Inspiration, part 2--Denise Hildreth

Mrs. Sidney asked yesterday for the inspiration behind the book,
Flies on the Butter. I received such a lovely answer, that
I've made it its own post :)

From Denise Hildreth:

Here is the story behind Flies on the Butter:

I had just finished my third in my Savannah series when my editor asked me if I had another book in mind. I said, "Sure, two more Savannah books." She was thinking something completely different. I assured her I didn't know how to write anything different. She assured me I could.

So, one day driving down the street here in Franklin, Tennessee where I live I was listening to my new Wynonna Judd CD when the song "Flies on the Butter" came on I honestly had to pull over to the side of the road because the tears were falling so fast and furious. I immediately
knew this song was a book.

This song simply said:

Old tin roof
Leaves in the gutter
A hole in the screen door big as your fist
And flies on the butter.
Mamaw's baking sugar cookies
We were watching cartoons
I heard her holler from the kitchen
which one of you youngin's wants to lick the spoon.
Old dog napping on the front porch.
His ear just a twitching.
I fell asleep on grandaddy's lap to the sound of his pocket watch
tickin'.

Oh, Oh,
Doesn't seem like it was all that long ago.
Oh, oh
You can dream about it every now and then, but you can't go home again.


The song reminded me of everything wonderful in my childhood that I would never be able to go back to. But more than that I realized that there was a generation living now that would never know the simplicity of the life so many of us once lived. The world where we had the first icee, by freezing a glass coke bottle, popping the lid and watching the icee float up to the top. Or our lamps of lighting bugs stuck in Mason jars. And I knew I wanted to take people back to that simpler time. But I also knew that there needed to be a story line threaded through there that was representative of today. So, I began to write Flies on the Butter.

Many of the childhood memories, (the good ones and a few of the mischevious ones) are mine. And the grandparents are taken after my maternal grandparents and Christopher is my older
brother. And the food, well, Lord knows I love to eat, so all of the food is something my mama fixes!

But that is how Flies on the Butter first came to life in my heart and then made its way to the page.

Thank you again Julie for asking. And for the opportunity to share it.

Blessings,
Denise

www.denisehildreth.blogspot.com

Writing on Monday--Inspiration

One of the questions I'm most often asked is "What inspired the idea for X book?" If you write books, you will be asked this over and over again, and if you don't, you've probably read a book and wondered, "How in the world did they think up that?" I know I have :)

My first book, Chocolate Beach, was about, Bri, a laid-back beach chick who finds evidence that her older, distinguished husband has grown tired of her carefree ways. The actual idea of the story came from the desire to explore the "opposites attract" concept. Those kinds of relationships can initiate sparks from the get-go, but the question for me was...what happens years later? That's the nugget CB was written around.

Truffles by the Sea is the story of Bri's best friend, Gaby. For this book, I wanted to delve into issues touched on in book #1. For example, Gaby had a history of dating Mr. Wrong. So one question I wanted to answer in this book is Why? Gaby also had creative and dramatic qualities about her, so I also wanted to find out what she'd do if more than her dating life went down the tubes. When all kinds of mini-disasters happen to poor Gaby, we see her mettle at work.

If you write fiction, the inspiration for the idea is only the beginning, right? On Friday I'll tell you about a new twist (for me, anyway) on getting to know your characters. In the meantime, what books have made you long to know the inspiration behind them? If I know the author(s), I'll see if I can dig up the answer(s) for you.

Meet Cara

Happy Friday, my friends! Stayed up until late last night helping Elementary Girl on her biography project. She learned all there is to know about Laura Ingalls Wilder--and I did too, I think. Did you know that Laura wouldn't marry Almanzo until he and their minister agreed to remove the word "obey" from the marriage vows? Love that boldness! You go, Girl!!!

