Tami Best - Writes

  I'll be honest, I never thought it would happen. I've written book one of a paranormal romance (there are supposed to be five books in the series), but when I started editing it I realized I didn't know how books two through five were going to go. So, I gave up and said to myself, "Self, I think we need to write our contemporary romance book. Let's see how that goes." So, lo and behold, Sometimes Love Isn't Enough was born. Holy cow, I just looked and I've been working on this book since March 2023! It's been a long process because of some things I've kept to myself, and not in my writing space. But I think it's time I come out and own who I am. Hello, my name is Tami and I have ADHD, depression, and anxiety. All the mental health issues I have, the neurodivergence, and my physical health issues make it hard for me to focus and I'm lucky if I get 100 words a day. But when I get those 100 words, it's a party. Sometimes my brain an...

   Contemporary romance literature spans an expansive landscape. Within it are various subgenres of romance literature, but contemporary romance stands out as being vivid and life-affirming for readers today and an eclectic tapestry woven with current experiences, cultural shifts, and relatable narratives. Unlike historical or fantasy romances, which take readers back in time or provide magical realms, it captures contemporary society dynamics while discussing issues relevant to 21st-century audiences while exploring relationships complex enough to involve themes like self-discovery, personal growth, or love in an ever-evolving world. Contemporary romance stands apart from its counterparts because of its modern setting and emphasis on realism. Characters in contemporary romance depict vulnerabilities and strengths reflective of real-life experiences, often encountering dilemmas that mirror real-world scenarios ranging from career pressures and personal aspirations to bala...

Second chance romances are one of the most beloved tropes in romance literature, offering audiences an insight into all things love, forgiveness, and personal growth - and offering nostalgic thrills of hope! Second chance romances often depict characters who once loved each other but now find themselves no longer together due to a set of circumstances (misunderstandings, life changes, or the passing of time) but readers become immersed in an intimate exploration of what it means to love and lose only to rediscover that flame again later. Second chance romances' appeal can be traced to various elements. First and foremost, these stories tap into our collective fantasy of redemption - allowing characters to revisit past errors and emerge stronger, wiser, and better attuned to themselves and their desires. This theme encourages readers to reflect upon themselves and consider who and what may have passed by unnoticed in their lives, perhaps forgotten or overlooked altogether. Furthermo...

   Hey there, romance lovers! Today we’re diving into the captivating world of contemporary romance novels and uncovering some of the most common themes that make these stories so irresistible. Grab a cup of tea, snuggle up with a cozy blanket, and let’s explore the heartwarming and emotional themes that keep us coming back for more in the world of modern romance fiction. Contemporary Romance: More Than Just Happily Ever Afters In the world of contemporary romance novels, we are often treated to more than just a simple love story. These books delve into complex themes and emotions that resonate with readers on a deeper level. While the central focus is always on the romance between the main characters, contemporary romance novels often tackle a variety of themes that add layers of depth and richness to the storytelling. Second Chances and Redemption One of the most common themes in contemporary romance novels is the idea of second chances and redemption. Whether it’s a second ...

  Well, hell... it's been so long since I wrote a blog I'm not sure where I would even start. How about I start with, "I'm sorry!" Writing has been the sole focus of my writing for quite a while and I get to where I say to myself, "Self, what's the point? It's not adding words to the book." And while writing, I fall down a rabbit hole and forget half of what I'm supposed to do. So, I've decided to structure my day a little differently.  Butt crack of dawn - start writing pen pal letters 11:00 am - eat lunch (I eat like a little kid! Right now mini corn dogs and Veggie Tots are my favorite.) and listen to an audio book. 12:00 pm - Get my crap in order and get ready to actually write instead of think about writing. Sometimes I'll start a writing sprint with my dear friends at the Thriving Authors Academy (waves furiously at everyone 👋) Most Wednesdays I will attend my Mastermind group with Author Ever After until 1:00 pm. 1:00 pm ...

