Sara Richardson's Blog
February 1, 2016
Adventure Log
Because we live in the best state ever, our kids get free ski passes and a free lesson in January. We decided to take advantage of said lesson to help them brush up on their snowboarding on January 31 (the last day the free lesson is available) because that’s how we roll.
So we wake up at 5:15 and drive up the hill in between winter storm warnings (picture Mount Everest) with all of the other procrastinators who had the same idea. By the time we arrive at the resort, my Super Hubby’s knuckles are white, but it’s no matter. We’re here! We’re ready to enjoy a day on the slopes! Except we can’t seem to find the right parking lot. We haven’t been to this particular area of this particular resort and so we drive around. And drive around. And drive around on winding mountain roads until Super Hubby breaks down and calls the snowboarding school people. You know that parking lot you passed, they ask. Yeah. You have to go back there and ride the gondola up.
So we wind back down to the very crowded parking lot and breathe a sigh of relief. We made it! This time we’re really here! At this point in the story, it’s important to note that my youngest has always been a puker. He’s as cute as sin with mischievous dimples, but you never know when the boy is going to erupt. Except you can count on it happening during lengthy car trips and also at some of the worst possible times. Sure enough, we get out of the car and youngest spews his egg sandwich all over the parking lot.
At this point, Super Hubby is ready to throw in the towel. Let’s go home, he says. This just isn’t our day. But what do we women always do? Say it with me: we soldier on. We step right over the puke and we keep on going. Somehow, I convince my family to get on the gondola. Everything will be fine! We’ll have a great day on the slopes, I promise.
Everything is not fine.
Five minutes into the ride, youngest’s face starts to cloud over again. His eyes get wide and we quickly abandon ship at the nearest stop off, which is nowhere near where we’re supposed to be for the elusive free lesson.
Now Super Hubby is really done. We need to go home, he insists again. But going home would admit defeat! We can’t go home, I say. Look how far we’ve come! We’re almost there! Somehow, I convince my family to get back on the gondola. This is how much they love me.
So up we go again, youngest closing his eyes and breathing deeply to ward off the motion sickness, and you know what? We make it. We find the place we’re supposed to be. No more getting lost. No more puking. We get to the snowboard school (by now youngest’s color has returned and he can’t wait to get out there). We march them up to the instructor and are putting on their gear when we realize we forgot their goggles.
Super Hubby looks at me. I can see the frustration. And yes, I feel it too. But this is not a problem! We have this magic plastic card that the people in the shop are more than happy to accept. (We were not the first people in the world to forget goggles.) So with brand new goggles protecting their eyes, our resilient boys head out with their new best friend/instructor for the day.
And do you know what Super Hubby and I did? We denied the temptation to go straight into the lodge for a stiff cocktail and we skied. Alone. Together. It was beautiful. There’s nothing quite like swooshing your way down a massive mountain while snow falls lightly all around you and the sun does its best to break through the clouds every once in a while. It was therapy. We needed that.
On the ride home, we crawled along within the interstate’s insane traffic gridlock, tired and slightly slap happy, giggling our way through a conversation about poopsicles. (Don’t ask. This is life when you live with all boys.) But I sat there thinking that this is what life is really about. These little adventures we go on together. These moments of breaking out of the routine. And yes sometimes there’s adversity and you hesitate and question if it’s really worth it, but you also persevere because you know there’s something beautiful to experience somewhere inside of the mess. It was there. We found it because we kept looking. (And because I have quite the stubborn streak.) But even with the hassles, it’s worth it. I want to teach my boys the value of adventuring. No matter what, I want them to keep looking for the beautiful moments inside the messiness of life.
Have you ever had an adventure go awry? Leave a comment and I’ll draw one person to win an advance copy of my upcoming release MORE THAN A FEELING!
August 18, 2015
Teaser Tuesdays
Welcome to another edition of Teaser Tuesday! I’m starting to gear up for the launch of SOMETHING LIKE LOVE (book 2 in the Heart of the Rockies series), which officially releases October 27. This book is full of adventure and humor and, of course, plenty of romance.
