To celebrate the release of the Romance in the Rain anthology, author Claire Tisdale stopped by my blog to share her favorite romantic movies. She has some lovely picks.
Clare Tisdale’s Top 10 Romantic Movies
1.
Notting Hill
— For its pairing of Hugh Grant—the quintessential dithering Englishman who’d
be a complete dork if he weren’t so handsome—and All-American Julia Roberts—she
of the huge smile, big hair and exuberant nature. Together, the two form an
intercontinental alliance that contains the best of both worlds.
2.
Titanic — Winslet and DiCaprio are the Romeo and Juliet
of the 20th century, only it’s a boat, not a family feud, that sinks
the ill-fated couple.
3.
The Princess Bride
— A sweet and funny movie. Robin Wright is so pretty, her prince so charming,
the villains so goofily evil. What’s not to love?
4.
Parenthood —
I have a soft spot for Keanu Reeves. He does hapless, befuddled and
cheek-pinchingly cute so well. In this Steve Martin flick, directed by Ron
Howard, he is the motorcycle-riding boyfriend of Martin’s rebellious teenage
daughter (played by Martha Plimpton).
5.
The English Patient
— Set in a crumbling Italian villa during the end days of WWII, a burn victim
tells his story of passionate, doomed love to the nurse who cares for him. Haunting, tragic and beautifully filmed.
6.
When Harry Met Sally
— To me, Ryan represents the epitome of the rom-com heroine. I wish someone had given her a youth serum at
30 so she could keep playing variations on this perky, funny young character
forever. And Nora Ephron, who wrote the script, was an immensely talented
writer and humorist. In the words of Ryan, “Nora was an
era. We pictured ourselves inside her dreams and they became ours.”
7.
Grease — A Glee for the Gen-X crowd, Grease has
visual pop, a fantastic soundtrack, and eye-candy leads in Olivia Newton-John
and John Travolta.
8.
Dirty Dancing
—“Nobody puts Baby in a corner.” And nobody who has seen Dirty Dancing can forget this film of forbidden teenage love,
sultry dance moves, and fabulous songs.
9.
Walk The Line
— The story of Johnny Cash’s life and the pivotal role his wife, June, played
in his development as a musician and his recovery from alcoholism. Poignant and
heartwarming.
10.
Casablanca
— Bogey, Bergman, the war, the den of spies, collaborators, allies and refugees
that convene in a little bar in Morocco…
a perfect confluence of factors go into making this my favorite movie ever.
Nice list, right? I'll post my own list soon. :) In the meantime, check out Romance in the Rain.
Title: Romance in the Rain (A Seattle Anthology)
Authors: Kristine
Cayne, Dawn Kravagna, Charlotte Russell, Sherri Shaw, Clare Tisdale, Marianne
Stillings
Publisher: Kristine
Cayne
Release Date: October
15, 2012
Pages: 360
Blurb:
From the pioneer days of Seattle
through the smoke-filled clouds of WWII and into the present, Romance in The
Rain takes readers on a journey with four generations of the strong-willed
and passionate Caldwell family. The anthology of six novellas is a
collaboration of the Seattle-based Rainy
Day Writers group.
Splendor
in the Moss by Charlotte Russell—By the spring of 1853 Englishman James
Caldwell has traveled thousands of miles in a quest to find a place to call
home. Newly settled Seattle isn’t that place and he’s ready to move on again
when widowed Mattie Jensen marches into his life as somber as a cloudy day. But
James can see through the solemn haze to Mattie’s strength and passion. Now he
has a reason to stay, if he can just convince Mattie to take a second chance on
love—and him. (22,000 words)
Final
Approach by
Marianne Stillings—With the world at war, Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Service
pilot Lt. Charlene (Charlie) Thompson faces personal battles as well. Pearl
Harbor left her a widowed bride, certain love would never come again – but
battle-scarred Capt. Joe Caldwell has other ideas for the beautiful lady flyer,
if he can just keep her safe from the secret saboteur who's already taken the
life of Charlie's best friend. (17,000
words)
Love Phantom by Dawn Kravagna—University of
Washington, 1983: A great place to get an education and meet single men. Drama
major Kara Caldwell prefers to hide behind the characters in her plays, yet
feels pressure to live up to the example set by her brave and witty
grandmother, a veteran of WWII. Can she learn to overcome her reticence and prejudices
to discover which guy truly cares for her--and who is just putting on an act? (17,000 words)
What’s Wrong with Mr. Perfect? by Sherri Shaw—No sooner did Chef Ivy
Turin wish to meet the perfect man than Sam Rockney walked into her restaurant.
