- I grew up in southern California in the 1970s. Back then, my friends and I would roam around our neighborhood playing Charlie’s Angels or roller skating or riding bikes until the street lights came on. That was our cue to return home for dinner.
- When the romance between Nancy and Ned Nickerson wasn’t nearly as large a part of the Nancy Drew mysteries series as I would have liked, I started checking out thin 1980s high school romances from the library. At the time I was a sixth grader. I tore through Francine Pascal’s Sweet Valley High books and many, many others. I was hooked! I loved reading romance. Absolutely loved it. My love of it continues to this day. I’m also a fan of romantic movies, TV shows, and music. Despite the fact that I was an avid reader, it never occurred to me to try my hand at writing.
- When I arrived at Baylor University (a school I wanted to attend because some older girls in my youth group at church had gone there and I thought they were cool), I couldn’t believe two things. A) how hot and humid it was in Waco, Texas. When is Autumn going to show up? What? Not until mid-October!?! You people survive in this temperature? B) How cute and well-mannered the Texas boys were. B had a way of making up for A.
Me, during my Baylor days.
- I became instant friends with a girl named Mary Robin who occupied the dorm room next to mine my Freshman year. Mary Robin is a tidy person and one afternoon in the fall of our Freshman year, she suggested we swing by her cousin’s house off campus to clean up after him and his two roommates. Why I ever agreed to donate my free time to the task of cleaning the house of three male juniors in college is beyond me now. It must have been point B from #3 that did me in. Mary Robin and I were in the midst of washing the guys’ dishes when her cousin walked in. In that inauspicious moment, I met my future husband. Those dirty dishes were a harbinger of things to come. I’m still doing that man’s dishes! Although, about half the time, he does mine. So it’s working out fine.
His Highness and I when we were dating.
- His Highness and I were friends for a year before we went on our first date. Two and a half years later, we married in the California church where my parents married.
- My journey as a writer began because I read a romance novel I disliked so much that I thought to myself, “Yeesh! I think I could do this better.” Dangerous thought, that. I spent the next four years writing and receiving rejections and learning that in fact, no. I couldn’t do it better. Beware! Writing novels is a lot harder than it appears.
- When I was expecting our first child, I thought to myself, “I’ll be able to write and take care of babies simultaneously!” Dangerous thought, that. I spent the month after my oldest daughter was born nursing and not-sleeping and trying to write and learning that in fact, no. I couldn’t do both. I applaud the writers who write and mother newborns, but in my case, it seemed that either the baby or the writing had to go. Since the baby was pretty darn cute (see below), I abandoned writing for the next seven years.
This baby is now a sixteen year old sophomore with a newly minted driver’s license!
- I’m an oldest child and I married an oldest child. Then we had an oldest child + two more. Three oldest children in one family of 5 makes for a whole lot of headstrong.
Poor middle and youngest child.
- I love yoga. I take two yoga classes every week. On the days when I don’t do yoga, I power walk around my neighborhood. Recently, I’ve taken to dictating scenes while I’m at it. I’m certain that my neighbors don’t find the power-walking, yoga-pants-wearing woman who talks to herself odd at all.
- Almost every single day I eat or drink the following: Coffee (my 6:45am cup of coffee is the only thing that makes mornings bearable for me). Bacon. 8 cups of water. Blue corn tortilla chips and hummus. Hot tea in the afternoon (caffeinated only when necessary). Appetizers before dinner because I enjoy appetizers more than I enjoy dinner food. Chocolate. Always chocolate, my friends.
Do you and I share any similarities? I’d love to know which ones!
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Becky Wade
Author at Bethany House
Becky makes her home in Dallas, Texas with her husband and three children. She absolutely loves writing funny, heartwarming, and inspirational contemporary Christian romance.
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I loved reading the Sweet Valley High series and other teen romances in high school and I still love reading romances today, too!
Yes, Elizabeth! In the process of writing this post, I ran a search for 1980s teen romances, which brought back so many memories. The covers featured bright photographs of girls with big hair either alone or alongside their friends and/or the boy they had a crush on. Shades of pink and blue played a predominant role.
I used to love those stories! 🙂
Hilarious, Becky!
What is it about BLUE corn tortilla chips that makes them so delicious? How does the “blue” taste better? I don’t know, but I love them too!
I have no idea, Carolyn! But I’m a faithful consumer of Garden of Eatin’s Blue Chips.
#8, us, too! Oh, the headbutting that occurred, but we could at least understand each other. When number two came along – the very typical second child – we all thought something must be wrong with him! I truly think that God sent children 2 and 3 to keep the three first borns from being too serious!!
Amen! I couldn’t believe how quiet and easy-going our second child was, even as a baby. All three of us oldest children found him to be somewhat of a mellow miracle from above. Thank the Lord for middles and youngests!
