Princess of Patience

Twas the Night Before A Book Release...

2012-01-31T20:27:00.001-06:00

This is kind of a big week for me.

Tomorrow kicks off a year full of book releases. A Wedding to Remember in Charleston, South Carolina officially hits the shelves tomorrow.

While it is totally a dream come true, each book release also brings a certain amount of angst. You may remember that I liken a book release to a first date. I still stand by that theory. (although I have been writing so much lately, I haven't had much time for many first dates--ha!)

Even though this is my sixth release, I'm still as nervous and as excited as I was for the very first one. Nervous because I want readers to like it--love it, even! And I know from past experience that some will...and some will not. Excited because this story finally gets to be read. Hopefully by many.

In a lot of ways, A Wedding to Remember in Charleston is VERY different from any of my other books. It's about a marriage that's in the process of falling apart. Whoa.

My other books have been about people finding love for the first time. Boy meets girl. Sparks fly. Conflict happens. They make up and live happily ever after.

This one is a little different.

Summer and Luke are in a very dark place. Strangers sharing a last name. And a home. And a dog. But not much of anything else.

So writing their story was sometimes quite hard for me. It made me sad. It made me stop and think about all of the things that tear apart people who've vowed to love one another forever.

In fact, there were times I would call my friends and whine. I'd say things like "Why did I think writing a romance about an estranged married couple was a good idea? Why didn't you tell me I was crazy?"

And my friends would talk me down from the ledge. They'd tell me to go back to work and not call/text/Facebook them until I'd written more.

I'd pray about it and come away realizing that it was a story that needed to be told. That there was a way to add in some light moments to a dark subject. That even in the hard times, there were still moments of humor. Because that's the way life is.

So I created some secondary characters, Ashley and Justin, who helped add some fun. Then I brought back two of my favorite characters from Love is Grand--Mary and Mavis, the elderly sisters from Alabama.

And when it was all said and done, I wound up with a book that I love and one I hope readers can relate to. There's only been one review so far--4 Stars from Romantic Times:

"This book is about a marriage that's on the rocks, not from any major event, but from erosion of commitment and lack of communication over time. It's a story that readers can relate to, and a reminder that marriage takes work and dedication. The author does a wonderful job of weaving the story together along with infusing a little romance."

I am thrilled with their take on the book and am anxiously awaiting seeing it on the shelf for the first time--something that never gets old!

So tomorrow if you see a bleary-eyed girl doing a happy dance on the book aisle at Walmart...it might be me. :)

Peace is the Word...

2012-01-01T21:38:00.000-06:00

There's been a lot of talk lately in several groups I belong to about finding your "one" word for the new year. I knew my word would become clear to me if I really thought/prayed about it.

And it did. It was right there on my Christmas tree.

Peace.

This year I am seeking peace. Because honestly if 2011 had a word, it may as well have been Chaos or Turmoil. So Peace is sounding pretty perfect to me. :)

2011 saw me return full time to my day job and write 4 books and 1 novella. Which basically means I worked in one way or the other pretty much non-stop. I turned in the last of those books 2 weeks ago and am taking a few days off to renew my creativity. MUCH NEEDED time off!

2011 also saw a major milestone for me: I bought my first home and moved back to my hometown. Which was a whole other set of adjustments, which I'm still getting used to. My house is presently under renovation--and I'm trying to do as much of it myself as possible.

Obviously 2011 was a busy year! Some of the wonderful highlights:

1. The aforementioned book contracts! Writing is a blessing and something I feel called to do. I'm so thankful for the opportunities I've been given and look forward to making some fun announcements soon about upcoming projects.

2. The release of Love Finds You in Lancaster County--and learning it had reached the ECPA Bestseller List.

3. Traveling to Chicago with some of my best friends to see U2 in concert. What an amazing night!

4. Signing the paperwork and officially becoming a homeowner. It has been a long journey and I'm so thankful to have a place to call my own.

5. Traveling to Charleston to do research for an upcoming book. I absolutely fell in love with the city and can't wait to return.

6. Spending time with my friends and family--as I get older, those relationships become so much more meaningful. I'm truly blessed.

But back to my word. PEACE.

How will I instill Peace into my life in 2012?

Here are a few things I hope will help:

1. Read the Bible all the way through. I sheepishly admit I've never attempted this. I read bits and pieces as I'm studying different topics, but I know there are plenty of verses I've never read--particularly in the Old Testament.

2. Pray with a purpose. Once upon a time I kept a prayer journal. I think it's time to go back to that.

3. Exercise. Oh man. This was the first thing to fall by the wayside when my life got all crazy-busy this year, and I think that was a huge mistake. Back when I was running on an almost daily basis, I think my life was much more peaceful. So I'm back to training and am aiming for several 5Ks and the ultimate (for me) goal: a half-marathon. I signed up to do one in 2011, but wasn't ready. 2012 will be the year.

4. Relax. Somewhere along the past few years of working and deadlines and being a grownup, I think I forgot how to relax. In 2012 I'm planning a spa vacation with some of my best friends and WILL make it to a beach where the only thing on my agenda is sleeping and reading.

5. Get my house organized. This includes finishing the kitchen and living room renovations!

6. Plant a garden. There is nothing as therapeutic for me as digging in the ground. Now that I have a couple of acres, I'm going to make use of them! I hope to have a vegetable garden and also plan a flower garden.

7. Manage my time better. Juggling 2 full time jobs and a home renovation is a challenge. But I don't want my life to revolve around working all the time. My very wise grandmother cautioned me recently that she worried I was writing about life and not living it. 2012 will be the year that changes and I think that change starts with being a better steward of the time I have--and also of choosing my projects (both work and home) wisely.

And there you have it. The 7 things I hope will bring some much-needed PEACE into my life.

How about you? Do you have a word for 2012?

11 Things About Me...

2011-11-11T23:19:00.000-06:00

In honor of this fantastic date (11/11/11) I decided to fill you in on 11 things you probably didn't know about me. I'm not promising these will be super-interesting things, but they should be new information for most of you.

1. As you may have gathered from the picture above, I've met Billy Ray Cyrus. That isn't the interesting item though. The interesting item is that I wound up being interviewed for the "One on One With Billy Ray" special that aired on VH-1 circa 1994. Do you want my autograph now?

2. I played the Fairy Godmother in a 5th grade performance of Cinderella.

3. 22 years later, I was Cinderella for a 3 year old's birthday party.

4. My dog, Arnie, once belonged to comedian Henry Cho.

5. I save pennies that are older than 1983. This causes a slow down at the drive-thru because I look at every penny before I hand it over. I have my reasons, which I will save for another blog post down the road.

6. I would like to learn to play the fiddle.

7. I collect vintage aprons. My favorite is a Christmas apron that belonged to my great aunt. I'm still looking for a cool way to display them in my new house.

8. I once passed out at a Red Cross blood drive. But I wasn't there as a blood donor--just a volunteer to give refreshments to those donating. The kind people at the Red Cross told me I might need to find a different kind of volunteer opportunity.

9. I didn't see the ocean until I was 19.

10. I love ghost stories and stories about time travel. Someday I'd like to write one of each--or a combo of both.

11. The first time I got on an airplane, I was headed to Athens, Greece.

And there you have it! 11 things you didn't know about me. How about you? You don't have to list 11, but what is something that might surprise people about you?

Maybe it was Memphis

2011-10-19T22:46:00.002-05:00

Graceland

I am SO excited to share this news! I think I mentioned several months ago that I was writing a series set in Memphis. It was to release through the Heartsong Presents book club, with the first release--All Shook Up--releasing in January 2012.
Just after I wrote the first book and sent it off to my editor, I got terrible news. They were ending the line. I was so sad to hear the news, particularly because I loved the book and the characters and especially the idea of a book set in Memphis.

Last month when I was at a writing conference, I learned that they plan to continue the book club, at least for a few more months. Which means All Shook Up will release after all! I'm working now on the second book in the series, Can't Help Falling in Love.

I think readers will love these characters. They are funny and quirky and very Southern.

As far as I know, All Shook Up will still release in January. 2012 is a big year for me as far as books go:

All Shook Up in January
A Wedding to Remember in Charleston, South Carolina in February
Can't Help Falling in Love in April
Rainbow's End in May
A Wedding Date in Hot Springs, Arkansas in December

Looking at that release schedule makes me tired. But happy. :)

My next post will be all about home renovation. I'm making progress. Slowly but surely. I'm still not adjusted to life out in the country though. I stepped on a snake the other day. SERIOUSLY. Stepped right on it. It was a garden snake. That didn't keep me from screaming and carrying on. Poor thing was so terrified, he practically ran out of the yard.

LFY in Lancaster is on a Bestseller List!

2011-09-21T20:41:00.003-05:00

These past weeks have been a blur of craziness. I moved into my new house and started working from home. Now I'm living among boxes and bags and general chaos.

This week I'm at the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Conference in St. Louis and lets just say packing was a challenge. Since most of my stuff is still packed up, just finding things to wear that matched was difficult! (so if you're at ACFW and notice that I look unkempt...I blame the recent move!)

But in the midst of the hectic few weeks, I got some awesome news! Love Finds You in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is #15 on ECPA's Bestseller List for Christian Fiction.

I checked and double checked and sure enough--my name is really there! Check it out!

Thanks for allowing me to celebrate! Now its back to the conference, where I'll be meeting with my editors and my agent and soaking up as much writing instruction as possible. Each year that I've attended this conference, I've left with a renewed fire for writing. I'm already looking forward to getting back home and starting to work on my next project (A Wedding Date in Hot Springs, Arkansas).

Next week I'll upload some pictures of the progress I'm making on the home renovation. I'm finding that it is the slowest process I've ever gone through. :)

Home Sweet Home

2011-08-09T21:44:00.000-05:00

My new place

In case you missed my little announcement the other day, I may as well make it official. I bought my first home...but not in Memphis where I currently live. I'm headed back to my rural Arkansas roots--just outside of the city limits of my hometown.

I'm feeling pretty good about the decision...mixed with a little apprehension. I've been a city girl since I left home at 18--so living practically in the middle of a cornfield is going to take some getting used to. I talked about my decision to relocate the other day when I was a guest on Southern Belle View. You can read about it here.

After renting for 13 years, I'm way past ready to have a place to call my own. Which, of course, means a little renovating.

I'm going to try and blog about my home owning/relocating/renovating experience pretty regularly. I have an idea that the next few months are going to be like something straight out of a book...

Last Saturday was the first day to have electricity and water at the new house, and I spent several hours working. Thankfully, I have some amazing people in my life who are willing to help me.

I tore out carpet from 3 rooms. Okay, I did 2 rooms and then had to ask for help with the third. :) Tearing out carpet isn't as simple as I thought it would be. And I'm probably going to say this a lot over the next few months, but it looks SO EASY on HGTV and DIY Network--and in reality it was totally not. By the end of the day, I was exhausted and didn't have much to show for it except for three heaping piles of carpet and a lot of mosquito bites.

But my dad and I have a plan and hopefully at least 1 room will be ready by the time moving day actually rolls around in a few weeks.

Here are some pics of my fun day of flooring. Now if I could only decide what I want to do instead of carpet...

Before: carpet in one of the bedrooms

After: concrete floor that is waiting on me to figure out what to put down!

Later this week, I'm going on a mission to find new faucets and a new toilet. I admit, I've never purchased or even shopped for any of those things before. And then I have to decide what to do about those concrete floors. Stay tuned!

Running to Stand Still

2011-08-05T00:29:00.002-05:00

Me and two of my best friends...about to see U2 in Chicago

As usual, I'm a day late...okay, several days late. But don't hold it against me! I've been super-busy. Can you believe I've written 3 books and 1 novella this year? I can't. The past few months have flown past in a blur of deadlines.

I've managed to squeeze in a little fun. I went with some of my best friends to see U2 in Chicago over the 4th of July. What. A. Night. Our seats were amazing. My friend, Kelly, and I went to see them in Germany when we were 21. Although a few (ha!) years have passed since then, I think we felt 21 again.

Bono...

But after the quick trip to Chicago, it was back to Memphis and back to work and writing and a seemingly endless heatwave. (remind me of that in January when I'm complaining about the cold...)

I'm thrilled to announce that Love Finds You in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, has officially released! In honor of the new release, I'd like to give away a copy!

Tell me what's been your favorite thing about Summer 2011 so far--and leave your name and email address. I'll choose a winner on Monday, August 8.

Oh...and I'm making a little announcement today over at Southern Belle View. It means a fun new feature will be coming to my blog. My newest adventure is sure to be entertaining for you and life-changing for me! I'll be talking more about it next week!

Happy Weekend!

Celebrating Fun Contract News!

2011-03-11T20:08:00.000-06:00

I know, I know. My blog skills stink.

Never mind that one of my New Year's resolutions was to blog regularly. Like three times a week. And here it is, nearly mid-March and I've posted ONCE in 2011.

That Beck song just jumped into my head. (I'm a loser, baby...)

But I'm not really a loser. I've been busy. Very busy. Super busy. Unbelievably busy.

Excuses, right?

To make up for my lack of blog posts, I want to share a bit of FANTASTIC news. So fantastic that I feel the need to use all caps, which is the typing equivalent of shouting from the rooftop.

I've signed a few new book contracts over the past few months. And while a few people know about them, I haven't really made an "official" announcement.

Until now.

So here goes:

Love Finds You in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania will be releasing in just a few short months (July) from Summerside Press! (remember when I said I was very busy, super busy...well, I've been busy writing this book!)

For those of you who read Love Finds You in Charm, Ohio, you will (hopefully) be thrilled to know that we get to peek in on how Emma and Abby are doing today. And even better, Love Finds You in Lancaster County, PA, revolves around Lydia Ann--you might remember her as being Emma and Abby's widowed cousin. Here's a blurb:

Starting over in Lancaster, Amish-born Lydia Ann soon finds a second chance at love with woodworker Simon Zook. But will his secret cause her even more heartbreak? And when her friend---Southern belle Caroline---starts a low-key romance with reporter Michael Landis, the paparazzi suddenly start stalking her again. Is he to blame?

All Shook Up, the first in a three book Heartsong series is (I believe) scheduled to release in January 2012. I'm SO excited about this series because it is set in Memphis! Here's a blurb:

Wedding planner and Memphis native Suzanne Simpson finds love with writer Nick Taggert after a chance meeting during Elvis Week at Graceland. But Suzanne’s past mistakes and Nick’s penchant for keeping secrets may prove to be more than their relationship can withstand.

A Wedding to Remember in Charleston, South Carolina part of a new line from Barbour, will release in February 2012. And if you read Love is Grand and remember the elderly sisters, Mary and Mavis, you'll be happy to know they make a guest appearance in this book! I loved them so much I just had to include them. Here's a blurb:

An estranged couple, an impending hurricane, and a motley crew of stranded tourists come together for a wedding like no other.

Summer Nelson’s life is spinning out of control. She and her husband, Luke, have been separated for three months—and as far as she can tell, there’s no hope of reconciliation. Summer feels like a complete failure. To make matters even worse, her once-successful wedding planning business is on the verge of going under—thanks to an overactive hurricane season.

Luke Nelson has always been taught that history repeats itself, so he isn’t surprised that his marriage is on the rocks. After all, he’s no different than the other men in his family—and successful relationships have always eluded the Nelson men. Luke knows that walking out on Summer was the biggest mistake of his life—but he has no idea how to fix it.

As a hurricane churns toward them, Summer and Luke find themselves trapped together at the location of one of Summer’s weddings. Can they reconcile their differences and come through the storm a strengthened couple? Or will the stress of a crisis further tear them apart?

Rainbow's End, a novella anthology I'm doing with Valerie Comer, Nicole O'Dell, and Cara Putman that should be out sometime next Spring. I'm so excited about working on this one!

Treasure seekers unite at the Rainbow's End geocache hunt along Lake of the Ozarks, but some soon discover more challenges than they expected. Can Lyssa discover life and love exist even in the midst of ministry? Can Hadley let go of her insecurities and raise her expectations? Can Reagan step out of her comfort zone, making life-changing decisions on her own? Can Madison let down her guard and learn to listen to her heart? Join them as they seek to uncover life's true treasures.

Beneath the Surface (my story in the anthology)--When Madison Wallace’s sister signs the two of them up to participate in the Rainbow’s End Treasure Hunt, Madison is less than thrilled. She isn’t the most outdoorsy girl in the world, so spending two months traipsing around the Ozarks isn’t her idea of fun. Especially when her sister has to back out at the last minute. Grant Simmons loves the outdoors. He jumps at the chance to participate in the treasure hunt with his grandfather, but when the elderly man’s health takes a turn for the worse, Grant is without a partner. When Madison and Grant find themselves teamed up for the treasure hunt, their differences quickly rise to the surface. Will Madison be able to break through Grant’s walls and get him to open up? Can Grant look past Madison’s polished exterior to see that beneath the surface is a heart of gold? If these polar opposites can find common ground, they might find a love worth treasuring.

Well...what do you think? Do any of those sound like books that will go in your "to read" pile? I hope so! I'll be talking about each of these projects more individually--especially when I get to share the covers with you!

2010...I Barely Knew You

2011-01-01T21:10:00.000-06:00

Is it just me, or does time seem to be going faster than it used to? I can't believe it is already 2011!

The past year has been full of some very good and very bad moments. I guess every year is that way, but this one has been more so than normal for me.

First the bad:

My family dealt with some tough losses this year. My grandparents each lost a sibling, and then in August, my grandfather was killed in an accident. There is a hole in my family that will never be filled, so the months since August have been ones of adjustment. Christmas was hard--even with 28 people in attendance, their house still seemed empty somehow.

But there were some good times, too. A few of my highlights from 2010 include:

1. Traveling to St. Louis, Indianapolis, Lancaster, Gettysburg, Baltimore, and Washington DC. Although each trip was for work (research or conferences) I still managed to squeeze in some play time as well. :)

2. I had 2 books release in 2010--Love is Monumental and Love is Grand.

3. Speaking in chapel during Homecoming at Freed-Hardeman University was such an honor. Definitely on my highlight reel of the year.

4. I completed 4 5Ks in 2010, and although I ran each of them fairly slowly, I'm still happy to have finished!

5. In 2010, I had some really fun times with my friends and family. Some of the highlights: concerts (Miranda Lambert and Sugarland); shows at the Orpheum (Jersey Boys, Chicago, South Pacific, and Wicked); and lots of laughter and get togethers.

But enough reflecting...I guess it's time now to make some plans for 2011!

Hopefully these goals aren't too lofty:

1. Complete a proposal for a new series I've been pondering. And actually send it in. :)

2. In addition to running in several 5Ks in 2011, I REALLY plan on training to run in the St. Jude Half Marathon. I have almost a year to get ready for it.

3. In 2011, I want to go on a non-research related vacation. The kind where I get to read, shop, eat, and hopefully have my toes in the sand.

4. I need to update my website/blog. I've had this on my list forever. When I say "update" I don't just mean add a few pages. I mean re-design.

5. And even though I could go on and on about my goals and plans for 2011, I'll stop with this one...In 2011, I want to get rid of stuff. I mean really, really simplify. And I am a pack rat. I have collected a LOT over my 34 years on earth. This will be a big project, but one I am determined to finally tackle.

How about you? What was your highlight of 2010? Or your biggest goal for 2011?

Merry Christmas Giveaway

2010-12-23T12:30:00.000-06:00

If you're like me, these past few weeks have been crazy! As I get older, the more hectic the holiday season gets. I miss my college days when we were out of school for a month and there was lots of napping, shopping, and visiting.

But I'm headed to see my family for a few frenzied days and am so excited about it. Of course, on Monday I'll be back to the grind--with a book due in January, I can't afford much time off to play.

So...in the spirit of Christmas, let's do a fun giveaway!

I'll draw a random name on Monday, December 27. The winner will get a copy of my new book, Love is Grand. And to make it even more fun, the winner will also get to choose a friend--and I'll send their friend a copy of one of my books, too!

To enter, answer this question in the comments:

What is your favorite Christmas tradition?

Here's mine: My family gathers at my grandma's house on Christmas Eve. There is a lot of food, a lot of laughter--and a lot of gifts. There is usually a movie going in one room and at least 2 board or card games going. It is such a happy time--and as the years go by, I cherish those moments so much.

Don't forget to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!

Merry Christmas!

Some Little Town in Pennsylvania Called Gettysburg

2010-11-18T20:28:00.000-06:00

I've had Rhett Butler's voice in my head all day, saying that. "Some little town in Pennsylvania called Gettysburg."

I have to say, it's a dream come true for me to be here. Some kids grow up wanting to go to Disney World. I grew up wanting to go to Gettysburg. :)

I'm not totally sure why I have always had such a fascination with the Civil War. I think it's a mixture of things. The human interest stories have always captivated me. The women who turned into nurses. The men who turned into heroes. The brothers who fought against each other. So many incredible stories of tragedy and triumph. And yes...someday, I hope to write a novel against the backdrop of the war. I've already done hour upon hour of research--just for fun.

