~Disclaimer~
Charlotte Hughes admits she is not a qualified therapist, psychiatrist, or even someone you'd want to take advice from. She is simply sharing what she has learned in years of therapy and self-help books. Therefore, if your life is screwed up, she suggests hiring a professional. By reading the information, you agree not to sue her.

Michelle Obama’s Arms

May 5th, 2009

I want Michelle Obama’s arms!

Hey, I know you guys have noticed that our new First Lady has awesome arms, but what I want to know is how she got them. I hate flabby underarms, but mine are headed in that direction. I used to do aerobics religiously. I even used weights. I’m thinking of starting back.

Notice I said I’m “thinking” about it. I don’t want to rush into anything. Anyway, I’d love to know what exercise is good for underarm flab. Also, is there anything to be done about inner thigh flab? I’m not just talking about muscles that need tightening; I’m talking about the added flesh that makes thighs unattractive.

 If anybody out there knows the secret to getting rid of this flab, please let me know!

High Anxiety

May 4th, 2009

Okay, so I’ve turned in my new book. My publisher didn’t like the previous title so I came up with a new one, HIGH ANXIETY, which aptly describes my life these past few months.


My book tour stole precious writing time – I was so late getting the book in! – but I’ll have to say it was worth it because I met the nicest people. The booksellers went out of their way to accommodate me and I came face-to-face with readers who had been following me since I started my career writing category romance some 20+ years ago.


On a sad note, I met and talked at length with an 80-something year-old-woman who was incredibly depressed because her eyes were giving her so many problems that she couldn’t do what she loved best: read. She was hoping her new eye glasses would rectify the problem, but think how hard it would be to go through life unable to read a book, even in large print! I know books on tape are very popular, but when I climb into bed at night I still want to reach over and pick up a book. It’s a simple pleasure. And who doesn’t need them at this point in time?



Anyway, everybody keep your fingers crossed that my editor and other powers-that-be love my new book.

Have a Laugh With Charlotte at RomanceBandits

April 22nd, 2009

Charlotte is interviewed today at Romance Bandits Blogspot and before I could get this posted there were already 65 comments on the interview:  http://romancebandits.blogspot.com/2009/04/have-laugh-with-charlotte-hughes.html .

FYI the new title for the third book in the Crazy series has been officially changed to HIGH ANXIETY.

If you are on twitter please be sure to follow http://twitter.com/charlottehughes where there are already more followers than on Facebook (1500+).

Listen to Charlotte on BlogTalkRadio Tueday, 7:30 p.m. EST

April 14th, 2009

I am going to be interviewed for the Introducing Writers program on BlogTalkRadio hosted by Kim Smith. IF you would like to listen in then follow this link:

Click here. If you would like to listen later the show will be archived at the same link.

Why I Enjoy Making People Laugh at Romance Vagabonds

April 7th, 2009

Guest blog at Romance Vagabonds:  Whoever said that laughter is the best medicine was right on. I love making people laugh. Especially now, when the news is full of doom and gloom. If only we could worry less and laugh more.

I’ve received mail from terminally ill patients who claimed my books lifted their spirits and gave them a lot of chuckles during some of their darkest days. There is no greater compliment. If I can help someone escape their problems or great sadness, even for a little while, it brings me joy.

To read the entire blog click here.

Beverly Hills Shrink Interviews Charlotte Hughes Live Tonight

March 24th, 2009

Charlotte Hughes is interviewed tonight (March 24th) live on radio by Dr. Howard Glussman, a Beverly Hills Radio Psychologist. The interview starts at 11 pm EST amd you can listen to it on your computer live (or later hear a podcast) at this link: click here

What Are Your Body Parts Worth?

March 18th, 2009

BlogWhat Are Your Body Parts Worth? 

Okay, people, I found some interesting news online at Black Voices. Did you know that celebrities insure their body parts?  

For example:Dolly Parton’s boobs are insured for $600,000. 

Jennifer Lopez’s butt is insured for $27 million. (Hey, my butt is    bigger than hers. I’m thinking I should have mine insured.) 

Heidi Klum’s legs are insured for $2.2 million. 

Tina Turner’s legs are insured for $3.2 million. 

Angelina Jolie is insured for 1 Billion. 

Soccer player David Beckman is insured for $70 million. 

And, lastly – you’re going to LOVE this — Tom Jones’ CHEST HAIR is insured for $7 million. 

