Ecstasy
As an author, I sometimes think of the way I use words and why certain usages of words fascinate me. This morning, while thinking of those peak experiences I’ve had in my life that have helped mold me into the woman I am, I thought of the word ecstasy.
How many people have never experienced genuine ecstasy or don’t recognize it when they feel it? They may experienced mild happiness, enjoyment, and contentment. But what does ecstasy look like and feel when you experience it? I think it is more than just being appreciative of what I have. I took the time to reflect on what ecstasy means to me:
1) A night in my husband’s arms.
2) A platter of gargantuan fried shrimp. (A genuinely rare occurrence.)
3) Hearing my little great niece say to me, “I love you.”
4) Having a friendly, sweet dog climb into my presence and demand love.
5) The limo ride to my wedding reception, sipping champagne with my husband.
6) Seeing the Highlands of Scotland.
7) Setting foot in Ireland for the first time.
8) Reading on my back porch for hours and hours.
Yep, ecstasy is pretty subjective when you think about it. Even in fiction, our characters often search for the pot at the end of the rainbow, uncertain how to find it.
In my just released novel, HIDEAWAY (Special Investigations Agency series), the hereoine discovers that ecstasy isn’t something she’s known for quite a while…
Romance author Gina Aames has hit a low point in her career. Sequestered in an isolated mountain cabin, she hopes for inspiration. She lapses into a fantasy featuring her old college friend, gorgeous Ryan “Irish” Ahern. When Ryan appears at her door, unconscious and packing a weapon, her instincts tell her Ryan brings danger with him. At the same time, her body and heart yearns for the cocky agent.
Ryan awakens in a cabin with a woman who claims to have known him for ten years but he can’t remember her. All he knows is the pretty woman who fires his libido stirs protective instincts inside him, and his intuition tells him peril lurks around the corner.
Something unholy draws nearer, and as they escape into a shadowy realm unlike anything they’ve seen before, only their scorching connection and answers to an incredible mystery can save Ryan and Gina from a terrible fate.
One of the things that motivated me to write this novel was a yearning to discover new things about myself as well. I loved writing about the ecstasy the couple find through each other, not only physically, but mentally.
What does ecstasy mean to you and why?
I’ll pick from random from the answers, and the winner will receive a download of my contemporary romantic comedy, MEANT TO BE.
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Being in a bookstore and finding a book I was looking for for a long time.
Getting time to just sit down and read for hours and hours uninterrupted.
Having a good meal with friends and family.
Watching The Dodgers win a good ballgame - hope the Mets will send the Dodgers a thank you note for the win they GAVE them last nite.
Spending time with my daughter.
These are in no particular order of importance. LOL.
by Pat L
on October 5th, 2006 at 7:30 am
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Denise,
One of the things ecstasy means to me is being able to enjoy a really good book with a latte without any interruptions. I used to have to follow my son around the house so he wouldn’t get into mischief but now that he’s almost three, he’s playing more on his own. That means I will have more time to indulge in some quality reading time for myself.
by Janet
on October 5th, 2006 at 7:38 am
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Snuggling with hubby.
Having my 3 year old hug me and kisss me and tell me loves me.
When it was summer it was sitiing in my recliner with a good book and a vanilla milkshake. Now that it is fall, I would replace the milkshake with a creamy cup of hot cocoa.
I am sure on October 10th I would be adding another. That would be holding my newborn baby girl in my arms. This difficult last month of pregnancy will all be worth it,
by Cherie Japp
on October 5th, 2006 at 10:32 am
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:oops:being happy and when a book stays with you after you read it. you want to tell everyone about it. lol
by KIM H
on October 5th, 2006 at 12:33 pm
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Pat,
Reading your list of great things, I thought that many of life’s everyday things can be filled with that special ecstasy if we take time to stop and thing about them and appreciate them in the moment. :)
Denise
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Janet,
I totally agree about he uninterupted moments where we can read. That is sooooo true. I don’t have little ones to interupt me, but I’ve found if I want that quality reading time I ofen have to put the phone on do not disturb so that even the sound of the phone ringing doesn’t make me crazy. :) And the latte…ah, that’s delicioius. 
Denise
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Cherie,
What a wonderful list! And congratulations on the upcoming new little one. That will be fantastic. All the best wishes to you and your family. :)
Denise
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Kim,
Isn’t it neat that so many of us list reading as an ecstasy? I think of all the people who don’t read at all and wonder where they find their little piece of quiet and ecstasy?
Denise:roll:
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:oops: I forgot to mention that it’ll be the end of the day, around 4pm my time that I’ll be picking a winner. So come on guys…more of ya tellme what you’re special ecstasy is and why.
Denise
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Spending time with my grandson. What a joy granchildren are.
by Helen Mac
on October 5th, 2006 at 2:14 pm
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I am newly married - married 1 year in Sept. So needless to say, I love spending whatever free time we have together. WE just moved into a new cooperative apt. and am enjoying fixing it up. That free time can be just going shopping, going away, taking walks in the parks. Doing anything together.
by Karen T.
on October 5th, 2006 at 2:17 pm
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I am in my 80’s and enjoying cooking an occasional meal for my family. I make a big feast for Christmas Eve.
I also enjoy reading - my neice keeps me in books.
My sister and I are close and try to go every 3 or 4 weeks to Atlantic City to play the slots.
by Rose G
on October 5th, 2006 at 2:32 pm
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Spending time with my husband.
Quiet time reading a good book.