My Gettysburg experience started out early this morning. I was so excited just walking into the huge visitor center--and even more so when I saw author Jeff Shaara signing copies of his books. I had him sign a book for me and told him about my ranger years at Shiloh. Come to find out, he's setting an upcoming novel there. Very cool.

After the movie and cyclorama (which were both totally worth the money), I spent a lot of time in the museum. Fantastic--but probably overkill for those who aren't really interested in the Civil War. I could've spent at least another hour in there, at least. After attending a ranger program in the National Cemetery, I set out on the 24 mile driving tour...

And I can't help but compare the experience to Shiloh. The battlefields themselves have a few similarities. But the outside stuff--way different. There is a lot more commercialization at Gettysburg. So many shops and hotels and things. In my opinion, all that outside stuff detracts a bit from the battlefield. Even the visitor center made me feel that way--it was so showy, so obviously high-tech and expensive...

But the battlefield itself was amazing. I would love to come back sometime and actually walk more on the actual field.The driving tour is nice and you get to see the high points, but just as with Shiloh--to really experience it, you need to be out on it, walking the same land that the soldiers did.

I left the field at dark, cold and exhausted. But happy. I'd seen a place that I've wanted to see for as long as I can remember. And tomorrow...on the anniversary of the Gettysburg Address...I'll be in the National Cemetery for a special program to remember.

And tomorrow night...I'm staying on a dairy farm in Lancaster County. Am a little afraid it will be like Schrute Farms...complete with Dwight and Mose!

On the Road...Again

2010-11-17T21:27:00.000-06:00

So clearly I don't write for the money--and don't really know any authors who do. I mean, I still have a full time job besides writing that pays the rent and provides health insurance. Even so, I'm living my dream by being an author--even if I never reach JK Rowling's financial status. But one of the perks of writing is that I can justify traveling to places I've never been in the name of research.

This week, I'm exploring Lancaster, Pennsylvania and the surrounding area.

First of all, Lancaster isn't pronounced the way you'd think. Or at least the way those of you from the South like me would think. Just trust me on this. I've been corrected no less than 3 times.

But the area is lovely. I had lunch at the charming Bird-In-Hand Farmer's Market, where I bought some yummy banana bread and a red velvet whoopie pie with cream cheese filling. I am, at this very moment, sampling these and I assure you, they are delicious.

I also went to the Mennonite Visitor Center where I watched a very interesting movie about the Amish way of life. I have such respect and admiration for them.

Side note: I ran to Target to pick up a couple of things that I'd forgotten...and had to smile at the sign that said horse and buggy parking was available at the side of the store.

Then I drove to Lititz, which is SUCH a charming town. Neat little shops and beautiful homes. I stopped by the oldest pretzel factory in the United States...yum! And they actually have a restaurant called the Chocolate Cafe.

I realize this entire post seems to revolve around food. :) But sampling local specialties is one of my favorite things about traveling.

And now...I'm in a place I've wanted to visit since I was a little girl: Gettysburg! I can see the monuments from my hotel and can't wait to tour the battlefield tomorrow. I'm hoping for lots of sunshine and dry weather.

One more thing--for those of you who haven't read "Love is Grand" yet...click here for your chance to win a copy.

Hoping that I'll have some fun adventures to report tomorrow!

Another weekend of book signings!

2010-11-13T01:22:00.000-06:00

I'm thrilled to be a part of Freed-Hardeman University's Homecoming again this year. On Friday, I had the honor of speaking in chapel. And on Saturday (November 13) I'll be signing books from 11 - 1 in front of the Sports Center.

Following my signing at FHU, I'll travel to nearby Jackson, Tennessee, where I'll be at LifeWay Christian Store from 4 - 5:30. It's located on the campus of Union University, next to BanCorp South. They'll be running specials on all three books in the Walk in the Park series--and you can purchase my recent release, Love is Grand!

If you live in the Henderson/Jackson area, I'd love to see you at one of these events!

Arkansas Book Signings

2010-11-05T09:20:00.001-05:00

Just one more reminder! I'm headed to Arkansas today for two days of book signings! Tonight (Friday, November 5) I'll be at the LifeWay Christian Store in Little Rock. I'll be there from 5:30 - 7:30. If you live near Little Rock, I'd love to see you there! They'll be running specials on all three books in the Walk in the Park series--and you can purchase my recent release, Love is Grand!

And tomorrow (Saturday, November 6) I'll be signing books as part of Harding University's Homecoming. It's a multi-author signing that will last from 11 - 1 in Ganus Athletic Center. It will be a great event and I'm really looking forward to visiting with attendees.

Random Thoughts on a Thursday...and an Upcoming Book Signing

2010-10-28T21:49:00.000-05:00

First of all...if you live near Little Rock, Arkansas, please consider coming to the LifeWay on Chenal Parkway next Friday evening, November 5. I'll be signing books there from 5:30 - 7:30 and would LOVE to see you!

Let me say that things haven't gone exactly like I'd planned lately. (do they ever?)

So this is going to be one of those random, rambling blog posts where I get to share the things that have been on my mind....

1. Strep throat is awful. Seriously. It struck me down out of nowhere. But I'm finally (almost) well.

2. Wicked is wicked awesome. (side note: I have always wanted to use "wicked" in a sentence that way...and just FYI, according to the Urban Dictionary, you must always use an adjective after wicked for proper use: "that car is wicked" and "that car is wicked awesome" do not carry the same meaning. Just trying to keep you cool. ha) But honestly, I'm kind of considering going to see it again. I haven't felt that way about a show since the time I saw Les Mis in London and promptly went out and bought the soundtrack. Just LOVED it.

3. I am completely bored by Dancing with the Stars this season. Because...WHERE are the STARS? Honestly. Because I'm not seeing the star power. And since it seems that being an actual star is no longer a requirement, my secret dream is that next season the casting people at DWTS will think "hey, let's invite an author of inspirational fiction to be on the show..." Because I would probably be willing to participate. :)

4. I'm already easing into the Christmas season. Judge me all you want. Christmas songs make me happy...and I declare it officially okay to full out listen starting next week. And yes, I've already busted out my favorite Christmas coffee mug. Here's the way I see it: Christmas is a lot of trouble. The decorations. The special Christmasy dishes. So why not enjoy it longer than just a couple of weeks? I say, if you have to get things out of storage...you should be able to enjoy them for at least a month and a half--possibly 2 months. So I will continue to ease into the season bit by bit until I'm fully decorated by mid-November. Because it MAKES ME HAPPY. (this is the perk of living alone with only dogs to see my secret holiday behavior, and let's face it, as long as I feed them and walk them, they would be fine if the tree stayed up all year...)

5. One more and I'm done. I've been reading a lot lately about juicing and "green" drinks. I've been intrigued by this for awhile--ever since I read a book about how bad processed foods are for us and the importance of fruits and vegetables. So I'm kind of considering giving it a shot. Like maybe starting Monday, November 1. That's my plan anyway. I'm not going to go on a diet, just incorporate a juiced drink into my day. Seems like there are lots of health benefits to the extra veggies/fruits that you get. We shall see...

Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Halloween weekend!

Love is Grand has officially released!

2010-10-04T22:03:00.002-05:00

The "official" release day for Love is Grand was Friday, October 1! I'm SO excited for this book to reach the hands of readers. When my last book released, I shared with you that a book release is like a first date...and I still feel that way! I'm always so nervous when my book starts shipping--and when I see it on the shelf for the first time, it makes me want to do the Snoopy Dance right there in the aisle. :)

And I'm thrilled to say that Romantic Times gave Love is Grand 4 stars! (out of 4 1/2 stars) I love what they had to say about it:

Daughety has created a story full of strong characters, incredible visuals and a well-plotted storyline mixed with humor, friendship and biblical truths. The love triangle creates a twist to the romance; real moments make the characters feel like people you already know.

For those of you who haven't read the first 2 books in the series yet...don't worry! These books stand alone so you won't feel lost if you read this one first.

I'm going to have some fun giveaways and contests on here very soon...so keep checking back! And in the meantime, click here to read a preview of Love is Grand--and consider ordering your own copy! :)

ACFW Conference Recap

2010-09-28T23:01:00.000-05:00

I was in Indianapolis recently for the American Christian Fiction Writer's Conference. Such a great time visiting with fellow writers and meeting with editors and agents. This was my 4th year to attend and I honestly think it gets better each year.

Highlights from Indy:

1. Visiting with friends I only get to see in person once a year. My editors are in this number. Emails and phone calls are great--but visiting face-to-face can't be beat!

2. Being surrounded by people who understand how it feels to have a story inside, wanting out! These people get it! They know the madness of writing around the clock, the friendship of a character, and the way turning in a finished manuscript before your deadline (okay, at midnight on the day of your deadline...) makes you feel a thousand pounds lighter.

with fabulous author and friend Rachel Hauck

3. This year is the first year I've had multiple books out. And the first year I've had the honor of having budding writers ask me for advice--or tell me they read (and liked) one of my books!

4. Having my love of writing renewed. I walked out of a couple of sessions with a fire to write. After a year of deadlines and uncertainty, it was nice to feel that "this is what I'm supposed to be doing" feeling wash over me.

5. Not writing related, but I found a crazy-amazing bargain at the mall that was attached to my hotel. I hadn't intended to wear a "fancy" dress to the awards banquet. I've worn formals in the past. But this year, I was just going to wear a plain old dress. Nothing special. But as I wandered through the mall, I went to a department store that I'd never heard of. And in the back of the store, there was a rack marked "85% off the sale price." So, bargain hunter that I am, I flipped through the rack. Believe me there was a REASON that stuff was on the rack! But then...I came across the most beautiful dress. A formal. Slate blue. In MY size. You can guess the rest. Now normally I think telling how much stuff costs is tacky...but believe me when I say that my sharing this with the world is just me bragging about my savvy shopping. The dress--tax and all--was $19. Amazing.

Me and my bargain rack dress!

And as with anything, there were also some lowlights....(is that even a word?) Some of these I'm not particularly proud of, but in the spirit of sharing, I am going to tell them anyway...

1. People kept asking me if they could buy my books in the bookstore. Sadly, I was the loser who missed the deadline for filling out the required paperwork to get my books in there.

2. At dinner the opening night of the conference, I found myself seated at a table with the keynote speaker, Tim Downs, as well as the president of ACFW, one of my editors, and several authors. I had a great time chatting and talking to all of them. Until I got back to my room to see that there was something stuck in my front teeth. Classy. I think it was asparagus--which we seriously had at every meal...

3. I admit that I missed breakfast all but 1 day. It is SO early. I'm not in a networking mode at 7 a.m. (6 a.m. Memphis time).

4. I also admit that I had my iPhone set to send me ESPN alerts during the Arkansas/Georgia game. And when Georgia tied the game with 2 minutes left...I left the session I was in and went to my room to watch. Judge me all you want to...but honestly by that point in the day my brain was fried anyway. And Arkansas won...

5. To show you just how fried my brain was...the following afternoon, I taped an interview with Christian Retailing. Where I was asked what 3 books--besides The Bible--that I would recommend everyone should read. My choices: Gone with the Wind, What a Girl Wants, and Eat, Pray, Love. Now, I'm not sure what everyone else said. But in hindsight, I'm betting their choices were probably things by Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, Max Lucado, or Beth Moore. Clearly, I'm all about girly books. But you know, I wouldn't change my answer even if I could. Because those are 3 books I love and that I can read over and over.

Overall, it was an awesome week. Full of friends, old and new. And although all the sessions left me with information overload, they left me excited. I'm ready to get to work on my next book...okay, books! :)

Home of the Colts!

Ahh, Fall

2010-09-07T21:44:00.001-05:00

Fall colors in Charm, Ohio

My mind is going in a million different directions these days. I'm still processing my grandpa's death. Working full time at the office. Jotting down ideas for future books and trying to finish a proposal. Trying to come up with creative ways to promote and market my October release. Getting ready to go to Indianapolis next week for a writing conference. Those are just a few of the things I have going on right now!

In the meantime, I thought I'd post a few of the things about the impending arrival of Fall that I'm excited about--even though I'm a self-proclaimed Summer Girl, I do love the Fall! Here's a short list:

1. Football season! Oh, how I love football. Particularly SEC football. The rivalries. The fans. The coaches I love to hate. (Nick Saban & Les Miles...) I'm hopeful the Razorbacks will do well this year. And yes, I will miss Tim Tebow every Saturday. :)

2. Mums for my porch and patio. These signify fall to me.

3. Fall scented candles. I went to Bath and Body Works yesterday and went a little crazy! Autumn Apple is my favorite. I also got Creamy Pumpkin and just plain old Autumn. My house smells awesome!

4. Driving with the windows down. Although you can do this any time of year, there is a small time span in the fall and in the spring that is just perfect.

5. Fall inspired coffees at Starbucks. Enough said.

How about you? What are your favorite things about fall? Any fun traditions? I've always wanted to go to a corn maze. Maybe this will be the year for that!

Muddling Through Grief

2010-08-25T21:29:00.000-05:00

If you know me or follow me on Facebook, you know that my grandpa was killed last week in a tragic car accident. I'll admit that up until now, it's been as if a giant bubble has surrounded my family, protecting us from accidents and disease. As a result, I haven't had to deal with the kind of grief that comes from the sudden death of a loved one. My family has been working through grief for the past week and as we have, I've been struck by several thoughts on the grieving process:

During extreme tragedy, time stands still. Most weeks seem to fly by, but last week, I believe I felt each second. I lost track of days, was unaware of day/night, and time blurred.
Knowing that others are thinking of you and praying for you really does help. I'd always wondered if it mattered when I would tell those who'd lost loved ones that I was praying for them. Now I know that it does. A well-timed phone call, text, or email can lift the spirit.
Flowers are comforting. When I walked into the viewing room for the first time on Friday night at the visitation, the first thing I saw was a spray of beautiful flowers from my co-workers. At that very difficult moment, those flowers brought me comfort.
I can't imagine going through something like we've gone through without having a strong faith in God.
Sometimes, Taps being played is the saddest sound in the whole world--but seeing that flag folded and handed to my grandmother was a special moment.

I had the honor of speaking at Grandpa's funeral. If you knew him, you know he was a great orator. I tried my best to do him proud. Here are a few points I made:

This week, many people have tried to describe Grandpa, and it seems that the best description is he was one-of-a-kind. He was like Superman, Davy Crockett and the Dog Whisperer, all rolled into one. If I can find a man like Grandpa, I’ll marry him on the spot.

As we’ve been together this week, we’ve all remarked that people who know us have heard us tell tales of him, even if they never met him. A man who hunted barefoot and played sports as well as any professional. My grandpa is a legend.
For those of us blessed enough to be part of his family, he helped define us. I’ve spent my life being “Pudge Pearle’s Oldest Granddaughter”—and proud of it.

Through all of this, I have come to understand that grieving is a process. It is difficult to speak of him in past tense, and the sight of his empty recliner brings tears to my eyes every time I see it. But at the same time, I am so thankful for the time we had with him. Two days before his accident, I made the spur-of-the-moment decision to drive to Arkansas for the day. I stayed at my grandparents' house until nearly 8 that night. Grandpa and I talked about the 5K race I'd just run, my upcoming book signing, and what was going on in my life. He was so proud. The hug, kiss, and "I love you" that we shared before I walked out the door is one I will never forget and I am so thankful for it.

And now I am struck by the thought that there are others in my life who I need to make sure know how I feel about them. Because you never know when a goodbye might be your last one. I resolve to make them count and hope you'll do the same.

Please continue to pray for my family--we so appreciate it.

Book Giveaways and Signings!

2010-08-16T20:25:00.003-05:00

I promise to do a post soon on the wonder that was the Elvis 5K. But first, I have a few odds and ends to share!

First of all, I'm doing a book signing on Saturday, August 21, from 11 - 1 at one of the LifeWay Stores here in Memphis. I'll be at the one across from the Wolfchase Galleria, in the Commons. If you're familiar with Memphis, the Commons is the shopping center that has Old Navy. If you live near Memphis, I would LOVE for you to come by! And if you have friends in Memphis, please help me spread the word--you can direct them to my author page on Facebook for more information.

Now for some book giveaway information:

I did an interview last week on Barb's Author Interviews and if you'll go check out the interview and leave a comment on her blog, you'll be entered to win a copy of Love is Monumental. Check it out here, and I think you have until the end of August to comment.

Also, I noticed through Google alerts that my Amish book, Love Finds You in Charm, Ohio, is being offered in a giveaway by another blogger. Looks like on that one, you'll have the chance to win a copy of Carla Stewart's Chasing Lilacs as well. Check it out here.

At Least I Have My Writing

2010-08-10T22:52:00.001-05:00

Life as a writer definitely has ups and downs. But when you're living your dream, it is hard to be down for too long. Right now, I'm working on new projects in the hopes of having a new contract very soon. My next book releases in October...and hopefully there will be more after that.

I'm working on a variety of things right now. Another contemporary romance series, this one set in Memphis. A couple of very southern women's fiction stand alones. Another Amish stand alone. A romantic suspense series. And the list goes on.

I'm plotting and thinking and constantly writing down new ideas. This is part of the process that I really enjoy. Although once I have a new contract, I will enjoy it with a little more security. :)

I'm often asked to give advice for aspiring writers. One of the things I always say is that I think to be good writers, we need to be well read. And as someone who spent the past year and a half on tight deadlines, I'm kind of enjoying getting to read a little bit more. My "to be read" pile grew by leaps and bounds this past year, and I'm trying to work through it.

On my short list though: Love Remains by Kaye Dacus, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, The Passage by Justin Cronin, Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner, and The Devil Amongst the Lawyers by Sharyn McCrumb.

Right now, though, I'm re-reading Eat, Pray, Love before I see the movie. This is one of the few books I've ever actually highlighted passages in. Some favorite quotes:

"I'm lucky that at least I have my writing."

"There are only two questions that human beings have ever fought over, all through history. How much do you love me? and Who's in charge? Everything else is somehow manageable."

“In desperate love, we always invent the characters of our partners, demanding that they be what we need of them, and then feeling devastated when they refuse to perform the role we created in the first place”

"I have fallen in love more times than I care to count with the highest potential of a man, rather than with the man himself, and I have hung on to the relationship for a long time (sometimes far too long) waiting for the man to ascend to his own greatness. Many times in romance I have been a victim of my own optimism."

"Having a baby is like getting a tattoo on your face. You really need to be certain it's what you want before you commit."

"...traveling is the great true love of my life."

And there are so many more. I highly recommend reading this one! I'm hoping the movie will be just as good, but experience tells me the book will be better. :)

How about you? What are you reading these days? Any recommendations?

Becoming a Runner

2010-08-02T21:22:00.000-05:00

I'm one of those people--you know the type--who tends to run from conflict. When there are tough things that need to be dealt with, I'd rather ignore them in hopes that they'll go away. In other words, I internalize everything.

This can cause problems sometimes. :)

A few years ago, everyone in my workplace had to take personality tests to find out how we related to one another. My type was "most likely to go postal" because we let things build up and didn't tell people when things bothered us. (don't worry...I don't really think I'm going to be going postal anytime soon!)

But these days, I'm doing a different kind of running. The actual put-on-my-running-shoes-and-go kind of running. And I have a love/hate relationship with it.

I'm about to start my fifth week of training in the couch to 5K program. If it weren't for this program--and the get running iPhone app that I'm using, there is no way I'd have made it this far.

There are days when it is really hard. All I can think about is stopping. But I don't. I keep going, because I know how good it feels when I'm done. There is a very honest kind of satisfaction that comes from completing the training runs.

The 5K I'm training for is coming up in September...but I'm actually going to run in one just for fun in 2 weeks. The Elvis Presley Run, Walk, Rock & Roll that starts and ends at the gates of Graceland. Ha ha! Even if I end up walking more than I run in that one, it's okay. I've heard that some people dress up like Elvis for the race--that's reason enough for me to run--just to see a bunch of Elvis lookalikes running around. Perhaps I can work that into a book somehow...

A Girl and Her Dog

2010-07-19T22:20:00.002-05:00

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love my dogs. I won't bore you with the story of how Arnie came to be mine, but I will say that I've been his owner for the past decade. I rescued Buster from the middle of the road when he was a tiny puppy--and my mom raised him for the first three years. He came to live with me and Arnie about a year and a half ago.

But this post is really all about Arnie. He's getting on up there in doggy years--he was grown when I got him, and the best veterinarian guess is that he's about 13. He's begun to slow down these past months and has lost his hearing. He's still active, but he doesn't move as quickly as he used to. I'm trying to prepare myself for life without him, but honestly I have no idea what that looks like.

You see, Arnie has been with me for all of what I consider my "grown up" life. He came to live with me when I still lived in a house with roommates and when I moved out on my own, he went with me. So for as long as I've been "on my own"--Arnie has been by my side. Even in the awful rental house that my mom called the "shack"--the one that only had a tiny wall heater in the front room. During the winter, Arnie and I would curl up on the couch with lots of blankets because the living room was the only room warm enough to sleep in.

We've lived in 7 houses in 3 states. He's seen me through 8 different jobs at 4 different companies--and watched me embark on a career in writing, where I would not name just a dog after him--but an actual character: Park Superintendent Arnie Bramblett in Love is a Battlefield. (My favorite line: "Arnie barked the order like a drill sergeant." ha!)

