Guest blogging at Tote Bags 'n' Blogs

This is my day to blog at Tote Bags 'n' Blogs -- the lovely Lee Hyat's blog about books that have to do with all things romance.

As a year ago today I was heading off to Chicago in an attempt to beat a blizzard so I could catch a plane to Dublin to do research for One-Night Love Child (at the time simply called Flynn's book), I thought that writing about 'research' might be interesting.

It's my favorite part of writing, as a matter of fact. And you can read why -- in brief -- over there today.

But here I'll give you a list of my favorite research moments -- ones that I never would have got to do if I hadn't been writing a book:

• going to bull-riding school for The Cowboy and The Kid
• spending an afternoon at Frederic Fekkai Salon in NYC for The Inconvenient Bride
• lunching at the Society of Illustrators in NYC with the artist who did my cover for Dream Chasers and who took me to a cover shoot afterwards
• learning how to build an 11 ton sand castle for Marry Sunshine
  
• going to Ireland in search of a perfect place for Flynn for One-Night Love Child
• interviewing a major league umpire for A Chance of Rainbows
• Having a stunt coordinator work out a stunt-gone-wrong for Cowboys Don't Quit
• Learning what goes into being a muralist for The Santorini Bride
• Going on an archeological dig for Dare To Trust
• Exploring an island off the coast of Maine for Call Up the Wind
• Following a professional beach volleyball player's tour for Out of Bounds

Just thinking about on them all makes me reflect how rich and varied a writer's life can be. It's not all sitting in the garret staring at the blank computer screen -- though some of it definitely is!

Anyway, the trip to Ireland was an adventure -- the blizzard was only the start of it. But it was great fun -- and definitely worth the trip, as well as the hours in the garret writing afterwards.

Stop by and say hi. You also have a chance to win a copy of Flynn's book just by leaving a comment there. Gunnar will be picking the winner on Tuesday.