This reminded me of an author friend of mine who's boldly gone out and worked hard to achieve so much. Cara Putman and I "met" through email. Way back when I'd first written Chocolate Beach, I wanted to find a responsible stranger who I could send my complete manuscript to and get unbiased feedback. So I asked good friend and author, Tricia Goyer, for a trusted source--and she sent me Cara. Let me just say that it's a scary thing to send your "baby" out over the airwaves to a stranger, and I'll always be grateful for Cara's wisdom and honesty! (And for sharing her room with me one night when I was "homeless" at the ACFW conference last fall.)

Cara's now become a published author herself. She's also a wife, mom, lawyer and teacher. Basically, superwoman :) Here's the cover of Cara's latest release, Deadly Exposure

Suspense author, Colleen Coble had this to say about Cara's story:

Putman is an attorney in real life, and her book reflects her grasp of people and relationships. Deadly Exposure starts with a bang from the start with the murder in the theater (creepy) and doesn't stop. I look forward to the next book by this author!

I'm reading and loving it too! You can find out more about Cara and her books over at her blog--tell her I sent you, and have a beachy weekend, wherever you are!

UPDATE: Cara left a comment on this post. Read it to find out how you can enter to win one of her books!

Readin', Ritin', Rithm'tic, and Ready to drop

ACFW pal, Delia Latham, is having a big summer blowout contest to celebrate her latest book, Goldeneyes. Check it out here.

***
I don't know about you other moms out there but this end of year flurry of school projects and extra, super-duper hard homework schedule is slowly draining the very life blood out of me. Make it stop! It's either all or nothing, am I right? Soon they'll be out of school and rooting around for something fun (and probably expensive) to do, but will I be wishing they just had a big project to work on? Doubtful. Just wishing we could sail on into summer instead of this all out, powerboating richochet we're dealing with--can anyone relate?

Breathe, breathe, breathe. So. Let's talk vacation, which is heavy on my mind despite the enormous word count I must accomplish every day. Where're you going this summer?

Truce!

Not too long back, I wrote about this latest trend in my town, and that is, to TP my house. You can read about that here. So this past weekend, Teen Son gets an inkling that our little homey home just may be targeted. Again. So he goes on the defensive, setting up the garden hose just so to spray down the perpetrators, should they show up. He switched on more lights, and even considered sleeping in the garage so he could hear better (he's done this before, but no one's shown up). He decided to forego the garage, though, and just set the alarm to a nice and early 2 am.

Wasn't late enough.

About 4am-ish, a shout from the living room awoke me and I hurled my sleepy self from the bed and down the hall. There I found my hubby standing in front of our blinds-covered window, laughing his head off. Was he delirious? Did he just think of something funny?

"Look at this," he says, and splits the blinds just enough to show me that our house has more bars across it--these made of TP--than a jail cell.

Apparently hubby had heard a noise "that sounded like a toilet paper roll hitting one of our kayaks". Say what? Just how does ... never mind. So anyway, he hopped out of bed, cracked open the front door, and in a super-mean voice shouted, "Hey, Kids, Get off my lawn!" Lol...kidding. I think he said something more like, "Get outta here," and then he watched as the boys ran away "like scared jack rabbits."

While still dark, Teen Son and Dad cleaned up the mess...forks on the lawn (wha???), TP everywhere, Saran wrapped car (nice)...even an american eagle head on the fence to celebrate the holiday. If only hubby had heard that distinct sound a bit earlier...sigh.

So I'm thinkin' it's high time for a truce from all these shananigans. Besides, it's cool to be green, kids, so stop the madness and save a tree. Know what I'm sayin'?

p.s. Rumor has it, that even before the sun came up, all that stuff showed back up on the suspect's lawn. We don't know a thing...;)

Meet Author Lena Nelson Dooley

It's always a bit surreal to meet someone in person who you've been communicating with solely through the Internet. Because of writing conferences, I've met many of my blog and email buddies, and today I'd like to introduce you to one of them. Lena Nelson Dooley and I "met" last year when she offered to interview me on her blog after the release of Chocolate Beach. Then in September, we met in the bathroom of the Dallas Marriott (hey, the lines were long), when we both attended the ACFW conference. I've asked her to stop by and tell us about herself, so here's Lena:

I’ve often been asked why I blog the way I do. When I first considered blogging, someone said I should tell about my journey to publication. It might help someone else. If you go way back to the beginning of my archives, you’ll find the few times I did that.