When I'm upset over any number of things--bad hair days, bad break ups, the occasional bad review--Arnie senses it. He'll come over and rest his head on my leg and look up at me with his big eyes as if to say "Tomorrow will be better."

When I've sat up all night, writing--trying to meet deadlines, Arnie has sat up too--me in the recliner and him curled up at my feet, refusing to go to bed until I did. Such sweet loyalty.

He's scared away at least 2 intruders over the years.

The 3 times I evacuated from the Gulf Coast because of Hurricanes Ivan, Dennis, and Katrina--Arnie was with me. Each time, traffic was awful and the trip easily took double the time it should have--but Arnie was there to keep me company.

So as you can imagine, we've been through a lot, he and I. I remember when I moved into my first place without a roommate--and Arnie was such a blessing. I was never scared, never lonely. He's always been content to be wherever I am.

And there you have it. I know I'll deal with it when the time comes. But until then, I'm enjoying every day--every bark, every lick, every time he puts his head in my lap.

How about you? Did you ever have--or do you have a pet that became part of your family?

Dedicated to the One I Love...

2010-06-30T21:22:00.000-05:00

I'm working on final edits for my October release, Love is Grand. I know some authors don't enjoy edits, but I do. This is my final chance to make sure I have chosen the right words to tell my story.

And I love this story. For those of you who've read the other books in the Walk in the Park series, you're familiar with Ainsley and everything she's gone through. Here's the tentative back cover copy:

Ainsley Davis had it all. . .

. . .a job she loved

. . .a husband she adored

. . .a baby on the way

But after her husband’s unexpected death, she left her job and retreated to the safety of her parents’ home. Two years later, Ainsley is still there, raising the baby alone and envisioning danger around every corner. When her position as a park ranger at the Grand Canyon reopens, she realizes God may be trying to tell her to return—if she can face the fears that hold her captive.

Fellow ranger Dustin Cooper is thrilled to have his old friend back. But Ainsley isn’t the fearless girl he remembers. Even so, Dustin pushes her to put her trust in God and jump back into her life.

Policeman Jake McGuire fled to the Grand Canyon after an on-the-job mistake. He’s determined to live a stress-free, anonymous life. Until he meets Ainsley. Suddenly he realizes he’d like to be a hero again—if only in her eyes.

Can Ainsley regain her zest for life—despite the risks—and find the right man to walk alongside her? If so, she may be surprised to find that even the second time around, Love is Grand.

Well? What do you think? Sound like a book you want to read? I hope so!

In addition to edits, it's also time to pen the dedication. I find dedicating the book to be very difficult. I read somewhere that a book dedication was kind of like a tattoo--once it was inked, there was no turning back.

So far, I've dedicated books to both of my parents, both sets of grandparents and three of my best friends. I have a couple more days to settle on the dedication for Love is Grand. I have an idea for the dedication, but I'm not sure yet.

How about you? If you wrote a book, who would you dedicate it to?

Letters to Juliet...my own version

2010-06-17T22:12:00.003-05:00

At Juliet's tomb in Verona, Italy (I'm back row on the right)

I went to see Letters to Juliet a couple of weeks ago and was hit with nostalgia.

Why? Because once upon a time, I spent three months traveling through Europe. During that time, I visited so many amazing places. One of them...Verona, Italy. And you guessed it, I penned my own letter to Juliet while I was there!

So you can imagine my delight at seeing the movie. I love Italy. Love it. (I secretly consider putting all of my belongings in storage and bumming around Italy--writing, eating yummy food, and talking to cute Italian guys...)

And to get to revisit Verona on the big screen was cool. Honestly...I had all but forgotten writing my own letter to Juliet until I saw the movie. It all came back to me as I watched, and sure enough--when I got home and found the battered journal I filled that summer...

"Saturday, June 14, 1997...I am on a train headed back to Florence via Bologna. We visited Verona today, the city of Romeo and Juliet. We walked to Juliet's tomb from the train station and it was so cool. There were a ton of letters and flowers and we were the only ones there. I wrote a 'Dear Juliet' letter and left it at the tomb. We walked to her house and saw the balcony and her statue..."

I won't bore you with the rest of the entry, but will say that there was a pressed flower stuck in that page that I'd taken from one of the bouquets left at the tomb.

I only have a vague recollection of my letter to Juliet. If I remember correctly, it spoke of true love and soul mates--and was written on a piece of purple notebook paper I borrowed from one of the other girls traveling with me.

Thirteen years have passed since I penned my letter to Juliet. During that time I've had some really bad dates. And some really good ones. Along the way I've met Mr. Almost Right, Mr. WRONG, and Mr. Could Be...If He'd Get His Act Together. (LOL) But like I told a group of students recently...the path I'm on is the one for me. I look back and those times I thought I was flailing around aimlessly, I was really gathering the experiences that I would someday write about. The experiences that would add up and make me who I am supposed to be.

And I'm thankful that one of those experiences was traveling through Europe and writing a letter to Shakespeare's most famous heroine. :)

Photos of the trip below: (and yes, these are pre-digital camera pictures that I had to scan...so the quality isn't all that great!)

On the train on our way to Verona...yes, that is a Yoda figurine with us. He was sort of our mascot that summer...

Plaque at Juliet's tomb, quoting Shakespeare

Statue of Juliet, outside her house

At Castleveccio in Verona (mentioned in the movie)

And how about you? Have you ever visited a place that later showed up in a movie or in a book? Or is there an experience you wish you could "do over" because it was so cool?

5 Things...and a Giveaway

2010-05-17T21:45:00.000-05:00

Signing at LifeWay Christian Store's Fiction Day!

I've been on the road lately, doing lots of book signings and meeting lots of readers! Such fun! Although, I have to admit, several hours at a book signing and by the end I feel like I've been hit by a truck! It's tough for introverts to feign extroversion, even for a few hours! :)

In lieu of a "real" blog post today, I decided to do one of my favorite things. Make a list!

Here are 5 random things you probably didn't know about me...

1. I know how to fire a Civil War era cannon. Seriously.

2. Once when I was in London, a representative from Vidal Sassoon asked me to be a hair model--but I couldn't because I was leaving to come back to the States. She gave me her card and told me if I ever returned to London to give her a call. (I personally think this encounter happened because my hair looked so awful that day that she felt sorry for me...)

3. I hate cottage cheese, olives, and mushrooms. Those are about the only things I absolutely WILL NOT eat.

4. I rarely ever see a movie in the theater. Like I average about 1 per year. Not sure why, exactly. I prefer to just get them on NetFlix. And while some people think dinner and a movie constitutes a good date--I do not. I think that's a dating cop out because of the lack of conversation during a movie. :)

5. I'm a little bit addicted to my iPhone. Especially the "Words with Friends" app--it's like always having someone to play Scrabble with, no matter where you are!

Okay...now for the giveaway portion of this post!

I'm going to give away a copy of my new release, Love is Monumental! To enter, just answer the following question and include your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win. A winner will be chosen randomly on Saturday.

What are you most looking forward to this summer?

I'll answer first. :) I'm most looking forward to having a few lazy summer days at the lake with my family. I missed every trip last year because I was on a couple of tight deadlines. This summer, I can't wait to swim, sit in the sun & read a good book, and eat yummy food from the grill. Perfect summery fun!

Remember--leave your answer by Saturday for your chance to win Love is Monumental!

Love is Monumental has officially released!!

2010-05-03T13:40:00.001-05:00

Discover how the Washington Monument attracts more than tourists when a shy park ranger serves as guide to a handsome professor. Love is Monumental is the second installment in the Walk in the Park series.

The official release date of Love is Monumental was May 1, but with all the tornadoes/floods/etc., I'm just now posting about it!

I'm so excited for this book to get into the hands of readers--I love the characters, flaws and all! So far, the book is getting a good response from reviewers too!

I'm hopeful that readers will enjoy a little glimpse at Washington DC and all the monuments along the National Mall. It was fun to pick out interesting bits of information about some of them to include.

I'm scheduled to do a few blog interviews/giveaways over the next few weeks, and one of the questions I often get is about the characters--who would play them if the book were ever (dare to dream) made into a movie.

So here's a sneak peek at my choices for the main characters:

First, park ranger Vickie Harris. Vickie is always well put together. She's a bit of an over-achiever and the epitome of a perfectionist. Her quest for perfection causes trouble in her personal life--because no one can ever live up to her expectations. Despite being a park ranger, Vickie is not very outdoorsy--and knows nothing about sports! She loves fashion and has an affinity for 80's movies. We meet Vickie on the cusp of her thirtieth birthday--an age she's always dreaded. I think Ginnifer Goodwin would be perfect to play Vickie.

Dr. Thatcher Torrey, a college history professor, is in his late thirties. He is a classic workaholic--never giving any thought to his personal life--or lack thereof. Thatcher is content to focus on his classes and spend his weekends tucked away at his fishing cabin. He'd rather be outdoors than anywhere else. Thatcher despises technology--he doesn't own a cell phone and thinks social networking is the downfall of society. His past is a bit of a mystery, but let's just say he's been hurt one too many times and is determined not to let himself become attached to anyone ever again. I'd cast Noah Wyle for the role of Thatcher. I think he can pull off the right mixture of studious and masculine.

Finally, Katherine Wyatt is the third point-of-view character. I suspect the addition of Katherine's point of view will be a surprise to most readers, as they will wonder how Katherine's story connects with the main storyline. Rest assured that she is an important character. Twenty-year-old Katherine deals with her mother's terminal illness for much of the book. She's seeking her place in the world with the unsettling knowledge that soon she'll be facing life alone. I struggled with the right actress to portray Katherine and finally settled on Miley Cyrus.

So there you have it! My cast of characters for Love is Monumental. If you've read the book, I'd love to hear your thoughts on who you would cast! And if you haven't read the book, you can purchase a copy here! (shameless plug, I know, but a writer has to eat...and pay rent...ha!)

A Book Release is like a First Date...Seriously

2010-04-17T21:56:00.005-05:00

I know. You think I'm crazy.

But it hit me yesterday that having a new book release is sort of like going out on a first date with a new guy you really like. Hear me out on this. :) And if it doesn't make sense to any of you, I blame it on the Benadryl I'm taking for these awful allergies!

Here is my theory:

First Date: When his name pops up on your phone/e-mail, your heart pounds.
Book Release: When you get the e-mail from Amazon saying they've shipped your book, your heart pounds.

First Date: You stress about what to wear. You want him to think you're good looking and interesting.
Book Release: You hope your book cover is good looking and interesting enough for people to pick it up and buy it.

First Date: You hope he finds you witty and charming.
Book Release: You hope readers find it witty and charming.

First Date: You worry about the impression you're making. You try to read his expression and body language so you can gauge how much he likes you, but men can be confusing.
Book Release. When you see that people are "currently reading" your book on Good Reads or Library Thing, you worry about the impression it's making. You try and gauge how well they like it by what page they're on. (sites like Good Reads allows readers to log what page they're on and give immediate feedback

First Date: If you had a good time, you hope he'll ask you out again.
Book Release: You hope readers had a good time with your book and that they'll read your next release.

First Date: You wonder what he'll tell his friends/family about you.
Book Release: You scour the Internet for reviews, hoping readers found something nice to say about the book you lost sleep and shed tears over.

There you have it. :) Make sense? It's like this: going on a date with a guy you like equals putting yourself out there. Likewise, when your book releases, there's no stopping it. A piece of yourself is in that book and suddenly, what was once your private, made up world, becomes public. People may bash it and say ugly things about it. And you'll have to sit by and watch. (I can already see a future post: "How break ups are like bad book reviews"...haha!)

Although Love is Monumental doesn't officially release until May 1, some online outlets have already shipped copies. (hence my initial heart pounding when I saw the "your order has shipped" e-mail)

And speaking of Love is Monumental, I'm looking for a few more influencers*. If you have a blog or website and are interested in being an influencer, please send me an e-mail. In the e-mail, please include your name (first and last) and your blog or website address. Here's the back cover copy for Love is Monumental so you can see if it looks like a book you'd be interested in being an influencer for:

Finding love has become a feat of monumental proportions for a shy park ranger.

Park ranger Vickie Harris loves living in the nation's capitol. She loves working at the Washington Monument. But she's never been in love. In fact, her personal life is non-existent. On her thirtieth birthday, shy Vickie impulsively promises her friends that she’ll ask out the next eligible man she meets.

Professor Thatcher Torrey has had enough heartache to last forever. Through with love, he’s spent years building his life around work. So when his longtime rival sets out to make a historic find, Thatcher is hot on his heels. But he can’t do the research alone. Intellectual Vickie is the perfect research partner and he'll stop at nothing to convince her to help him with his quest.

Just as these polar opposites form a bond, a secret from Thatcher’s past pulls them apart. Will they go their separate ways? Or will they come to realize that when it’s with the right person, Love is Monumental?

You can contact me by visiting my website and clicking the "contact Annalisa" tab: http://www.annalisadaughety.com/

*An influencer writes a review and posts on multiple online bookstores (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc.) and online book review sites (Good Reads, Library Thing, etc.). An influencer might also post a review on their personal blog or site. Word of mouth is very important, so an influencer might tell friends and family about the book if it's one they might enjoy.

We'll Miss You, Julia Sugarbaker

2010-04-11T13:40:00.000-05:00

I'm so sad to hear about the death of Dixie Carter. I was a huge fan and to this day, Designing Women remains my all-time favorite TV show.

In tribute, here's a clip of one of my favorite Julia Sugarbaker moments!

I'm Giving Away a Copy of Love is a Battlefield!

2010-04-06T18:49:00.000-05:00

The Battle of Shiloh took place on April 6-7, 1862. In honor of the 148th anniversary of the battle, I'm giving away a copy of Love is a Battlefield! As most of you know, Love is a Battlefield is set at Shiloh National Military Park and was inspired by the time I spent as a ranger at Shiloh.

If you've never visited Shiloh National Military Park, this weekend would be a great time to visit! There will be living history demonstrations all weekend, which are always really interesting to see. Visit their website for more information.

If you haven't had the chance to read Love is a Battlefield or you have a friend who you think would like a copy, answer the following question between now and midnight Friday for the chance to win a copy:

If you could visit any National Park this summer, which one would it be?

As for me--I can narrow it down to three! If I could visit any National Park this summer, it would be either Yellowstone, Gettysburg, or Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty.

Can't wait to hear where you'd like to visit! Just leave your answer in the comments and I'll randomly select a winner on Saturday!

I Heart March Madness

2010-03-20T13:28:00.000-05:00

Since I'm still frantically trying to finish Love is Grand, I haven't had much time to think about writing a blog. I wish I were one of those super-organized people who writes several at a time and schedules them to post on certain days. Alas, I am not one of those people. I will never be one of those people, and you know what? I'm okay with that.

For those of you who are wondering how Love is Grand is coming...I think it might end up being my favorite so far. (I say that with each book though, so don't put too much stock in that!)

Anyway, let me just say that I LOVE this time of year! The start of Spring, those first deliciously warm days, and the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Yay!Although college football is still my favorite sport to watch, the tournament is my favorite sporting event. I know, I'm weird!

Yep, I fill out brackets (I have a few--and this year they're all busted...) and watch every game I can. I've been this way since I was in junior high school.

My all time favorite moment...Duke beating Kentucky at the buzzer in 1992. I was (and still am) a huge Duke fan. I actually have this game on video tape from way back in the day! Go ahead and judge me, I don't care! That particular Duke team--with Christian Laettner and Bobby Hurley is still my all time favorite team. And Coach K is on my list of people I'd invite to my dream dinner party. (Nancy Reagan and Paul McCartney are also on my invite list)

Every year, one of my favorite things is the video montage after the final game. One Shining Moment--and yes, I tear up every time, even if I don't even have a particular team I'm rooting for. (and I am not too happy about Jennifer Hudson's version of the song replacing Luther Vandross...for no reason except that I don't like change! ha!)

So...for your viewing pleasure, here is a clip of that most awesome buzzer-beating shot, followed by an old school "One Shining Moment" from that same year! Basketball fans, enjoy! Non-basketball fans--sorry! :)

Midnight Musings

2010-03-10T01:41:00.012-06:00

Okay, it's actually past midnight, but who's counting? These days, time seems to mean nothing to me--I'm finishing Love is Grand and am as likely to be writing at 3 a.m. as I am at 3 p.m. When I get it turned in, I plan on sleeping non-stop for a few days. And watching the 4 new episodes of Grey's Anatomy I have saved on my DVR. (yay!)

So this is going to be a jumble of things I've been thinking lately. Perhaps if I get them out of my head, I'll be able to better write my book!

Here goes:

1. The Bachelor finale: Oh, Jake--I had such high hopes for you. But you let me down. Honestly, you disappointed me in the very beginning, like on the very first night when you sent home most of the girls who actually seemed to have brains. But I digress. Best wishes to you and Vienna. I give it 6 months.

2. Along those same lines: The Bachelor: Jason and Molly's Wedding...Seriously? That much money for a wedding and there isn't a rain plan? Come on. As an event planner, I am totally offended. You can't convince me that there wasn't a canopy available or at least someone could've held one of those handy clear umbrellas (were those sponsored by Macys too?) over poor Molly's head. Designer dress. Ken Paves himself did her hair. And ABC made her stand out there in the pouring rain. Whatever. Overall, they seemed happy though, so that was nice. And wasn't it great to once again get to hear the phrase "star-gazing amazing" in reference to Molly's eyes...ha!

3. Not to stay on this reality kick, but Dancing With the Stars...I'm loving the lineup! Kate! Evan! Brenda Walsh! Need I say more? I'm calling Evan for the win though. You read it here first.

4. Zumba. Okay. I took my first Zumba class on Sunday afternoon. Except that the main teacher wasn't there so it ended up being a hybrid zumba/belly dancing/hip hop. This was a most hilarious experience. Although I did learn the whole routine to Michael Jackson's Beat It, which has been a secret lifelong dream of mine... Monday I tried again--wanting to experience a "real" Zumba class. Nope. This time the teacher came to class and apologized for not having any choreography for us. We free styled. You know the African Anteater Ritual from Can't Buy Me Love? It was something like that. (By the way, I love that movie...a pre-McDreamy Patrick Dempsey as nerdy Ronald Miller. Sigh.) And today when I woke up, I could barely walk, so maybe it was a good workout after all...

5. In writing news...Love is a Battlefield is now available on Kindle!

6. In more writing news...you can now read a sample chapter of Love is Monumental on Amazon! It releases in May!

7. One more story and then I'm through, I promise... Last week, my e-mail account was hacked. Or spammed. Whatever you call it. Unbeknownst to me, strange e-mails went out from my account to EVERYONE in my address book. I've had the same e-mail address since 1997. I haven't really cleaned out my address book since then. Which means e-mails went out to all kinds of people. People I don't necessarily keep in contact with anymore. Ex-boyfriends. Their families. Old bosses. Former co-workers. High school friends I haven't seen in years. And on and on. And on. Fun times. Needless to say, once the problem was fixed, I cleaned out my address book.

Okay. Break's over! Back to writing.

Instead of a song of the day, here's a clip from Can't Buy Me Love! Enjoy!

Under Pressure

2010-02-22T22:16:00.003-06:00

I absolutely love the Olympics! Winter or Summer--it doesn't matter. There is something magical about the games for me. Here are people who've devoted themselves to a particular sport--they've made sacrifices in order to compete with the best in the world.

Such great stories come from these games. Tragedy and triumph. People who, for a moment, have the attention of the whole world. Sometimes they excel and succeed--and sometimes they don't.

I've competed at things my whole life. Tee ball, softball, basketball, cheerleading, and the list goes on. I know how it feels to be victorious. And I know how it feels to be the last batter--the one who could keep the game going--and the one who strikes out.

As I've gotten older, I've learned that sometimes my biggest competition is in the form of my own negative thoughts. As a writer, self-doubt creeps in all the time. Sometimes I sit and dwell more on one bad review than I do on ten great ones. Maybe we want to believe the worst about ourselves, I don't know.

In the Olympics, we see athletes who face harsh critics--sometimes it's from the media. Sometimes it's from a fellow competitor. Sometimes it comes from an entire country.

And yet, they go out there and do their thing. Some of them crack under pressure. They have one shot and they blow it. I hate watching it because I know we've just observed something that will haunt them forever. A fall on the ice. A missed goal. A ski jump gone awry.

But I love seeing their faces when they know they did it. When they stick the landing. Or land the triple axle. Or make the goal. They've silenced their critics. And proved to themselves that what seemed impossible is possible.

I'm under my own kind of pressure this week as I try to finish up a book that's due in March. And it would be easy to break under the pressure. Honestly, there are moments when I want to throw my computer out the window and run away. :) But I'm not going to do that. Because sometimes your dreams really do turn into reality. Just ask Evan Lysecek, Lindsey Vonn, Shaun White or Apolo Ohno.

The song of the day is Chariots of Fire...

