Raine Balkera - Romance Author

Favorite Indulgence Hello, everyone, and welcome back for Week 26 of the MFRW Author Blog's 52-Week Blog Challenge . Today's topic of discussion is: My Favorite Indulgence Like me eating potato chips, I can't give you just one, so in no particular order... BATHING I have been known to check myself in to a hotel that offers quality bath works just so I can fill up their big, jet-pulsing tub, sprinkle the steaming water with my favorite oil or scented salt, and slowly submerge for a glorious soak. And, I mean not caring that my skin is pruning by adding more hot water when necessary, because I'm gonna be in there for a while. Expensive? Yep. Worth the price? Oh, yep! MASSAGE This is a risky prospect because in all the years I've been aware of the benefits of a great massage, I've only ever received ONE that was worth the $$ (and, it was free!) I've tried Asian places that specialize in the treatment, and a few salon's that of...

Late Entry! No Internet meant No Submission... but, better late than never? Whatever, this is now Week 25 of the MFRW Author Blog's 52-Week Blog Challenge , and this week's topic of discussion is: Do You Keep a Journal or Diary ? Quick Answer:  NO But, I used to! I also used to horde the cute, colorful, and sometimes stylish Journal and Diary lined notebooks. Every time I went to Waldenbooks, it was to seek out and obtain the latest Johanna Lindsey romance novel and then browse the wide assortment of Journals. The more colorful, the better. Like anything, and with time, these things went from $2.99 or $5 to $7.99 and up to $12.00 Funny thing is, when I stopped hording them like I did legal pads, gel pens, and bargain bin romance novels, AND over time, the prices for these same cool journals started a slight decrease in price. Now, you'll find them in the same bargain bins as the paperback romance novels used to reside. And, the last time I we...

Hello, there! I missed last week's Hop, so this is now Week 24 of the MFRW Author Blog's 52-Week Blog Challenge , and the topic is: Item I Can't Live Without . If you had asked me just two years ago if I could live without music, I'd have emphatically told you N.O. Nearly my entire life was spent listening to, enjoying, recording, dancing to, and driving wherever with some type of music blaring back at me. Especially when I was writing. I honestly never believed it would be possible to write without ambient background filler to urge me on. Any time I hopped in my car, or even as a kid hopping into mom or pop's car, the 'radio' was always on as soon as the engine turned over. Elevators, fancy anchor stores at the mall, concerts, and even movies include some form of music. But, lo and behold, people... I have not been inclined to listen to music for more than a year. I just stopped turning on the car radio, tuning in to my favorite int...

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF JUNE! Not sure about the rest of the USA or around the globe, but in my neck of the woods, we've been in a heatwave, with temps in the low 90s (Fahrenheit) and with the muggies as well. I love it! And, it's not even officially Summertime yet, so that is pretty cool. Except when I'm working inside a sweat box known as elementary school, then it isn't as 'cool' as I'd like it to be. Today's topic hits on the fact that I, for the first time ever, went to work in a sleeveless dress AND flip flops! It is part of the new-me Gift I'm giving to myself, to let go of the past, that way of thinking and feeling, and discovering someone new, someone alive, and someone I've never met before but wouldn't mind getting to know better. So, without further ado, here is this week's response! Hello, everyone, and welcome back for Week 22 of the MFRW Author Blog 's 52-Week Blog Challenge. This week, the to...

Hello, everyone! Welcome to Week 20 of the MFRW Author Blog's 52-Week Blog Challenge . This week, our topic is: My Favorite Social Media Platforms, and Why . *sigh... The most fun I tend to derive from these posts is creating the Banners for them. LOL IF Social Media worked the way I think that it should, I would be enamored of them all. However, all social media networks cater to the wealthy, the affluent, the successful, and the almighty popular people. Just like it works with people in real life. If Social Media sites worked in an inclusive manner FOR ALL, I would choose them all, but they don't and do not work for me. Goal-setters probably love Social Media and strive to gain recognition there, so I commend those types, believe me. For me, it is like whipping a dead horse, but that is because I am (currently) a nobody without a following. My content is seen by no one and easily lost among the more prominent, popular, and successful among us, so ...

Hi, everyone! Welcome back to Week 19 of the MFRW Author Blog 's 52-Week Blog Challenge. This week, the topic is: My Most Romantic Memory . Is it cheating or bad form to participate when you don't have an answer? I hope not, because I'm thinking -- I joined this year's challenge hop, so I must participate regardless. Also, I don't want anyone to think I'm being lazy or facetious because it is beyond pathetically true! I have No Memory of any Romantic Memory , and yes, I was married once and have two, grown children to prove it. So, what am I supposed to say this week? One of the big reasons why I write Romance is because I have never experienced true romance. I married someone I practically grew up with and was close friends with in middle and part of high school, so it kind of just happened. Yes, my ex bought me things, but not  just because , and often quite grudgingly, including my birthday and for Christmas. Eventually, it boiled ...

Hello! Welcome to Week 18 of the MFRW Author Blog's 52-Week Blog Challenge . This week, our topic of discussion is: How I Work Up Character/Setting Profiles . If I'm not mistaken, we've discussed this before, only it was worded differently. And, if I'm not mistaken, this is asking me to discuss how I create or devise my characters and/or setting for each novel I write. Before I begin, let me apologize to those of you who participate, because, for the past few weeks, I've been suffering far more than usual with seasonal allergies. It affects a strip of my face and head that is crucial to writing and reading... the ears, the eyes, and the nose. Plus, I cough a lot, which causes a sore throat. Anyway, my eyes are crossed, blurred, double vision, and constantly itchy, making it nearly impossible to see, much less read. Then I get headaches from trying to read or stare at a screen, so... *Sigh, enough with the problems and on with the show. S...

Hi, folks! Sorry about opting out last week, but the topic had no appeal, and I also had nothing to contribute to it, either. This week, Week 14, the Topic What I Learned from My Worst Review,  isn't much better, but I want to try and complete as many of these as I can without dropping out. I do have two ePub novels listed on Amazon, but no one is reading them, so I don't have any reviews. Well, I do, but they are from the five friends who said they were interested in reading it, which just means they left complimentary reviews of the high-caliber variety (in order not to hurt my feelings). So, for this post, I thought I could give examples of some really scorching reviews I've encountered when searching for things to read at Amazon, share them with you, and tell you how I would respond if they were directed at me and my work. So, without further ado... found at Amazon This is page one of three total, in the 1-star category, for a Historical Romance...