Shannon here: Women’s Fiction author, Karla Akins shares insight into her real life romance plus a chance to win a copy of her novel, The Pastor’s Wife Wears Biker Boots. Comment or answer the question at the end of the post to enter the drawing for winner’s choice of a print or e-book copy. Deadline: May 16th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Karla:
Romance in the Daily Grind by Karla Akins:
Our life is insane. You have no idea.
As a minister’s family with adult twins with autism living with us (age 20), and my husband’s mother living with us who has Alzheimer’s, no day can be thoroughly planned without interruptions.
Let me tell you what’s romantic in this house.
Romance is…
…When Mr. Himself (my pet name for my husband, Eddie), brings me a glass of my favorite iced tea and allows me some quiet time to work on my writing.
…When I stop what I’m doing and make a snack for Mr. Himself when it’s not convenient.
…Keeping our negative feelings about the stress of our lives to ourselves.
…Helping with chores
…When Mr. Himself does the grocery shopping or I do the laundry (for each other)
…When I stay home with Mama Ellen and the twins so Mr. Himself can have time away to collect his thoughts or when he stays home so I can
…Finding an afternoon to go to the movies. We have to jump through logistical hoops to find caregivers for all three of our precious charges. We can’t be spontaneous. But when we do we go on movie marathons and see two or three at a time. It’s so much fun.
…Finding time to ride our motorcycles together even if it’s for ten short minutes.
…Sitting in the driveway in the car and talking. Sometimes it’s the only way to be alone.
…Watching funny YouTube videos together.
…Hiding notes under each other’s pillows and sometimes little gifts
…Stealing kisses in the church office
…When he feeds me his strawberries (I don’t usually prepare strawberries; he loves them and eats them everyday)
….When I’m working hard at the computer and he kisses me on the ear. He knows I hate/love it.
…Sneaking outside for a midnight swim in the dark (that way no one can find us!)
…Walking at night and looking at the stars
…Starting a fire in the fire pit outside in the evenings and sitting together as the sun goes down and pretending it’s just us alone together even though we’re surrounded by family
…Texting romantic notes back and forth and sending sweet pictures we find or emoticons
…I give Mr. Himself romantic coupons but he rarely cashes them until years later. It’s funny, though, and that in itself is pretty fun.
…We are masters at sneaking in a little romance each day. Sometimes it’s work. But it’s worth it.
About Karla: Karla Akins’s first novel, The Pastor’s Wife Wears Biker Boots was published in August, 2013. She also writes interactive, biographical narratives, and content for iPad applications with an on-going contract for her World Explorers Every Child Should Know series. Jacques Cartier, hit #1 on Amazon in its category. Her hobbies are book-hoarding, riding her motorcycle and looking for treasure. She is represented by Linda Glaz of Hartline Literary Agency. You can learn more about Karla at her website at KarlaAkins.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
About the book – The Pastor’s Wife Wears Biker Boots:
Pastor’s wife, Kirstie Donovan, lives life in a fishbowl, so when she hops on the back of a bright pink motorcycle, tongues start to wag at the conservative, century-old First Independent Christian Community Church of Eels Falls. Kirstie loves roaring down a road less traveled by most women over forty, but she’s not just riding her bike for the fun of it. Kirstie has a ministry.
However, certain church members have secrets to hide, and when God uses Kirstie’s ministry to fill the pews with leather-clad, tattooed bikers, those secrets could be exposed…and some will stop at nothing to hide the truth. Join Kirstie and her motorcycle “gang” – two church matrons and a mouthy, gum-smacking non-church member – as they discover that road-toughened bikers are quite capable of ministering to others, and faith is fortified in the most unexpected ways.
Question: Do you have a nickname for someone you love?
Come back May 6th for Karla’s romantic destination!
I call my husband, “Darling”. This sounds like a good read. I will have to put it on my TBR list. Thanks for the article and giveaway!
call my daughter tatorbug and sweetpea
would love to win
I’m partial to calling hubby.. handsome..
thank’s for the giveaway 🙂
I call my granddaughter Allycat. (Her name is Alyssa.) Really enjoyed the post. I have read and loved The Pastor’s Wife Wears Biker Boots. I read it in e-book form and would love to win a copy for my library.
I just love everyone’s nicknames here! Thanks for stopping by and reading everyone, and your very generous, kind words. Thanks for hosting me, Shannon!
My hubby calls me Doll; even after 48 years of marriage. Being foster parents, we also have to make arrangements to steal time away together. I loved reading Karla’s article because it so fits my life…
Sunny
I call y husband sweetie. I absolutely loved this interview and “meeting” this new to me author. She has a wonderful sense of humor which is always a great thing. I know if the interview was that great I am really missing out by not having read the book. Hopefully I can change that soon !
I call my oldest grandchild, Doll, my middle one, Sweet Boy and my youngest, Sister.
melback at cebridge dot net
Great reminder about finding romance during those so crazy busy days. My hubby and I raised our daughter, fostered our baby girl, fostered our furry baby before we adopted her and are now the caregivers for my mother who is suffering dementia. There are days that eking out 10 mins of alone time together takes a tremendous amount of work.
I call my daughter Sweet Potato.
I have a winner! Sunny L won the drawing. I appreciate Karla for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.