Love, Actually

2010-02-14T19:08:00.005-06:00

So, it's Valentine's Day. Hmm. I'm not exactly a fan. And it has nothing to do with the fact that I still check the "single" box. I feel about V-Day the same way I feel about New Year's Eve. It's one of those holidays that seems forced.

Can this be true? Is it right for someone who writes romance novels to not be a fan of Valentine's Day? :) Well, let me make a confession...I didn't set out to write romance novels. It just sort of happened. Somewhere along the way, I started to realize...every story is a love story. Sure, they might be disguised as suspense. Or mystery. Or fantasy. But more often than not, there is a love element in there. Sometimes it isn't romantic love. But love, nevertheless. Which is how I came to write about love. Because that seems to be the central theme in our lives when you strip everything else away.

So that gets me to thinking about L-O-V-E. So many different kinds of love. Such a tiny little word with so many different meanings...

I love God. And my family. And my dogs. And my new Prada purse. I love sleeping in. And my friends. And Peppermint Mochas from Starbucks. I love clean sheets. And my DVR. And when I write "the end" and hit send. I love college football. And hot summer days. And being snowed in.

And I don't love any of those things in exactly the same way.

So, even though I'm single--and from what I'm seeing on Facebook and Twitter, single people are supposed to resent being reminded of love today--well I don't! Love is wonderful. Love is powerful. I may not have romantic love in my life right now (anyone know any nice, normal, single guys? haha!) but I have lots of love in my life. And, as any good romance heroine, I have the hope that true love is right around the corner.

So no matter what box you check today, I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day, celebrating the love that is in your life!

Song of the day...The Power of Love by Huey Lewis--I thought it was fitting!

Roller Coaster

2010-02-04T22:58:00.005-06:00

No wonder I always feel like I'm on a roller coaster! I just found out that Love Roller Coaster was the #1 song when I was born. So it's the song of the day. :)

Last year in honor of my birthday, I made a list of 33 things about me that most people don't know. This year, I'm going to stick to 10.

Here are 10 more things that make me "me"...

1. I'm left handed. I think this helps with the creativity. It doesn't help in handwriting, peeling potatoes or using scissors.

2. I have an aversion to feet. Except for cute baby feet.

3. If I could only eat one meal forever, it would be chicken fingers with honey mustard sauce.

4. Someday I want to take a road trip across America. Just some good music and the open road--sounds about perfect.

5. I'm still sometimes surprised when I see my name on the cover of a book. Seems like a dream.

6. I have a really good memory. As in, there is a chance I could tell you what happened on a given day in a given year--what I wore, where I went, who was there, etc. It drives my friends crazy. I can also still remember my high school cheerleading routines and every Makin' Music performance I was ever in from college.

7. I still believe the best is yet to come.

8. I know this will make me sound old fashioned--but sometimes I miss the way things used to be. Simpler. Slower. Technology and innovation are both good things, but I miss Mayberry.

9. That being said, I still love my DVR.

10. Last one! Hmm. Okay. If I could, I would stay up all night and sleep all day.

If you were reading this blog last year, you know that I dreaded turning 33. Well, I have to say that I actually had a wonderful year. My first 2 books releasing, several fun trips and a gigantic leap of faith when I stopped working full time to write. 33 ended up being the best yet. I'm hopeful that 34 will be even better!

Random Ramblings

2010-01-26T18:37:00.005-06:00

Okay. I know I should probably do a blog post about my recent book signings in Mississippi. Or maybe about the new series proposal I just sent off to my editor so everyone can cross their fingers and toes that it gets a green light. But no. Instead I have to get a few other things off my chest...

1. The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love.
Where to start? I admit that I am totally hooked on this show each and every season. My take on this season...Jake is going to walk away alone. I don't think he has a good crop to choose from, but they certainly provide for some wonderful entertainment.

2. The end of college football season.
Although I am an SEC girl, I have to say that I was really cheering for Texas in the National Championship. And I totally believe they would've won if Colt McCoy, hadn't gone out at the very beginning with an injury. And kudos to Colt for such a wonderful post-game interview. Here's a quote from Colt: "I never question that God is in control. Whatever happens, I know I'm standing on the Rock."

3. How much I love hot water.
My hot water heater busted over the weekend. It takes some time to get that replaced. I had to go to a friend's house last night to take a shower where I was reunited with hot water. Briefly. Hoping to have hot water again very soon!

4. The Wii Fit.
This was one of my Christmas presents--actually I got it for myself with the money my dad gave me for Christmas. My little Wii person is a little shorter and rounder than I would like. And I think the groaning noise it makes when I step on the balance board is a little harsh...

5. My desire for a snow day.
Yep. I want one really big snow. The kind that you can get out and play in. Then I want to immediately fast forward to Summer.

6. My birthday.
It is coming up. 10 days. Birthdays are starting to freak me out a little bit. Better than the alternative though.

7. Justin Timberlake at the Telethon for Haiti.
I go back and forth on being a JT fan. But his performance of "Hallelujah" was incredible. Go now and get it from iTunes.

8. American Idol.
I don't like the auditions. Why do they make fun of people who've clearly been made fun of most of their lives? Not cool, AI, not cool. I am ready for the nonsense to be over and the real competition to begin.

9. Board games, my love of.
My family is a game playing group. We are always looking for new games to play and I have officially found my FAVORITE GAME EVER. It is called "Things" and is just the most fun! Even my grandma loves it!

10. Red carpets.
I'm a sucker for awards shows. I love watching to see what everyone is wearing, what they're going to say from the stage and who wins what. But what I don't like is actually watching the red carpet interviews on E. The questions just seem so awkward.

Okay. I feel better now. Just had to get a few things off my chest. :)

And because this is a random post, how about a random song? One of my favorites...When the Stars Go Blue. This version is by Bono and the Corrs.

2009, you were a good year...

2009-12-30T19:44:00.005-06:00

I've never been one to go out and celebrate on New Year's Eve. I remember in 1999, when everyone I knew (seriously, every single person) was doing something big to ring in 2000, I opted to stay home. With 2 great movies (Shakespeare in Love and Sliding Doors--and I know it is weird that I remember which movies, but I can't help it, I remember lots of unimportant details) and a Domino's Pizza (thin crust cheese).

And lots of people called me right before midnight to try and get me to say I was sorry for not agreeing to go out, but I was happy where I was.

For me, the turning over of a new year is more of a reflective time. I don't like the forced cheerfulness and the over-emphasis on having the best time of your life. If that's your thing, then by all means, enjoy, but the best time of my life isn't going to happen at some party or random club at 11:59 on December 31.

I probably sounds like an old stick in the mud. :)

Some might call me crazy for wanting to hold on to 2009 for as long as possible, but I want to squeeze each and every second of it. Big things happened to me in 2009. It was a fantastic year!

Just a few highlights:

Holding copies of my first two books in my hand for the first time.

Seeing those books in stores for the first time. I still have to fight the urge to take pictures of them on the shelf (and usually end up caving and photographing).

Traveling to Washington D.C. and the Grand Canyon for research; traveling to Denver for a writing conference; traveling to Charm, Ohio, for a book signing.

Book signings: I participated in 6 signings this year!

Hearing from readers who enjoyed the books! This came in the form of letters, e-mails and reviews.

Along those lines, one of the biggest blessings of 2009 was meeting so many wonderful people--fellow authors and readers. You guys rock!

I'm hopeful that 2010 will be just as wonderful! These aren't necessarily resolutions, but here are a few things I hope to accomplish in the new year:

Get a new book contracted. Or a new series. :)

Become reacquainted with my old friend, the gym! It's been far too long.

Change my diet. I am ashamed of how unhealthy my eating habits are. If I could just add some fruits and veggies I'd be happy.

Come up with fantastic marketing for my May and October releases.

Go on a trip that is in no way related to books, research or work. In other words, take a vacation!

Get rid of a lot of "stuff"--I have way too much and want to downsize. Maybe I'll never really be a minimalist, but I can try!

Finally figure out how to balance life, work and writing. I'm afraid this might mean adjusting my schedule to where I get up early and go to bed at a decent hour...

Okay, I could go on and on, but will stop. Perhaps I should do a mid-year check on these goals to see how I'm doing!

No matter how you choose to ring in 2010, I hope it is wonderful!

Song of the week...my favorite version of Auld Lang Syne by Mairi Campbell & Dave Francis.

Tis the Season

2009-12-20T19:14:00.004-06:00

I'm still feeling a couple of months behind. I still want it to be October so I can carve that pumpkin I meant to carve and put out some pretty mums.

I missed summer while I was locked away writing Love Finds You in Charm, Ohio.

Then I went and missed fall finishing Love is Monumental.

No wonder I'm all off-kilter. I step outside and am honestly surprised it is cold. Where, oh where did that yummy football weather go? The warm/cool that I love.

Clearly I need better time management skills so I won't miss anymore seasons!

With that in mind, I had to make a difficult decision recently--the decision to leave my career as a special event coordinator for a non-profit. It was a dream position for me. I believe very much in the organization and I spent hours upon hours working and thinking about ways to make things better. I was consumed.

But, you see, I was also driven by my desire to be a writer. It was a dream and a gift and something I couldn't walk away from.

When you are being pulled in two totally different directions, both of which mean the world to you, you have to give things up. Like sleep. And seasons. And seeing your family and friends.

So after a lot of prayer and soul searching, I quit the non-profit. I determined that I can't have two careers. I can have a writing career and just a job. But not a career as an event coordinator (that is demanding) and a writing career (that is also demanding).

The same non-profit offered me a part time position working with their database. Such a huge blessing to me. I can pay my bills (yay) but still devote most of my time and brainpower to writing.

Which means that I can sleep again! (I assure you, after several months of working all day and writing most of the night, I feel like a new person now that I'm actually getting several hours again)

And I'm determined not to let any more seasons pass by without me noticing. So my house is decorated--I LOVE the lights of the Christmas tree, the smell of a fresh wreath and the holiday movies on every night.

I'm so glad to be going into this holiday season without the fog of stress and no sleep hanging over me. I can't wait until Thursday--when my entire family will be getting together for gifts and games and lots of food. And Friday we'll do it all over again and maybe catch a movie. Saturday, we'll do some marathon after-Christmas shopping. Then family gatherings again on Sunday and Monday. So fun!

Song of the week: Winter Song by Sara Barielles and Ingrid Michaelson. One of my favorites from my Christmas playlist.

Enjoy your family this Christmas season! Here are Buster and Arnie who refused to pose together in front of the tree...so I made them pose with my Christmas pillows! :)

Time at the Grand Canyon

2009-12-03T16:57:00.016-06:00

First, I must apologize. :) I had trouble with my Internet connection while I was in Arizona. (in other words, there wasn't one) I was thankful to be able to check in on my iPhone, but updating my blog was out of the question.

If that wasn't bad enough, once I finally got back, I was pretty sick. Thankfully, I'm better now and ready to re-connect with the outside world.

So...here's a trip recap:

I drove from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon via Williams, Arizona. It was a neat place--lots of leftover Route 66 remnants. I spent a little time there before heading north to the Grand Canyon.
I could hardly contain my excitement as I drove through the entrance for Grand Canyon National Park! I drove straight to the lodge area and checked in to my room before my first view of the canyon. I opted to stay at the Bright Angel Lodge--a little rustic, but so close to the rim! I threw my stuff into my room and stepped outside for my first view...

There. Are. No. Words.

You know the song, Jesus My Lord? If not, here are some of the lyrics:
Have you ever look at the sunset
With the sky mellowing red
And the clouds suspended like feathers
Then I say you've seen Jesus my Lord

Have you seen Jesus my Lord
He's here in plain view
Take a look open your eyes
He'll show it to you

That song immediately came to mind upon seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time. Just awesome.

Once I was able to tear myself away from gazing into the canyon, I set out for a walk along the rim. Totally amazing.

Side note: I am a naturally clumsy person. Like I trip sometimes even when there isn't anything to trip over. (don't let my years as a ballet/tap dancer and cheerleader fool you--I learned to hide my clumsiness, but it was always there) The lack of railing at the edge of the canyon made me VERY nervous.

After a quick trip to the visitor center (via the handy shuttle bus) I watched the sunset from Yavapai point. Being November at 7000+ elevation, as soon as the sun set, it got COLD.

Speaking of elevation, it took me a while to get used to it. The least bit of walking left me breathless and I learned how important it was to stay hydrated.

Another side note: By the time the sun went down on that first day at the park, I was feeling pretty awful. I went to the Bright Angel restaurant and ate some soup, then went right to bed. There are few things worse than being sick and far away from home.

The next day (my first full day at the park) was a good one. Thanks to my friend Benedryl, I felt better. I spent the morning exploring the village area--the lodges, the General Store, etc. After a quick lunch in my room (I'd come prepared with groceries) I set out on a lengthy hike along the rim.

First of all, the views are just amazing. Really just breathtaking. But I am a little bit afraid of heights sometimes, clumsiness notwithstanding. The rim being so close and the huge drop offs made me very nervous. There aren't rails for the most part, except for the key lookout points. Which is good, because they kind of detract from the natural beauty.

A third side note: I can't tell you how many people I saw doing stupid things. One of the rangers I talked to shared my feelings and told me that despite the warning signs posted, some people just didn't understand that there were real dangers. I watched small children running around, dangerously close to the edge. I saw many, many people with pets (leashed) whose owners weren't paying attention. When it was an especially large animal, all I could think was if that dog sees a squirrel (which were everywhere) and goes after it, both dog and owner will topple over the edge. And then there were those people who would climb out onto places that clearly weren't mean to be climbed onto just for a photo opportunity. My lesson from watching these people: I think you need to have a healthy respect for the canyon and many people clearly do not.

Okay, back to my story. :) So despite my fear of heights, I plunged ahead. A couple of times I had to stop and sit on well-placed benches away from the rim just to talk myself into going on. But each new vista was worth the fear. I hiked all the way to Hermit's Rest, where I rewarded myself with a cup of hot chocolate from the snack bar. I took the shuttle back to the lodge and watched the sun set.

I decided to try the Arizona Room for dinner. It seemed a little fancier than the Bright Angel Restaurant. The food was delicious. Warm bread and butter, chicken corn chowder and a yummy burger and fries.

All in all, a perfect day.

The next day, I explored a little more. This time, I went to VerKamps visitor center and checked out the displays. Then I attended a ranger program that was very interesting. I talked to the ranger for quite a long time--explaining that I was a writer and telling her a bit about my Walk in the Park series. She was excited about the books and was happy to answer my questions.

After lunch, I set out on what I knew would be a tough hike. I still wasn't feeling that great, so I didn't push myself too much. I desperately wanted to hike down into the canyon though, so I set out on the Bright Angel Trail. I only went about a mile or so down. It was amazing! I had to stop to let a group riding mules pass me. I know those are very sure-footed animals and all, but there is no way I'd ride one down into the canyon! I preferred my own 'hug the canyon wall' method of hiking.

I'm not going to lie. Coming up was HARD! And I can totally understand those people who go to far and get in trouble--hiking down was easy. And it was SO TEMPTING to go around another bend to see the view that waited around the corner. But hiking up was very difficult--I can't imagine doing it during the summer heat.

I headed to Hopi Point for another beautiful sunset.

The next morning, I got up before daylight and went out to watch the sun rise over the canyon. First of all, it was FREEZING! But such an amazing sight to see.

I treated myself to breakfast at the El Tovar. It is the "fancy" place and I have to say the food was delicious.

Sadly, all good things must come to and end. I spent the night in Flagstaff, then drove to Phoenix early the next morning. One cool thing--on the way back to Phoenix, I drove past some kind of hot air balloon event and saw tons of hot air balloons. I wish I could've gotten a picture of them flying over the red rocks.

Despite the sickness that plagued me, it was a fantastic trip.

Song of the week: Elevation by U2. Enjoy!

Go West....

2009-11-18T11:07:00.004-06:00

Well, I'm off on another adventure! This time, I've headed west to Arizona. That's right! I'm writing this from Flagstaff, elevation 7000 feet!

I'm going to spend a few days at Grand Canyon National Park, exploring and talking to rangers about what it's like to work in such a place. I've never been to the Grand Canyon, so I figured there was no better time to visit than while I'm writing Love is Grand the third book in the Walk in the Park series.

Unfortunately for me, I'm a little under the weather--I'm headed to Walmart for some daytime allergy medicine that will hopefully stop my sniffling and make me feel better. I always manage to get sick when I travel.

The flight from Little Rock to Phoenix wasn't bad. Thanks in large part to the fact that I have the soundtrack from Glee on my iPod. :) Love that show!

Driving from Phoenix to Flagstaff last night was an adventure. I had no idea I'd be climbing from 2000 to 7000 feet. Not fun = driving on an unfamiliar, curvy, mountainous road with signs warning of rocks falling and elk crossing. But I made it. Lots of praying going on. :)

Today I'm going to explore some of old Route 66 before arriving at the Grand Canyon. I can't wait to actually see the canyon in person. I've heard that the feeling is tough to describe. We'll see if I'm finally rendered wordless. :)

My plan is to blog and post pictures all week. (provided the Internet connection is available) I thought it would be fun to give away three copies of Love is a Battlefield when I return from my trip. So readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Love is a Battlefield. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). You won't be entered in the drawing without it.

I'll pull from the comments made throughout the week, beginning today.

And if you become a follower of my blog, I'll consider it an extra entry!

Song of the day/week: Go West by the Village People. Enjoy!

On the Road

2009-11-04T18:20:00.027-06:00

I got the chance to travel to Charm, Ohio three weeks ago. It was fantastic. I did a book signing at Keim Lumber during Charm Days.

For those of you who've read Love Finds You in Charm, Ohio, you'll remember Keim as the place Noah Weaver works.

I decided it would be fun to drive from Memphis to Charm, so I rented a car and hit the road. It was actually a great trip. The weather was nice, I had my favorite music with me, and the car even had satellite radio.

Every now and then, a girl just needs a road trip!

And for the most part, it was tons of fun. Except for the time I was stuck in road construction traffic for more than an hour. Or the part where when I finally got to the hotel (somewhere in Kentucky) it came a monsoon and I was seriously drenched by the time I got inside. And then I left my laptop charger at said hotel, so I was without my laptop the entire trip. And of course, on the return trip I decided to take what turned into an hour long detour to see the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln but it was CLOSED by the time I got there.

Everything else was perfect. :)

I arrived in the picturesque town of Sugarcreek, Ohio just in time for dinner on Friday evening. After I got checked into my room, I went to eat at the Dutch Valley Restaurant. The food was so good I felt compelled to take pictures. In fact, pretty much every meal I ate was photo-worthy.

Fun side note: the hotel I stayed in had my book for sale. As did the restaurant. I'm still waiting to get used to the feeling of seeing my book on the shelf. I resisted the urge to tell people. :) I'm sure they wondered why the weird girl was taking pictures of the book rack though.

Saturday morning, I set off for Charm. There were lots of buggies on the road and I saw lots of Amish on bicycles. Once I got to the "Charm" sign, I could see that Charm Days were already well-underway. There was some kind of horse show going on and there were people everywhere.

The signing went really well. Susan Downs and Connie Troyer (both from Summerside Press) came to the event and sat with me at the table. I was very thankful to have them there. It would've been really daunting to be there alone. I met a lot of very nice people--some who'd already read the book and some who purchased it at the signing. I signed for nearly three hours in all and just had the best time.

After the signing was over, Connie, Susan and I had lunch at Grandma's Homestead Restaurant, which is featured several times in my book. The food was yummy and we had a great time visiting. After lunch, Connie and set out on a walking tour of Charm. First we stopped at the Charm General Store. The owner and her son were so nice. They're selling the book in the store and I actually signed a copy for an Amish family who bought it while I was there. We went to a quilt store and a fabric store--the quilts are just beautiful. I bought the cutest apron to add to my apron collection. (yes, a random thing to collect, but I love aprons--especially cool vintage ones)

Then it was back to Sugarcreek to visit the Christian bookstore. That was the first time I'd seen both of my books on the shelf together. Everyone I met was so nice and many had read the book and told me how much they enjoyed it. (I did meet one lady at the signing who told me she wished I would write just a regular book with no romance in it because she was tired of reading about love--I thought that was kind of funny)

By this point, I was seriously exhausted. I had a quick dinner at Beachy's Restaurant in Sugarcreek--again, the food was delicious. I had some of the best food ever on this trip!

The next day, I spent a couple of hours driving through the small Amish towns. I went back to a deserted Charm and took some pictures. The leaves were beautiful and I loved passing the houses--one yard full of Amish guys playing football and another driveway with Amish girls playing basketball. It was just a very neat place.

But all good things must end, and it was soon time for me to turn my car toward the South. Uneventful, except for the aforementioned detour to see the (closed) home of Honest Abe. I made it to Nashville for the night and then to Memphis the next day.

Oh yeah. One more thing. 1500+ miles in a rental car with no problem and I backed into a tree in my driveway on the way to return it to the airport. (am just thankful it was only a tiny ding...but still I felt pretty silly explaining to my insurance company!)

The song of the day: Life is a Highway, the Rascal Flatts version. Enjoy!

A few more photos:

Love is a Battlefield Has Arrived!

