I'm not a romantic, and the trappings of Valentine's Day are not a big deal to me. I'm in it for the long haul. A box of chocolates, a dozen roses, or a fancy dinner are not something I expect on February 14. First, I'm picky. If you want to attribute one quote to me it's, "When… Continue reading My Funny Valentine
Author: Gretchen E K Engel
Chemical engineer by day, spec fiction writer by night
Stormfront
This blog post is shameless self-promotion at its best. My short story, "Detention" was released in the Out of the Storm anthology. The book is a collection of stories that placed in the ACFW Writers on the Storm contest and is published by HopeSprings Books with all proceeds going to the ACFW Scholarship fund. You may have noticed… Continue reading Stormfront
Lady in Red
It's February and I'm going to take a break from my usual posts for a public service announcement. If there's any illness I truly fear, it's having a stroke at a young age or even in my old age. While I haven't lost any sleep over it, statistically and genetically speaking, it's the most likely health concern… Continue reading Lady in Red
Once Bitten, Twice Shy
OK. I totally admit it. I'm a sucker (bloodsucker?) for vampire novels. I admit that I'm a Twilight fan. Not the crazy stay-up-all-night for the premier fangirl, but I liked the books a lot, especially when I first read them. I read them more for Edward and the Cullen family than for Bella. But my issue with heroines… Continue reading Once Bitten, Twice Shy
The Stranger
Do you sometimes wonder who you are? Do you sometimes feel like the world's biggest poseur? My love of boots if no secret and this year I added two new pairs. Shearling boots and cowboy boots. I love them both but in some ways neither are me. My tunic sweater, leggings, & shearling boots. I love the… Continue reading The Stranger
Candle in the Wind
Candles are an ever popular gift. While Christmas is over, we have an entire year of birthdays, Valentine's Day, Mothers' Day plus all of those random hostess, thank you, and shower gifts. I received a Diamond Candle as a Christmas gift from my sister. I'm not one to spend money on candles or jewelry. Diamond… Continue reading Candle in the Wind
Tale as Old as Time
I had to choose a song from Beauty and the Beast in honor of book-loving Belle for this post. Another goal accomplished - 100 books read or listened to in 2014. I actually read 111 plus or minus a couple I either read at the end of 2013 or forgot to log because I couldn't find it… Continue reading Tale as Old as Time
13.1
I'm breaking from song titles this week. But many will know the significance of this number. Two weeks ago, I completed my first half-marathon (13.1 miles). My goal was to complete the race in 2:30, which translates to about 11:30-minute miles. I crushed my goal with a time of 2:17:21! That's one mile per minute faster.… Continue reading 13.1
You Belong With Me
Okay, I admit it. I am a Taylor Swift fan, especially her songs "You Belong With Me" and "Mean". I can relate to both all too well. While I'm not exactly the "girl-next-door" type, I am the one who would have been friends with a guy who had no romantic interest in me. I've been… Continue reading You Belong With Me
The Piña Colada Song
The hardest question isn't what the title has to do with this post. That's easy. The song is about a man who takes out a classified ad about things he loves in the hope of having an affair. *Spoiler alert* - He attracts his own wife. Anyway the connection is I'm writing about details that… Continue reading The Piña Colada Song
Gretchen E K Engel 