Visiting family.
Watching my husband laugh.
Getting a hug from my grand kids.
There are so many things but the best is having time alone with my husband.
by Tammy G.
on October 5th, 2006 at 2:33 pm
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When I stop to think about it, you’re right, there’s so much ecstasy to be found in everyday things. Some moments of ecstasy for me are:
1. Coming home and having my baby sister run up to me with open arms.
2. Reading a book in bed, with a couple of my dozen throw blankets and a mug of hot cocoa… it’s especially nice if it’s raining outside, but if not, I always have my rain cd :grin:
3. Snuggling in bed with Nate and just dozing off.
4. Going to visit my family in Colorado and seeing the mountains…has anyone here been up the mountains? They’ll literally take your breath away… it’s like seeing a bit of heaven on earth 
5. Running outside…it gives me a high and helps clear my mind.
These are just a few for me :-)
P.S. I can’t wait to read Hideaway, Denise… sounds great :-)
by Ali
on October 5th, 2006 at 2:49 pm
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Reading a book uninterrupted.
Spending time with my nieces and nephew.
Getting a new book.
Congrats on the new release!
by Amy S.
on October 5th, 2006 at 3:20 pm
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A one and only vacation in Hawaii(1983)
Hearing my husband say he loves me
Reading a good book uninterrupted
Being with my 1 year old grandson
Knowing my grandson will have a brother in Jan.
by Estella
on October 5th, 2006 at 3:24 pm
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Riding with my husband on his motorcyle, spending time my all my grandchildren, walking my dog and getting together with family.
I am retired as beginning of this year and enjoying every minute of it.
by Joanne V.
on October 5th, 2006 at 3:59 pm
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Helen,
Grand kids are neat. I have stepchildren and when they had children it felt so strange. Here I was with a quickly made family and I didn’t have to give birth to anyone.
Denise
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Karen,
Ah, the blush of first love! Is there anything better? Probably not. May that love stay with you always. 
Denise
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Rose,
My mother is 85 and I wish she was as active as you. She’s very shy and doesn’t get out much, though. When I’m 80, health willing, I want to be active and enjoy not only a great book, but fun with friends. I always admire individuals who don’t let their physical age dampen the child within them.
Denise
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Tammy,
I’m with you. Snuggling with the hubby is the best!
Denise
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Ali,
Hope you enjoy HIDEAWAY. You mentioned Colorado and that’s a place I miss off and on. I grew up near Colorado Springs, and although I do have mountains where I live now, they aren’t as high and majestic and the landscape isn’t the same. In HIDEAWAY, set in Colorado, I drew on memories of he high, thin air (which I love) and the stark beauty that can be found there.
Denise
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Amy,
Finishing a great book and getting a new one are definite signs of ecstasy in this group. And thanks for the congrats on the new release. :grin:
Denise
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Joanne,
Ah, the time to do what you like, when you like. Sounds like you’re going to make a super time of your retirement. High five! :razz:
Denise
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Oooh, Denise, I used to live in Aurora
I miss it sometimes, too…until I think about waking up from the freezing cold and getting up from under all my covers But the scenery I do miss… See, now I’m definitely going to have to start Hideaway with the setting being in Colorado :-)
by Ali
on October 5th, 2006 at 4:20 pm
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I think ecstacy for me is being able to completely get away from work and the other stresses of life. This generally means getting out of town (which I’ve only done 2 times since January :???:).
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Ali,
I have to admit that freezing cold doesn’t bother me much really. :) That’s why when it cools down here in Arizona I enjoy it. :)
Denise
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Jennifer,
Sending good wishes that you’ll have another getaway that you can “Hideaway” and enjoy.
Denise
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:oops:
Estella,
I missed your note! Sorry about th at. Thanks again for commenting. And those once in a lifetime vacations can be so memorable. My trip to Ireland in ‘83 was like that, too.
Denise
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There were so many great winners I had a horrible time picking. So I put names in a hat and picked and came up with Ali and Rose!!! Congratulations ladies. Please email me at danovelist@cox.net and I’ll send you the downloads of MEANT TO BE. :)
Thanks so much to everyone for stopping by to chat. By the way, my website isn’t updated with information on HIDEAWAY…having some technical difficulties but hope that will be cured soon. But, if you stop by http://www.ellorascave.com you’ll see Hideaway and you can read an excerpt. Plus, the cover and excerpts should be up here any time now on the front page of Access Romance.
Denise
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Extasy to me:
Snuggling with my honey on a chilly or rainy weekend morning.
Delicious food!
A TBR pile of great books with all the time in the world to read them!
by Jennifer L.
on October 6th, 2006 at 9:53 am
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Ecstacy to me is:
1. Looking into the eyes of the man I love with all my heart and soul and falling
headlong into a world where there is only the two of us.
2. The first bloom of the Spring of my rose garden.
3. Watching my two year old grandson as he rediscovers all his favorite places in
my home with a grin on his face that would outshine the sun.
4. Losing myself in my writing.
5. Coming home to my house.
6. Sitting down with a good book and a pan of brownies that is all mine. :)
by Faye
on October 6th, 2006 at 1:58 pm
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wtg ladies
by KIM H
on October 6th, 2006 at 2:16 pm
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Ectasy is spending time with the people that love imperfect me perfectly.
Seeing someone’s eyes light up at the sight of you!
A pile of books and all the time in the world to read them.
by Karen S
on October 9th, 2006 at 4:50 pm