2009-10-14T21:27:00.007-05:00

Okay, I am the world's worst blogger! But I have the best intentions!

Two weeks ago, on October 1, Love is a Battlefield officially hit the shelves!! It is the first book in my Walk in the Park series. Each book will be set in a different National Park. (Coincidentally, the Ken Burns National Park series premiered the same week Battlefield released...and I am hoping everyone has a renewed interest in National Parks!)

Things have been a bit of a whirlwind lately--I went to ACFW Conference last month in Denver. Fantastic time! In fact, that was the first time I'd officially seen Love is a Battlefield in real book form! My editor, Becky Germany, held up a copy on Thursday night in front of the entire room full of conference attendees. I thought I was going to bounce out of my seat! I was so excited to hold that book--it was seriously years in the making. The next night, Barbour passed out copies of Battlefield at the author reception, which then turned into an impromptu book signing. Very cool.

Photos below are me right after I got the book for the first time and then signing at the author reception:

Denver was really fun. I even met Ted Dekker (who gave me advice about writing: once you've turned in a project, stop thinking about it and look ahead to the next one...don't look back.)

Here we are, and I'm still holding Love is a Battlefield like a trophy! haha

And now, Battlefield has been out for two weeks. Hard to believe! I'm learning that once the book releases, the hard part begins! You see, I love this book. I want you to love this book. I want your grandmother and your mailman and your slightly annoying co-worker to love this book. But I realize that everyone isn't going to. And that's kind of hard. :) But I am dealing.

The song of the day...could it really be anything else??

Love is a Battlefield by Pat Benatar

First Book Signing!

2009-08-19T20:51:00.007-05:00

There's just something about "home" isn't there?

I did my very first book signing Sunday afternoon in my hometown. The ladies at the Woodruff County Monitor hosted the event at the local newspaper office, and I was really touched at how many people came.

I had lots of family there, which was cool. And several people from my mom's church. Some high school friends and former teachers. Lots of people who have known me since I was a baby. It was really neat. In all, I signed nearly 60 books!

I tried to explain it to someone later and this is the best I could come up with: (and Carrie Bradshaw made this same point once, so I know I'm not crazy--haha)

I'm not married (yet) nor have I had children (yet) nor do I own a home (yet). So I've not had a wedding shower/wedding/baby shower/house warming. And you know, after you graduate from high school, if you remain single and childless, there aren't many celebrations for you. Sure, there's the occasional birthday get together, but not anything major.

So it was a little weird for me to be the center of attention. Each time I'd look around and realize all those people were there to celebrate me I was really shocked. And happy. It was nice to feel so loved.

I have to thank everyone who stopped in and encouraged me to keep writing and told me how proud they were of me. I can't thank all of you enough!

The song of the day is My Town by Montgomery Gentry--it has always reminded me of home.

Photos from the day:

Megan, Elvis and me:

Me and my grandmother:

Mom and me with my display of books:

Summer Girl

2009-08-10T20:29:00.003-05:00

I'm a little bummed that August is zooming past.

I closed my eyes for a second in early May and a second later when I opened them, it was August. School is back in session and fall clothes are out in stores. What?

I am a summer girl, through and through. Always have been. Even when I got my "colors done" way back when that was cool. You guessed it. I was a "summer" hands down.

I want a flowy dress, flip flops and my hair up in a ponytail. A glass of sweet tea and a lazy day on the lake. Maybe a hammock in the late afternoon and a good book. Dinner outside, preferably something right off the grill and either cold watermelon or homemade ice cream for dessert. Maybe both.

Am I describing a vacation? I don't remember those. :) I've taken vacation days lately, sure. But they've all had a purpose and included some form of work.

But as crazy as it is right now, life is good. My first book is in stores now! I can't get over that. And my second book will be out before you know it. These are exciting times.

So please don't think I'm complaining. I'm not. I'm just trying to remind myself to take a little time to smell the roses. Before summer's a thing of the past.

Song of the day, Summertime by Kenny Chesney.

Sitting Here On Capitol Hill...

2009-07-25T20:45:00.008-05:00

**Okay, this little travel recap was written yesterday...but I fell asleep before I could muster the energy to go downstairs to the lobby where there is wireless access...**

This was my first full day in D.C. and it was pretty great. My phone has a built in pedometer—it registers that today I walked 17,327 steps or 8+ miles. I believe it!

My first mistake of the day was not ordering breakfast in my hotel room. Last night I thought—no way, too expensive. I’ll grab something on my way to the Capitol. Wouldn’t you know it…I was running late for my tour and didn’t even have enough time to grab so much as a coffee. The second mistake was thinking it wouldn’t be too far to walk from my hotel to the Capitol. Ha. Things are farther away than they appear! It was more than a mile and I arrived at the last minute, a bit out of breath from the nice jog I ended up taking the last half of my journey. Of course, I’d chosen today to wear a skirt. So there I was, running up Constitution Avenue in my skirt, having had no coffee. (I admit that at that point, I may have been just a little bit grumpy...)

Note to self: take the Metro. Just take it. Second note to self: remember your sunscreen when you know you’re going to be outside most of the day. Third note to self: remember your sunglasses too.

But despite my tardiness and general frazzled feeling, the tour of the Capitol Building was cool. Oh my—the rotunda made me think of when President Reagan died. I watched the whole visitation on CSPAN and wept. (he was my favorite president, after all). But it is so beautiful in there. Photos (at least taken with my camera) don’t do it justice.

Anyway, from the Capitol, there is a tunnel to the Library of Congress. But it seems that none of the other hundreds of people there realized that, because I went through the tunnel all alone. After being in such huge crowds, it was a welcome relief, but a little weird.

The Library of Congress—OH MY GOODNESS! What an awesome place! If you know me very well, you know of my immense love for libraries. That’s right. I. Love. Them. And this one is the largest library in the WORLD. The building itself is beautiful, but the books and collections are just amazing. I seriously saw Thomas Jefferson’s books today. And the Gutenberg Bible. I could go on, but I won’t. But I did something quite cool. (okay, maybe the fact that I think it is quite cool makes me a nerd—but I don’t care!)

I went and filled out the paperwork to get my very own Library of Congress card, which means I can use the collection! Okay, so I might not ever actually get to do it, but I needed to know the ins and outs of using the LOC so that when my characters in Love is Monumental are doing a little research, I will know the procedures.

After leaving the LOC, I made my way over to the Supreme Court. Shamefully, I did not go inside to tour. By that time, it was after noon and I still hadn’t eaten anything. I went to the Reagan Building to the international food court and had…wait for it…a French baguette with butter and Swiss Cheese. (my meal of choice when I was in Europe) followed by hazelnut gelato. (Oh, gelato, how I’ve missed you…)

From there, I walked to the White House Visitor Center for a quick stop, where I set off the security alarm because my shoes have some kind of metal on them. That was super, super fun.

But when I left there, I noticed that there were police and secret service agents and they’d stopped traffic in all directions. And there were people lined up on all sides of the street. I made my way over there in time to see President Obama and his motorcade headed to the White House. I videoed the event…will post later! And can I pause here to say that secret service agents are, as a group, very handsome. :) Am beginning to wish I’d made Thatcher (the hero in Monumental) an agent. Oh well.

Later in the afternoon, I went to the Museum of American History. Highlights: Dorothy’s ruby slippers, the puffy shirt from Seinfeld, Abe Lincoln’s top hat, the chairs and table Grant and Lee used in the surrender at Appomattox, and the original Star Spangled Banner. Pictures forthcoming!

I ended the day where I started it—at the Capitol Building. The US Army Band was performing a concert on the steps. Great way to end the day. But then I got lost on my way to the metro and ended up walking about 12 blocks. Don’t ask.

And now…am wishing I could sleep in tomorrow. But I have an early tour of the Washington Monument! SO EXCITED to see it and talk to the rangers.

A few photos below...and the song of the day is I'm Just a Bill from Schoolhouse Rock, which I had in my head all day.

The Library of Congress!

The Capitol Building during the Army Band Concert:

An impromptu stop at the White House:

Me, in front of the Capitol--I was actually at the Supreme Court when this was taken:

First Day in DC!

2009-07-23T18:35:00.008-05:00

Whew! My first day in DC is coming to an end...mainly because I'm about to collapse into bed, not because the day is actually over.

First of all, I did not get much sleep last night. Not only did it take me forever to pack (trying to find outfits that don't scream "I am a tourist and have no idea where I'm going" but yet also say "I am prepared to comfortably walk 5+ miles in any weather" can be a difficult task) but then once I was finally in bed, I was too excited to sleep. And maybe a little nervous about flying.

Let me pause here to say I could do an entire blog SERIES about my irrational fear of flying. I know...it is safer than a car, blah, blah, blah. I can't help it though. The older I've gotten, the more chicken I've become. (I did jump off a mountain once, but I was 21 and didn't know any better)

Anyway, my very sweet mother (who came to my house yesterday to help me get ready for my trip and is dog sitting for me while I'm away) took me to the airport bright and early this morning. And wouldn't you know--the flight was fine. :) A little bumpy but I didn't have too many panic-laden moments. And as we were flying into DC, we flew RIGHT BY the Washington Monument. I was so excited! I'm loving writing Love is Monumental, and I think being able to spend some time here is going to make the book much more authentic.

After I collected my checked bag (which cost $15 dollars to check--what a crime!) I set out for the Metro. I'd considered a cab, but decided taking the Metro would be better for research purposes. :) Got to my stop and found my hotel with no problem. Lovely hotel.

I grabbed lunch (and waited out a rainstorm) and then set out for Ford's Theatre. I had a reservation there for the museum and ranger program. (it was a good thing I'd planned ahead, because they were out of tickets if you hadn't gotten them in advance) The museum just opened earlier this month. Very interesting. I will post photos soon... Ranger program was good. I learned lots of interesting things about the assassination of Abe Lincoln. Those of you who know me well know that this kind of thing is right up my alley.

I left the theatre and walked to the National Archives. Passed the FBI building along the way. I've always had a secret dream of working there. :)

The line at the archives was brutal and it was hot outside! Finally made it in and seriously think this was one of the neatest places I've ever been! All those historical documents, photos, recordings, etc. Just cool! Especially if you love history as much as I do.

Don't judge me, but I didn't wait in the hour+ long line to view the Declaration of Independence. By that point, I just couldn't wait in another line. I did see the Magna Carta though. And a petition from the 1830's meant to keep Arkansas from becoming a state. Seriously!

It began to rain as I left the Archives. First just a little sprinkle--my new umbrella was perfect. And then the bottom fell out! There isn't an umbrella in the world that would keep a person dry in that kind of weather. I was drenched by the time I made it back to my hotel. My new umbrella sprang a leak too.

And now, I'm in the hotel restaurant, eating a yummy BLT. Looking forward to a hot shower, a good night's sleep and then...a BUSY day tomorrow! I have to be at the Capitol Building by 8:15 a.m. (that is 7:15 my time...ugh!)

Milestones

2009-07-19T22:15:00.009-05:00

Being a writer is an odd thing sometimes. At this point in my fledgling writing career, each milestone I come to is worthy of a call to my closest friends and family members to tell them about the latest "neat" thing that's happened. I'm not sure at what point that novelty will wear off. Maybe never, so I'm hoping my family and friends will continue to clap and cheer and jump up and down with me when I need them to. :)

My biggest news right now is that I have 2 books releasing back to back--one in September (Love Finds You in Charm, Ohio) and one in October (the first in my 3 book Walk in the Park series, Love is a Battlefield)! I am beginning to get excited about the releases. I think for so long, it didn't seem real, while I was caught up in writing, deadlines, and edits. But now things are starting to pick up--I'm scheduling book signings, interviews and even have an author page on Amazon.

The other day, something happened to make it completely real. I received my first box of books. My books! I am not (too) embarrassed to say that when I pulled the first copy from the box, I literally sank to the floor and cried. I'm not an overly emotional kind of girl. But I expect that when I hold the next one in my hand, I will have a similar reaction. And possibly when I see them on the shelves at stores come September and October. I'll be the weepy girl doing the Snoopy Dance on the book aisle at your local Wal-Mart/Barnes and Noble/etc. Just fair warning. :)

One of my biggest lessons throughout the process has been finding out that writing is truly a labor of love. It's wonderful when the words are coming easily, the plot is coming together and I'm meeting my word per day goal. But then there are those days when the words don't come at all, and the deadline seems like it is creeping closer. The nights when I'm up writing and it is 2 am and I know I have to be at the office the next day (I have a full-time job, after all!). Those are the times when the love really kicks in. Otherwise it would be too tempting to walk away and claim it to be too hard.

I'm working now on Love is Monumental the second book in the Walk in the Park series. It will release next May. I'm leaving Thursday morning for a research trip to Washington DC, and plan on posting lots of blogs/pictures while I'm there, so stay tuned!

Song of the day is This Time of Year by Better than Ezra--favorite song, favorite band. Saw them in concert this past Friday night with 3 friends from college. I'm pretty sure that for a few songs we were 22 again. :)

Holiday! Celebrate!

2009-07-04T10:17:00.003-05:00

Did you like that little shout out to Madonna circa 1983?

Okay, so those who know me know that the the 4th of July is my FAVORITE holiday. Hands down. What, you ask? Not Christmas? How about Thanksgiving?

Before you start thinking that I'm some kind of unthankful Grinchy person, let me assure you that I enjoy those holidays. But they just aren't my favorite.

So the 4th--celebrating our Independence. That's big. I think many of us forget just how blessed we are. How many men have fought and died to protect our freedoms. So I think this is an important day for remembering.

And on a different note, I think this is just a happy day. There isn't the stress that seems to come with Christmas or Thanksgiving. Just happiness. Lots of cooking out and laughing. Swimming and lazy afternoons. It's perfection, really. Then fireworks later, which still have a way of making me feel like a little kid.

So there you have it. My essay on "Why I love the 4th of July". :)

The song of the day...a little Bruce. Born in the USA.

Enjoy the holiday!

Ever-Elusive Relaxation

2009-05-07T19:30:00.010-05:00

A couple of years ago, a co-worker called me and asked me a very simple question about signage for an event. I think it was something silly, like "how far from the edge of the sign do you want the lettering?" And you know what? I had an answer. Because I had already thought about precisely how far from the edge I wanted the lettering. Her reply? "I figured you'd know just how you wanted it, that's why I asked."

The truth of the matter is that sometimes I worry about things that don't matter at all. I stress over them. In my endless quest for perfection I have a hard time just letting things go. I'll labor endlessly over finding just the right word or just the right font or just the right photo. I can't just let it go.

Some days, I think this quality helps me. Other days, I realize how much it hurts.

I read a fantastic book recently, Eat, Pray, Love--and let's just say that there were parts that were painful for me. When the author has to come to grips with her own control issues, I had to spend some time facing mine. One of the people she met on her journey made her realize that the world wouldn't fall apart if she checked out and relaxed for a couple of days. That really got me to thinking.

Relaxing isn't something I do very well. I get too caught up in work and deadlines and goals--and I forget to relax. Seriously. I have a LOT going on right now. So I wrote out a schedule the other day--to try and make sure I keep on track. Pretty much every waking hour is scheduled right now. And I honestly laughed at myself because on most days, my list says something like "5:15-5:45--relax". I'm pretty sure there is something WAY WRONG when I have to have "relaxing" on my list!

And in thinking about this, you know who I've decided I really envy? Someone I like to call "Girl in Catalog." I just got a catalog in the mail today from one of my favorite designers, and here is what I saw:

Girl sailing

Girl reading peacefully on the beach

Girl looking into the distance, not a care in the world

Girl smelling the flowers

Girl walking through a farmers market, carrying a straw bag

Girl throwing her head back in laughter

For Girl in Catalog, there is no worry. No deadlines. No bills to pay. No over-analyzing of male behavior. No thinking about exercising. No house to clean. No lawn to mow. Just relaxation. And I'm pretty sure she didn't have to pencil it in on her "to do" list!

And I realize that they aren't real. They're getting paid (probably large sums) to look happy, and carefree. But you know what? Every now and then, I think we could all stand to have a day where we pretend to be Girl in Catalog. I know I could. Maybe I'll even find the time...in a few weeks. :)

The song of the day--Sheryl Crow's I Wanna Soak Up the Sun. Because when I finally find time to schedule my day to be Girl in Catalog, I hope it's a sunny one.

One of those days...

2009-04-13T19:38:00.004-05:00

Okay, every now and then I have one of those days/weeks that makes me want to stick my head in the sand or hide under the bed or some such thing.

And although there wasn't really anything that I can specifically point out as to why this was one of those days, I just have that feeling.

The Pollyanna/Scarlett in me says that tomorrow is another day and it will be bright and shiny and new.

However, right now I say that I deserve a cheeseburger, fries and a Dr. Pepper. And maybe some ice cream to top it off. Except that I don't want to get in my car to go get any of those things, so instead, it is scrambled eggs and cheese for me tonight.

I'm rambling, I know.

So here is a list of things I've been pondering lately. They don't really go together though. So really, there is no theme to this blog post...

1. Odd fears of mine:

I have several, but will just highlight a couple. I read a book by Dean Koontz once where the lead character's girlfriend was in a nursing home because she got botulism from a can of soup. Every time I open a can of soup now, I have a tiny moment where I wonder if I should really risk it.

I'm also always afraid someone will put poison in my dog's water dish outside. Not sure why anyone would do this, but I usually carry the dish inside with me when the dogs aren't outside. Again, this particular fear is stemmed from a book I read a couple of years ago.

2. Fantastic things I've read lately:

Love Walked In and Belong to Me. They are by Marisa de los Santos and make me almost ashamed to know I'll have a book in the same store as them. They are so beautifully written. Someday I want to write something that will make someone feel the way I did when I read them.

3. Days off:

I love my job. I never thought I would have a job that love as much as I do this one. I'm happy to go every morning and most days I work late and don't even mind. But I desperately needed last Friday off. I can't explain to you how happy I was on Thursday night knowing a long weekend stretched before me. It was a nice weekend, full of friends and family and I needed it.

4. The gym:

Okay, I'm trying really hard to make it to the gym several times a week. I want to get in shape. (side note for people who grew up in the 80's--do you remember "get in shape girl"? I can still hear the commercial) But I have to say that gym behavior is amusing to me. I do not understand why people try to talk to other people while they are working out. When someone is all sweaty and trying to work it on the elliptical machine, does it really seem like the appropriate time for conversation? I think not. And the people who read magazines while they work out--really? How do they keep their place? Last Saturday, there was a guy on an elliptical reading a tiny paperback. I don't get it. Are their lives so full that they must multi-task reading and working out? I'm busy, but not THAT busy.

5. Magazines:

I love magazines. Until I open them. I realized the other day that the magazines I get pretty much make me feel bad about myself. Martha Stewart, I can never live up to you. Yet the cover of your magazine is so pretty I subscribe anyway. Fitness, you make me feel like a blob even though I go to the gym (see above for proof). Must you only use models who are already perfect?

Okay. I will spare you the rest of my random thoughts. The song of the day is from the Zac Brown Band. It doesn't have anything at all to do with this blog post. But the song makes me happy, and for today, that is reason enough to include it.

Where's Lloyd Dobler when you need him?

2009-03-06T19:17:00.006-06:00

Get ready for some rambling.

First of all, I just finished watching Say Anything for the millionth time this week. Love me some Lloyd Dobler. More about that later.

Tonight I found Ciao Bella gelato at Fresh Market. Am trying the hazelnut kind right now. (nocciola in Italian, just FYI) It's pretty good. Although the best gelato is one eaten while sitting on the steps of the Duomo in Florence, or at least standing on a bridge in Venice, I suppose it will have to do for the kind to be eaten in my kitchen in Memphis. At least I didn't have to get on a plane for it. (Incidentally, I think the main thing that will get me back on an airplane headed overseas is the potential for lots of gelato)

Can I just pause now to say that this has been a long, crazy week that has induced a good bit of left eye twitching, which is what happens to me when I get stressed? That's right. It seems that my eye now twitches when I'm really stressed out. Thankfully, you can't actually see it happening. But I can feel it. I met with my accountant the other day, and was sure he thought I was winking at him. But my friends at work promise me that they can't see it twitch. So here's hoping Mr. Accountant didn't think I was hitting on him. (although if it would cut down on my taxes...KIDDING)

Now, back to Lloyd. Or rather, the anti-Lloyd, who has turned out to be none other than single dad bachelor Jason Mesnick. I admit that I was sucked in to the show this season because Jason seemed like such a likable, nice guy. But slowly over the season, I began to have my doubts. When he let Jillian go, labeling her as "too much of a best friend" or some such nonsense, I knew he was just another dumb guy. (I mean, don't most people strive to fall in love with their best friend? Isn't that really a best-case scenario? But I digress.) So Jason chose Melissa. Proposed to her, even. And sent Molly with her "star-gazin' amazin'" eyes packing. (those were his words, not mine) But it seems that he wasn't through with ol' Mol. In fact, despite his engagement to Mel, he continued to have contact with the runner up. And finally broke up with Melissa. On National TV. Granted it was a reality show. But still. And 5 minutes later, rekindled with Molly, who for some Crazy (with a capital c) reason, took him back. And then they made out. On National TV.

