The kids are out of school.  Full-blown Christmas mania starts for our family Saturday at 4 o’clock.  The book is not quite done–though I am getting there–and we’re going be celebrating non-stop until the day after Christmas.

Pray for me and I’ll pray for you.  Safe holiday travel, no high family drama, everyone likes their gifts, etc…

Have a great weekend!

Even though Jen isn’t in town, Vicki and I are doing a big lauch for her December Blaze, THE BIG HEAT.  Click on over for a chance to win Jen’s book and a surprise gift!

Jennifer LaBrecque’s THE BIG HEAT is on shelves and available now!  And it’s  Featuring Cade Stone–Linc’s brother from my November Blaze, FEELING THE HEAT–this book is a must read!  Jen’s trademark humor, skillful characterization and witty dialogue make this story shine.  And Cade…  (’scuse me, I need a moment) 

Ahem.

Cade is one helluva hero.  Strong, tough and unapologetically male.  Need I say more?

Be sure and check out the Soapbox Queens on Monday when we’ll be doing an Official Book Launch for this release.  Lotsa fun and lotsa free books, Soapbox Queens style, so you know it’s going to be fun.

1.) If you aren’t a wine drinker, even one named Novella doesn’t taste good.  (And since we were plotting a novella, I thought for sure it would be different.)

2.) Nothing smells better than a crackling fire, bread baking and the scent of this candle, even when the smoke alarm is going off.

3.) Vicki is the fire master.  She can coax a beautiful flame from a single dying coal.

4.) Jen is a thoughtful hostess, always offering to make tea, bring a drink, provide a snack, etc…  She also never sleeps and has the best laugh of anyone I have ever heard.

5.) Staying in pajamas all day is perfectly acceptable behavior, particularly when you’re with friends who are disinclined to change as well.  I don’t think I ever even brushed my hair on Saturday.  Teeth?  Yes.  Hair.  I don’t think so.

6.) Being with people who “get” you is a beautiful thing. 

In which I share my dirty laundry.  Literally.  I have captioned this picture

“How To Break My Spirit”

     

 In happier news, I am chatting today at eHarlequin at 11:00 Eastern if you’d like to drop by and say hello.

Here’s the link.

Simply login under your eHarlequin username when prompted and the password is BROWNBAG. 

(Because it’s a Take An Author To Lunch chat.   ) 

Dear WIP, you’ll be happy to know that my children returned to school today– –and you will be getting my undivided attention as opposed to the scattered, frantic minutes I have managed to steal away from my loud but lovable family.   Hero, heroine, you have both been remarkably patient and will be appropriately rewarded.

Excited,

The Author

…are blogging! Click on over and celebrate our launch day with us!

My September release…

Pretty, yes?

To do list:

1.) Take kids to school.

2.) Check kids out of school and take them to get their teeth cleaned.

3.) Take kids back to school.

4.)Go pick up son from school at 11:00 because he gets out early to study for exams.

5.) Go pick daughter up at regular time from school. 

Oh, and in between the FIVE trips to school today, I have to go work out–not missing a day!–write my pages, tackle a little bit of laundry, make a cookie cake for son’s class and make an effort at straightening the house. 

But I will prevail.

And no, I’m not talking about the 70’s TV show.   I’m talking about how much fun I had this weekend with Jen and Vicki. 

Let me put things in perspective for you.  I have a black and gold caftan that my Mom got for me for Christmas a couple of years ago.  I put it on Friday afternoon and didn’t come out of that sucker until Sunday morning.  Even when we had to make a firewood run.  For that, much to Jen’s hilarity, I added my Crocs.   We plotted, planned, laughed, cried, ate–boy, did we eat–watched movies, talked books, process, set career goals.  Everything.  (And I spent around 10 hours working on revisions, too, so I’m very proud of myself.   )  Jen manned the stove–eggs sardou is one of my new favorite things, and Vicki’s new nickname is Keeper of the Flame, as she tended our fire.  We saw cool birds and had an owl show up in our little patch of forest two days in a row around the same time.

We had the best time. 

I know if you’ve read my blog then you’ve heard me say–and other writer’s say–that writing is a solitary job and it’s one that generally only other writers get.  (We’re fortunate enough to have an editor who gets it, too.)  But finding a group of friends who understand you–understand what it takes for you to write a book–and then help you find ways to better both is a rare treat.  I came away from this weekend–as I have every time we’ve gotten together–refreshed, energized and just plain happy.   How cool is that?