Music has a powerful effect on our emotions and is able to trigger memories, certain moods, and an array of feelings. As writers, we can use this to our advantage when crafting scenes and creating characters. But we also need to be aware that music can be a distraction and can interfere with our writing process. I remember lying in bed one night, many years ago, and this sexy R&B song came on the radio (I’m worse than a kid when it comes to bedtime rituals). I was working on an early rendition of my contemporary romance Sometimes Love Just Isn’t Enough . The song was perfect for a seduction scene I was contemplating putting in there. The wife, at this point, had decided that she was tired of waiting for him to start something with her. She wanted to have another baby, but he didn’t want the responsibility. So here I am thinking lusty thoughts (OK, I’m a smut slut), and great scenes, and... I fall asleep. Yes, I fell asleep. When I woke in the morning, I forgot everything. I was mad...

Music has always been intertwined with the concept of romance . The art of music is a powerful tool used to set the mood for love, express emotions, and evoke feelings that can be difficult to put into words. From classical compositions to contemporary pop hits, music has captured the essence of love and used it to create timeless masterpieces. Historically, music has been used to express love and romance. The earliest examples of this are in ancient Greece, where poets and musicians sang about love and passion. Romantic themes in music continued to develop throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, with composers such as Bach and Mozart using music to express the joys and sorrows of love. Music has also played a significant role in popular culture, especially in movies and television. Romantic ballads such as “ I Will Always Love You ” by Whitney Houston (The Bodyguard - now I want to watch it again - just loved this movie - HBOMax here I come) and “ My Heart Will Go On ” by Ce...

Throughout my writing career, I’ve read and been given the advice that says, “Make sure you write what you know.” If you take this suggestion at face value and run with it, your writing will be quite interesting and realistic. This is something that all readers want, no... demand. It’s something that helps them escape from reality and enter into another world for a while. They want to be the hero or the heroine swept off her feet by a man who truly knows what love is. I’m not sure how this piece of advice works. When I first started writing in junior high school I wrote love poems. I knew NOTHING of love, hell, I hadn’t even been kissed (but thank you N.M. for the distracted make-out scene under the bush). So how in the world was I able to write such ‘moving’ pieces? In all honesty, they were only moving to me, but they seem to make sense now that I’m grown up.  Let’s take a look at my first poem: Lazily we walk along the beach You and I hand in hand Nature has its things to teach ...

As an insomniac, I have tons of time to think about writing (when one should be writing) and what they have learned, and how. I honestly think that my cats have taught me most of what I need to know. 1. Steady and cunning get you what you want. If you don’t have a cat and have never seen them stalk a fly/ladybug/moth you’ve missed out on a lifetime of lessons. They will sit as still as can be and stalk that thing till it’s just in reach. And eight times out of ten, they get what they are going after. Just like writing! You have to be steady in your course and you will achieve your goals. You have to make sure that you keep the eye on the prize. If you don’t get it the first time keep on keeping on, it WILL happen. 2. Know who you can lean on. Cats are particularly finicky over who they will ‘sit’ with. My cat Earl can walk up to me, nudge the laptop from my lap, curl up, and fall asleep. He only stays there long enough for a cat nap, but he knows that he can do it and won’t be chasti...

Once upon a time in a land far, far, away... Well, maybe not a land, but a time 11 years ago there was a book. And this book was entitled Forgiveness. The premise for it was good, but being a beginning author I just didn’t know what to do, and how to do it properly. This was when I was publishing under the name of A.J. Best. I’d like to think that I have grown as an author, but there are times when self-doubt gets in my way. Here’s what happened... In 2012, I was sitting in a Pizza Hut in a town near me when the email came in. I slid the phone over to my fiance and said, “Here, you open it. I can’t!” When his face didn’t fall or look like he was going to say, “Oh, maybe next time.” I said, “WHAT!” and grabbed the phone right out of his hands. When I read the email, I yelled out, “I’m an author, I sold a book!” The moment was filled with lots of cheers and applause from the neighboring tables (because that’s how small the community is) and I just couldn’t stop smiling. When our pizza ca...