So now, there is a new word floating around. "Mesnicked" Let me use it for you in a sentence.

"I thought things were going well, but then he totally Mesnicked me and told me he's found someone else."

See? Reality TV is good for something. Expanding our vocabulary.

Song of the day--In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel--straight off of the Say Anything soundtrack. (which I own, by the way, on cassette tape)

Like Sands Through the Hourglass...

2009-02-04T20:43:00.006-06:00

I mentioned in my last blog post that 33 had always been my "scary" birthday. It's always sort of loomed out there for me. Not really sure why. Perhaps it's because I remember my parents at that age. I have no recollection of either of them turning 30, but I distinctly remember when they were 33. It was 1987 and I was 11. And (I thought) they were grown ups.

And now I'm apparently a grown up as well. At least I suppose that's what people think! Although most of the time I don't feel that way. I do, in fact, still feel 25...most of the time. (thanks to George Strait for that sentiment!)

But if I could go back and actually be a twentysomething again I wouldn't. Sure, there were some good moments...

I'd love to be back at FHU in the dorm with my friends for a couple of days, prank calling the PKA guys, skipping class and sitting out in the commons, and having Tea Society meetings at Dawn's. Maybe one more Spring Break trip to Florida with the girls and of course I'd love the chance to be in Makin' Music one more time around.
I'd probably take another week of backpacking through Europe with Kelly, fearlessly exploring country after country, going to see U2 and REM in concert again, and maybe having a large hazelnut gelato on the Duomo steps.
I'd love to have a couple of days in the apartment in Henderson on Gailbraith Street where I lived with Vickie, Nicole, Mandy, Julie and Bethany. (only Vickie and I were there the entire time, the rest rotated). It was in this apartment, right after college graduation when I coined the (now famous in some circles) phrase "These are the worst times of our lives," which must be said very dramatically with your hand placed to your forehead just so.
I'd like a couple of days in the house in Nashville on Linden Street with Katherine and all of our crazy neighbors, grabbing endless cups of coffee at Fido and flirting shamelessly with the musicians who worked there.
I might take a couple of days back at Shiloh as a ranger. That job was such a dream come true for me and my weird Civil-War-buff-since-4th-grade-self. There's nothing quite like firing a Civil War musket...
I wouldn't mind a couple of days in Mobile to visit with everyone at the Chamber and enjoy a long lunch out on the deck at Ed's. And maybe a long weekend at Gulf Shores and, of course, a Mardi Gras parade.

But looking back, I wouldn't want to actually permanently be back in any of those times or places. I loved those years. I'm so blessed to have had the experiences and the friendships that grew along the way. And all of those combined experiences have made me who I am today, and brought me to where I am today.

If you've caught on that this blog post is meant to convince me to embrace 33 rather than dread it, you're right! So happy birthday to me. My wise friend Dawn tells me that the 40's are better than the 30's which were better than the 20's. She hasn't steered me wrong yet, so I'm going to believe her. And if the best is yet to come, there must be some great times ahead! And that thought alone makes turning another year older worth it.

Song of the day is Seasons of Love from Rent. Love it. 525,600 minutes--that's all the time I get to be 33, so I'd better enjoy it!

32 Flavors

2009-01-24T12:15:00.013-06:00

My birthday is right around the corner. Which wouldn't normally be a big, blogworthy deal.

However, this one has always been my "scary" birthday. Not quite sure why. I did okay turning 30. No panic. But the thought of 33 has always scared me. I googled it and found out I'm not alone with the whole 33 fear! Which made me feel a little better. I always like to have other people validate my neurosis.

So I decided to make a few lists. (If you know me, this is no surprise because I make lists all the time...)

My list for today is sort of a take off on what I've seen going around Facebook lately. So here are 32 random facts about me, one for each year I've lived!

THESE ARE MY CONFESSIONS...

1. I miss playing sports. I wish I were still on a softball, volleyball or basketball team.

2. I once hitched a ride in Italy with a guy on a Vespa.

3. Cooking helps me relax. Weird, I know. But I can spend hours in my kitchen, trying new recipes. Someday I hope to have a huge, state-of-the art kitchen.

4. When I started writing Love is a Battlefield, I didn't think it would ever really get published. When I saw the book cover for the first time last week, I screamed. Loudly.

5. Sometimes I still check under my bed for monsters.

6. I talk to my dogs like they are people. Sometimes we argue.

7. Once in the jungle, in the Darien region of Panama, while on a medical mission trip, I scrubbed little kids heads to get rid of their lice. It was a hard job, and we made up songs as we worked. We sang "You've got lice, babe" and "Lice, lice, baby". That was when I learned that sometimes humor is the only way to get through certain situations.

8. I often pray while I'm driving. So if you ever pass me in my car and it seems like I'm talking to myself, I'm really talking to God.

9. I'm confused as to how I was able to fearlessly jump off of a mountain in Switzerland with just a plastic parachute strapped to me, yet flying in a plane scares me every time.

10. I am a control freak and a perfectionist. Sometimes I have to make myself just let things go.

11. I was a cheerleader in high school and I can still wear my uniform from my senior year. Guess what my favorite Halloween costume is?

12. I am such a procrastinator that I wrote my speech for high school graduation while I sat on the football field in my cap and gown, waiting on my name to be called.

13. I have three recurring dreams: My teeth crumble in my mouth. I get to the airport to go to Europe, only to find out that my passport has expired. It is the day of a big event (one that I've planned in the past) and I get to the event only to find out that I've not started planning it yet.

14. Sometimes I think I belong in a different era. Maybe the 50's.

15. I love politics and have considered running for office someday. Not anything major, but perhaps local government.

16. I love SEC football. Any match up, but especially the big rivalry games. Saturdays in the fall, you will find me watching football.

17. I love to fish. I can even bait my own hook. But I don't ever keep any of the fish I catch because I can't bear to eat something I've looked in the eye.

18. I don't really have any big regrets. All the choices I've made in my life have brought me to where I am now. And I think I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. So if I had it to do over, I wouldn't make any major changes.

19. I'm thankful I lived in Mobile. Not only did I gain a lot of experience that has helped my career, but I also met some great friends.

20. I love libraries and can spend hours in them.

21. I think letter-writing is a lost art. If I could find a man who would write me hand-written letters, I think I'd marry him.

22. When I was 11, I had a crush on Kirk Cameron.

23. When I was 17, I had a crush on Billy Ray Cyrus. In fact, I was in the VH1 special One on One with Billy Ray that year. Oh yes, I am a star!

24. Today, I have a little crush on Tim Tebow, despite the fact that he was born in 1987 and I remember 1987.

25. I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve. And I don't have a poker face. So people usually know how I feel about things. Sometimes this can be a problem.

26. I love the fleur-de-lis. It is the symbol of the city of Florence, Italy, and the summer I lived there, I fell in love with the design.

27. I think Anne Taintor is hilarious.

28. I also love StoryPeople. Sometimes I find one that seems like it was written just for me.

29. I hate it when people make fun of other people for things they can't help.

30. I tend to be really tenderhearted, and I think this will come as a surprise to many. Among many other things, I get teary-eyed at the end of reality shows, commercials about shelter dogs, and every time I hear pomp and circumstance.

31. I love my job. I think what we do is important. In fact, if I were in the Miss America pageant, my platform would be organ donation. But, alas, I am too old to be Miss America.

32. I think I've finally stopped running from who I am. I'm embracing my quirks, my nerdiness, my introversion and my interests. I don't even try to pretend anymore. Finally, finally, at nearly 33, I'm comfortable in my own skin.

Fittingly, the Song of the Day is 32 Flavors. This version is by Alana Davis.

All New and Fresh and Shiny...

2009-01-01T18:10:00.002-06:00

Welcome to 2009!

The beginning of a new year is always daunting to me. So many things I want to do, so many things I want to reflect on. . . where to start?

First:

2008 was a good year because...

job i love
book contract
old friends
new friends
new city
and the list could go on

But rather than bore you with a highlight reel of my 2008 I will instead tell you what I hope for 2009.

Some are sort of resolution-like, others are just plans.

1. Finish book #1 (okay, this is sort of unfair since it is almost finished and is due on Monday--but it will feel good to check it off the list)

2. Finish books #2 and #3 (whew! I am finding that writing is an emotional experience. Never really realized that until recently. So this means I am likely to be an emotional basket case for much of 2009...haha!)

3. I have a HUGE list of books I want to read. I have a confession. I've never read Jane Austen. Not a single page of anything she wrote. So at the top of my list, once I've turned in my book on Monday, is to read Jane Austen.

4. I'm going to get serious about becoming a homeowner. Yep. It's about that time. I'm nearly a grown-up, after all.

5. I want to run in 2 5Ks this year. I completed one in 2008--so I'd like to double that in 2009.

6. I want to have less stuff in 2009. I'm due for a big old yard sale. And then...the stuff that goes away won't be replaced. This includes shoes, jeans and dresses. I seem to have a problem with those 3 items. I buy them in bulk.

7. Travel. It has been eons since I've been on vacation. So 2009 is the year of the trip. Plane, train, or automobile--I don't care. Have baggage, will travel.

8. In 2009, I will get out of my comfort zone a little more. Try some new things. Meet some new people. Really, I will.

9. I will cook more. Hopefully while wearing vintage aprons (which are what I want for my upcoming birthday). And when I cook, I will invite other people over to enjoy it. (see #8)

10. Finally, but also most importantly, I will be a better student of God's word in 2009. My faith needs sharpening and there is no better time to start than today.

Okay, there are some of mine. How about you? Anything in particular you hope to do in 2009?

And because I simply couldn't resist, the song of the day is a beautiful version of Auld Lang Syne.

Happy New Year!

This Christmas...

2008-12-20T19:34:00.005-06:00

All I want for Christmas is...

1. Words. The right ones. Both for my manuscript and my everyday life.

2. Peace. On earth, in my life, etc. Just that general Peaceful Easy Feeling that I hear so much about.

3. Contentment. This is somewhat elusive in my world. Just when I'm content, something happens to make me discontent. :) I just might have a special gift for making things harder than they need to be.

4. And along those lines...Simplicity. Although on second thought, maybe not so much. I say I want things simple, but seem to thrive best on Complicated.

5. My family. Games, food, laughter. Funny how now that I'm "all grown up" Christmas with my family becomes less about gifts and more about time.

6. My friends. Oh how blessed I am. I stood in the kitchen tonight and gazed at my fridge, which is adorned with Christmas photo cards from them. I'm a lucky girl for sure.

7. Time. It goes too fast for my liking. I went to bed and it was January and now all of the sudden, we're nearing the end of December. What happened? I look back and am astounded at how quickly the year went. Note to self: Live in the moment.

8. Boldness. I need a little bit of bold for Christmas this year. No more doormat. But not so assertive as to make me brazen or harsh.

9. Spontaneity. I need some of this too. Just a tad. To keep me out of a rut.

10. Organization. This should be on everyones Christmas list this year. I think with a little more organization, I'd get more of #7. Which would give me more #5, #6, and #9.

Okay, that's about it. You think Santa can come through for me?

The song of the day is Mistletoe by Colbie Caillat.

Fearless

2008-11-23T17:42:00.005-06:00

Life is scary.

Seriously. Crazy things happen to people. Cars crash. An unexpected diagnosis changes lives forever. People go postal and innocent bystanders get caught in the crossfire.

I know. I sound a little paranoid, huh?

But I've been thinking lately about taking risks. As those of you who are familiar with me and my blogs know, I am not a fan of change. And I've had a lot of that lately. New city, new house, new job, new friends, new church, and the list goes on and on and on.

Sometimes it is hard to take a chance on the unknown, isn't it? Whether it is moving to a new city, going on a date with someone new, or just finding the courage to finish that book...it is always scary. At least it is for me.

Once I spoke in chapel during Homecoming week at my alma mater. One of the pieces of wisdom I imparted to the college students in the audience was "I'd rather regret something I did, than something I didn't do." I think sometimes I need to remind myself of this concept. (and notice the quote at the bottom of this blog--apparently Mark Twain and I see eye to eye!)

So this week, I promise to get out of my comfort zone a little bit. Take some risks. Finish writing some chapters even though sometimes the very fact that someone will actually read them next October freaks me out a little!

The song of the day/week/month (depending on how long it takes me to blog again!) is Fearless by Taylor Swift.

And for your amusement (and because LOVE quotes) here are a couple that I thought were applicable:

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do.--Mark Twain

The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything. --Theodore Roosevelt

To Err is Human...

2008-10-27T20:59:00.004-05:00

"To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you." Lewis B. Smedes

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." Mahatma Gandhi

So the big theme of the book I'm working on is turning out to be forgiveness. And I have to say, that was a bit of a surprise! I knew all along forgiveness was key, but didn't realize how pivotal it was really going to be.

Forgive. Seems like such an innocent little word, doesn't it? But it is a hard concept. At least for me. In the writing of some particular scenes, I had a horrible realization. I've been holding on to a lot of bitterness. Even a little anger. Let's just say it was quite cathartic to allow my heroine to let go of hers. In a way, I think I sort of learned to let go of mine.

I did have some help though. I happened to hear a fantastic sermon on forgiveness. Have you ever felt like the preacher was talking to you? Like he might as well just come stand right in front of you, point and say "This sermon was written especially for you, so listen." Well that was the uncomfortable position I found myself in a couple Sundays ago. The scripture was Ephisians 4:31--"let go of all bitterness, rage and anger." He asked us why, if God could keep forgiving us for all of the dumb stuff we do--why do we have such a hard time forgiving each other? Good point, huh?

So there you have it. Much easier said than done, I know.

The song of the day is "The Heart of the Matter" by Don Henley--because as he so profoundly implies, forgiveness is really the heart of the matter. I like this song so much that I've included some of my favorite lyrics:

There are people in your life who've come and gone
They let you down, you know they hurt your pride
You better put it all behind you baby; cause life goes on
You keep carryin' that anger; it'll eat you up inside, baby

Celebration!

2008-09-23T21:54:00.005-05:00

Talk about overwhelming!

I attended the ACFW Conference in Minnesota last week—it was fantastic!

The speakers were wonderful, I met tons of authors, and really learned a lot.

The highlight was Friday after lunch. The editors from Barbour got up in front of the crowd to hand out contracts to 3 prospective authors in the audience. And believe it or not, I was one of the three!

Have you ever been in a moment that you just knew was life changing? That is what it was like for me. It almost felt like an out of body experience to walk up to the podium and accept the letter of intent from Becky Germany—they want to buy my three book series. Wow. Words seriously don’t describe the feeling.

I remember going back to my seat and noticing that I was shaking. I leaned over and said “I need to go call my mom.” And I remember the knowing glances of the people I passed on my way out of the room. They all knew I couldn’t contain myself. I proceeded to call practically everyone I knew.

I’m not sure if my feet are on the ground, even now. When will it feel real? Once I have a real deadline? Once I know for sure what the release dates will be? Or will it not feel real until I hold my book in my hand and see it on the shelf at (hopefully) Wal-Mart? Actually I’m a library kind of girl, so knowing people can actually go and check my book out might be the thing that ends up the “coolest part”. Haha.

However you look at it, I am excited. And overwhelmed. And ever so blessed.

The icing on the cake to my weekend was the awards banquet Saturday night. I actually won the Contemporary Romance category in the Genesis contest. Again, wow! I was so certain I wouldn’t win, I didn’t even prepare a speech. So I had to give my thanks “off the cuff” and felt like I could barely form words. I remember looking at Camy on the stage and saying “I don’t have anything to say” but somehow I managed to step to the microphone and speak.

I distinctly remember saying “Thanks to everyone who has encouraged me to follow such a big dream.” And I mean that sincerely. For me, publication has been a big dream. And it took me a long time to begin sharing that dream with people. But you know, no one ever laughed. No one ever told me that was a good idea, but not to get my hopes up. Everyone I’ve shared it with seemed to think that it was a normal dream to follow, and many of them shared with me their complete confidence in me that it would someday happen.

And now it will.

Song of the day: Beautiful Day by U2.

Below are pictures from the awards banquet! Enjoy!

With Christine Lynxwiler

Posing with my new EDITOR, Rebecca Germany

With one of my favorite authors, Rachel Hauck

Christine Lynxwiler, Susan May Warren, me, Susan Downs, and Rachel Hauck

Just me, feet not on ground! haha!

Just Like a Friday Afternoon

2008-08-26T22:46:00.003-05:00

First, I thought of an addition to my previous post about things coming back around...the "new" Beverly Hills 90210. How random is that? I admit I was a fan back in the day, but coming out with it again seems a little odd.

Anyway, it's funny how things seem to have moved so slowly for me for the past year while I've been working from home, yet I look at the calendar and am amazed at the time that has passed.

I just accepted a new position, which I am really excited about. I'll be moving to Memphis very soon. I've already found the perfect place, but can't move in for a couple of weeks. So my time in Arkansas is winding down.

Exciting stuff. Lots of changes coming my way. Normally I'm a girl who is a bit resistant to change, but I'm welcoming these. I've loved the time I've gotten to spend here, but it is time to move forward. The good part is that I'll still be close enough to come home often. I've never lived anywhere that was within reasonable driving distance to home, so that is good.

The decision to move to Memphis just made a lot of sense to me. I'd considered other cities, but when I really thought about it, Memphis was really the clear choice. And then I found a job that was perfect for me, and that made it even more of a clear choice.

So now I'm packing and looking for furniture and home decor! And, of course, trying to get my book finished. I'm supposed to have it done before I leave for the writing conference in Minnesota. Am hopeful that goal is one that can be reached, but as I'm writing, I'm beginning to realize that it will likely be a week or so after conference that it is actually ready to turn in.

And the song of the day....is my all time favorite song! This Time of Year by Better than Ezra. It just reminds me of crisp fall days and that feeling you get on a Friday when you have the whole weekend ahead. Great song. Enjoy!

Nothing New Under the Sun

2008-08-07T00:13:00.002-05:00

So lately I've been noticing that lots of things seem to be coming back around...

First there was the new Indiana Jones movie. I sheepishly admit that I haven't seen it. The trio of Indy movies are some of my all time favorites. Remember the scene where the girl has "I Love You" on her eyelids while in his history/archaeology class? Love it! In college I always wished I had an Indiana Jones type professor. (but unfortunately, I did not. except for that Italian teacher, but we were actually in Italy, so that doesn't count. although my friends and I nicknamed him "Adonis" for the summer and I did end up having dinner with him once...but I digress)

Then, the New Kids on the Block reunite. Stop. It. Now. I can't take the madness. Yes, NKOTB hit their fame just as I was coming of age as a pre-teen. I loved them all, but Donnie the most. And I do have a very sad story about the time I wanted to see them in concert so badly--they were going to be at Six Flags in Atlanta and I happened to be in Atlanta and it just seemed too perfect. And wouldn't you know, the tickets were sold out. Some friends tried to pull strings at a radio station, but to no avail. So my dear mother drove me out to Six Flags just to see if we could get a glimpse. And there was the tour bus! I tried to get her to rear end it so they'd have to get out, but she refused. And imagine my disappointment when we finally got back to my Aunt's house to a message that said the radio station had found us 2 tickets. But by then it was too late. So now I'm trying to decide if I should catch a concert this time around. I have several friends who are going to catch the show in Atlanta, so we'll see if I end up getting a ticket and going.

And finally, the new back to school JCPenney commercial. That reenacts scenes from "The Breakfast Club" (an all time favorite movie) while playing "Don't You Forget About Me" from the movie soundtrack. Do teens today even know that the scenes in the commercial are from a movie? Probably not. John Hughes--you seriously need to come out of hiding and do more movies, because today's movies just aren't on the same level.

Okay. I know, it was a rambling post. But in my defense, it is late and I'm in a rambling kind of mood. :)

Song of the week....it was a tough choice. I finally settled on the aforementioned "Don't You Forget About Me" by Simple Minds. Great song. Great movie. Those were the days.

Happy Fourth of July!

2008-07-04T22:06:00.004-05:00

Well, here it is, my favorite holiday! That's right. Even higher on my list than Christmas is the 4th of July.

Not really sure why, but it has been since I was a little girl. Something about summer, I guess. Plus I've always liked patriotic holidays. Or maybe its because I was a bicentennial baby (1976).

Anyway, this has been a pretty good day. Just relaxing, grilling out, and working in the garden.

I'm gearing up for my final work trip to Alabama. Its rather bittersweet. I'm turning my healthcare programs over to someone else while I'm there, imparting upon them all of the information I can, and then I'll be officially done with Mobile. Sort of like a chapter in my life is closing. I can't believe its been almost a year since I left there. And also can't believe I've been accidentally in Arkansas for almost a year either! :)

So I'm job hunting right now, as my contract is coming to an end. My contract is officially up in mid-August, so I still have a little time left, but it is definitely time for me to move on.

I'm sort of stuck in a rut as far as writing goes. Not sure which direction to go in. I'm guessing the best thing I can do is just keep writing. Easier said than done! I'm so busy right now, putting the finishing touches on the Summer Scrubs program I'm coordinating. In a couple of weeks though, that should calm down. Then I hope to write like the wind before conference in September.

