iHeart Hockey

I get some interesting reactions when I tell people I write hockey romance. I guess I look more Cinderella than Slap Shot. I started getting the reactions long before my writing days. I would tell people how much I loved the sport, and the most common response was raised eyebrows and, "Really?" Yes, really.

So the next question was how did a girl like me get into a sport like that? This is how :)

That's me at fifteen playing roller hockey in a small, local league. There was one other girl on the team, and she was the owner's daughter. It was...interesting. Still, you're thinking there has to be more to the story than one day I said to myself, "I know. Roller hockey." Right around this time, I went through my first ever breakup, and you know how that is. I felt like I needed to re-invent myself to move forward. I started going to the Skate Zone every weekend and even to night sessions during the week. It was a release, an escape. And I could skate. Those Rollerblades were like second feet. My favorite thing was beating the boys in speed races. Remember the scene in On the Fly when Carter challenges Jacey and she pretends to be a newb then sprints to the other end? I didn't pull that out of thin air :)

One day, I saw a flyer for the hockey league, and everything clicked. I'd never participated in contact sports before. Swimming, gymnastics, dance, sure. This was stepping into another realm. I was completely in over my head, and while it was fun, I didn't really know the rules at the time, so I just tried to follow whatever orders Coach barked from the sidelines. 

Know what's different about roller hockey? You don't have half as many pads. There are a lot of unprotected areas, and while you don't have a frozen disc of vulcanized rubber flying at you, you do have a small, hard rubber ball. Imagine taking a short-range slap shot to the forearm. Biceps. Sternum. You get the idea. I was covered in red, donut-shaped welts. The league dispersed on its own, but I'd already decided I liked hockey better as a spectator.

I started watching Pittsburgh Penguins games around the time Sidney Crosby came on the scene, and it's been true love ever since. Me and hockey, that is ;) I'm addicted to the excitement, speed, grace, and precise skill of the game. The intense bonds and joking brotherhoods of the players. That's what I want to come across in my Sinners novels. 

These days I settle for skating in the park. A few years ago, some roller derby girls saw me and wanted to recruit me--an honor--but I'll tell you a secret I was forced to admit to them. While I'm confident on my blades, put me in quad skates, and I'd probably break an ankle. Or two. I started out on quads as a kid, but as soon as I switched to in-line skates, I couldn't go back. The balance is all different. I prefer the freedom of movement I get from my blades and the ability to turn on a dime.

So that's the whole story :) Do you have a sport that gives you butterflies? How did you fall in love?

Skatin' Legs

Ahh the siren's call of spring. It took its time this year, but finally, we got a nearly 70 degree day. Most people might hear chirping birds or trees swaying in the breeze. I hear a little voice saying, "Skating...go skating."

Remember the scene from On the Fly when Jacey rollerblades around her neighborhood? I've got a public park pathway just like that, and when it's warm enough, you'll find me there. I don't just talk the talk. I can skate the skate. The problem is, the need is so ingrained in me that I always go when it's still not quite warm enough. It really needs to be 72 before I can skate and not get a raw throat and a cough that lasts the rest of the day. I know this. I re-discover it every year. And yet...I'm powerless against the call. You know how some people have dancin' feet? I've got skatin' legs.

They don't give me any choice. They're addicted to the power of gracefully dodging pedestrians. It's kind of like flying without leaving the ground.

You'll notice I wear hockey skates :) This isn't just for the coolness factor. The harder boots provide more ankle support so I can skate my 9 to 12 miles at a time. Today? I was lucky to do 6. It takes some warming up. And sure enough, I got the cough. Every spring I tell myself I'll know better next time, but once I hear the little voice, I'm a lost cause. The legs want what the legs want.

Sneak Peek Sunday

Happy Easter!

It's time for Sneak Peek Sunday again thanks to: http://www.sneakpeeksunday.blogspot.com/2013/03/sneakpeeksunday-3312013.html

Here's a snippet from On the Fly, available now at any e-book retailer :) This is just after a stolen kiss.

She stepped away for good measure and looked around to make sure no one had been watching. Relief almost took out her knees when she saw the cameras were pointed at the dance floor. 

“Are you insane?” 

Carter leaned one hand on the wall, trying to catch his own breath. “Folie à deux,” he  

panted with a pointed look. 

A madness shared by two. Appropriate. 

“Don’t you quip at me in French right now.”

Glow Horns Giveaway!

In case you missed mention of the giveaway, I'm picking five lucky readers to win a pair of Sinners glow horns like those mentioned in On the Fly. To score a pair of these babies...

Drop me an email at ken9002@setonhill.edu with your favorite scene from the book by April 8th. I'll get in touch with the winners by the next day. Good luck, and thanks for reading!

