It's Done!

And I mean ALL DONE!  After months of sweat, toil and tears I have signed my final approval form and my book has been sent to the printing press!  I ordered my first lot of books that (barring any freak storms that strike lightening to the FedEx truck) should arrive to my doorstep in 3 (torturously long) weeks.  What does this mean?  That even though the book won't be officially released to the public for another month or so, you can purchase the book from me for a discounted price (and a signature to boot!)  In the next few days I'll update my PayPal pin so you can preorder your books.  Yea! I can't wait for you all to read the continuing story of Gemma and Jess!  Thanks for all your support!!

Second to No One... one step closer!

Wow! Time really does fly when you're having fun.  I've been working my fingers to the bone for the past few weeks editing and re-editing my final manuscript for my sequel to Second Kiss.  It is now on its way to layout and design and the next time I see it will be in book format!  I can't wait to see it and I can't wait for you guys to see it.  I'm excited about the cover - which is pictured below (you guys are the first to see this by the way) and I hope my readers find this second book as satisfying as I do.  I just love my characters and I can't wait for you all to see their story unfold.  As far as I know, Second to No One is set to be released this fall.  I'll let you know when I have more updates!

Excuses, excuses...

As to why its been nearly a year since my last post... there are a boat load of excuses.  here we go!
my last post (dated february 22, 2012) was approximately three weeks before my Thirtieth birthday  which was also the day i had set goals to 1) submit my latest novel to at least five literary agencies and 2) run in a 5k race. 

I'm proud to say i accomplished both goals though sadly they took up a lot of spare time i use for blogging.  shortly after my birthday (and i mean shortly) i found out i was pregnant with our third child (huge surprise) and that my husband was accepted to a psychiatry residency in Phoenix, Arizona and we would be moving accross the country in two short months. 

Life since then has been a never ending whirl wind of doctor appointments, packing boxes, visiting family, buying a mini van, buying our very first home, realizing that buying our very first home was a much bigger task than we ever could have imagined, carting kids to preschool and play dates, feeling like my body was going to break from the human that was growing therein and most recently having the baby, celebrating christmas and recovering from the past year.

Gratefully, I have recovered quickly and am up and rearing to go in 2013.  I recently signed a contract to start work on the sequel to Second Kiss and am extremely anxious to get going on the editing process. 

Yesterday as I was enjoying a beautiful Arizona January afternoon with my kids at a local outdoor mall I came across a woman holding a book signing at a table outside a yogurt shop.  As I have been the host of many said book signing myself I decided to stop and talk to her (while attempting to simultaneously keep my three kids under control).  Turns out she had her book published through my publisher and we had a wonderful talk.  I purchased her book and scored a few free bookmarks and went on my way.  But the encounter made me realize how much I've missed being part of "that" world. 

True, life is busy.  Even more true, I may have to write, edit and blog while my toilets go unscrubbed.  But here's to getting up, dusting off and picking up where you left off!  Join me  (if you dare) ....

Random Acts of Kindness Winners !!!

Thanks to everyone who participated in the blog hop and spread the word about Second Kiss and this blog.  The winners of one signed copy of Second Kiss are Lilian and Vivien.

Thanks again for your participation and comments.  Your random acts of kindness have inspired me to do more!

Random Acts of Kindness Blog Hop

when i was in junior high i had a truly inspiring friend who taught me the importance of random acts of kindness (you know who you are).  so when i saw this blog hop i knew i had to participate.  it runs from today until next tuesday and i am giving away not one but TWO copies of my book, Second Kiss. 
i know this book isn't new and i have had a lot of questions about the sequel.  but trust me, its in the works.  but my priority right now is my children and my writing is wedged between the kids' bedtime, doing housework and collapsing lifeless on the couch at the end of the day so... its a slow process. 

in the mean time, i'm still getting the word out about Second Kiss and you could win a free, signed copy if you participate.  here's what you need to do:

Share this site either on Facebook or Twitter through the link on the right column of this blog.  (if you facebook it, please switch the thumbnail photo so it shows a picture of the book, Second Kiss.)

+1 Leave a comment about a random act of kindness someone has done for you or that you have been able to do for someone else.

Even if you choose to not do the +1 option please leave a comment letting me know you shared the site and information on how i can contact you should you win.

To see all the participating blogs in this hop go to
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/

Thanks for participating!

getting the word out

i know how much i appreciate it when people get the word out about my blog so i wanted to do the same for a good friend.  she just started this blog and i think its going to be really great.  its mainly for moms but anyone can benefit from it!  and the best part is that you can contribute to the blog if you have advice, tips, ideas, etc.  Love it! 

So take a look.  Katie (the blog creator herself) has a great prize for spreading the word.  Enjoy!

writing and rewriting and rewriting and rewriting and...

when is enough...enough?  i have nearly 90,000 words typed out on a word document that has been in process since march of 2010.  its the second draft of the original work.  the original work was, in my opinion, a bit stringy.  and now i sit here with only a few more chapters to go and i'm starting to smell a strench coming from somewhere between the ninth and twelvth chapters.  it resembles the smell of garbonzo beans and expired cottage cheese and i'm tempted to just throw the whole thing out.  hit "select all" and then "delete".  forget all about it.  pretend it was never written.  start fresh on a new, white piece of paper. 

what is this?  is there a name for this condition?  didn't i like what i had written the first time i wrote it?  and didn't i like it again when i reread it the next day and the day after that?  then why now, after all this time and work and decrease in eye vision from staring at a computer screen so long - am i so turned off by the work as a whole?

I wish it were possible to step out of my brain for a moment.  to completely erase from my mind all the words, reconfigurations, judgements and expectations that i've ever had for my manuscript and be able to just read it for the very first time.  then, and only then, would i really be able to know if i had something there.  if i nailed it. 

they say its good to step away from your work for a while.  give it a month or two and then return to it with a fresh take.  so this is what i've done.  and now tonight, after many weeks of "stepping away" i am stepping back up to the plate.  stepping back onto the stand.  ready to judge and be judged by no other person than myself.  tonight is the night.  i will pull up my document and give it one more try and then i will make my decision.