Okay, happy Fourth of July! The song of the day is, of course, entitled "Fourth of July" and is by Shooter Jennings.

Back to the Blog

2008-06-11T12:25:00.006-05:00

Well, I've been on a blogging hiatus for a couple of weeks. Life has gotten crazy hectic again.

I'm working a lot on the Summer Scrubs program, which is rapidly approaching. I've already ordered scrubs for all of the students (364 sets of scrubs, thank you very much) and am anxiously waiting on them to get in. They have to go to the screen printer by July 1st, so time is ticking.

And I turned in roughly 1/3 of my novel to an editor last Friday. It's okay, but I'm not satisfied with it. I think in my quest to make the hero a "dream guy" I unfortunately didn't make him quite real enough. Even the best of us have flaws. :) So now I'm trying to come up with a better, more believable character for him that makes him believable yet dreamy just the same. Any suggestions? I'm just hoping that the editor will like it enough to want more, even though hero man is a little cardboard right now. We'll see.

To top it off, I got a brown recluse spider bite last week. It's been pretty awful, but I'm happy to report that it's beginning to heal.

And the song of the day today is Closing Time by Semisonic. Might seem like an odd choice. But I've always liked it. And just for the record, despite what it sounds like, it is actually about being born, not about a bar closing. :) Seriously, I looked it up.

But I've always particularly liked the line "every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." Truer words were never spoken!

Ode to David Cook, American Idol Cutie

2008-05-23T18:36:00.005-05:00

Well, I can't help it. Lately I've tried to blog all reflective like and serious, and stay away from all the pop culture, but I guess the shallow side of me wins out. Especially with Idol, Dancing with the Stars, Greys, and Desperate Housewives all having had finales this week, I have some catching up to do. Starting with American Idol.

I was so glad to see David Cook win. Not that Archuleta wasn't talented. It's just that from the get go, David Cook has performed songs that could be on the radio tomorrow. And all of them sounded different. David Archuleta needs a little variety in his repertoire. Enough with the ballads.

The finale was great. Better than last year I thought.

Moments I loved:

Jason Castro doing Hallelujah. He's so pretty.

Anytime Michael Johns was onstage. Sigh.

The guys singing Summer of 69.
The girls singing She Works Hard for the Money. That's my theme song.

The medley of George Michael songs.

David Cook fronting for ZZ Top.

Simon apologizing to David Cook. I felt like it was a long time coming. I was still miffed from way back when he called him out for being a word nerd. I happen to like word nerds.

And of course, the Guitar Hero homage to Risky Business. But only the David Cook one.

Moments I could've done without or would've liked to change:

Anytime Amanda was onstage. Did they have to tie her up and drag her there to get her to perform? I've never seen anyone look so miserable on stage.

The Michael/Carly duet. While I liked the Michael portion (see above) I never cared for Carly.

Where was Kristy Lee Cook's solo or duet? Why didn't she get one and some of the others did? (She, Chickeze, and Ramile were the only ones from the Top 10 who didn't get their own stage time...)

The Jonas Brothers. Why were they there at all?? All the other acts had AI Contestants with them.

The costume mistakes--putting pretty Jordin Sparks in that horrid gold dress, AND forgetting to put enough material on the bottom of whatever that was Carrie Underwood had on.

My other thoughts? First, the only thing I don't like about David Cook is the pair of weird boots he wears. They are black and the toe of them points upward like elf shoes. They make his feet look like planks. Lose the boots David, and you'll go far!

Was it just me, or did David Archuleta sound better on the One Republic song that the actual lead singer usually sounds? That style of music should be his niche, he just needs to learn to do some faster songs too. (and NOT in the style of Chris Brown as we saw him do a couple of weeks ago)

As usual, I hated the hokey American Idol winner song at the end.

I predict there will be a few from this season who go on to have reasonable success in the music industry. And some who will ride their wave of fame over to the TV Guide network along with their previous season counterparts.

The song of the day was hard to decide on. Obviously a David Cook song from this season. Billie Jean was good. Hello was good. So was You Don't Wanna Miss a Thing. I was really torn, but I decided my favorite was his rendition of Mariah Carey's Always Be My Baby. So enjoy!

Pomp and Circumstance

2008-05-20T11:31:00.005-05:00

Okay, I don't dispense advice very often, at least not publicly. But as the graduation season is upon us, I couldn't help but make a list of my best "I wish I'd have known" tidbits.

I have 3 special high school graduates in my life this year, and each of them are about to embark on an exciting adventure.

So Diana, Dustin, and Jessica...here's my take on life after graduation.

Don't beat yourself up over mistakes you make. And you will make them. Learn from them, try not to make the same mistake twice, but forgive yourself.
When a good opportunity comes your way, take it. Don’t let fear of the unknown hold you back. I had never been on an airplane before I spent a semester in Italy. I almost let that fear, along with a controlling ex-boyfriend, keep me from going. Today, I’m so glad I went—since that summer, I’ve traveled all over the world and the boyfriend isn’t even on my radar anymore.
Pray. Your life will get busy. Classes will be harder, work will be tougher, relationships and social outings will become higher priorities. Even so, carve out time daily for prayer. You’ll be glad you did.
Meet new people. You never know when you’re going to meet a lifelong friend. The best friends I have today, those who I know will be in my life until we’re little old ladies at the nursing home, I didn’t meet until I was out of high school.
Your heart will get broken. You will probably break someone else’s heart too. It’s okay. Someday you will look back on it and see how it helped you to get where you needed to be.
Keep a journal.
Go to class. It will be tempting to skip. Especially in those classes where the professor doesn’t take roll. You’ll be sleepy and will have something better to do. Go to class anyway.
Try and eat healthy. It won’t always be possible, but don’t eat pizza and burgers every night. If you do, it will take a toll, not only on your weight, but also on your health.
Take responsibility for your actions. If you mess up, admit it. If you hurt someone, apologize. You’re a grown up now, and can’t expect your parents to smooth things over for you anymore.
Finally (and I hate to be a cliché) remember who you are and whose you are. I know, it’s something grandma’s say, but seriously. You never know who looks to you as an example. Younger siblings or cousins, friends, or maybe even someone you don’t know very well. Make sure that your actions show people that you are a Christian.

And I’m off my soapbox now.

Song of the day…the Sunscreen Song. Thought it was appropriate. And I agree with most of it, so listen up!

Who Am I?

2008-04-25T10:24:00.005-05:00

Who Am I? My favorite T-shirt from college has this phrase written across the front. The back declares "Generation X, Freed Hardeman U, I am many attitudes, many styles, many beliefs."

The shirt is from the Student Alumni Association retreat my sophomore year and I've always loved it for many reasons. And even now, 12 years later, I still wear it and it's still relevant for me.

Not only is it a great conversation piece--I've traveled all over the world in this shirt and in every country, every language, people will read the front of my shirt, laugh, and say "Who are you?"

And many days I ask myself that same question. Who am I?

The reason it stays relevant is because who we are is always changing. Years ago, people graduated from college and said "I am an accountant" (or teacher, or whatever) and they were, forever until they retired. But today, people change careers at the drop of the hat. They try something for awhile, then try something else.

In fact, I sort of wish my shirt said "Who am I TODAY?" And I know this might make me seem a little odd, but really, I think we all wear a lot of hats. I know I do. Some days I'm a writer, some days I'm a consultant. Some days I'm a gardener and others I'm a couch potato. I try and be a good daughter and a good friend every day, but sometimes I know I fail.

But you know, I think as long as every day I am a Christian, everything else will just fall into place. In fact, sometimes we try and let too many other things define us. If God is the constant in our lives, all the other stuff can change and grow, and it will all turn out fine. When I wonder "Who Am I?" as long as the first answer is "I am a Christian" then even if I don't know what my career will be in 5 years, or where I'm going to move next, everything is still okay.

And just for fun, here's a picture I dug out of me in Turkey, circa 1997, wearing the T-shirt.

And the song of the day--Who I Am, by Jessica Andrews. No random stories about this one, just thought it fit.

Happy Friday!

Finally!

2008-04-17T09:39:00.002-05:00

I've been so caught up with work stuff I haven't given a thought to my blog lately.

The project I'm working on is a summer program (Summer Scrubs) for high school students who are interested in health care careers. When I first started coordinating it 3 years ago, I accepted 100 high school students into the program, and had 6 health care facilities participate. This year, I have 190 students and 13 health care facilities! It's grown by leaps and bounds, and some of the students who have participated in the past are now enrolled in health care programs in college. One hospital told me recently that they had just made their first hire of someone who went through the program! It is rewarding work, but keeps me buried in paperwork, e-mails, and phone calls. When I agreed to take the project on this year as a consultant, I didn't consider that the past years I've had 2 full time staff members helping me. Now I'm a one woman show. Hence the work that's kept me from blogging. :)

I spent last week in Mobile, Alabama for work. I worked 12-15 hour days all week, but still managed to find time to go out to dinner with friends for yummy seafood at the Gulf. And I got some great news while I was there! I finaled in two categories in the 2008 Genesis Contest! Contemporary Romance and Chick Lit. Winners will be announced in September at the ACFW Conference.

And now, introducing my new blog feature....the Song of the Day! (my life definitely has a soundtrack, so I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite songs)

Nightswimming by REM....is one of my favorites. In fact, for the past 10+ years, I've always said that if I ever get married, my bridesmaids will walk down the aisle to an instrumental version of this song. Fun fact...I went to see REM in Bologna, Italy. Amazing concert. What I remember from that night--we went to eat at McDonalds beforehand. That was a real treat because for the most part we tried to stay away from "American" stuff while in Europe. After the show, we got back to the train station only to find that there wasn't a train going anywhere we needed to go until the next day. And because of the concert, there wasn't any room at any of the hostels. So we slept at the train station. It was cold and I found a cardboard box to lay on. (ahh, the glamour of backpacking...)

And The Oscar Goes To...

2008-02-24T16:52:00.007-06:00

Yes, it's time for the Academy Awards! I'm one of those award show junkies, so with the whole writer's strike, I was afraid the Oscars would go the way of the Golden Globe and be a press conference.

A girl needs a red carpet every now and then!

And speaking of red carpets, let me just say that I LOVE to see the dresses, shoes, and jewelry. So much that I'll actually endure the horrible interviews by the E network or TV Guide Network just so I can get a better view of the fashion. At least they've gotten rid of Joan Rivers. (I'm hoping Joey Fatone and Lisa Rinna won't be as annoying, but I won't hold my breath!)

But what I don't understand is those stars who wear completely unflattering gowns. Many, many come to mind from years past. Remember when Gwyneth Paltrow chose a goth inspired look? Or when Uma Thurman wore some kind of crazy Swiss Miss outfit? And don't even get me started on Cher.

I guess I find it hard to believe that they really thought those outfits looked okay. So I'm interested in seeing who made bad choices tonight, and who actually had a little sense. (or at least a good stylist)

As for the awards themselves...there really isn't one I'm too excited about. I'm much more interested in the red carpet this year, although I would love to see Ruby Dee and Hal Holbrook win their categories. Hal Holbrook especially--I remember him as Reese Watson from Designing Women (my all time favorite show, which incidentally is now on TV Land!). And of course, I love Johnny Depp, so I guess I'm pulling for him too.

Speaking of awards and contests, the ACFW Genesis Contest entries are due next week. And I'm still on the fence about entering. I have 2 WIPs that are basically ready for entry, I just have to decide to do it. We'll see. I was a finalist last year. Really just getting the feedback from the judges makes it worth it. So I'm probably going to make my submission in at least one category soon.

Thoughts on a Random Wednesday

2008-02-06T22:01:00.000-06:00

Where to start?

First off, this year, my birthday, Super Tuesday, and Mardi Gras all landed on the same day. Then came the devastating storms, and it became a birthday to remember.

Thankfully, we were spared. Our tornado siren went off at least 3 times, but none touched down. My prayers go out to those who weren't so fortunate.

My thoughts on Super Tuesday? Well, I'm a political kind of girl, so I had a lot of opinions, of which I will spare you. It was an exciting night though. And I'm proud of Mike Huckabee.

Mardi Gras...well, since I'm no longer in Mobile, Alabama (which has the oldest Mardi Gras in the United States...even older than the one that happens in New Orleans), there wasn't much hoopla. In Mobile, the parade route went right by my office building. So nearly everyday for 3 weeks, we had an excuse to scoot out early. We were actually off work more days for Mardi Gras than we were for Christmas. Does anyone else find that as odd as I always did?

My birthday...was okay. My family had a little surprise party for me last Saturday, which was nice. No candles though! :) I did get myself an early birthday present. A Nissan XTerra! Yay! I've been driving a Honda Accord Wagon for the past few years. And they stopped making those in 1997 if that tells you anything. Let's just say that a single girl driving a wagon, has to really fight to remain cool. But no more! My XTerra is perfect. It sits up high and there's plenty of room in the back for my dogs or my shopping bags, depending on what kind of trip I'm on.

And in other news...I send off a proposal on Monday for a series I'd discussed with an editor at ACFW conference. It was a s-c-a-r-y one to send, because it's the story I feel like I was born to write. Hopefully the editor will agree!

2008 Presidential Quiz

2008-01-08T11:53:00.000-06:00

Not really any big surprises here, but I took a Presidential Candidate Quiz to see which one has views most like mine:

70% Mike Huckabee
69% John McCain
62% Mitt Romney
62% Tom Tancredo
59% Fred Thompson
51% Rudy Giuliani
50% John Edwards
49% Hillary Clinton
46% Barack Obama
46% Chris Dodd
44% Joe Biden
43% Mike Gravel
42% Ron Paul
41% Bill Richardson
35% Dennis Kucinich

Here's the link in case anyone wants to take it for themselves:
2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz

New Year, New List of Things To Do...

2008-01-05T00:10:00.000-06:00

Well, Happy New Year!

I'm certainly hoping that whole myth about whatever you are doing at the stroke of midnight being an indicator for the rest of the year isn't true, because I was asleep when the clocks chimes/bells tolled, or whatever.

On second thought, considering that I probably still have a lack of sleep to make up for from college (and that summer I spent in Italy) maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing so spend a bit of time in 2008 in slumber.

But seriously, I love the idea of a new year. A clean slate. And my favorite thing, a blank day planner. I'm one of those people who refuses to give in to the more technological planner/calendar systems like Blackberrys or whatever. I prefer my old standby--a Franklin Covey planner.

I've been a planner girl for years. I love to make my daily to do list (and yes, I sometimes even do this on weekends and vacations, and I make no excuses for this habit because without it, I doubt I'd ever get anything done). I love to write down birthdays, anniversaries, meetings, and such in my planner.

And I hate to reveal this particular idiosyncrasy, but I also like to write down what outfit I wear each day. I've done this since high school. That's right. I could go back in my planners (which I keep) and tell you what I was wearing on this day in 1994. I don't do this so much now that I work from home. And I know it's strange, but it helps me to make sure I'm not just wearing the same thing over and over! :)

Anyway, I have high hopes for the year that is 2008. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

2007-12-20T20:13:00.000-06:00

Well, it's about that time! I LOVE Christmas. In fact, I even have a special Christmas section in my planner that starts in August and helps me make sure I do all the "Christmasy" things I want to do. Yep. I'm one of those kind of people. I like to do crafts (paint ornaments, make wreaths, etc.), bake (I'm having a marathon cookie bake tomorrow), and shop for just the right gift.

But this year, since all my belongings are in storage, I only pulled out my very favorite decorations. And rather than pull out my tall pre-lit tree from the storage building, I opted to put up 3 small pre-lit trees. Small, but still very festive.

I finally got my cards mailed out this week--I did photo cards this year. I couldn't resist. Every card I got from my college friends was a photo card, usually featuring their small children. Since I don't have any children to feature, I figured I'd put me and my dogs. And of course, me being me, I printed a few different cards just for some variety. I won't actually post the cards, but see the pictures below!

Merry Christmas!

It Seems Like Everyone's Got A Plan....

2007-11-28T10:26:00.000-06:00

It's kind of like Nashville, with a Tan....

Okay, I know that was a little random. But it was one of my favorite songs (Lullaby by Shawn Mullins) back when I lived in Nashville, and I heard it on Monday while I was driving to Nashville, and now I'm sitting here in Nashville...you get the picture...

So I'm in my very favorite coffee shop in the whole wide world (and I have traveled all over the world, and have a love affair with coffee, so that is saying a lot!) trying to get some work done on my book.

The coffee shop is called Fido (it used to be a pet store...), and it's in Hillsboro Village in Nashville, near downtown. I used to live in Hillsboro Village and was a frequent (almost nightly) visitor to Fido. Hillsboro Village is the "cool, trendy, hip" area of Nashville, and when I lived here, I felt very cool, trendy, and hip. In fact, just sitting here ingesting a large Mocha, I think I may have recaptured some of the cool, trendy, hipness of my early-twenties. Back in the day when I was just out of college and still wearing rose colored glasses.

Now I'm plagued by the cynicism that comes with being single and in my early (very early, thank you very much) thirties. Or as my friend Katherine says, my "Twirties". Which means Thirties but haven't let go of the cool, trendy, hip Twenties. :)

I'm here in Nashville for a week, visiting college friends and remembering what a social life is. I've dropped out of life for the past 4 months, but this little trip has let me know that I'm back from the abyss and ready to live again.

Which if you know what all I've been through these past months, should have you cheering for me. And if you don't know, well maybe I've just added an air of mystery to myself that will make you want to keep reading my blog. Ha! That reminds me of a great quote from a movie that I saw not too long ago...."No one is as mysterious as they think they are...."

And now, I will get back to writing my book, as I wait for my friend who is meeting me for lunch....he's a musician. After all, I am in Nashville!

Belated Blog

2007-11-07T11:20:00.000-06:00

So I actually wrote the following post a week ago and had "blogger" problems, so am just now posting it.....

I'm writing this from my hotel room in downtown Mobile. I'm here for a week of "on site" work. (as opposed to the weeks of "from home" work I've been doing for the past few months)

The 2 day event I've been planning for the past few months is this week, and thus far, everything is going well. Of course the event doesn't start until Thursday, and there will be many a fire to put out between now and then!

This event is such a cool thing. I will definitely post pictures later in the week. We will have a mock disaster staged in the parking lot of the Civic Center. (I have a towing company bringing 2 wrecked cars tomorrow and they will put them together as if they were just in a car crash) Both days, the Fire Truck and Ambulance will be on hand, just to add to the drama of the scene.

As the busloads of students get to the event, I will put them into groups and place them in a staging area where they will hear speakers from area hospitals while they wait their turn.

Then they will be taken one group at a time, first to an area where there is a tape player set up. There they will hear a 911 call. (I played the role of the 911 Dispatcher...) Once they've heard the mock call, they will go to the scene of the accident. (kind of gruesome, with a body lying on the concrete by the cars...he is portraying a drunk driver)

Then they will go with the EMTs and actually learn what they would do for the victims. (in this case, it will include CPR, intubating, and delivering a baby!) The students actually do this hands on, working on special mannequins. In exactly 10 minutes, a siren will sound and the students will take their "patients" into the ER. (every 10 minutes, a new group moves into the exhibit.)

In the ER, students will learn to start an IV and other things that would go on in there. From there, they go to radiology/lab, where they look at x-rays with a radiologist and check out the patient's labwork with a lab tech. From there, they go to surgery where they have to amputate a leg, among other things! Then they go to the patient's room, where the nurses will teach them to give a shot and listen to the baby's heartbeat. (the baby they delivered earlier at the accident scene) Then it's on to respiratory therapy for some breathing treatments for the asthmatic boy who was in the wreck, as well as a stop at the Pharmacy to learn how the Pharmacist plays a role in the treatment. After that, they go to Rehab, where they learn to do Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Exercise Physiology. Finally, they stop at the discharge nurse/case manager, to learn what the orders will be upon the patient's discharge from the hospital.

As you might've guessed, this event is meant to introduce students to various healthcare careers, but in a very cool and exciting way. The students who attend (I'm expecting 1000!) will be hands on through the whole process, from getting the "patients" out of the ambulance, all the way to discharging them.

This is my 4th year to plan and coordinate the event, and it is always a nervewracking time. Over the course of the 2 days, I will have around 300 volunteers, as well as 1000 students and around 75-100 counselors and teachers who will all be relying on me to make sure everything runs smoothly. It's a high pressure couple of days, especially working out the inevitable kinks on Thursday morning. My favorite part will be Friday afternoon, when things are running on their own and I will actually have a chance to go through all the exhibits and watch the event in action. But there is a long road ahead of me between now and then!

Beginning at 8am on Thursday, we will have a new school group every 10 minutes for several hours. Ditto on Friday. Between parking buses, making sure the food and drinks for volunteers are replenished, and directing the numerous volunteers to their spots, it is quite a hectic couple of days.

But still a great event! See below for a few pictures!

This was the mock car crash--we put a little plug in to tell kids "don't drink and drive" by making the cause of the crash driving while intoxicated. In our scenario, the drunk driver didn't make it.