Hey, I don’t make up this stuff. Go to:

http://www.blackvoices.com/blogs/2009/03/12/celebrity-body-part-insurance/

Road to Recovery Help

March 17th, 2009

I don’t usually write about politics and serious matters, but I am as concerned about the recession as everyone else so I wanted to pass on this information. CNN is running a special – Road to Rescue: The CNN Survival Guide — that I think might be of interest to those who are struggling. You can get information at http://www.cnn.com/Specials/2009/news/road.to.rescue/

In the meantime, my thoughts and prayers are with everyone who is suffering hardship

A Sentence Or Two Is The Perfect Length For Me To Write A Dumb Joke

March 15th, 2009

(Charlotte Hughes would like to welcome guest blogger Joe Konrath. He has a very popular blog about writing, he authors mysteries with a female cop featured, Joe has a horror book on the way, and as you will see from this post, he has a lively sense of humor)

I’m Joe Konrath, guest blogging for Charlotte. If you’re one of my three fans, you know I write a mystery series about a female cop named Jacqueline “Jack” Daniels. All the books are named after drinks—Whiskey Sour, Bloody Mary, Rusty Nail, Dirty Martini, Fuzzy Navel, and Cherry Bomb, which comes out this July.

They’re funny, but also have some scary parts in them.

Over the years, I’ve gotten many letters from readers asking if I could do a book that was all scary, without any of the humorous bits.

I gave it a try. The result was AFRAID, which I wrote under the name Jack Kilborn. It comes out at the end of March, and it’s scary. In fact, I tried to make it the scariest book ever written. If you think you’re brave enough, I encourage you to give it a try. You can read the first section at www.JackKilborn.com. You can also check out my funny books there.

Which brings me to why I’m here.

I’m currently on a blog tour, promoting AFRAID. Every day in March, I’m  appearing on someone else’s blog, flogging my horror novel.

By now I’m pretty tired of talking about horror. So I’m going to take a goofy side trip.

Twitter.com is a social networking site where you post a sentence or two, to share with your friends.

A sentence or two is the perfect length for me to write a dumb joke.

So rather than yak yak yak about how scary AFRAID is and why everyone needs to buy ten copies, I’m going to share some of my Twitter posts instead.

If they amuse you, you should go buy ten copies of AFRAID. :)

I realized I’m not fat; just too short for my body weight. So instead of going on a diet, I’m committing myself to growing 17 inches taller.

My beeper plays Led Zeppelin riffs when I get a call. It’s my Jimmy Pager.

I’m now on a vegan diet. So far this month I’ve eaten two vegans.

I want to be a poseur, but I’m really not sincere or authentic, so I just act like one and hope I’m accepted by other poseurs.

I never let sleeping dogs lie. Dogs should have to tell the truth.

A nice thing about winter is no mosquitos. That is, until they learn to start wearing parkas. Then winter will reeeeally suck.

They should make a video game that’s a video game simulator, for when you don’t want to play a real video game.

I went bowling with my son. A ball rolls better.

The waiter thought I was nuts when I asked for A1 sauce. I hate snobs like that. I should be able to pour whatever I want on my apple pie.

Spanking can cause deep psychological scars in children. So you should wait until they’re asleep, then blame it on bad dreams.

I pinch pennies so tight Lincoln’s face is on my thumb.

She told me the necklace was too tight and when she finally got it on it made her eyes bug out. I decided not to tell her it was a bracelet.

A word to the wise: insisting your profession is “a human sundial” when you get arrested for indecent exposure does not amuse the judge.

She called them “butter cookies” but they were really just whole sticks of butter with sugar sprinkled on top. I ate three.

I hate Quitters Anonymous meetings, but I just keep going for some reason.

When there’s something really chewy in the apple pie, but you can’t really identify it, I really hope it isn’t cartilage.

Beer–it’s good for what ales you.

Indeed, the pen is mightier than the sword. But only the rocket pen, which fires a surface to air missile filled with tiny swords.

I’m going to get a full body tattoo. It will be a picture of someone thinner and more attractive.

I just bought one of those new Morse code cell phones. It’s totally .- .– . … — — . ..–.
   
I wrote a book about menopause, but it is hard to understand because it doesn’t have any periods.    

I don’t care if it is another dare, I’ll never shave with a rusty bottle cap and witch hazel ever again.

I invented the world’s smallest cell phone. But I can’t seem to find it.

Are hearing aids becoming more expensive? I haven’t heard anything about it.   

Catching a tiger by the toe gets easier with practice, my friend Stumpy told me.

