The Midwest Fiction Writers, a local chapter for the Romance Writers of America, pulled together 17 writers wh
o each submitted a short story for a fundraiser.
Roughing It or Luxury
Jody Vitek
Roadside Love, in the MFW anthology Love in the Land of Lakes, is a short story I wrote based on annual vacations I take with my family and in-laws to northern Minnesota. What’s there not to love but a cabin in the woods? Well that depends on who you ask.
My husband does’nt like to rough it, so our cabin in the woods is at a resort. Our cabin is a three-story duplex house with running water, air-conditioning and heating, marble countertops, a television and all the other comforts of home. It’s far from roughing it—It’s a house. But it’s a vacation away from home.
Our cabin is lakeside and nightly we receive the most beautiful sunsets. There’s a beautiful sandy beach that reaches into the lake waters for swimming and playing. We’re surrounded by tall pines, oak, birch, and the list of tree variety goes on. There are walking and biking trails, including the Paul Bunyan Trail. Not to mention the great small town shops for you to spend your money.
The unfortunate side to having all of this luxury, is you don’t get to escape from the reality of the real world. We all bring our laptops, iPads, iPhones, iPods, you name it, all electronic devices are with us. We even bring extra TVs with DVD players. To me it’s sad we don’t go on this vacation to escape and yet, I admit I bring my laptop and the other above listed evil techno gadgets.
The resort and surrounding locals have wireless Internet, so we can hook-up and connect with the world. It’s not the greatest wireless but there’s wireless. We check our email and Facebook accounts, you name it we’re all plugged in. Being a part of this guilty party, I use my time to go to a quiet place, whether it be the beach by the lake, on a lounge chair by the pool; yes, there’s a heated pool, I sit and work on my writing.
Growing up, I was in the Girl Scouts and roughing it was in a tent, in a sleeping bag, on the ground. My parents would take us on camping trips too. I sometimes miss the roughing it when we’re at the cabin, the daily smell of a campfire where we would cook our meals and boil water to wash dishes. My husband would call me 
crazy because of this, but I have wonderful memories as a child and camping in the ‘wild.’
What are your thoughts about resorts and all the technology and luxuries they offer? Do you like the luxuries and prefer them, or do you prefer roughing it and leaving the luxuries behind? I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment with your email for a chance to win an e-copy of my debut book Florida Heat.
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Minnesota is the land of 10,000 lakes, and just as many love stories. Love in the Land of Lakes brings you seventeen of these stories, from two childhood sweethearts connecting on the end of a dock on a warm summer’s evening, to a city boy’s chaotic weekend at his girlfriend’s primitive cabin. We bring you the story of a savvy horse who leads her owner to love in post–Civil War farm country, and the haunting romance of an ageless gambler who inhabits a historic riverboat and charms the boat’s new owner.
A kaleidoscope of sunshine, snowstorms, and thunderstorms grace our contemporary, mystery, historical, and paranormal stories as the authors of Midwest Fiction Writers spin lovely romances that will send you drifting into happily ever afters.
Click here to see where the authors are stopping to blog and chat with you the reader.
Our Stories:
Bobbers ‘N Bait – The evocative marketing gimmick at the new bait store in town has the fishing outfitter all hot and bothered.
A Cut Above the Rest – Rachel knew that a simple haircut had the power to change someone’s life. What she wasn’t counting on though, was how it would change hers.
Lira & Gavril – A dilapidated riverboat brings together a passionate historic preservationist and a man who called it home during the Victorian era.
Rosemary Heim
Lake Dreams – Olivia had her life all planned out. All except for that one impulsive night with her childhood crush. Can he convince her the result is worth the risk?
Hook, Line and Stinker – An LA makeover artist comes home to Minnesota and must use all her skills to tame a wild man.
Kathy Johnson
Snowbound – Caught in a snowstorm, the last person she expects to need her help is the man she loved but lost to someone else.
Rose Marie Meuwissen
Dancing in the Moonlight – Anna Thorstad never imagined reopening her parents’ lake cabin would also open her heart to love again.
Barbara Mills
Hooked – An avid outdoorswoman takes her city born and raised boyfriend for a chaotic weekend at her family’s primitive cabin on the lake.
J.S. Overmier
Henrietta’s Man – A savvy horse carries her Civil War-torn soldier north in search of healing and a future.
Coming Home – A young widow’s faith and courage are tested when she falls in love with her husband’s best friend.
Her Stranger – Each night a stranger comes to Rachel’s cabin door. What is it that makes her fall into his arms?
Lake Secrets – A weekend getaway at the scene of the crime has Elly struggling to keep a secret from her best friend.
Unwrapped – Movie star Sloan Leighton sells love; she doesn’t believe in it. Then one frozen midnight on the shores of Lake Superior, everything changes.
The Bouncing Bobber – Will a budding romance, sidetracked by youth and ambition, be what it takes to lure Jacob and Nate back into love’s net?
What’s Up Dock? – Sophie’s handsome new neighbor is burying body bags in his garden. But he’s afraid of raccoons—how could he be a killer?
Naomi Stone
Wind from the Lake – Wishing on a star? Alien contact? When childhood friends Connie and Hank meet again, they don’t need to believe in anything but each other.
Roadside Catch – She swore off relationships with doctors, until one finds her injured on the roadside and has her rethinking the possibilities.
Purchase on Amazon, Smashwords, and AllRomanceebooks
Thanks for hosting us today
Thank you for having me and the MFW anthology today.
Hi Jody!
We are purist campers all the way. Like you, when I was young my family of six camped everywhere we went (who could afford luxury for four wild little kids?) and, when my hubby and I got married, I introduced him to camping with a 10-day trip to Glacier National Park. He fell in love with it. Now, many many years later and after years of being Boy Scout and Girl Scout leaders, we still tent camp–two late middle-agers complete with sleeping bags, air mattresses, Coleman stove, big old cooler, wonderful fires and washing dishes in plastic pans at night in the screen tent. I hope we’ll be doing that until we’re ancient and decrepit!
But, that’s not to say those luxury cabins don’t have their places. We’ve done that, too, and it’s a wonderful escape–just a different one! And, truth to tell, I bring my laptop camping, too. I don’t have Internet unless we find a little coffee shop in a nearby town, but I can still take an hour or two to write every night. So–even the north woods aren’t 100% techno-free 🙂
Fun post! Great story in the anthology!
Liz, I hope you two are tent camping for years to come too. Maybe some day I’ll get my hubby to sleep on an air mattress in a tent – Maybe. Thanks for stopping by!!
It is nice to know that there are lots of Minnesotans and Midwest authors that are out there representing. It is so nice to see each and everyone of you show up and show out for the MW! Yes.
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