And I wasn’t consistent with posting, sometimes only once a month. After a few months, I asked the Lord if He wanted me to continue this or was I wasting my time. I felt impressed by the Lord to lift up other authors and give them promotion. He assured me that if I lifted others up, He would lift me up. And that’s the best kind of promotion to have—from the Lord.

I started doing author interviews. I wanted to be able to draw readers, so I decided to require a giveaway with each interview. I also ask for a book for myself. After I read the books, I post a review on my Shoutlife blog and in the monthly newsletter on my web site: www.lenanelsondooley.com

It took a while to build readership, but I’ve learned how to expand readership. Now readers, and even some buyers at libraries, come to my blog to find out what’s new in Christian publishing. Even readers from around the world.

I don’t just promote those who sell to major publishers, even though several major publishers’ marketing departments now target me. I wanted to help other authors who have good books, but didn’t have anyone to connect with to help them reach their goals. So they used small presses.

Most of the authors I interview write adult fiction, but we have an occasional nonfiction book, as well as children’s or young adult’s fiction.

Come over and check it out: http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Julie here. Thanks for stopping by today, Lena! And to my bloggity buddies, I hope you'll hop on over to Lena's blog to see what she's talking about--and don't forget to check out her books too :) (Heartsong Presents and Barbour). Have a great day!

THANK YOU to our soldiers, past and present.

God bless our troops!

God bless our country!

***

See you tomorrow when we'll talk again about the writing journey, and what you chowed down at your weekend bar-be-cue :)

Writing on Friday

Happy Friday, My Friends~

I'm blogging about the writing journey today, as promised, and it's good timing as I've just completed my last planned book signing for Truffles by the Sea. I learned super quickly last year that publication doesn't end with the final chapter of the book, but continues on long after the galleys have been proofed and sent back, which for Truffles was sometime last fall. Since then I've had, let's see:

* 10 Book signings
* 1/2 dozen drop in signings
* 2 podcasts
* 1 radio interview
* 1 6-day writer's conference
* And a whole mess of mailings, both online and via snail mail

All this while writing proposals for various publishers, and somehow trying to clean toilets in between. Hey, nobody ever said it was glamorous ;)

If you're attempting publication, have you ever thought of those aspects? I never really did before, because frankly, I just wanted to learn the craft. It would be good for you, though, to ask yourself what kind of marketing fits you.

For example, extroverts love to stand up in front of groups and yak, yak, yak. So not me. I do it, but it's not always pretty. I have discovered that I dig talking with people one and one, and that's why book signings have been actually a lot of fun (although I'm a bit of a freak while prepping...but that's for another post ;) Lots of folks like to come up and talk about books, or about they're own writing journey, and that's seriously okay by me (at least I'm not lonely up there...ha).

If I can offer some sage advice, then I will. Karen Kingsbury did the same for me last year. I approached her during a signing, told her about my books, and she jumped right in, offering me some terrific advice (and notice here how I've somehow compared myself to the uber-popular KK, Lol...)

You're turn. How do you learn about books you come to love? From friends or the Internet or through direct mail or ? I'd love to hear your stories.

Memorial Day weekend is here. Throw another shrimp on the bar-b and have a beachy weekend--wherever you are!

By 12 Million Votes!

Applause, applause, applause...oh my goodness, let me just start by saying a big Woo-Hoo for the 2008 American Idol...(drumroll please)...DAVID COOK! (crowd goes wild) We are super happy in our house tonight. Yeah, we thought both Davids were pretty spectacular, but our favorite scale was definitely tipped to David Cook. So yeah-hah, were thrilled.