I was addicted to nicotine gum, chewing three packs a day. So in order to ween myself off, I started smoking.

Grandma said the secret ingredient in her cookies was love. But I spied on her while she was baking. It was really boogers.

I’m hoping for the day humans learn to breathe underwater, but I’m not holding my breath.

My foot was injured at the mattress factory, and now I’ve got a spring in my step.
   
The crytographer called in sick, because caught a code. Yeah, I groaned too when I thought of it.

Twenty-five percent of people surveyed claim to understand percentages. The other eighty percent do not.

I think the candy companies should make a candy that can be not only be eaten, but also snorted. Also, it should have cocaine in it.

Pets enrich our lives, with many essential vitamins and minerals.

I’m writing a book about elderly dinosaurs. It’s called Geriassic Park. The T-Rex hero breaks a hip, and his children never call.

I had a pair of Velcro underwear, but they got ripped off.

I bet when Hormel Foods sends out emails they get blocked a lot.

I just found out I’m allergic to myself. Now I can’t take me anywhere.

When you’re going through ice-cream cone withdrawal, do you get the shakes?   

I rewrite all of my stories until I get to the fourth draft. After that, I switch to bottles.

When I saw her, my breath caught and my heart skipped a beat. But I realized later it was really a myocardial infarction.

The best revenge is living a long, fulfilling life. That and burning down their house while they’re trapped inside.

I just saw my first Bollywood movie. It had a caste of thousands.   

Whenever I go fishing, I’m reminded of an old girlfriend. Her name was Annette. She also had a sister, named Smallmouth Bass.

The things that come out of the mouths of babes. Like this toaster. How’d he fit that whole thing in there?

Roget had waaaay too much free time.   

If I had a ten dollars for every car accident I’ve ever been in, I still couldn’t pay my insurance.

I hated him, but he said I couldn’t judge him unless I walked a mile in his shoes. So I beat him up and took his shoes.

I’ve written a book about Viagra. It’s a pop-up book. It was a hard book to write.

I’m not afraid of genetically altered or irradiated fruit, except for that giant pear who followed me home and beat me up and stole my TV.

It’s not really “stealing” if you plan to return everything you stole some day, perhaps after you die.

He said it was CPR, but I was only sleeping. Also, I don’t think CPR uses tongue.

When you’re a professional eater, a lunch break is just more work.

It’s always darkest just before the vampires attack.

As I turned my head and coughed I thought, “How lucky I am to have found a doctor who gives free exams in back alleys.”

I bought some Dutch cheese, and it was really Gouda.

Today I have spontaneity practice, followed by my Procrastinator’s Anonymous meeting, which I’m going to blow off.

I’m stating a new club called “Everyone Is Excluded.” I’d invite you, but I’m not invited either.

A child’s laughter is more precious than gold. I keep telling the pawn shop guy that, but he still won’t buy my son.

I’m reducing my beer consumption to one glass a day. Anyone know where I can find a 200 ounce glass?

I wrote a book about potty training. It was a number two bestseller.

Time is relative. That’s why I call him “Uncle Time.”

I’m writing a novel about a dwarf. Does that make it a short story?

With some lube I can fit my whole hand up my nose.

Maybe there wouldn’t be so many poor people in the world if they all had a bunch of money.

Having twelve fingers would be awesome. Except when it came time to buy gloves…

If all that wasn’t enough, there are plenty more at www.twitter.com/jakonrath.

Now go buy all of my books. Or even better, swipe them from your local library so they have to get replacement copies. It’s win-win.

And thanks Charlotte for putting up with me. :)

My Big Fat Boring Life -At Coffeetime Romance

March 12th, 2009

        I am amazed that so many people think authors have a glamorous life. In my case, nothing could be farther from the truth. Imagine a middle-aged woman in unattractive pajamas sitting at her computer with three dogs at her feet; one of which has a problem with flatulence. That woman would be me.

        Oh, sure, authors look good at book signings, but for many of us that’s the only time we tweeze our eyebrows, wear pantyhose, and exfoliate. And for someone who wears socks or sneakers around the house every day, putting me in low heels is tortuous. My last book tour almost crippled me.

        Most authors are not naturally witty and charming. Unless we’re very drunk, of course, but who wants to end the evening with puke in her hair? Plus, it’s not safe to drink on Zoloft.

        It’s not easy to be interesting .. to see the rest of the post go to Coffeetime Romance’s Blog