So great to learn about you! My daughter grew up in the 70’s and could ride her bike and skate all around our neighborhood in Virginia Beach – no worries. Now she lives in southern California (Long Beach) and has been out there for 23 years – between San Diego and LA.
I could go with your food choices, except the coffee – can’t stand it! And I prefer appetizers too. Sometimes on Saturday or Sunday afternoons I set out an array of appetizers and forget about dinner. We just have a dessert in early evening.
Love the pictures of your family.
Betty, I know exactly where Long Beach is! It’s not far from my hometown of Riverside.
“I prefer appetizers too. Sometimes on Saturday or Sunday afternoons I set out an array of appetizers and forget about dinner. We just have a dessert in early evening.” That’s right up my alley, Betty. From appetizers straight to dessert! Yes! 🙂 I eat lunch at home while working most weekdays, and my lunch plate often resembles a plate full of appetizers. Deli meat. Nuts. Olives. Chips and hummus. Apple slices.
So fun, Becky. And I discovered a few more things we have in common. My friends and I also played Charlie’s Angels. Who wouldn’t when you can run around pointing finger guns at people while striking ferocious poses? LOL. As much as I look back on that show with eye rolls, it really did a lot to help young girls visualize themselves as strong and capable.
Also, I adored the Sweet Valley High series! Even back in the day, I was an historical reader, preferring books set in the past like Anne of Green Gables, Jane Eyre (and other classics). Until my best friend loaned me one of her Sweet Valley High books. Those things were addicting! I read through a bunch. Then I found Dana Fuller Ross’s Wagon’s West series, and I reverted back to historical. But those Sweet Valley High books are what hooked me on Romance. 🙂
“My friends and I also played Charlie’s Angels. Who wouldn’t when you can run around pointing finger guns at people while striking ferocious poses?” EXACTLY! How did you know, Karen? We’d say, “I”m Kris.” “I’m Kelly.” “I’m Sabrina.” And then we’d run around pointing finger guns and striking ferocious poses!
“As much as I look back on that show with eye rolls, it really did a lot to help young girls visualize themselves as strong and capable.” I couldn’t agree more. I think the feisty, independent heroines in romance novels also did much to help me imagine myself as feisty and independent.
We don’t have much in common other than our love of Nancy Drew and wishing she had more romance in her life, but I enjoyed getting to know more about you! The yoga pant wearing self talker comment cracked me up. 🙂
I discovered Nancy Drew in 4th or 5th grade and read oodles of them! Remember how every chapter ended on some sort of cliffhanger?
I do! I also loved Trixie Belden books. 😉
So many similarities! I have wanted to write romance novels since before I can remember. I loved the same books.
Now, I am a mom to a three-year-old and a one-year-old, still writing. I read your books for enjoyment but also to learn. My hope is to be published when my budding family isn’t so young.
It really is true that, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…” I think it’s wonderful that you have a 3 year old and a 1 year old and wonderful that you want to write romance. The dream of publication is a fantastic dream to have and nurture. I encourage you!
Loved hearing the story of how his highness and you met! Now I want to read the awful romance that began your career! Really, I do.
Bwa ha ha ha! Sarah, the first manuscript I wrote was about 60% too long and set in Norway in the 1800s. In it, I made every rookie mistake a writer can possibly make. That book is currently sitting in a box in my attic, collecting dust. It WAS invaluable to me, though. Because thanks to it, I discovered a passion for writing. I wrote four complete manuscripts before I sold one. Each one of those was like a stepping stone that brought me closer to publication. Each one gave me a chance to practice and learn.
What a wonderful post! I am an oldest child and my husband is an oldest child as well! We are all a little focused here. The poor middle child said “how long do I need to practice my viola” as the rest of us look at him with questioning eyes. (The correct answer is longer than anyone else that you know. How else will you be the best?)
My husband and I were friends for over a year first as well before we dated. I love romance. . back in the day read Victoria Holt. Still reading romance.
Hmm. Plus we share the same name,and I have always wanted to live in Texas. 🙂 I have a 16 year old sophomore plus 6 other kids.
Great post. I loved your family picture.
Have a great weekend.
Becky
It’s so much fun to identify other oldests married to oldests! ” I laughed over your answer to your son’s viola practice question. :)))
I used to read Victoria Holt, too!
Lots of similarities–from Nancy Drew to being the firstborn to having a 16-year-old daughter to yoga. 🙂
We were destined to be friends, Angela!
Loved getting to know you Becky. Well, I’m an only child and my hubs is first born. I had 3 sons. So, I guess we kind of have that in common. Oh, and of course, the chocolate!!
The chocolate! Oh, the chocolate.
Loved playing outside til the front porch light came on…riding bikes / Big Wheels (totally dated myself with that one!) I’m the baby of the family and spoiled rotten to boot. Never taken a yoga class, but love the pants. I do attend a Body Pump class twice a week and walk during my breaks at work, so I at least I’m get some exercise. I,too, must have chocolate EVERY DAY. Sometimes several times throughout the day.
