All About Tawny Weber

I love romance. Happily ever after, hot love scenes… all the good things in life.

For a long time, I was content to explore this enticing world through books. Then, wow – I found out it can happen in real life. I met my husband, who showed me that all those wonderful, magical feelings described in the books are real. Hey, what d’ya know, fiction really IS based in reality.

Once that particular dream came true, it was like Pandora’s Box opened… if I could have that dream – why not the one I’d hidden away in that quiet corner of my mind… the one about putting those stories dancing around in my head onto paper (or computer screen) and writing my own romances?

It took awhile. Workshops and classes, voraciously devouring every how-to book I could buy, studying the market and finding my niche – to say nothing of my voice. Throw in those little distractions like life, children and such… but the dream started taking life.

Once I joined RWA I found another form of magic. Camaraderie, support and friendships that have touched my heart. The dream is blooming. In the last few years, I have served two terms as Secretary for my online chapter, as well as Publicity Chair, Mentorship Chair, Critique Chair and moderated a few other programs. I was the 2008 President of the Black Diamonds Romance Writers and VP of Administration of the SFA-RWA — and loved the challenge. All of this gives strength to that dream, and keeps it grounded.

My novella, A Babe in Toyland is a part of the Must Have Been the Mistletoe anthology, out December 2010. This will be my ninth Harlequin Blaze. I have with three more scheduled for 2011 - Breaking the Rules in February, Just For The Night in May and a new series will launch in December.

I do have other dreams that I’m happily tending: my own real-life hero husband and our two children. Our Northern California home, an ode to ideas and obsessive redecorating/remodeling. Good thing my hero is handy with a saw. Gardening, scrapbooking, crafting and an incredibly supportive family round things out. Along with homeschooling our children and writing, I work from home with my Intuitive Consulting business.
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Tawny's News & Fun Facts
  • I’m a homeschooling mom.
  • I love lifting weights. There is something so satisfying about being able to see muscles grow.
  • Before I was a writer, I was an Intuitive Consultant and Reiki Master.
  • I’m a list addict.  I make lists for everything – even my lists.
Blog Posts from Tawny

Nurturing the Habit

Posted by Tawny Weber Feb 16 2012, 4:17 am in ,

I love how easily our journey as writers mirrors our journey in health.  That’s something we’ve all blogged about at least a few times each :-)   I swear, sometimes I think the struggle are interchangeable in my life.  Especially when they’re, well, just that -struggles.  And it’s the rare, so so rare, that the one I’ve been struggling with the most is the writing part instead of the healthy part.

That’s not to say that the writing is easy.  Ever :-)   But its rare that I have as hard a time as I did with the book I turned in last week.  A combination of stress, family issues, over-commitment, holidays, drama, promoting 3 back-to-back releases and a plague of other things big and small seemed to all hit during the the writing of this story. So much so that I had to force myself to sit down to write everyday.  Since my first book was released 5 years ago, I’ve worked hard to create the habit of writing.  On average, I write a little more than 300 days a year.  Not always good writing, of course *g* but it’s definitely an integral part of my day-to-day.  Often writing was my refuge.  The one part of my world that I could control (even if the part that comes after the book is out is beyond my control *g*).

I used to joke with my friend Betty that we seem to see progress with writing, or with weight loss, but never both at the same time.  The last two months, I seriously wondered if those words were coming back to haunt me in the form of a jinx.  Because the weight journey continues to be on a positive path.  Yes, my losses have slowed to ounces a week instead of pounds, but the numbers on the scale are still sliding downward.   And after 6 months, my eating plan and exercise routine are now habit instead of something I have to remind myself to do – or talk myself into.  So while I wouldn’t claim that I’m now firmly on the healthy path forever and ever amen (no way I’m risking another jinx!) I might go so far as to muse that maybe, just maybe, this habit is starting to take hold.

Which was great, because over the last two months I found exercise becoming my refuge.  Where writing had always been my escape hatch before, my one area of control, it seemed like I’d lost it.  But the exercise?  That was totally rocking along.  I could focus, push, lift more weight, increase reps, switch workouts that didn’t feel right for ones that did.  Right there on my elliptical control panel was the power to go faster, go slower, climb higher or simply cruise.

So while the experience I had writing this last book isn’t one I ever want to repeat, I’m really grateful for the new things I learned.

  • That a habit- even one that’s been years and years in the making- can derail and have to be nurtured back into place. This is good to know, since I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that someday the healthy habit will slip, too and I’ll have to nurture myself right back onto that elliptical.
  • That just like in writing where I need to see the wordcount increase, in exercise I need to see some evidence of progress.  It could be on the scale, in my ease of breathing as I run, or in the weights or reps I can lift.
  • That while one, writing or weight focus, might be easier than the other at any given time, it’s totally within my power and control to do both at the same time.  As deadline crunch gets intense, I don’t have to give up exercise.  Especially since exercise is probably the one thing that’ll keep me sane and able to handle that crunch.
  • And that I’m a bit of a control freak and need to see progress to stay motivated.  Okay, so this wasn’t really new news.  But it was nicely affirmed :-D

So how about you? Where are you at with your habits- writing and the healthy journey? Are you able to juggle both or is one coming easier to you right now than the other?  How are you at forming good habits – any tips to share?

 

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9 Comments

Oh No! It’s a Plateau.

Posted by Tawny Weber Feb 2 2012, 2:46 am in ,

My weight is at a place I’d started to think I’d never hit again.  Oh, not the number on the scale (although there were some sneaky doubts about that dancing around in the back of my mind).  Nope, I’ve hit a plateau.  After 4 months of steady loss, my body apparently declared January roadblock month. [...]

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We’re Writers, Right?

Posted by Tawny Weber Jan 19 2012, 1:38 am

I don’t know about all writers, just myself.  But I write, like, all the time.  I write lists, I write notes, I write in a journal.  And hopefully *g* I write books.  So writing is pretty much a constant in my day to day life. Added to that, I know the power of the written [...]

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An Abundance of Information

Posted by Tawny Weber Jan 12 2012, 1:02 am in , ,

It’s that time again, a new year, a new resolve to get fit, be healthy and make it all work this time!!  One of the great things about the seeming world-wide focus right now on weight loss is that great tips and hints and articles on the topic are abundant.  Eating plans, healthier foods and [...]

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9 Comments

Jumpstart Workout Challenge

Posted by Tawny Weber Jan 5 2012, 1:10 am in , , ,

I’m so excited to welcome 2012 and start a new year.  In part, because I love the concept of a clean slate that the new year embodies.  But also because, well, to put it bluntly, 2011 sucked.  Every year brings challenges.  That’s the nature of life. But last year the challenges were delivered by a [...]

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