A Mother’s Day Mishap - Guest Post by Wendy S Marcus

Today, I'm delighted to welcome Wendy S Marcus to my blog. Wendy's first book for Harlequin, a Medical Romance, is a terrific read and Wendy's offering you a chance to win a copy - read on for details.

Thank you for popping by, Wendy - it's great to see you here.


Hi Suzanne and Friends!

I’m so happy to be here for the third stop on my blog tour to promote my debut Harlequin Medical Romance, WHEN ONE NIGHT ISN’T ENOUGH, currently available on the Mills and Boon Website and releasing in Australia and the U.S. in July 2011.

So what have I chosen to talk about? A Mother’s Day mishap. And how does this relate to my writing? You’ll have to read on to find out.

This past Mother’s Day (the second Sunday in May here in the U.S.) was a little sad. For the first time since I became a mom one of my children wasn’t home to celebrate with me. My oldest daughter started college this year and, while I’m no longer standing in her bedroom clinging to images of her lying in bed and I’ve stopped inhaling the air in a futile attempt to detect the lingering scent of the incense she loves, I miss her.

When I hadn’t heard from her by nine in the evening, I told my husband to call to remind her to call me and wish me a Happy Mother’s Day…making no mention of the sad fact I’d received no card and she seemed to have forgotten me altogether.

“I feel terrible,” she says before I even finish my hello. “I ordered you a special present and I paid extra to have it delivered on Mother’s Day. I keep checking and they haven’t confirmed delivery. I don’t know what happened.”

I could tell she felt bad. “Don’t worry, honey. These things happen. I’m not upset. I can’t wait to get the package. Thanks so much for thinking of me.”

We chatted for a while. She called the company and got a refund for the special shipping she’d paid and was told the package would be shipped on Monday. So imagine my surprise when I returned home from some errands on Monday afternoon to find a large box of flowers on my kitchen table. (Brought in by my son.)

Thrilled, I ripped into the box then snipped the ends off my beautiful buds and ran water into the shapely pink vase that accompanied them. At the same time my youngest daughter explored the chocolates and sniffed the lavender bath salts. Lovely!

Then I found the card. Dear Mom, Thank you for all the wonderful things you do for us. I love you. Love, Nate.

Nate? Who the heck was Nate?

Eyes wide I sucked in a breath. “Oh no,” I said to my youngest daughter. “These flowers aren’t for me. I just snipped the ends off Nate’s mother’s flowers and you,” I pointed an accusing finger, “just ate one of her chocolates.”

We both started to laugh.

I checked the label on the box. Sure enough, it was addressed to me. We called my other daughter to confirm what she’d ordered and that I’d received the right package. I had. But it was accompanied by the wrong card.

“So what did your card say?” I asked.

“Dear Mom. Don’t be mad I bought these on sale. Happy Mother’s Day. Love, Rebecca.”

While I was pleased my frugal daughter hunted down a bargain and didn’t waste her hard earned cash on me, I felt terrible for Nate’s mom. Not only did she miss out on the lovely sentiment in the card meant for her, but she learned her stingy son brought her Mother’s Day present on sale.

In the end I found the entire situation quite amusing.

So, in answer to your question, what does this have to do with writing? Anything I find the least bit entertaining becomes fodder for my stories. And, as I begin work on my third book, I’m already thinking of a way to work this card switch into one of my scenes.

Before I go I’d like to invite you to my website to read an excerpt from WHEN ONE NIGHT ISN’T ENOUGH here. While you’re there, check out my Home page to see how you can enter a contest to win an Amazon gift card.

And, if you’re interested in a chance to receive free copy of my 2in1 UK debut, which includes a full novel by Janice Lynn, read the excerpt and e-mail me the answer to this question: What is Dr. Padget’s pet name for nurse Ali Forshay? My e-mail can be found on my Contact page. Be sure to put Suzanne’s Blog in the subject line. One winner will be chosen on Friday.

Now, for a couple of questions to get some conversation started. Have you ever read a Harlequin Medical Romance? If so, what did you think? If no, why not? And are you willing to make mine your first? And what do you think of the card switch idea for my upcoming story? Any suggestions you’d like to share?

Wendy S. Marcus lives in upstate New York with her husband, two of her three children, and a much loved Bichon Frise named Buddy. A nurse by trade, after years of working in the medical profession, Wendy has taken a radical turn to writing hot contemporary romance with strong heroes, feisty heroines, and lots of laughs. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and blogging/e-mailing/tweeting with her online friends. To learn more about Wendy visit her website, http://www.WendySMarcus.com.