In our sneak peek for today, Ben has convinced Paige to go paragliding with him. She sees him as one big distraction to her career goals and he promises that, if she jumps off a cliff with him, he’ll leave her alone and keep their relationship strictly professional. Paige agrees to the deal, never dreaming that one flight through the sky could change the way she sees so many things, including Ben.
To find out how that jump changed everything, you’ll have to read the book! One lucky commenter will win their own advance copy. I’ll draw the winner at noon mountain time on Friday, August 21. Good luck!
August 3, 2015
Teaser Tuesdays!
Every Tuesday, I share a teaser from one of my upcoming books. Up this week, an excerpt from Something Like Love. (Ben and Paige’s story for those of you who’ve read No Better Man.)
There’s just something about a cowboy…
At least that’s what Paige Harper thinks. Last year, she had a whirlwind fling with Benjamin Hunter Noble III…until one of his many exes made a scene at a black-tie gala. After being humiliated in front of Aspen’s wealthiest, Paige wrote Ben off for good. Unfortunately for her, he’s back in town, and her boss already told her she has to be nice to him. When Ben shows up out of the blue at her family’s small café, it’s a little too easy to remember why she fell for him in the first place. But she’s learned her lesson and there’s no way she’ll let it happen again. No matter how much she loves cowboys.
July 28, 2015
Live From Studio 6B in Rockefeller Center
But I have to say the best experience we had was visiting Studio 6B to watch Jimmy Fallon rehearse his monologue. Most people I’ve talked to didn’t even know you could go watch a monologue rehearsal, so now I feel it is my duty to inform the masses.
When we started planning our trip to NYC, the number one item on our list of things to experience was a taping of the Tonight Show. The day they released the tickets, we were in the queue an hour early. When we couldn’t get through, we were so disappointed, but then we heard that they also give away tickets to watch Jimmy rehearse the monologue a couple of hours before they tape the show. We weren’t expecting much, seeing as how the monologue segment is only eight minutes, but we figured it would be better than nothing.
It turned out to be WAY better. We checked in at the studio an hour early, got through security and then waited around in this really swanky lounge area where the walls were decorated with large screens that scrolled through different pictures from past shows. (It was almost embarrassing how many of them we’d seen.) Right before they led us into the studio, Albertina Rizzo (one of the talented monologue writers) gave us a brief rundown and told us that Jimmy rehearses in front of a live audience to test out the material. (She’s hilarious, by the way. Very entertaining.) Then they make changes to the monologue based on well the audience relates to the jokes.
When they brought us into the studio, Jimmy came out and greeted us. It was all pretty casual. He read the jokes off of the script and when we’d laugh enough, he’d ham it up and add original content to the joke. He also interacted with the writers and made notes on the script for later. As a writer, it was so fun to watch that creative process in person. All in all, I think we were in the studio for about a half hour, and we were still laughing when we left. It was fun to watch the show later that night and see what jokes had made the cut. What a great experience to add to our NYC adventures. The entire staff, from the check-in personnel to the security guards were friendly, professional, and so much fun! If you’re ever in New York and can’t get tickets to the Tonight Show, make sure to catch a rehearsal!
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June 2, 2015
Deleted Scene
[image error]If you’re not a writer, it might surprise you to know that a finished book can look VERY different from a first draft. For example, in the original draft of NO BETTER MAN, Bryce’s doctor friend Meg was actually one of his love interests.
In her infinite wisdom, my editor recommended that I make Meg simply a friend of Bryce’s instead. And she was so right! Having a love triangle did seem a bit contrived for this story, especially with the angst the characters were already dealing with. That said, I did LOVE the following scene, so I decided to post it for your reading pleasure. :)
To set the stage, Avery is walking through the town of Aspen on her way to a dinner meeting. She has been battling her developing feelings for Bryce, even after he confessed his feelings for her. While walking down the street, she happens to run into Bryce and Meg, who are on a date.
Aaaaaaand action!
The sun hung low over the western peaks, shooting brilliant rays of light into a pearlescent sky. The air had already cooled. She inhaled it the scent of honeysuckle and cold grass, letting it refresh her, awaken her. The street sat still and quiet, minus the sounds of nature working, crickets singing, a breeze rustling.