But is the sexy Seattle quarterback for real or is there something wrong with
Mr. Perfect? (17,000 words)
Shelter from the Storm
by Clare Tisdale—Seven years and one
broken heart later, JD Caldwell returns to Seattle to pick up the pieces of his
old life, never imagining he will fall for Maya—the mysterious woman who lets
him into her house and bed but keeps the door to her heart tightly closed. When
their summer fling takes an unexpectedly serious turn and Maya gives him his
walking papers, JD has to decide whether their love—and his legacy—is worth
fighting for. (21,000 words)
Aftershocks by Kristine Cayne—When Seattle is struck by a devastating earthquake,
technical rescue firefighter Jamie Caldwell must save his estranged wife and
daughter from the wreckage of a collapsed building. He's defied the odds
hundreds of times, but will his luck finally run out for good? (24, 000 words)
RAINY
DAY WRITERS
Writing fiction is difficult and
lonely and more often than not, the "normal" people in your life
don't understand the writing process and can't fathom why you are possessed and
obsessed with finding the perfect word or phrase that says exactly what you
want to say right where you want to say it. Only other writers comprehend and
accept that kind of torment.
To fill this need to surround
herself with like-minded obsessive-compulsive self-doubting lunatics, in 2005, Marianne Stillings, who writes Romantic
Suspense, established what came to be known as The Rainy Day Writers.
There were only two requirements
for joining the group: You must be serious about writing and getting published,
and any criticisms of co-members' work be honest, gentle, and kind.
Over the years, the membership
has changed; some people moved on, others joined. The group we have now has been
stable and constant since 2009. The Rainy
Day Writers are a family.
Charlotte
Russell joined the group in 2006 at the suggestion of a former
member. Charlotte writes Historical Romance.
Dawn
Kravagna became a member in the spring of 2007 because of a writers'
list where Marianne had posted looking for new members. Dawn writes Comedy and
Mystery.
In the Autumn of 2007, Sherri
Shaw found her way to the group because she and Marianne happened to sit at
the same table at the Emerald City Writer's Conference that year. Sherri writes
Historical Romance and Paranormal Historical Romance.
Clare
Tisdale joined in 2008 as the result of an email Marianne posted on
the Greater Seattle Chapter Romance Writer's list seeking new members. Clare
writes Contemporary Romance.
Kristine
Cayne found the group in 2009 because she won Marianne's raffle
basket at the Emerald City Writer's Conference that year. The basket included
an offer to critique the winner's manuscript—an evaluation that resulted in an
invitation to join. Kristine writes Romantic Suspense.
Romance in the Rain
Excerpts
Splendor
in the Moss by Charlotte Russell
After telling the dog to stay, he
steered her away from the Jensens’ cabin, towards the woods to the south.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Giving me the time of day. You were
gone for such a long while, I wasn’t certain you’d come back.”
“I had to fight my better judgment.”
James laughed. He couldn’t put on airs
around Mattie if he tried.
Final Approach by Marianne
Stillings
With the world at war, Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Service pilot Lt.
