Monday, October 25, 2010

Fade to Blue ... uncovered

I'm so excited to show you the cover of my May, 2011 release, Fade to Blue. Isn't it beautiful? Huge thanks to B&H publishing!

I'll be heading up the coast tomorrow to Monterey for a writing retreat hosted by the Books & Such Agency. Lots of writerly folks will be there, so I'll try to post about the goings-on. In the meantime, please stop in with your comments. I love hearing from you!

And have a beachy week, my friends ~ wherever you are...

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Goin' to the chapel and we're ...

Dan and I were married 20 years ago at the Little Chapel on the Hill, Pepperdine University, Malibu.

Forget the cliche ~ we all knew it would last ;) Love this man so!

Happy Anniversary, Danny boy ...

Monday, October 18, 2010

Paradise found ...

Had lunch today in Paradise Cove near Malibu. I've passed by the turn off for this beach cafe for years, but never stopped until today. Because of the drizzle ~ actually a downpour when we got there ~ the place was fairly quiet. We were seated right away at a place by the window and the rain ceased ... don't you just love this view?

To unexpected blessings, my friends :)

Friday, October 15, 2010

Thanks for the recipes (sing it!)

I've said it before but I'm a bit of a reluctant cook. Still need to find time to make some of the recipes sent my way ~ thank you all (and keep them coming)!

Tonight it's Never Ending Night with local churches (food & fun with 200 kids, running from 5:30 pm until 6:30 am), and I'm one of the drivers. I know. What was I thinking? Fortunately I'm splitting the night with the hubs, so I'll actually get some sleep ...

Tomorrow's a full day that includes a wedding shower and an out of town soccer game. Yet another day to avoid cooking (score!).

But stay tuned! I hope to have some oh-so-delicioso recipes to share with you soon. In the meantime, in honor of the rain that's coming down here at the beach, here's a link to a recipe for Tortellini Soup via Sherry Kyle's blog.

Have a beachy weekend, my friends ~ wherever you are :)

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Garden Party

When my first book released about five years ago (Chocolate Beach), one of my college-aged readers thanked me for writing a character that didn't garden. LOL That cracked me up then, and has stayed with me. There's something so cliche about a heroine who gardens, apparently.

But what about a writer?

When my kids were little and I wrote magazine articles while also trying to sell a novel, I turned to tilling the soil for an outlet. Hubby borrowed the neighbor's truck and bought a load of mushroom compost for 5 bucks, enough to make our huge backyard one fertile place for veggies on one end and an English garden on the other. Loved it. I remember thinking that I should give up writing and go work for the local garden center instead.

But then we moved closer to the beach where the soil is sandy, the weather is foggy, and my writing career became full time. In other words, little time for gardening. Until recently...when I've managed to make some.

A couple of months ago we put the broken down trampoline on craigslist and gave it away to an artist who wanted to weld it into something amazing. Or weird. I'm not sure which. The grass beneath it was dead, so hubby and I took turns tearing out more of the lawn and I sketched out plans for a lawn-less backyard garden. I have plans for an undulating crushed-stone path, a birdbath, sitting area, and lots and lots of perennials.

Truthfully, we've still got about 1/3 of a lawn in there, but the fountain's back in use, we've pulled out some unhappy plants, and cleaned up some others. Still a long way to go, but by springtime, this writer girl's going to get her garden back.

Just don't expect me to write a book about it ... ;)

Monday, October 11, 2010

Sea Beauty

This mermaid was placed in memory of our friend, Andrea, who passed away from cancer. It's gorgeous. (The photo doesn't do it justice, trust me. I'll try for a better shot next time.) I heard that her father acquired the statue from a local collector who'd bought it in Russia. It welcomes ships into the harbor from the overlook at Marina Park.

Andrea was a world traveler who loved the sea, so I think it's fitting to honor her in this way. I love the way it always makes me think of her, and her fun ways. She loved God, her family, and her friends ... and never missed an opportunity to make fun of my grungy flip flops when we ran into each other on the beach after church :)

To friends we hold dear ~ and who share our passions! Have a beachy week, my friends ~ wherever you are.