Avery floated down the sidewalk and passed a square field of green grass. A playground anchored the center. Kids soared on the swings and catapulted down the slides. A dog caught a Frisbee in his mouth. A mom and dad sat on a blanket watching the whole scene with silly grins on their faces.
A powerful surge froze her. She stopped to watch. It was a life she never thought she could have, the simplicity, the serenity.
A man raised his hand in a wave. She smiled and waved back, a brave tendril of hope taking root and blooming somewhere deep inside. What if she walked away from everything? Just like Elsie? She could trade in her life for a new life. It wouldn’t be easy, but it wouldn’t be impossible, either.
Slowly, she strolled past the playground where the two toe-headed kids giggled, one boy and one girl. Wasn’t that the dream?
They waved and shouted and made her feel like she belonged there. Her heart swelled with the possibility.
She continued on to the end of the block where storefronts dotted the streets. A cozy bakery, a T-shirt souvenir shop.
Further down the street, a familiar form caught her eye. Tall and broad across the shoulders. The wavy dark hair confirmed it. Bryce. Her heart did that explosive thing that happens when you see someone who might happen to be the love of your life walk by.
Her hand was in the process of raising to wave when he dangled his arm around the woman beside him. Not just any woman. Dr. Carlson. The gorgeous blond from the hospital.
Avery choked back the Hi Bryce that almost leapt off the tip of her tongue and gawked at them. They were maybe a block and a half away, getting closer … closer…
He leaned in and said something that made Dr. Carlson laugh, and Avery could’ve sworn the woman’s face glowed. She rested her hand on his arm in a comfortable gesture that suggested they’d strolled down this very street together every night for years.
A pounding sensation reverberated in her chest. What about all of those lines he gave her? I want to be with you. I can’t stop thinking about last night. She mentally backtracked through the murky memories of the last 24 hours. He’d tried to run her off with the protest. And maybe, just maybe that hadn’t worked, so he’d tried to convince her that he had feelings for her. That way she’d get her father to leave him alone, to leave the ranch alone.
But really, it didn’t matter why. He’d lied.
They were still a half a block away from her when Bryce looked up.
Oh, no. Avery dipped her chin to her chest, her burning eyes frantically searching for a place to hide. No more scenes. She couldn’t handle anymore awkward scenes.
Arms flailing with panic, she ducked into the first open door she saw and collided with a rack of clothes. Freeing herself from the straps of a silk nightie, she darted left, but couldn’t move fast enough.
Through the huge storefront window, Bryce’s eyes found hers.
Gasping and sputtering, she snatched the first hanger she saw and held it up, pretended to inspect the price tag.
“Avery?” Bryce poked his head into the shop.
Vision clearing, she suddenly recognized the article of clothing that dangled from her hand. It was lacy black bra and underwear set. Her eyes did a double take. Size triple D! She glanced at the sign above the rack. Special sizes.
Bryce’s gaze fixated on the bra.
Oh, jeez. So much for avoiding another awkward scene.
Dr. Carlson cleared her throat.
“What’re you doing?” Bryce asked as though he was almost afraid to hear the answer.
She tried not to look at him, but her eyes refused to obey. Of course, he had to look even better than he had the day before. He wore tighter jeans with an airy green button down that made his face and arms look tan.
“Uh…” Parts of her body tingled with numbness. High blood pressure? Good thing they had a doctor in the house. “I’m … um … shopping.”
His gaze lowered back to the bra. “For yourself?”
A laugh tangled her windpipe and choked her. “That’s none of your business.” She jabbed the bra back onto the rack.
Silence saturated the air.
Just when Avery thought her face would implode, the doctor held out her hand and saved the day.
“I’m Meg.” She smiled. “Dr. Carlson. We met at the hospital?”
“Right. Of course,” were the only worlds that she could squeak out past the utter humiliation.
The woman was practically perfect. Toned and tan. Exactly the kind of girl Bryce would fall for. Not to mention, she was obviously smart and heroic—a doctor, for crying out loud. Her and Bryce would be very happy together. They’d have smart, beautiful children with blonde hair and dimples who excelled at everything they tried. And they’d live in a restored Victorian on the edge of town…
“Are you okay?” Concern tapered Meg’s eyes. “How’s your head? Have you had any other symptoms?”
