Week 4: Book & Body Boot Camp: Matters of the Heart!

Keep Reading! We have a GIVEAWAY today!

We hear a lot about getting heart healthy in the news these days. The dangers of too much sodium, the risk factors of too much cholesterol and the lack of exercise among our youth due to video games and other technological distractions.

So, as parents we have to be concerned about the health of our children but we cannot forget to take care of ourselves as well.

Today, at the mid-point of our 8 week book & body boot camp, we'll be focusing on our cardio system--the heart of the matter. And for our book portion of camp, we'll be focusing on the love story of our book.

To celebrate reaching the 4 week mark of our journey and to help you kick start your heart health, I'm giving away a copy of an exercise DVD that I found hilarious! It is crazy fun yet a very effective method of getting the heart rate up. Anyone like to dance cabaret style?

Leave a comment on today's post and be eligible to win a copy of this DVD! Winner announced next Friday!



Hope you'll join me!


WEEK FOUR


The Body

Getting your heart healthy means exercise daily. Even if you cannot do a full workout, try to walk the stairs instead of taking that convenient elevator. Try a walk around the neighborhood or even around the mall (if you insist)! There are hundreds of ways to get your heart pumping every day even if you cannot make it to an aerobics class or do a full routine. Just get moving!

Keeping your heart healthy also means eating right. Not that we all can't splurge from time to time on a burger and fries--but remember that everything in moderation can make all the difference. Recent studies show that 1 in 5 adults have cholesterol levels that are out of control and over 30 million prescriptions a year are written in an effort to control it.

I just read an article that stated that a woman dies from heart disease every MINUTE in the United States but only 13% of woman consider it a risk. Wow!

Don't forget to love your heart and it will love you back!


The Book

Recently, I received a rejection for a manuscript that I'd submitted and the editor told me that I don't introduce the romance into my book early enough. It really made me stop to consider the story.

After much thought and debate over this particular story, I decided that it wasn't really a romance story after all. And by re-categorizing it as Urban Fantasy, I was able to have (strong romantic elements) elsewhere in the book that were not exactly the main focus of the book. This was why I'd waited so long in the book to introduce the romance elements.

But when you think of romance novels, in general, how soon do you think the romance (the heart of the matter) should be introduced?

I've heard that Harlequin editors like you to introduce your hero and heroine as early as the first chapter--the first page if at all possible!

What do you think?

As readers, do you like to get things rolling in the love department right at the get go? Or do you prefer a slower, more tension building romance?

What about as a writer...how soon do you allow your leading characters to get in the thick of it?

I, personally, prefer the slower build. In romance, we sort of know that there is going to be a meeting of the minds and typically a meeting of the bodies at some point. But it is the build-up. The delicious tension of the story that really keeps me interested.

I'd love to hear your thoughts today.

And don't forget to comment in order to win the cardio workout DVD, as mentioned above. In the meantime, don't forget to keep moving and be kind to your heart.

Until next time...I remain...

Heart happily yours,
Kerri Nelson