  Not only do I torment myself with my Paranormal Romance Writing class (who really wants to go to school *me raising my hand and waving it wildly*), but now I'm reading a book by Lewis Jorstad to see what his point of view is on writing a book. I will tell you that I am intrigued by the notion that a book can be written in 10 days. (Please keep in mind that this is the first draft!) Luckily he was smart enough to put a caveat in there giving those of us who are a little sticker shocked that there are multiple ways to work his system. I'm going for a "The Ten WEEK Draft!" method instead.  If he is as good as his website makes him out to be (crossing toes, fingers, and hair on this one) then I'll have a rough first draft before my trip to Puerto Rico in February. I'll even have a full month to work on edits before I have to slow down. I worry though, being a first-time author and all, is this the right way or am I going down the right path? Is his the one or i...

Getting closer to High Falls Gorge It's so nice to have friends come in from out of town to visit so you can get to spend time together scaling one of the tallest peaks (that you can drive to, it is me after all) in NY state - Whiteface Mountain OR sitting here in silence (except when you can't spell the word OR!) doing our own things. So much has been done and so much time has flown by that it's sad to say that W is leaving Monday. And when we weren't up on the mountain we were watching and listening to the water flowing through High Falls Gorge . I can't tell you how many times I said, "I could sit right here and finish my book. I could sit right there with my laptop and finish my book. Now if only I could make that happen, right? Where do you go to find your inner muse? That thing that recharges you? Is it your favorite place to go? We went thrift store hopping all the while hoping that the construction workers would not knock glass on our heads. I walked o...

Yesterday was a good day for writing. I worked through a scene where I really didn't want to be. I think it had a lot to do with not being able to picture how a man would scoop up a woman and feed from her. I asked some of my girlfriends and they all had different points of view on this one, so I went to the source, A MAN!!  It started with a text, "Hey, I need a favor."  Which usually means, "Hey can you do something for me?"  But when he called I threw him for a loop when I said, "When you stop by to pick up the box (another favor I needed him to do for me) could you be a vampire and show me how you'd turn me?" Instead of saying, "What you talklin' about Willis?!" He said, "OK." Talk about super sweet and supportive, that's it right there. How does someone support you when you need it? What's the oddest thing you've asked someone to do for you? (Remember folks, family-friendly blog!)  How do you tell people you...

I LOVE to learn. And in the process of writing my book Blue Rose Night  I started second-guessing myself and my ability to write something worth reading. So I did what I always do when I'm worried about something like that, I take a class. Luckily through my library, I have the ability to take free classes through Universal Class . I was beyond thrilled when I saw that they had a paranormal romance class (my genre). My friends have been telling me that I know how to write, I'm writing. But there is something in me that has really been wondering. One of my more recent lessons was on clichés and stereotypes. I read through the class and took the quiz with no problems. But... when it came down to the written part of the class I was like WTF am I doing? I try so hard to avoid them that the requirement of coming up with three whole paragraphs (as if I don't normally have an overabundance of words flowing all over the place) about undid me. How do I fill in enough cliché and ster...

Sometimes I get in my own way. Or should that have read 'more often than not I get in my own way'? Whichever it happens to be at the time I really need to work on that and so I turn to tools to help me through. Example 1 :         I start writing a book, a good solid one this time, and I put it aside because the little demons in my head come out and say, "You're not good enough. Your other book only sold 50 copies and the reviews were abysmal." Instead of squashing that little voice and telling him to shut the fuck up I give up. Fast forward six long years and I mention to my bestie (waves at Shelly Bean) that I write and I'm in the middle of something. She says, "Read some to me," and I do. She convinces me that it's good and I should keep going. I do some digging around later and I come to find a very useful tool/game/game changer called: 4thewords.com   With this site, you get to battle monsters (personal ones and the ones they provide you wit...