“It’s fine,” She assured her with a wave of her hand. “Much better.” Avery focused on Dr. Carlson instead of glaring at Bryce. She was a lot easier to look at. Compassionate, understanding. And not a liar.
“Good. That’s good to hear.”
Bryce slanted his head and forced her to see him. “Avery…”
Grinding her teeth, she flicked a quick glance at her watch. “Oh. Wow. Look at the time. I should go. I have a dinner meeting.” She tried to squeeze past him, but the narrow doorway squished their bodies together. “Pardon me,” she gasped, desperate to get away from him.
Bryce didn’t move. His gaze trailed down to her shoes. “Who are you meeting?”
Wouldn’t he like to know? She raised her brows. “Business associates.” Pressing out the door, she plastered on a soft smile. Time to watch him squirm. “What about you two? Where are you headed?”
Meg clamped herself onto his arm. “Bryce is taking out to dinner.” Her eyes sparkled like a woman in love. The way she touched him, the way she couldn’t stop her gaze from drifting to him … there was a hopefulness between them.
How could she have missed it? Of course Bryce had feelings for Meg.
“It was nice to see you, Avery.” Meg smiled like she meant it. She probably did. “I hope I’ll run into you again. You keep taking it easy, okay?”
“I will.” She put on her bravest face. It was impossible to hate the woman, no matter how much her heart hurt. She was too kind.
Bryce’s intent gaze still burned holes through her, but she sashayed past them with a wave and booked it around the corner. As soon as she was sure they couldn’t see her, Avery let her shoulders cave. She slogged to an iron bench and perched, the sounds and sights around her blurring into a muted kaleidoscope. Blinking tears into submission, she steeled herself. Who cared if Bryce ended up with Meg, anyway? It’d been ridiculous to think that anything could happen between Bryce and her. Ridiculous.
Her father had more wisdom than she gave him credit for.
Smoothing her skirt, she stood and marched to the restaurant. What happened to the Walker Mountain Ranch couldn’t matter to her. Not anymore.
Edward was right. It wasn’t personal. It was business.
May 12, 2015
Everyday Adventures Campaign
My books are all about inspiring people to embrace adventure in their everyday lives. It’s something I’ve always craved, and every time I have embraced adventure, it has taught me so much about myself, about other people, and about freedom. We are so weighted down by busyness and expectations and the stress of everyday life. Adventure breathes new life into our hearts and relationships. It makes a love story come alive. It teaches you to laugh together, to rely on each other, to remember the people you were when you fell in love. It adds a dimension of shared experience that bonds two people together. That’s why I tend to write books that incorporate adventure and romance. In so many ways, pursuing adventure helps you experience a reckless freedom to embrace life while embracing others.
That’s why this campaign will celebrate #EverydayAdventures. Every week, I will preview a scene from the book and blog about how you can pursue adventure in your everyday life. Just like in a romance novel, the stakes will rise. Prizes will get bigger and more awesome. And the grand prize at the end of the four weeks will be a $250 gift card to Hotels.com so you can plan your own romantic, adventurous escape! Make sure you’re checking my author Facebook page often so you don’t miss your chance to win!
Eight Years in the Making
During the party, I spoke about my eight-year journey toward publication. I talked about how I decided to become an author after my first son was born. Had I known then what I know now, I don’t think I ever would have made that decision. I didn’t know how much rejection there would be. I didn’t know how cruel some people would be. I didn’t think about the hours and hours I would spend pouring my heart into a story that would never see the light of day. It was a grueling journey. And if it hadn’t been for those people at my party, I would have given up a long time ago.
That’s what made the night so epic. I got to spend the whole evening with the people who kept me going, who put wind back in my sails, who made me believe that someday I would write something that would speak to people. I got to talk and laugh and dance with the people who are just as excited about the Heart of the Rockies series as I am. And I realized how blessed I am to have this community continue the journey with me.