Charlene (Charlie) Thompson faces personal battles as well. Pearl Harbor left
her a widowed bride, certain love would never come again – but battle-scarred
Capt. Joe Caldwell has other ideas for the beautiful lady flyer, if he can just
keep her safe from the secret saboteur who's already taken the life of
Charlie's best friend. (17,000 words)
What’s Wrong with Mr. Perfect? by Sherri Shaw
"Somehow I can’t
picture you as a nerd.” You’re too perfect, Ivy silently added,
fingering the amulet at her throat. It hummed under her fingertips as
the vendor’s words skated across her mind: If you truly want to
find the perfect man, and restore your faith in true love, then this necklace
will be your good luck talisman.” She dropped her hand, shaking off
the crazy notion. It was merely a coincidence that she wished to meet the
man of her dreams and Sam showed up. The necklace had nothing to do with
it. Right?"
Shelter from the Storm by
Clare Tisdale
A shadow crossed the window, and
JD looked up in time to see a seagull fly by. Beyond the downtown high rises,
the waters of the Puget Sound lay brooding, glazed by morning mist. Much
as JD hated starting over again, he realized that if he had to, he'd rather do
it here than anywhere else. Seattle was his home; he belonged here. Maya
and her beach house had helped confirm that for him.
Aftershocks
by Kristine Cayne
Adrenaline surging through her
system, Erica hung onto the doorjamb as the quake rocked the old courthouse.
The building swayed and groaned, windows rattled and shattered as the earth
continued to tremble. Cracks raced across the ceiling and plaster dust showered
down, covering everything in a thin white film. She’d lived in Seattle all her
life but had never experienced a quake as powerful as this one.
And her daughter was all alone.
All giveaway ends November 22, 2012 at midnight. Make sure to only enter the giveaway you are eligible for.
Giveaway for US residents only.
Grand Prize:
- 1 autographed copy of Deadly
Obsession + SWAG
- 1 autographed copy of
Deadly Addiction + SWAG
- The Secret Diaries of
Miss Miranda Cheever, by Julia Quinn (autographed copy)
- Blood Trinity, by
Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love
- 1 e-book copy of
“Falling Angel” by Clare Tisdale
- 1 handmade shell
necklace by Clare Tisdale
- A handmade afghan
crocheted by Marianne Stillings
- 1 autographed copy of
AROUSING SUSPICIONS
- 1 autographed copy of
SATISFACTION
- 1 autographed copy of
KILLER CHARMS
- 1 bag of truffles from
Seattle Chocolates
- 3 chocolate bars from
Seattle Chocolates
- $15 Starbucks gift
card
- 1 autographed copy of
Cattle Capers: Search For The MooMoo Pearl by Dawn Kravagna
Prize #5:
- 1 ecopy Deadly
Obsession by Kristine Cayne
- 1 print copy Accidental Cinderella, by Nancy Robards
Thompson
- 1 print copy Everything I Know About Love I Learned From
Romance Novels, by Sarah Wendell
Prize #6:
- 1 ecopy Deadly
Addiction by Kristine Cayne
- 1 print copy The Angel
in My Arms, by Stephanie Sloane
- 1 print copy The
Naughty List, by Donna Kauffman, Cynthia Eden and Susan Fox (autographed by
Susan Fox)
Prize #7:
- 1 ecopy Deadly
Addiction by Kristine Cayne
- 1 print copy Tsunami
Blue, by Gayle Ann Williams
- 1 print copy A Tale of
Two Demon Slayers, by Angie Fox (autographed copy)
Giveaway for both US and International residents.
Prize #1:
- 1 ecopy Deadly
Obsession
- 1 ecopy of A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare
- 1 ecopy of The Sergeant's Lady by Susanna Fraser
Prize #2:
- 1 ecopy Deadly
Obsession
- 1
ecopy of Unraveled by Courtney Milan
- 1 ecopy of Unlocked, a novella by Courtney Milan
Prize #3:
- 1 ecopy Deadly
Obsession
- 1 ecopy of One Night in London by Caroline
Linden
- 1 ecopy of Ruined by Rumor by Alyssa Everett
Prize #4:
- 1 ecopy Deadly
Obsession
- 1 ecopy of Mr. Impossible by Loretta Chase
Prize #8-10:
- 1 ecopy Deadly
Addiction
- $10 Amazon or B&N
giftcard
Prize #11 US and International Giveaway
