Girl Talk

by Christine Wells

As many of you know, I'm still basking in the afterglow of a wonderful weekend with friends, romance writers and all-round good eggs, Anna Campbell and Denise Rossetti.

It's been so long since I took some quality time to just sit and talk with the girls that I'd forgotten what a pleasure it can be. I have a husband and two young sons at home. My dog's a girl, but much as I love her, she's not the talkative type:)

So it was a special kind of bliss to me that for an entire weekend, all Denise, Anna and I did was eat, drink, swim, go for walks and talk, talk, talk. And you guessed it, the subject of our conversation was most often writing.

We even managed to do some serious story plotting, although it somehow managed to descend into a ridiculous punning challenge--about apples, of all things! Yes, I'm sure you all know that Anna was the instigator of that one. We had imbibed a few glasses of pink Veuve Clicquot by then, so maybe that will rest as our defence:) I wish all the Banditas and our buddies could have been there--especially as Anna was doing the cooking!

I was thinking how lucky I am in my friends, not only here in Australia but on the internet and in particular, in the lair. I wondered how I'd distill the essence of those friendships and explore them in my stories.

Some writers are brilliant at capturing the special, sometimes flawed, but ultimately strong and supportive relationship true female friends have. Jenny Crusie comes to mind, and so does Eloisa James with her Desperate Duchesses series. Reading about solid female friendships gives me such a warm feeling. Experiencing the real thing is priceless.

What's your favourite thing to do with your girlfriends? What great fictional friendships stay with you? Do you have any wonderful friendship moments, fictional or otherwise, to share?
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Party like you're a Bandita

Note: Sorry for the late post today. After returning to the hotel last night, I discovered the Internet was not working. Thankfully, it seems to be behaving itself this morning.

Back when I was in elementary school, I had a couple of pen pals to whom I wrote actual letters and then waited anxiously for the replies. It seemed exciting to have friends far away – one in Oregon and one in Spain. Now, I talk to friends around the world on a daily basis – people in many different states and countries. But it’s still fantastic to see them in person. That’s what made a tony margareth dinner at Bandita Jeanne’s house Tuesday night extra special. Here are a few scenes from the festivities.

Hostess with the Mostest Jeanne Adams, the lovely Anna “Fo” Campbell, and the always-entertaining Caren “Posh” Crane.















Donna MacMeans and Loucinda “Aunty Cindy” McGary do some catching up.


















Suzanne Welsh and Christie Kelley look like they’re having a good time, don’t they? There’s another version of this shot where they look like they’re having even more fun, but I was afraid they might stuff me in a potted plant if I put it up here. :)

















Beth Andrews manages to chat with Anna Sugden before Anna’s jetlag really sat in. Hey, it was five hours later than D.C. time for our British pal.


























Joan Kayse is tempting the Golden Rooster with one of her delectable chocolate chip cookies. I’m not sure how many he snagged, but I consumed three.






























As if the cookies weren’t enough, the GR started eyeing the other tasty treats that were available.




























Those treats also included Beth’s “kibbles and bits”, a popular confection with the crowd.


















Hmm, Suz managed to get in another shot. Here she is Nancy Northcott, who I’m sure was regaling her with stories of her daylong tour with the Kiss of Death chapter of RWA.




















After eating, chatting, laughing until we cried and even conducting a bit of business, we wrapped up the night by putting together the gift basket we’re giving away at tomorrow night’s Literacy Signing. Here, Christie, Donna and Beth figure out how to arrange all the goodies! If you're at the Literacy Signing tonight, be sure to buy some raffle tickets for a chance to win our basket or one of the many other fabulous donated baskets.

Do you have any stories of people you first met as pen pals or online whom it's extra special to get to see in person?Source URL: http://plasticsurgerycelebrities.blogspot.com/search/label/Friendship
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The Best Part of Christmas

by Donna MacMeans

Do you know what the best part of Christmas is?


PRESENTS !!!!!!!!!!!!! (and you were expecting something less materialistic?)

Okay...while presents are awfully good, they're not the best part of Christmas. But before we get into that discussion -- I wanted to remind the five winners of Dianne Castell's book, Star Quality, to email her at DianneCastell@hotmail.com. Those winners were: Helen, Jo, Dina, Terrio, and Michele L.

Looking back over the various December blogs, we've talked about cookies and crafts, movies and snow but we haven't mentioned one of my favorite aspects of the season.


Lunch!


Seriously. This is the season for friends to gather for a holiday celebration so there's lots of well-attended luncheons and parties.


Why is that?


Not the gathering, I mean - I'm always up for a fun gathering - but why do we do it so frequently at Christmas? I met a group of writers at a Chinese Restaurant last weekend, and am meeting a writer for lunch later today who is in-town visiting in-laws. (She's from California and in for a wintery shock when she steps outside in our chill temps). Last weekend, it was another larger group of writers and before that - the red hats. (Have to love the Red Hat groups. Their sole purpose is to party *g*). Before that it was the Investment group and the Gourmet crowd. Obviously, the extra pounds swallowing my waist aren't all from Christmas cookies!