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Help me feed my family

So the other day I decided to throw culinary caution to the wind and make a recipe I saw in a magazine. The photos looked so yummy and my husband loves capers so I made the crab sliders...and almost everyone in the house hated them. For his part, hubby put on a brave face and ate seconds (says he liked them, but he loves me and wants me to keep cooking so it's suspect ...). My daughter's friend Eva gave me a sad little smile and said, "You tried."

Ouch.

Thankfully, I had some backup pizza in the freezer (I always have backup pizza in the freezer ...) So all was not lost.

Here's where I need your help. Recipes. I need beachy seafood recipes that a cook with two left thumbs (that would be me) could make and that her sea-loving family would love. Any ideas? Send them to me via the contact page of my website or a FB message. If I pick yours (and the fam actually finishes the meal) ~ I'd be happy to send you my two current Otter Bay releases: Sweet Waters & A Shore Thing.

Ready? Set? GO!

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Oh the places we go ...

I learned today that Fade to Blue is being typeset as we speak! If you read A Shore Thing, I want you to know that my next novel tells the story of Suz, Gage's sister in Shore. I get all warm and fuzzy thinking about it :-)

My books aren't only about the summer. I'm thinking of creating a bumper sticker similar to that fishing one ... A bad day at the beach is better than a good day at work! LOL Yesterday I walked Charlie the Dog in the cold drizzle, but today the sun's shining again. I'll take the sea in whatever season I can get it. It's fall, but I just sold another beach sign to someone in the mid-west. A kindred spirit, for sure!

Pretty soon I'll be heading north to do some research for a new story. The area I'll be visiting is known for its coastal fog and monster swells. Can't wait (and yes, I'll be bringing a jacket!)

Question for you:
We all live in different areas: country, city, coast, mountains, desert, etc. Where do you go for a breather that's not too far from home?

Sunday, October 03, 2010

We're living in a Justin Bieber world ...

So my youngest daughter turned 12 last week ~ at camp. Last year she was away, too. Sigh. I sent a "party in a box" both years but still! Mama needs to give her kid a hug. Just sayin' :) So when she got home, I couldn't wait to give her the rest of her gifts, which included a baseball cap. Not just any old baseball cap, but a NY Yankees cap ~ the same kind that Justin Bieber aka "JB" wears.

Oh the squealing, the joy, the covering of one's beautiful brunette hair 24/7! We also gave her a couple of JB's CDs ~ and listened to them on the way to and from a soccer game out in the desert yesterday.

Some moms judge me, but whatev! At her age, I was in *love* with Donny Osmond. Practically had my bags packed, intent on moving to Utah when my parents weren't looking. I had purple socks, and a room covered in Donny pictures torn out of Tiger Beat and the like. My family would tell you that I was obsessed, but I turned out okay.

Right? (Right?!)

Friday, October 01, 2010

3 Birthdays in a Row. Groovy.

Yesterday was my youngest's birthday ~ only she's been at camp all week and I didn't get to hug her. Fortunately I rec'd a call (apparently the line at the payphone was extraordinarily long...thanks camp hosts. Not.). First one of the week! I get to see her today, so ya-hoo :)

Today's my son's 19th birthday! Pretty tough to fathom. Nineteen years ago I thought I had another couple of weeks to get ready. I worked my last day at the Y, came home with visions of prepping for baby when ~ voila! ~ my water broke and there he was. Hadn't even washed one baby tee-shirt yet! He's off at college and it just so happens that tonight is GYRAD. Translation: Get Your Roommate A Date. I want to keep my hopes up for him, I really do, but those roommates of his are CRAZY. Good luck tonight, kiddo :)

Tomorrow
is that man o' mine's birthday. Yes, that's right: 3 birthdays in a row. Every. Year. Still have to think up something amazing so my hunk o' burning love doesn't get lost in the shuffle. Might just have to whisk Mr. Right-On away from it all ... :)

Have a beachy weekend, my friends ~ wherever you are!