Get Tangled Up In Love with Heidi Betts!
Hello, everyone! And thank you so much to Jamie for inviting me not just once, but three times to chat about my upcoming contemporary single title debut, TANGLED UP IN LOVE.
I have to admit, when it came time to writing this post, I drew a bit of a blank. (Not easy for me, either, since I’m used to writing, and have also been known to talk the paint off the walls after one too many caffeinated beverages. *g*) But you, see, Jamie writes paranormal romance. I don’t. Her website is all dark and mysterious. Mine so is not. And I’m assuming that the majority of Jamie’s readers and visitors to this blog are fans of the dark, paranormal, and mysterious. Nothing wrong with that, but it does make me feel a tad like Snoopy being dropped into the center of Dungeons and Dragons. LOL
So I wracked my brain, trying to come up with something that I and my book have in common with Jamie and hers. Something that you guys might find interesting and not too bright or chipper for your shadowy, cave-like existence. *vbg* And here’s what I came up with…
Magic.
That’s right, magic is what TANGLED UP IN LOVE and I might stand a chance of having in common with Jamie’s paranormal lair and your reading preferences.
While I wouldn’t call TANGLED UP IN LOVE a paranormal by any stretch of the imagination, it does actually contain a small paranormal element. You see, in addition to the three funky “Chicks with Sticks” and the three smart and sexy men who keep them company through the series, there’s this character in the trilogy named Charlotte. Charlotte is aunt to one of the knitting gals (Jenna from LOVES ME, LOVES ME KNOT) and considers herself a bit of a matchmaker…as well a Lucille Ball wannabe, judging by her choice of hair color & penchant for getting herself into trouble.
And Charlotte happens to have a spinning wheel, handed down through generations of her family, that is said to be enchanted. Magic. Able to bring true love to those who use the yarn it creates.
Is the wheel actually enchanted? Does it truly possess magic, happily-ever-after powers? I don’t know…I think I’ll let you decide that one for yourselves. 
But what I will tell you is that there is something very magical about this entire trilogy for me. From the way it came about in the first place (which is a story you can read later this week at my WIPs and Chains blog *g*), to the way every detail of the stories came together, and everything in between. It was like I had a little fairy sitting on my shoulder guiding me in all the right directions and bringing all the right things to me with a little sprinkle of her glittery dust.
No doubt about it, a little bit of magic, a little bit of legend, and a whole lot of faith are involved in bringing Veronica Chasen and Dylan Stone together. Frankly, considering how much these two despise each other when the book begins, I’m not sure it would have happened without a touch of magic. LOL
So tell me, do you believe in magic? Do you believe in enchanted objects, or lucky charms, or blessings passed down from those who have passed before us? Tell me what you think…and maybe even give an example of a time when it felt like magic was at work in your life…and at the end of the day, I’ll draw a name for one winner to pick an autographed book of her choice from my backlist (http://http://www.heidibetts.com/books/index.php).
Wishing you lots of love and magic,
Heidi
*~*~*
HeidiBetts.com
HeidiBetts.com/WIPSandChains
HeidiBetts.com/MustLoveYarn
January 27th, 2009 at 8:57 am
I do definitely believe in blessings being passed down from those before. My mom has researched our family tree and found that I have ancestors that were Shakers (fortunately for me the ancestor that is my direct ancestor left and eventually married and had a family). The Shakers believed that the spirits of those who have passed on would visit in the form of a butterfly. On a visit to Shakertown (in Pleasant Hill, Ky) my mom and my oldest son had a butterfly follow them from the meeting house to the East House where my direct ancestor’s father lived. When they reached the East House my mom and son continued on the path, the butterfly turned toward the East House. I really think this was a blessing from beyond. My mom really wanted my son to know this part of his history (he loves history) and he was excited that this happened. My daughter is hoping to go this summer and have a visit from a butterfly.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Hi Heidi!
Wow, I love it! An enchanted spinning wheel! I love the idea, and I’ve gotta admit it–I do believe in the concept. Although I don’t have anything that was passed down to me I have been almost what I consider magically lucky at times. What jumps out most to me is that I’ve always been lucky to meet up with just the very person I needed to at just the right time. And, the wild part is that usually this person who happens to be just who I need to know also needs to know me.
The more I hear about Tangled, the more I can’t wait to read it! Ellen
January 27th, 2009 at 10:52 am
Good morning, everyone! Thank you again for having me, Jamie! Only 6 more days till TANGLED…can you believe it?!? (I’m getting nervous. Why am I nervous? :-p)
Laura~ I totally believe this. My dad was a bird watcher. He would sit on the deck & watch the birds & squirrels all day, & after he died, we were literally accosted by birds for months. The first summer after, there was a gigantic woodpecker putting holes in a back yard tree. Had never seen one that size before & haven’t seen it since. Even now, every single summer, a new type of bird that I’ve never seen before will show up & hang around for a while, & I know that’s my dad, just checking in & saying hello. (Sorry, but you can’t tell me differently; I know what I know. :-D)
January 27th, 2009 at 11:00 am
Hi, Ellen! I was going to do enchanted needles, but that didn’t really work because you need different size needles for different projects, so I landed on the spinning wheel idea instead. And it really has worked beautifully.
I can’t actually think of anything I have that’s “lucky” or has been passed down that I think is special for one reason or another, either, but I agree with you on how certain people seem to come into your life just when you need them. I’m especially amused by that when I have to go somewhere or do something I’m not particularly looking forward to, but then—bam!—I meet a great new person & it makes the event totally worth it.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Heidi, I think it’s their way of saying they are okay and that they remember us. It’s a wonderful feeling.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Laaura, I think that butterfly belief is the coolest thing I’ve ever heard! Beautiful.
January 27th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Hi Ellen! I loved the spinning wheel too.