Mad About Madden a.k.a. Brotherly Love

Many readers of On the Fly have told me how much they love Madden, Jacey’s brother, and that he should have his own book. Don’t worry; he will! The second novel in the Sinners series focuses on Reese, the goalie, and it looks like the third book will belong to Dylan Cole, the rookie, but Madden is in my mental pipeline. I love him too! And in case you were curious, this is how I pictured him:

I want to give credit where credit is due and explain my inspiration for him. I have two younger brothers, both in their mid 20s, whom I adore. If you read Madden and liked his loyalty, dedication, protective instincts and love for his sister, you should know those qualities came from my own brothers. They are supportive, extraordinary men, and I’m proud and lucky to be their sister.

Madden’s pitfalls are all his own, but that side of him was inspired by the character, Harry, from the TV show Tru Calling. I wanted to capture that charming but sometimes deceptive personality because I knew it could get into some major league trouble in Las Vegas. Madden was an interesting character to me because he could appear very selfish while at the same time be this vulnerable, sweet guy capable of deep love and commitment. That’s something he’ll have to work toward, but his journey will be a fulfilling one.

In the mean time, I hope you enjoy getting to know a little more of the team and the women strong enough to keep them in check!

Very Superstitious...Writing's on the Yogurt Lid

I write about hockey players. In my research, I’ve been around a few, and I know how superstitious they can be. I have some fun with that in my books. All the while, I never put much stock in it until I sat back and realized how many superstitions I have. I’m twenty-nine. How did I just come to the realization that I’m superstitious? I was reflecting on yesterday and found myself saying, “My yogurt lied to me.”

I should give you some context for this. You know how some people read tea leaves after they drink a cup? The design of leaves on the bottom makes some kind of prophetic symbol. I have yogurt every morning, and when I peel back the lid, I look for an image. This is also kind of like looking for pictures in the clouds or breakfast meets Rorschach. I realize it’s probably just a reflection of my own brain, but I still look for those tiny pictures. I usually see a heart or lobster claw, which is another symbol for heart to me and not because I like seafood. Long story. Anyway, if I see a symbol on my yogurt lid, I expect my day to reflect it. This rarely happens, but I still expect it.

So the yogurt got me thinking…what else do I do?

There are a few sets of numbers that have special meaning for me. Mostly addresses and birthdays. If I see those numbers come up on a clock, I have to watch until the minute passes. In that minute, I think a good thought regarding the person attached to the numbers.

I make wishes on stray eyelashes, dandelion fluff, pennies, birthday candles, and necklace clasps that slide down in front, and I don’t disclose those wishes because then they wouldn’t come true.

And yet, I manage to function in everyday society. Maybe on some small level, these things help me function. I’m a Type A personality all the way. I can only “go with the flow” on a lazy river ride, and even then I’m probably brainstorming book ideas. In a chaotic, unpredictable world, control can be hard to come by. If these little superstitions help me feel like I have some sway in cosmic events, that’s good, right? All of a sudden, I understand my heroes a little better J

What superstitions do you have?

Vegas Girl

Ever get a lightbulb moment at an inopportune time? Whenever the temperature is above freezing and nothing is coming down from the sky, I get my butt to the park to walk 3 miles. To make this pleasant, I listen to music. I do this for my health and because I like to bounce to pop music for an hour, but occasionally, it also helps generate ideas. That's what happened today.

I had just loaded a new song onto my iPod, so I put it on first. I've heard this song before several times. In fact, I picked it because it's called Vegas Girl, and my book series is set in Las Vegas. It's upbeat and fun. For some reason, when I heard it today, everything clicked in my brain. It's the perfect song to be playing when my fictional "dance team" puts on a show between hockey periods.

In On the Fly, the first book in the series, I had a pretty good time poking fun and rolling my eyes at the idea of cheerleaders in hockey. I made them kind of a joke. Well, listening to Vegas Girl and being able to see the routine in my head, I wanted to bust some moves right there in the park. I refrained, but the giant, Ah-ha! smile on my face probably confused some people.

Being able to see the routine fired off a what-if domino trail in my mind. How could I incorporate that into my current book, Full Strength? My heroine is the team's sports psychologist. What if a dancer stopped by her office and asked if she could have a session? What if when the dancer walked in, my heroine, Allie, happened to be dancing around her office because she wasn't expecting anyone? What if, after a helpful talk, the dancer asked Allie to join the team for practice one night? What if Allie went, had a blast, and my hero happened to see?

All this flew by in my head in less than a minute. I was so excited about it, I wrote myself a text message and saved the draft so I wouldn't forget by the end of my walk. So through my second heroine, Allie, I've decided to embrace the cheerleaders--er...dance team--my Lady Sinners. And all because of this song :)