My husband has been going out for annual lunches with his golf buddies and with his co-workers...but have you noticed that men lunch differently than women? I mean, when he comes home, he isn't gripping a bunch of brightly colored gift bags with inexpensive ornaments or cute notepads or homemade goodies or such. When men exchange gifts - they exchange gift cards. That way gift parity is maintained and wrapping is minimal. The only variance is in the vendor. Love it!


Maybe that's why holiday lunches are so prevalent...gifts are involved. So maybe presents are the best thing of Christmas (though I tend to think it's the friendships behind the glitsy bag with the cute notepads).


Merry Christmas to my fellow banditas and bandita buddies! I wish we could all meet in the lair for lunch (and drinks and Sven...) Thank you all for your friendship, not only over the holiday season, but for the whole year through. Friendship is the best gift of all.

So on this note I'd like you to tell me either your favorite gift of all or your favorite part of Christmas. I'd also like you to give me the name of someone whose friendship is a gift (first name only, please). One poster will receive the special bandita prize for the twelve days of Christmas and their friend will receive an autographed hard cover of The Trouble with Moonlight with an appropriate inscription.


Merry Christmas All!

Source URL: http://plasticsurgerycelebrities.blogspot.com/search/label/Friendship
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She Made Me Do It

by Tawny Weber and Beth Andrews

Tawny: Did you ever have a friend who pushed or encouraged you? Who was always there to help you along and maybe dare you to do something that you probably wouldn't have done on your own? You know, skinny dipping in the moonlight because your friend dared you? Or asking that hottie out you were crushing on? Or, you know, maybe something a little more life altering?

Beth:Oh, yeah, I have a pushy friend...er...I mean a wonderfully encouraging friend *g* She not only pushes me to set goals, but insists I am more than capable of meeting those goals. She cheers me on when things are going well and cheers me up when I'm down. Meeting her and becoming critique partners with her definitely altered my life in the best way possible! You know, thinking of friends who encourage each other reminds me of Delaney, the heroine of your latest Blaze release Risque Business, and her best friend Mindy.

Tawny:Hmmm, you remind me a LOT of Mindy, Beth. You know, the sweet innocent looking one who hides her bulldozer tendencies behind her mellow exterior? The one that won't listen to any excuse--no matter HOW reasonable (I mean, really -isn't sorting orphaned socks a solid excuse not to write? I think it is)--to keep me from pushing for a goal. And then when I think maybe I can take the easy route, there you are booting me in the butt to push harder.

*sigh* Is it any wonder Delaney went for the makeover? She was afraid of what Mindy would do to her if she chickened out.


Beth:Now, now. I don't bulldoze you. I gently nudge you in the right direction.

You know the only excuses for not writing I'll accept are: Sick kids (yes, they have to be YOUR kids, the neighbor kids don't count) Sick author (but only if you can't stay awake for longer than fifteen minutes at a time) or an unforeseen emergency (which begs the question: aren't all emergencies 'unforeseen'?) Of course, there are times when I realize an author might need a mental health day. Which is why I fully support your right to re-read all 7 Harry Potter books or watch every last episode of Friends.

Just not when you're on deadline.

But you know I only push...er...nudge you for your own good. Which is why Mindy wanted Delaney to get the makeover. She knew her friend needed a bit of...direction shall we say, to become her best self. And since Delaney ends up making a super sexy bet with extremely HOT author Nick Angel, I don't think she's complaining ;-)

Tawny:Okay, Okay... I get it. Sometimes a good friend is the person who shoves you out the door in spite of your well-justified excuses. And you're right. Delaney owes a LOT to Mindy. Not only for suggesting the makeover but also for helping her get the job at the TV studio. And those two steps were crucial in Delaney's journey of growth and self-empowerment (doesn't that sound grand?!). That, in turn, made her a worthy opponent in her own eyes to tackle Nick and all his sexy challenges.

Hmmm... I guess this means I have to admit that nagging friends are a blessing, right? Because I know I wouldn't be nearly as excited about Risque Business if it hadn't been for you nagging... I mean, encouraging me throughout the story! And every time I hit a wall, you were right there telling me how it'd rock.

So - I publicly admit it, like Mindy did in Risque Business, Beth has definitely earned her "I told you so" rights with me over the years.

How about you? Do you have someone in your life who tends to know better than you do what's best for you? You know, that person who is there to push you along, encourage and support you and always seems to see just the exact thing you need to do to fix the problems. (Even if you don't want to listen to them *g*)
Who are your favorite Friends from books, TV shows or movies? The classics like LaVerne and Shirley, Richie and The Fonze? Or more modern friendships like Harry, Ron and Hermione? Tawny will give one lucky commenter signed copies of her first two Blaze books, Double Dare and Does She Dare?
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