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April 17, 2015
A Day of Meetings
Happy to be back in my yoga pants after eight hours of meetings on Wednesday. (I had to wear HEELS!) But it was so worth the blisters on my feet. What do a distillery, a chocolate shop, a gourmet olive oil and balsamic vinegar shop, and a tea shop have in common??? They’re all partnering with me for the release of No Better Man. I love Colorado because of the loyalty people have to local brands and businesses. It’s amazing to see what happens when people come together and collaborate instead of competing. Really cool things happen. I can’t reveal specifics for the launch just yet, but I promise it will be epic. In one day of meetings, my marketing consultant and I tested out an exclusive cocktail (at 9:30am) handmade chai chocolate, jalapeno mango balsamic vinegar, and I had my first dirty chai, which is not as naughty as it sounds. :) Everyone I met with was so incredibly supportive and collaborative. The creative ideas for getting the word out about the book were flowing. These will be some unconventional partnerships, but I’ve always love to think outside the box and do my own thing (just ask my mom!).
Hard to believe my first book will release in just over a month. Talk about an adventure.
April 5, 2015
Diamonds Are Forever
When I got the idea to write No Better Man, my hero husband and I were vacationing in Aspen. We spent a couple of days exploring the quaint downtown area, hiking in the awe-inspiring surrounding mountains, and simply rejuvenating our relationship. I can honestly say our 14-year marriage has been full of happiness (though not without the challenges, too), but when you have kids and you both work at home and things are chaotic and rushed and stressful, every once in a while, you just have to get away. Together. Alone. Every once in a while, you need a new adventure.
That weekend, I fell in love with Aspen. (My mom would say I’ve always had expensive taste.) But it wasn’t the beautiful Gucci storefronts or the numerous couture shops that captured my heart. It was the startling contrast between the high-end luxury and the rustic, unrefined personality of the town itself. On the same block, you can visit a five-star restaurant and a hole-in-the-wall Mexican place with scrumptious fish tacos. As I walked around, I wondered how that contrast would play out in people. What if you took a wealthy, groomed city girl and plopped her in the heart of the Rockies? Yes, it’s been done (nothing new under the sun!) but something about the unique ambiance in Aspen brought those two things together so beautifully that I was inspired. I started thinking about characters and setting. I wasn’t yet convinced that Aspen was the right place to set the novel.
One morning, we woke up early to hike near the Maroon Bells. This happens to be the most photographed location in Colorado. The view of the glassy lake reflecting the three pyramid-shaped peaks surpasses beautiful. There are just no words to describe it, especially in the early morning light. We hiked all day, detouring off the trail to risk our lives and explore a waterfall on the side of a cliff. (More on that in another post.)
When we got back to the hotel later that evening, I took out my computer to capture some thoughts I was having about my quickly developing characters and plot. When I looked down, I realized the diamond had fallen out of my wedding ring. It was gone. Seeing that empty space made me burst into tears, which made my poor husband panic because I never cry. Unable to talk, I simply held up my hand and showed him the ring. We both assumed it had fallen out while were hiking, and we knew we’d never find it. “It’s okay,” he said. “I wanted to get you a bigger diamond anyway. We’ll go look right now.” It was so sweet, but I didn’t want another ring. I didn’t want another diamond. Mine is only a half carat, but I’d had it on my finger for over ten years and I was pretty attached to it. In some ways I felt like it symbolized all of the hard work we’d done to make it that long. It might be small, but to me it held profound meaning. Sounds silly, right? But we writers can be pretty sentimental people. All evening, I thought about how we could get the diamond back. We could go look for it, I reasoned, even though I knew that was crazy. As I assumed my sleeping position—on my stomach with hands underneath the pillow—I felt this tiny piece of gravel underneath my palm.
A tiny piece of gravel.
In the bed?
Pinching it between my fingers, I rolled off of the mattress and sprinted to the bathroom to turn on the light. Sure enough, there was the diamond pinched between my fingers. That was when I knew I had to write the story in Aspen. Our adventure there was symbolic. When we left our house, we were a little lost in the daily chaos of our life together. I knew my characters would be a little lost, too. Like all of us, they would be missing a piece of themselves as the result of something painful or stressful or hard.
But I learned something in Aspen that I wanted to incorporate into the book. What you think is lost can always be found again, as long as you never give up hope.