So happy you decided to listen to your inner voice in writing a book despite the rejection letters. My reading life is much fuller after having met Kate & Matt and the Porter family, and I can’t wait to be introduced to the Bradford sisters.
Thanks, Amy. 🙂
Big wheels!!! Yes. Big wheels played a definite roll in my childhood.
“Never taken a yoga class, but love the pants.” LOl! The pants are the best.
“I,too, must have chocolate EVERY DAY. Sometimes several times throughout the day.” Indeed. Some days require multiple doses of chocolate.
I had blue corn tortilla chips.
Once.
And NEVER again.
I don’t run. But that night. Yup. I ran.
TMI? Yup.
I love the thought of you power walking and dictating. And then deleting all the heavy breathing from the MS.
Enjoy the morning walks!!
I write romance. Why would I delete the heavy breathing?
😉
Nice to learn more about you Becky. I too grew up in California – Buena Park (where my dad was head commercial artist at Knott’s Berry Farm). Also lived in Texas (north of Houston)! And yes it is hot and humid there. Thanks for all your wonderful books.
You’re welcome! Thank you for stopping by the blog, Loraine. And for moderating over at Christian Fiction Devourers). I’m very familiar with Knott’s Berry Farm! I’ve been there several times over the years. When I think of it, I think of riding a stagecoach through the park and eating funnel cake.
Great stuff, Becky! Loved it! Ken and I are oldests, and two of our kids married oldests (our youngest married a youngest!) so now when the 16 of us get together, HALF of us are oldests!No WONDER it gets so crazy! 😉
Ha! No wonder. 🙂
Oh I’m so glad the whole Nancy-Ned romance thing wasn’t enough for you either. I got bored with it rather quickly. My favoritest thing ever was when the Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys paperbacks came out … where Nancy and Frank and Joe go solve mysteries together. Because there was some delicious tension between Nancy and Frank! Ned who?!?
Oh, how I love delicious tension. Ned who, indeed!
The only thing we have in common is my husband and I are both the oldest children in our families.
I’m still thankful to you for introducing me to Bookfun. I’m enjoying participating every month!
Yay! I’m glad. Thanks for stopping by, Gail.
My husband and I are both the second children in our families. We both come from large families, so we were kind of the neglected ones. LOL Our mothers have each said that we were their best babies. The chocolate–we have that in common. A day is not complete without it! 😀
My middle child was definitely my easiest baby! Thank the Lord for easy babies. 🙂
I was born in ’71. My neighbors always wanted to play Charlie’s Angels and Star Wars. We didn’t own a TV so I was clueless. I tried to read a Nancy Drew once and was so scared by the 12th page I put the book down and never read another mystery! Lol. I DID however read the Sweet Valley High books and the other teen romances. And that is my preferred genre still. I also eat chocolate every single day. My dad always made sure my mother had chocolate in the house and my hubby does the same for me 😊
I was also born in ’71, Sara! And yes — yes! — to Star Wars. Star Wars action figures and model space ships were all the rage after the first movie came out.
“My dad always made sure my mother had chocolate in the house and my hubby does the same for me.” Awwww! How THAT is romantic.
I loved seeing your pictures and what you shared about your life.What a lovely family you have.I too have always been a reader.I can remember carrying stacks of books home from the library when I was in elementary school.I like regency and historical romance books and also enjoy occasional mysteries.I have to have coffee first thing in the morning as well.I love chocolate the dark chocolate is my favorite.
Dark chocolate is my favorite, too, Diana. Especially when paired with nuts or caramel or a little sea salt. Happy sigh. 🙂
Hi Becky. Love this blog! I am almost 70 yrs old and currently live in Nebraska. However, I spent the better part of over 60 years in Texas although I was not born there. (Air Force brat here.) Texas will always be home to me. We did live in Waco for awhile but high humidity is synonymous for Texas ( 🙂 ). I love your books and have read most of them. I do revisit them from time to time. I fell in love with the Nancy Drew series as a young girl and read everyone that the local library had (oh so glad for Amazon and the Kindle books — just click and click and the book is mine — no trips to library across town, although I used to ride my bike to get there so got lots of fresh air!) I found The Thin Man series and later Sherlock Holmes so love several different genres of books. My 2 are grown and living their own lives but my #2 child aka: the baby “inherited” all of my stubborn traits so we locked horns a “few” times as she grew up. Of course, she and I are bffs today (thank you, Lord). #1 was an enigma to me as he was the compliant child. Took me by surprise and I had to figure out how not to over correct this one as he was also a gentle soul. Keep on bringing us those wonderful stories. God bless you and your family!
I tore through the Sweet Valley High series too. I think I even read some in one day! I also tore through the Sweet Dreams series. Young love! 🙂