Spa Day

After the busyness of the past week, we could all use a little spa action, right? =). But seriously, it's mid-day and I've finally gotten dressed and started the day. Considering I was up at 4:30 am seeing College Boy off on his cross-country trek to URBANA 12 in St. Louis, I'm offering myself a little grace (and a second cup o' joe). Happy to spread some grace your way too!

Hope you all had a merry Christmas and are looking forward to a rockin' New Year. If you received a Kindle or Nook from Santa, you can pick up The Spa at Winter Beach (A Seaside Novella) for only 99cents (or you can read it on your iPad, iPhone or computer via the Kindle app.) It's short and sweet and perfect for cozy reading by the fire. Please spread the word because I'm not sure how long the price will stay that low.

As for me, I'm taking it slow today, easing my way back into working. Already called a friend, prayed for another, and I think I might watch an episode of Downton Abbey. Appreciating life, as it's just so precious ...

O Christmas Tree ...

Took this photo last weekend just after sunset in Newport Beach where I'd had an early dinner with the "Orange County Girls," as my fam calls them. The "girls" and I've been friends since we were on the opening team of a hotel across the street from Disneyland when we were college students. LONG time ago ... haha ...

Every year we try to get together to swap ornaments, stories, and memories. Mmm ...This year, we actually met up twice. Sweet times. Wild times. They haven't changed, I haven't either, and yet we have.

Then again, after taking this picture and a slew of others, we all ran down to the water in our heels, laughing and screaming like teens. Maybe some things really don't change all that much after all :)

Here's to a beachy Christmas, my friends ~ wherever you are ...

Wednesday Hoppin'

 Happy Wednesday, Sea Lovers! As I mentioned last week during my own blog hop "interview," I've tagged four others to answer questions about their books and/or WIP (works-in-progress). Here are their links so you can peruse their sites:

Becky Harling 

Sherry Kyle

Susan G. Mathis 

Kay Strom 

And if you're not on my occasional e-newsletter mailing list, why not?? Ha. Kidding. But seriously, you can read my latest news here.

Have a beachy week, my friends ~ wherever you are ...

Merry and Bright

Been trying to find out if I'm on the naughty or nice list, but Santa won't budge. So I guess I'll have to wait and see ... just hoping no coal finds its way to my stocking (unless it has a name like Coach or Dolce Gabbana etched across it, haha).

Not very wintery out here in California. Low 60s and hazy sun, but that's about it. Still, it's not about the weather or dear ol' Saint Nick anyway, is it? With all the busyness, I'm working to keep my mind and heart focused on the One whose birth we celebrate at this time, year after year.

After posting this, we'll be heading to church to worship and pray. He doesn't need us to be there, but oh how we need Him ~ know what I mean?

How do you keep your eyes focused on that faraway star?

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

As I mentioned earlier, The Spa at Winter Beach is now available as an e-novella. Great timing, then, that author and friend, Carrie Padgett, nominated me to participate in this week's blog tour. Seriously, I didn't plan this!

This tour is sort of like a chain letter for readers who love to know the hows and whys behind a particular book. Carrie, whose blog is called Chocolate, No Nuts, answered ten questions about her work in progress last week ~ and today it's my turn on the hot seat. I hope you'll stick around and learn a bit about my new beach read! At the end, I'll nominated four other writers who will post their own answers to these questions next Wednesday, December 12th.

So here we go ...

 What is the working title of your book?
The Spa at Winter Beach

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I originally brainstormed with three other authors to write a four-in-one book set in a spa at Christmastime (Sherry Kyle, Karen O'Connor, Michelle Ule and moi). We put together a proposal for our agent, but ultimately, the publisher we submitted it to was sold. After a time I decided I wanted to finish Juliana Moss's story, and make it a wintertime story instead.
 
What genre does your book fall under? Contemporary Romance (by the sea :)
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? Emma Stone, and someone like Hugh Dancy (except with an American accent and a few more muscles).
 
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? Juliana Moss, a jilted home stager, hopes that spending a week at The Spa at Winter Beach will cure her broken heart. Will a chance meeting with a mysterious stranger offer healing ... or reopen old wounds? (Okay, that was two.)

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? My first five novels were represented by an agency, but this is my first self-pubbed story.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? 

I started this story a couple of years ago then picked it up again fairly recently, so it's hard to say. It's not a full-length novel, so probably about 6 weeks.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? I've seen reviews of my other books that say my writing is similar to Kristin Billerbeck and Melody Carlson's. I'm honored!
 
Who or What inspired you to write this book? I'm inspired by the shore, and in this particular story, by the coast in winter. But I also had this quirky idea about a home stager who breaks a BIG rule in the business ~ and then has to "run away" because of it. And what better place to run away to than a spa at the beach?
 
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? This is the perfect read to curl up with by a fire on a wintry night. Although light and romantic, it also stokes the flames a bit about what we sometimes think we know. It's available on Kindle and Nook.

Thanks for reading! Next Wednesday, please visit the following fantastic writers and friends to read about their new books or works in progress (both fiction and non-fiction) Feel free to pop over now because I'll remind you again next week :):

Becky Harling 

Sherry Kyle

Susan G. Mathis 

Kay Strom 

Sneak Peek Sunday

Update 12/3/12, 8:45 pm:  The Spa at Winter Beach is now available on Kindle and Nook

Ta-da: The cover of my upcoming e-novella, The Spa at Winter Beach. You like? Makes me want to close up the office and head to the beach ~ even in the rain.


I'll be talking about the origins of this story in the days to come, but in the meantime, I promised to show the cover here and on my Facebook page first. The novella itself will be released on Amazon and Nook in the next 24-48 hours.

Have a beachy Sunday, my friends ~ wherever you are ...