I love reading about history, especially the history of the American West. An interesting historical tidbit I found recently had me admiring one woman’s brave decision.
Molly Kelley was twenty-four-years-old when she decided to follow her husband who had headed to the goldfields.
She purchased a wagon and a team of mules, packed her household belongings, and set out for Montana Territory in the spring of 1864.

​Along the journey, she joined a train of eighty wagons. Molly drove her own team across the plains with her eight-year-old and three-year-old daughters at her side.
This amazing story is inspiring and motivational to face our fears head on, even if it seems to be impossible. I have to wonder what her husband’s reaction was when his wife pulled up.

Join me for my next "Coffee with Lianna", which will post on December 6, 2019.

Best wishes,
Lianna Hawkins

​This past month, I visited the Book Corner where the proceeds benefit the local library. I was thrilled to find two Kathleen E. Woodiwiss books. I know I’m not the only one out there who finds her writing legendary.

It was her book Shanna that inspired me to dream of becoming a romance writer someday. I admired how alive the story came on the page as I read about the careening carriage, the team of dapple grays, the grinning gargoyles, and the dark dungeon.

It was as though I had been transported through time! And when a reader experiences a magical moment like this, the effect leaves you up all night until you have finished reading every last delicious word.

The best way a reader can show support to their favorite author is by leaving a positive review on Amazon or any other platforms authors are selling their books.

A short review only takes a few moments of your time and helps the author out in a big way. This also helps fellow readers decide if they would like to purchase the book.

A review can be as simple as..."I loved this book!" And remember not to spoil the book for others by revealing too many details of the story. If you retell the story in your review, it can deter possible readers from wanting to read the book if they already know how it's going to end. This also causes a potential lifetime reader from discovering another favorite author.

Authors appreciate positive reviews and love to hear from readers. So, the next time you read a great book, please pause to spread the word.

​Join me for my next “Coffee with Lianna”, which will post on September 6, 2019. 

Best wishes,
Lianna Hawkins
​

From time to time, I take a moment to reflect where I’m at in my life and where I want to go. During one of these reflections, I read about habits of successful people. You should know I define success not only as financial stability, but also about our journey as individuals and what we give to the world.

As I read, I became aware how discovering what my ten rules for success are, also complimented my journey as a writer. It takes a strong determination to reach our goals as writers. We have days where our “real” life takes over our writing times or days we feel like giving up. Or how about the days you feel as though you’re just spinning your wheels in your writing career. It’s easy to become frustrated if you feel you’re not meeting the milestones you thought you would have already reached. 

A technique I developed over time to combat this was to pick out a small or big goal each day to take a step toward my ultimate goal. By breaking up the larger task into smaller chunks, it helps me feel more successful when before I know it I’m able to cross things off my list.

We all reach milestones at different paces and need to forgive ourselves if we feel we should have been farther along our writing path. Taking time out periodically to reflect also helps me keep moving through what I fondly refer to as “my writing adventures”. After all, we have to protect the reason we started down this writing path in the first place. We love to write romance with happily ever after endings.

The following are my 10 rules for success which I follow to keep myself on track.

1.  Take time to unplug and recharge yourself
2.  Learn to say “no” at the right times and without guilt
3.  Protect your confidence
4.  Never give away your power
5.  Focus on what you’re good at and let go of what you’re not
6.  Have a morning and evening routine
7.  Give to others without giving away your “spare tire”
8.  Periodically ask yourself the following questions…
   1. What do I want?
   2. Am I aligned with my goals?
9.  Every day do something, big or small, to move you toward your goals
10.  Focus on what you want and remember…what you think, you become

Life has a way of pulling us off track and I have found these rules help me keep moving forward toward my goals. What are your 10 rules for success?

Join me for my next "Coffee with Lianna", which will post on August 2, 2019.

Best wishes,
Lianna Hawkins
​

One of our favorite family recipes is oatmeal raisin cookies.
Years ago, when my children were young, I loved to bake.
When I decided to pursue writing professionally, I found
myself with less time for baking and cooking.

My husband, in good nature mind you, said to me one day,
“I guess I better start learning how to cook so we don’t starve
to death”. I laughed as he jokingly frowned. He did learn how
to cook and does it without complaint. I don’t know what I would
have done if he hadn’t shown me the support he has given
me through my writing journey. I always knew he was there to
take care of the kids and household, while I fervently worked on
learning the craft of writing.
 
Below is our oatmeal raisin cookie recipe...if you get the urge to bake.
1 package of Crisco Baking Sticks, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
3 cups quick oats
2 cups raisins

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees (Makes about 3 dozen) 
2. Beat together margarine and sugars until creamy
3. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well
4. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well
5. Stir in oats and raisins; mix well
6. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet
7. Bake 12 – 13 minutes or until golden brown
8. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet; then remove to wire rack

​Join me for my next “Coffee with Lianna”, which will post on July 5, 2019.

Best wishes,
Lianna Hawkins

Welcome to my first official blog on my new website! I’m so happy and grateful to now have a site to call home. I hope you will enjoy this little sanctuary designed for us to hang out and immerse ourselves in the love of reading romance, along with other fun things.

I plan on posting the first Friday morning of each month. I’ll share my thoughts along with other tidbits. So, grab a cup of coffee and share a quiet moment with me.

Here is a picture of the first romance novel I wrote, Secrets of the Heart. It took me awhile to finish and taught me a lot about the craft of writing. I hold a great deal of respect for writers who dedicate large amounts of time to writing and improving their craft. Though my first book is collecting dust, I have been busy on a three-book series called The Runaway Outlaws. 

Currently, I’m going through the revision process with my editor on book #1, The Bounty’s Reward. I really love this series and look forward to publishing book #1 in 2019.
Join me next month when I share one of my favorite recipes.

Wishing you all the best!
Lianna Hawkins