Another view of the accident scene. You can see the fire truck in the back.

Ambulance on the scene--the kids got to pull the mock victims out of the ambulance just like in a real emergency.

This is just a shot of some of my artwork! I drew and painted pictures for each career represented, and the ambulance is one of my favorites!

More of my artwork! This was in the Emergency Room exhibit.

This is the "Surgery" exhibit. The kids got to amputate the "leg" of the victim. (also see a view of more of my artwork in the background!)

Nursing exhibit--students learning how to listen to the heartbeat of a newborn baby.

Nursing exhibit where there students learned to give shots.

Pharmacy Exhibit where the students learned what goes on in a Pharmacy.

Life as I know it

2007-10-10T12:57:00.000-05:00

So I haven't been in a "blogging" kind of mood lately. Not sure why exactly. Since I last blogged, I went to Dallas for ACFW conference (very fun!) and to Mobile for work (also very fun, and nice to see the Gulf again). It's funny--I never would've thought that when I started working from home, it would actually mean I would be busier than when I did the 8-5 office thing.

I am finally making progress on my book! But first, I spent a lot of time clearing out some space and bought a very fun bright yellow desk. I think just having a designated workspace has helped me tremendously.

Right now I am working on some of the details of the long synopsis and it's actually going really well. I love my heroine and the hero is growing on me. I changed his name yesterday though and am now even happier with him.

I'm finding that I'm addicted to Facebook. Most of my really good friends from college have recently gotten on there, and we are all having the best time re-connecting. It's sort of changed the way I e-mail--now most of the time, we just post on walls or send a private message.

Here are a list of a few other thoughts that I've had these past "no time to blog" weeks:

1. Britney Spears--bless her heart. Not that I'm a fan or anything, and I certainly don't support her decisions. But I can't help but feel a little sorry for her. Hopefully if she and her mom can really reconcile, it will make a positive difference.

2. The new season of Dancing With the Stars! I was so sad last week to see Albert Reed have to leave. I thought he was very cute and a pretty good dancer. So now I am pulling for Jennie Garth (yes, I was a 90210 fan back in the day), Cameron Mathison, and Helio the race car guy.

3. New season of Grey's Anatomy--I'm hanging in there with it. I miss Addison being there although I like her spin off okay. I also miss Dr. Burke. And I don't like where they are going with Meridith and McDreamy OR George and Izzy. But hopefully it will get better...

I think that's enough pop culture for one day!

Reunion!

2007-09-12T09:38:00.000-05:00

I went to Memphis over the weekend and had a reunion with some of my college friends! It was so much fun. We ate sushi and shopped, then stayed up late (okay, it was midnight, but that is late for us!)and talked.

We had such a great time, and I can't even express here how thankful I am to have friends like them. Even if it's been a month or a year or whatever since we've been together, it's as if no time as passed.

So after a very fun weekend, I am back home, trying to get ready for ACFW conference! I can't believe a week from today I will be on my way to Texas! I'm working on my pitch right now. This is the most daunting task I think I've ever faced.

I am not a good "speaker" when I get nervous. And I know I will be nervous. I am one of those introverts who hated being called on in class, even though I knew the answer. I just don't like to talk in front of people. UNLESS it is a large group and I am "performing". I can be in plays or musicals with no problem. I spoke in chapel at FHU 3 times--that's in front of about 2000 people, and was hardly nervous. I can stand in front of large tour groups and give a Civil War tour. But put me in front of one or two people and I'm a wreck.

Hopefully I will find a way to put myself at ease when I pitch. If anyone has any tips...please share! :)

What kind of coffee girl am I?

2007-09-08T09:59:00.000-05:00

Well, this may be a bit of a cop out, but I found a fun little quiz and thought I'd post it on here! :)

You Are a Cappuccino

You're fun, outgoing, and you love to try anything new.
However, you tend to have strong opinions on what you like.
You are a total girly girly at heart - and prefer your coffee with good conversation.
You're the type that seems complex to outsiders, but in reality, you are easy to please

What Kind of Coffee Girl Are You?

Time Keeps on Ticking...

2007-09-03T13:01:00.000-05:00

Well, the time certainly seems to fly by, doesn't it? I had all these grand plans of having both of my manuscripts finished by the time ACFW conference rolls around, but it seems that might not happen.

Okay, not just that it might not happen, it won't happen! But I am working on finishing my cozy mystery and am also preparing to pitch my chick-lit work in progress to an editor at the conference in 2 weeks.

I'm feeling pretty good about it actually. Of course, in 2 weeks, I might not feel the same! I talked to a friend last week who had pitched something last year at RWA and she thought she had it memorized, but forgot it once she got in front of the editor. That is my fear!! Thanks to her advice, I am definitely going to take a cheat sheet with me to my editor appointments. Just in case I lose my train of thought.

And in other news, I am trying to decide what to wear to the awards banquet. Am torn between my favorite formal that I never get the chance to wear, and something a little more casual.

I'm leaning toward my formal, just because I love to get all dressed up, and let's face it--there aren't many opportunities to do that.

Of course, what I should REALLY be focusing on is my manuscript. But my philosophy (or excuse, depending on how you look at it) is that if I look good, I'll feel good, and if I feel good, I'll do a better job pitching my work. So really, it's all about the clothes! Ha!

A Change Will Do Me Good...

2007-08-15T10:31:00.000-05:00

I know it’s been forever since I’ve blogged. Let’s just say that my life has been going through some transitions these past few weeks.

After my last day of work a couple of weeks ago, I spent a few days at the beach. Alone. And most people who heard that thought it was really weird. But I think sometimes we all need a little alone time to rejuvenate. And like I told my mom a few years ago when I traveled in Europe by myself, God is with me everywhere I go, so I’m never really alone. (she didn’t like it much when I said that because it meant she could no longer fuss about it!)

Now I’m in Arkansas, writing 2 books and enjoying time with my family. I am also doing a freelance job for my old company which gives me a purpose (and an income) but still the freedom to write and visit with people I’ve neglected for far too long.

And my big life drama (or if my life were a book, my main conflict…) is trying to decide where to go and what to do next. I am only planning on being at mom’s for a few weeks before I find my own place again and start job hunting. But I will say—it is rather nice to have so many choices! At this point, my life, which a few weeks ago I thought was pretty well planned out, is now a clean slate. I can totally reinvent myself if I want to and start all over. And you know, it’s kind of nice. And scary. But very much what I want right now.

Here are a couple of random verses I stumbled upon this week. They both really stuck out at me, so I thought I’d share:

Psalm 147:3 “He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.”

Proverbs 11:22 “A beautiful woman without good sense is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.”

Waiting on Harry

2007-07-20T14:34:00.000-05:00

Well I admit it. I'm excited about the final Harry Potter book which comes out at midnight tonight. And though I'm not going to be at Barnes and Noble at midnight to buy one of the first copies, I am going to be there tomorrow morning. In fact, I even saved a birthday Barnes and Noble gift card for this occasion!

And I can't wait to read it. But at the same time, I'm a little sad. I know two characters die, and quite frankly, unless it is Snape or one of the Malfoys, I'm not too happy with it. And to be honest, I'm sad it's the last book. I wish she would keep writing them until no one wants to read them again! (although I guess depending on the ending of this one, that might be tough to do)

I just re-read the Half Blood Prince, so I'm definitely ready to find out what happens next. Hopefully it will be a satisfying ending to a great series.

I'm just afraid the ending will end up on the Internet (like on the front page of MSN) or on the news. And I really don't want to know the end until I read it with my own eyes. I'm really hoping Harry, Ron, and Hermione live. And Hagrid. I really don't want him to die. And of course, I wish Dumbledore could come back to life. And Sirius. Obviously I'm more of a happy ending kind of girl! :)

So of course, I will start reading it tomorrow. And probably not stop until it's over! With Half Blood Prince, I had to make myself put it away periodically, or I think I would've read it at one sitting.

Oh, to be able to write like that!

The Reality of It All

2007-07-16T20:13:00.000-05:00

Summer TV just seems to feed my reality/game show addiction!

First off, The Singing Bee is very fun, even though Joey Fatone is even cheesier than he was on Dancing with the Stars. My verdict is still out on this one, but I'll definitely tune in tomorrow night.

Second, and a little more disappointing (yet somehow still strangly entertaining) was VH-1's Scott Baio is 45...and Still Single. I was a Scott Baio fan during Happy Days, Joanie Loves Chachi, and of course, Charles in Charge. But I never knew he was such a womanizer! The basic premise is that he's now 45 and has a long (very very long) string of girlfriends but no wife or family. So he's hired a life coach who is making him re-visit all of his exes to see what went wrong. (there was a movie a few years ago with this EXACT same scenario called Seven Girlfriends. Tim Daly was in it and it was actually pretty good) Anyway, the Scott Baio show looks a little trashy. I'm giving it one more week. He did reunite with Erin Moran (Joanie) and talk to Henry Winkler (the Fonz) which was kind of cool.

And now for my favorite of the recent reality shows--I loved Victoria Beckham: Coming to America! Posh is really funny. And she has such good hair. A little disappointed that they aren't doing the weekly reality show they originally planned to do. Nope, just the one night hour long special. But it was good.

And now I think everyone knows why I haven't made as much progress on my Chick Lit manuscript as I should have! Too much TV!

But I am excited that the e-mail loop is getting started for those of us who will be new to the upcoming ACFW Conference. We are all in the process of introducing ourselves right now and I'm hoping that this will provide motivation for me to turn OFF my TV and write!

I Love a Good Bargain!

2007-07-13T21:02:00.000-05:00

This has really been the week for bargains. And there is nothing I like better than getting a good deal!

First, you have to realize that the U-Haul has already visited my house and taken my earthly possessions to Arkansas. Which means that I'm surrounded by pretty much nothing. Here's what I kept with me:

A box of books (The Ashley Stockingdale series by Kristen Billerbeck, Arkansas and Promise Me Always by Christine Lynxwiler, a Heartsongs Collection--Bayou Brides, the entire Anne George Southern Sisters series, and all 6 Harry Potters, just in case I want to marathon read them before July 21st)
Some magazines that need to be read and thrown away before I move
Enough outfits to wear each one twice for the rest of my time at work
Way too many shoes (I'm ashamed to tell exactly how many pairs)
My dog, Arnie, who is currently curled up on a twin size air mattress which he has claimed as his own (after his favorite bedding inadvertently got packed up and sent away)
A couch that I'm leaving on the curb in Mobile (and which is doubling as my bed until July 31st)
My laptop

So I thought I'd just spend these few weeks reading, writing, and maybe going to the gym and getting some use out of my Y membership.

Unfortunately, when I got back to Mobile Sunday night, after being in Chattanooga for several days, I was unnerved by how quiet and empty the house seemed.

So Monday after work, I went to America's Thrift Store and found a 20 inch color TV for...$19.96! Seriously! And since I hadn't cancelled the cable yet, I bought it and plugged it in, only to find that the picture is better than on my other (expensive) TV! YAY!

That was bargain #1. Bargain #2 came yesterday.

I went to Bruno's after work, thinking I'd pick up a frozen pizza for dinner. (my plan to lose a little weight and log a lot of gym time before I go back to Arkansas is obviously not working out very well...)

Anyway, I get inside and glance at the ad they have posted near the front of the store. It was there that I found my next great bargain of the week--I bought 2 large Red Baron Pizzas for $9.98 and then got an 8 pack of Garlic Bread, a Mrs. Smith's Apple Cobbler, and a 6 pack of Pepsi product for free! That is a lot of food for a grand total of $10.88!

So of course, I'm tempted to go shopping tomorrow just to see if the bargain fairy is still with me!

I Resigned!

2007-07-02T15:48:00.000-05:00

Well, life is certainly crazy, isn't it?

I turned in my resignation last week, effective July 31st! I have made the decision to move....back home! To Arkansas... With my mom.... And we haven't lived under the same roof since high school...

Okay, so that will really only be temporary, but still it's kind of funny. Talk about life imitating art. One of my current WIPs is about a 30-something girl who moves back to her small town and lives with her mom for a short time. And here I go, doing the same thing! (although I hope I don't find any dead bodies, as she is prone to do!)

And while I don't really know what I'm getting myself into, moving back to a place without a red light or a Wal-Mart, I feel like I've made a good decision.

Really I go back and forth between being happy, sad, and overwhelmed.

Happy because I have been hours away from my family for so many years. I won't know what to do with myself when I don't have to rush around and see everyone in one weekend then hurry to the airport. I'm looking forward to spending time with all of them, especially my grandparents.

Sad because I like my job, and living this close to the beach has been such fun. It's been nice living in a vacation spot. I can hop in the car, and 45 minutes later, I'm on the beach in Gulf Shores. And the winters are nice too--I haven't really worn a heavy coat in 3 years!

But most of all, right now I'm a little overwhelmed. The whole packing thing has never been my talent. Where did I get so much stuff!!?? And the thought of unemployment, even for a short time, leaves my insides knotted.

Enough of that for now though. I'm sure I'll have a lot more to say as I make the transition!

And let me say thanks to Christine Lynxwiler for giving me a "Rockin' Girl Blogger" award! Right back at you!

Summertime and the Livin' is Easy

2007-06-25T19:42:00.000-05:00

I love summer! At least I love the summer that lives in my memories....the one that included endless days of climbing trees, looking for four-leaf clovers, and eating cold watermelon.

Do kids even do those things anymore? Not being a parent, I'm not really sure. A couple weeks ago we were in Chattanooga and I was running around Tim's sister's backyard chasing fireflies (we don't have those in Mobile and I just couldn't help myself).

It made me wonder if all the things that made summer "summer" to me are obsolete today. (and laugh at myself for acting like a little kid)

I admit that I'm a bit of a weirdo. My favorite holiday is the 4th of July. I love the heat, the fireworks, the patriotic songs and parades. Picnics, water skiing, camping, and fishing are my favorite things.

So here's to a great summer, filled with cold watermelon, fireflies, and four-leaf clovers!

Royal Watcher

2007-06-22T08:47:00.000-05:00

So I remember watching the wedding of Diana and Charles. I was only 5. I think I either stayed up late or got up early to watch it. But even then I was enthralled by the festivities and the idea that Diana was a real princess.

She was so beautiful and the dress, the carriage, the sheer royalty of it all was such a fairy tale, especially to me, a little girl in Arkansas who would've worn a tiara every day if my Mom would've let me!

And while through the years, it became obvious that the fairy tale marriage was just a myth, I was still enchanted by Princess Di and her boys.

I remember hearing of her death in 1997. I had just come back from Europe and was camping with some friends for Labor Day. We had been water skiing and just having a great time. Josh's parents were with us and they had their big camper with a TV and all. Most of us were staying in a tent. Someone came in the tent that Saturday night and said that Princess Diana was dead. I remember thinking at first that it was some kind of joke--maybe a Saturday Night Live skit that they'd seen, and not really the truth.

The next morning, we all watched the news on TV and saw that it was indeed the truth. Of course, during this very sad time, a funny story occurred. The TV announcer kept saying that "Diana was killed by Paparazzi" and Josh turned to his dad and said "Was Paparazzi her ex-boyfriend?" and his dad said "No Son, that's just a fancy name for photographer."

To this day, that was one of the funniest conversations I've ever heard!

After Diana's death, I watched the funeral and remember worrying about her boys. They looked so alone as they walked behind her casket. So I've always kind of been interested in them and what they were up to.

I was very happy to see the interview this week that they did with Matt Lauer. I have to say that they are both cuties! (maybe I should book a flight to England...)

During the interview, you could see that they are very close to one another and seem pretty well adjusted. Like normal guys. Funny, warm, and maybe a little irreverent. The thing that struck me the most is how involved they both are in humanitarian efforts. It seemed very sincere too, not something they do for photo ops.

Their Mom would be proud.

Trying to Catch Up!

2007-06-19T08:29:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm finally back in Mobile. After many miles on the road, me and the dogs made it back safely. (in a very fun rented red Jeep Liberty, which I hated to turn in yesterday)

The dogs did well--they are such good travelers! When I'm by myself traveling with them, my rule is that we don't stop. It takes too much time to get one out of the crate and hold on to the other one so no one jumps out or anything. They both slept most of the time we were in the car and I made excellent time.

The Civil War tour went very well. I realize, as I do every year when I go back and lead it, that being a Park Ranger at a battlefield truly was my dream job.

My fascination with the Civil War began when I was a little girl. From the time I was in the 3rd or 4th grade, I was getting a Civil War calendar every year for Christmas. I did research projects on the war when I was in junior high and high school. I read tons of books about it and always wanted to know more.

When I found out that Shiloh was hiring before my senior year of college, I was elated. I applied and interviewed, and thankfully was offered the job. I went back after graduation and worked for a few years. In fact, I didn't turn my badge in until I had moved to Mobile 3 years ago.

This year's tour went well. My group had fun and so did I. (One of the ladies on my tour, Echo McGuire, was Buddy Holley's girlfriend for 5 years--she had some neat stories)

Despite my nervousness, I remembered all the facts and didn't draw a blank while I was up speaking to the group. However, there was ONE time where I mis-spoke...

I was leading a tour of the National Cemetery, and had just gotten to the most dramatic portion of the program where I have them turn and look at the sheer number of tombstones across the cemetery. At that point, I was supposed to say, "Over two-thirds of the men lying here are unknown." But what I actually said was "Over two-thirds of the men lying here are dead."

As you can imagine, I pretty much lost control of the group at that point. They made jokes about my faux pas for the rest of the day.

Here are some pictures of me as a ranger and also dressed as a Civil War soldier. Enjoy!

On the Road Again

2007-06-12T21:15:00.000-05:00

Well, I find myself neglecting the blog again as I'm traveling. I took off from work this week and have driven many a mile.

Went to Chattanooga over the weekend, then drove to Arkansas to see the family. I'm now back in Tennessee gearing up to lead a two day tour of Shiloh National Military Park, where I used to work as a Park Ranger. (I have photos of this that I may post when I get back to Mobile, if I'm feeling brave!)

I'm playing tour guide for the next two days for a tour group from Freed-Hardeman University's Golden Year Reunion. (the reunion attendees have the option of coming to campus two days prior to the actual reunion to take part in my tour)

I admit that I'm a little nervous. Although, every year I'm nervous beforehand and then when our group actually gets back to the park, it all comes back to me. It's just the idea of being "in charge" and up in front of a group for two days and not knowing exactly what to say that scares me.

This is the 4th or 5th year I've lead the tour for the university, and it always turns out to be fun. Plus it's nice to catch up with old friends who still live in Henderson.

It's wonderful to have friends who you only see once a year, but who once you see, it's like you've never been apart. I'm fortunate to have many of those.

The Trouble with Red Popsicles

2007-06-07T15:21:00.000-05:00

The heat here is stifling. And I'm not just saying that!

My three story office building has been without air conditioning since late last week. Each day has been hotter than the day before, so we've taken to having Popsicle parties in the afternoons.

Everyone has a fan blowing on them and I don't think there's a woman in the building who isn't going sleeveless today.

Let me preface the next part of my story by saying that because of the sticky heat, I've been wearing summery dresses all week because they're cooler than any of my other work clothing options. And today, I was especially excited to put on my new dress. I splurged on it when I got my last raise. As in, I fell in love with the dress when I saw it online, and knew I had to have it, only to discover that it comes from a company in London!

Despite this, I ordered it anyway, and have the cutest pair of green wedge heels to wear with it. I've been waiting for the perfect day to wear the dress, and decided this was the day. Not only is it hotter than a furnace in here, but I have a little party to go to after work. So I've been happily wearing my new dress all day. Until...

I was sitting here, trying to get some work done, eating a cherry Popsicle as my fan blew warm air on me. I looked down and noticed that my red Popsicle was melting and spilling all over my dress. They weren't little spots either, they were big! I just wanted to cry.

A little dramatic, I know, but you see, I never have luck getting stains out. I'm one of those people who is notorious for spilling stuff (usually on a new item of clothing) and then having to throw out the clothes because the stain won't come out.

Thankfully, our receptionist had a Tide to Go pen in her purse. I'm happy to say that all the red Popsicle stains are now history! And after seeing that pen in action, I highly recommend everyone should go get one to keep on hand!

Edit, Erase, Delete, Redo

2007-06-05T20:39:00.000-05:00

Hmmm. I seem to have bloggers block! Seriously. These past 2 days I have deleted and erased my thoughts about a wide variety of subjects. Not sure why exactly.

My "don't think, write" mantra seems to have flown out the window.

So maybe I should write about writing. I'm re-working A Walk in the Park and taking into consideration the judges comments from the Genesis contest. It seems that I need a little more conflict and my main character needs more purpose. As one judge said "What does the main character really want out of life?"

So I've been brainstorming about the conflicts and the character. It's actually pretty fun. But it can make me very unproductive at my real job because I'll be in the middle of working, and a scene will hit me and I'll have to stop to write it down.

I learned that lesson the hard way. The other day, I came up with this great ending to the book and didn't write it down. And now, of course, I can't for the life of me think of what exactly it was. But at the time I knew it was perfect! What in the world! Hopefully it will hit me again and I'll actually write it down this time!