty learning my numbers or if she thought I was being disrespectful, because I think missing recess was supposed to have been a punishment. What kid wants to miss recess? Me, on that particular day. I had been offered two choices, and I chose to stay in and take my time on my work. I don't remember her being upset about it, but I know lots of teachers and I think they often wonder why "good" kids sometimes "get into trouble." I think sometimes students don't see certain options as punishments, like I did way back when, and they make decisions based on the choices given.
Anyway, that was my first taste of "freedom" in terms of making a decision for myself, that I remember, about school. What about you? What was your first adventure in gaining your independence? Please do share. Happy reading!
Showing posts with label Fourth of July. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fourth of July. Show all posts
Happy Independence Day Weekend! Celebrating the New Release of Her Highland Hero!!!
I was surprised when I was a Girl Scout Troop Leader and my troop
didn't know the meaning of the 4th of July. So we did a study unit on
what it was all about.
Then years later when my son was in college, taking a first year American history class, the teacher was mentioning Independence Day and one girl raised her hand and said, "Cool that it happened on a holiday."
This was foooor real. Really. Truly. Real.
I would have felt sorry for her had I been there, except that it's really sad. Really. Seriously. What are we teaching our kids anyway?
Okay, so it's also really, really funny. Too.
Hey, I don't need to make up stories. It's all just...out there.
Back to writing! What? You think I'm off to celebrate??
I am, when I write. :)
Oh, and take pictures. This is a baby bunny. Isn't he adorable? And a dragonfly on a pyracantha that was blowing hard in the wind, and the dragonfly was flapping his wings like crazy, so I was surprised to see such a clear picture of him. And then 2nd one shows: Look who's coming to dinner! Yep, a 2nd one!
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And the new release!!!
I’m still waiting for it to show up on Kobo and Google Play, but it’s now up on B&N!
Barnes and Noble
Amazon
ARe Books
Kobo
Smashwords
Print proof is ready for me to review, but trying to get somewhere on His Wild Highland Lass.
Now that Her Highland Hero is on Amazon, I’ve uploaded it for a narrator for the audiobook format!
Have a lovely weekend!
Then years later when my son was in college, taking a first year American history class, the teacher was mentioning Independence Day and one girl raised her hand and said, "Cool that it happened on a holiday."
This was foooor real. Really. Truly. Real.
I would have felt sorry for her had I been there, except that it's really sad. Really. Seriously. What are we teaching our kids anyway?
Okay, so it's also really, really funny. Too.
Hey, I don't need to make up stories. It's all just...out there.
I am, when I write. :)
Oh, and take pictures. This is a baby bunny. Isn't he adorable? And a dragonfly on a pyracantha that was blowing hard in the wind, and the dragonfly was flapping his wings like crazy, so I was surprised to see such a clear picture of him. And then 2nd one shows: Look who's coming to dinner! Yep, a 2nd one!
Lady Isobel is a Norman laird's
daughter, living near the Scots border where her father, Lord Pembroke, is
trying to keep the peace. But her mother was a Highlander and the man Isobel
loves most of all is Laird Marcus McEwan, who has been bringing news of her
mother's people for years. But now Isobel's father wishes her wed to an English
nobleman, who will carry on his title. Isobel will wed no other man but her
heart's desire—and that is one braw Highlander from her mother's homeland.
Laird Marcus McEwan has loved the
feisty lass forever. For years, Marcus has tried to convince Lord Pembroke to
allow him to wed his daughter. But the Norman lord will not allow it. Then ambushes
and murders make it too dangerous for Marcus to reach a peaceful resolution.
Nothing goes as planned and
keeping the lass for his own is fraught with danger, as they try to determine
who was behind the killings. Isobel and Marcus will do everything in their
power to ensure they are together as they have always vowed they would be.
I’m still waiting for it to show up on Kobo and Google Play, but it’s now up on B&N!
Barnes and Noble
Amazon
ARe Books
Kobo
Smashwords
Print proof is ready for me to review, but trying to get somewhere on His Wild Highland Lass.
Now that Her Highland Hero is on Amazon, I’ve uploaded it for a narrator for the audiobook format!
Have a lovely weekend!
Terry
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
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USA Today Bestseller and Award-winning author of urban fantasy and medieval historical romantic suspense, Terry Spear also writes true stories for adult and young adult audiences. She’s a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves and has an MBA from Monmouth University. She also creates award-winning teddy bears, Wilde & Woolly Bears, to include personalized bears designed to commemorate authors’ books. When she’s not writing or making bears, she’s teaching online writing courses. Originally from California, she’s lived in eight states and now resides in the heart of Texas. She is the author of Heart of the Wolf (Publishers Weekly's BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR), Destiny of the Wolf, To Tempt the Wolf, Legend of the White Wolf, Seduced by the Wolf, Wolf Fever, Heart of the Highland Wolf, Dreaming of the Wolf, The Highland Wolf in Paradise, Deadly Liaisons (vampire romantic suspense), Winning the Highlander’s Heart, The Accidental Highland Hero, A Ghost of a Chance at Love (Time Travel Western Romance), The Vampire…In My Dreams (young adult), Deidre’s Secret (young adult) and numerous articles and short stories for magazines.
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