It made me wonder if there was going to be a sleeping beauty at some point, but they all have much better things to do once they’re in bed than sleep. lol
Laura, I’m sorry, I know how to spell your name but my “a” key sticks and I don’t always catch it in time.
January 27th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Hi Heidi and Jamie,
Charlotte’s red hair makes me think of Endora. She was one wacky witch. I guess I do believe in magic and I think it’s possible that lucky charms and enchanted objects exist. My aunt has given me several jade charms that she says has healing powers. I’ve worn them, but I can’t say if it really works.
January 27th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Heidi, woohoo!!! 6 days!!! That’s soo cool to be close to release. I understand the nervousness, though. That’s when you start to hear how other people like the story. That’s the part that always gets me.
January 27th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
I think you’re right, Laura.
January 27th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
LOL, Jamie. Now that you mention it, there wasn’t a lot of actual *sleeping* going on in TANGLED, was there? ROTF
I know, only 6 days—ack!
Yes, it’s wondering what readers will think, wondering if the book will show up in as many places as I’m hoping, wondering if there’s a chance in h-e-double hockey sticks that it might get close to hitting a list… I think I need a Valium…or a gallon of appletinis.
January 27th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Endora would have been a great comparison, Jane! Wish I’d thought of it—or you’d mentioned it to me—earlier. (Much like the “Blog Tour 2009″ title you came up with that was so much better than what I was calling it. LOL) Charlotte isn’t quite as devious or out to cause trouble, but the shade of red hair & touch of magic is ideal!
January 27th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Jane, good image. Endora was cool!! I loved her. But I do have to say, as soon as Heidi mentioned Lucille Ball, I could totally picture Charlotte.
January 27th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
The thing I love about Charlotte is her beehive & constant change of do-it-yourself hair dyes. They’re all pretty much the same shade of carrot orange, but she’s always trying a new brand with some fun, new name. LOL
Of course, when it came to editing the book, I got the prerequisite copyeditor notation of, “But on page x, you said the color was… Now it’s…” And I had to say, “Yes, I know that. It’s part of the joke.” *g*
January 27th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Oh! Forgive me, my brain is slightly overstimulated today, I think.
But I love jade, Jane. My mother is a Feng Shui fan & is always telling me things to do that will bring good luck. I do some of them, but I don’t know that they’ve actually done anything. Others I’m too lazy to try, & the easy ones I’m afraid to stop for fear they really work. LOL
Heidi, the superstitious one *g*
January 27th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Jade, huh? I just think it’s really pretty. Might be a good try just for asthetic beauty alone. LOL
Charlotte’s hair is funny. Good thing your ce pays such close attention.
I don’t know about hair dye, itself. I’ve never done mine but so many people around me do. I almost want to cry when I look at my girls with their streaks of red and black. It’s like I’ll never get to see their natural beauty again. I know, next are tatoos and piercings somewhere besides their ears. I’m still struggling with the thought of not being able to buy them an entire outfit for $10.
Afraid of change? Who, me?
January 27th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Jamie~ The sad part is that when you’re young, you dye your hair for fun. Then when you’re older, you have to stick with it, even tho you wish you could go back to the days when it wasn’t actually necessary. Sigh.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
LOL That’s what I’ve seen with my mom and my grandmother.
Somehow, though, I don’t see that being a concern of Charlotte’s. lol She just likes her Lucy look.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Hi, Heidi and Jamie! Sorry it took me so long to make my way over here! I got waylaid in the dungeon earlier
I think that magic (especially in stories) is part of the fun! And since falling in love is pretty magical anyway, it’s a neat way to express that. I haven’t colored my hair yet, but I totally used to want to be blond, partly because you could change your hair color much more easily (my hair’s black). I know you can add streaks and bleach and re-dye, but since I’m pretty lazy when it comes right down to it, that just seemed like way too much work!
January 28th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Morning, guys! I’m working to catch up, I swear.
Hey, Fedora! Better late than never…& I know what a task-mistress Mistress Heidi can be; you’re lucky she let you out of The Dungeon at all!
Ah, I admire those of you who have such lovely dark hair, with no signs of gray. And the blonds hardly ever get noticeably gray because it blends in so well. My hair is just dark enough to show everything right away…roots, gray, etc. And still I only make a point of doing something about it when I have a conference or somewhere special I need to be. Otherwise, who cares?!? LOL
You know, the funny thing is, I had absolutely no intention of adding anything magical or even the teeniest bit paranormal in this trilogy. I don’t think of that when I think of humorous contemporaries. But when it came time to brainstorm story arcs, that’s what kept coming up—the thing that would link all three books, thread thru all three books, & be a catalyst for so very much of the plot. It worked out beautifully, but it definitely wasn’t planned. :-p
January 28th, 2009 at 10:21 am
This is probably a good time to pick a winner for the free book I offered yesterday, too, huh? Wait, let me go find a cat! (I use them to choose…first ball of paper they play with wins. LOL)
And the winner is: Ellen!
Congratulations, Ellen! If you’ll check out the Backlist section of my website (http://www.heidibetts.com/books/index.php#back) & pick the book you’d like…& this does include the HOTTER THAN HELL anthology from a bit higher on the page, btw…then contact me either thru e-mail (heidi@heidibetts.com) or the contact form on my website (http://heidibetts.com/bio.php#email) with your book choice & mailing info, I’ll get your prize out to you as soon as I can.
And thank you to everyone who’s joined me at Jamie’s blog this month to chat & support TANGLED UP IN LOVE. It’s been a blast!
January 29th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Hi Fedora! I do envy you your dark hair. My oldest has it and gets the loveliest purple red highlights.
January 29th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Heidi, thank you so much for visiting and sharing with all of us about Tangled Up in Love! I hope your release is blessed.