Before I gush on any further about the DC, the show itself rocked:

--Performances by the Top 12 (Is it me or did poor Amanda struggle through?)
--ZZ Top with David Cook (Every girl's crazy for a sharp dressed man...)
--Michael Johns and Carly Smithson--HOT, hot, HOT
--Graham Nash and Brooke White, folksy and on guitars
--Donna Summer singing Last Dance. Haha...I had that album as a pre-teen and I can sing it to. this. day. And just to date myself even further, I loved the movie, Thank God It's Friday, yeah, back in the day. In it a svelte Donna Summer sang Last Dance to Lionel Richie. Mmm, mmm--those were the days, Lol...
--Gladys Knight auditioning the Pips: Ben Stiller, Jack Black (cracks. me. up.), and Robert Downey Jr. I'll never think of Midnight Train to Georgia the same way again.
--Carrie Underwood--Um, someone's become a star... (We saw her at the fair two years ago, and something tells me she's no longer doing fairs...)
Jonas Brothers--CUTIES! This mama approves :)

And just to remind the world what a freak show California can be, there was the guy in the white suit from early auditions singing, "I am your brother...Your best friend for-e-ver!" None other than the USC marching band and cheerleaders backed him up. Yeah, we're freaks.

Elementary Girl's teacher and classmates all voted for David A, while EG voted for David C. I'm thinkin' a body guard might be in order tomorrow--you think?

David Cook closed out the night with lots of tears and some great vocals--and a hug from David Archuleta. The best season--ever.

The Final Night of Competition

The night begins with an ode to boxing. That guy who always says "Let's get ready to rum-ble!" starts off by introducing in this corner, David Cook (wearing a satiny red robe) and in that corner, David Archuleta (wearing a blue satin robe). Then the strangest thing happens--announcer guy says THIS...is AMERICAN IDOL. And I'm thinking, does Ryan know about this???

Our contestants come out with fightin' words pseudo serious faces and really nice words for each other. So much for themes....

***

I just watched David Cook sing his final song in this competition. Couldn't help but feel the emotion as tears ran down his face. He's multi-talented, a sweet soul, and cute to boot ;) Too bad Simon couldn't have been more positive on the final night. While he appreciated his voice, he didn't like the song. Who cares? Did he sing it well or not? (Is my annoyance showing?) Although he didn't blow me away like previous weeks, he's still my favorite.

***
Minutes later, and I just watched David Archuleta sing Imagine (not the dreaded first verse). Randy just declared him the best singer of season 7!!! And you know what? He sang so, so, sooo well tonight. All three songs rocked! Forgive me for sounding schizo, but I think he won the night. Good job, kid.

Now it's up to the voters.

***

p.s. "Hostage" this one's for you:

Tonight David C sang "I still haven't found what I'm lookin' for", "Dream Big, and "The World I Know"

David A sang "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me", "In this Moment", and a reprise of "Imagine."

The Top 2 Perform

Although David A's been the favorite since he wowed the world (and my fam) during audition week, David C has stepped it enough that online bookies are predicting he'll win the title of American Idol this Wednesday. Don't look at me that way--I don't gamble! Just happened to read that in the headlines...:)

Personally, I'm rooting for David Cook. He didn't draw me early on, but oh how he's navigated the challenging waters over time, demonstrating his song choice savvy, arrangement skill, and spot on vocals.

Can't wait to see what the Dueling Davids have in store tonight. No pressure, eh?

Monday musings on writing

Before I sold my first book, on proposal, I'd written two complete novels. Neither were all that good, but in doing, I learned. Still, I often felt frustrated and stuck by the process, until I decided to 'take apart' some of my favorite books. Teen Daughter will tell you that it's not all that fun to borrow books from me (some of them, anyway). That's because there are markings in them. I wanted to figure out how my favorite authors did it, so I circled transitions, and made notes in the margins, and underlined characterization, and so on. Finally, what I wanted to do began to really gel in my mind.

The amazing Angela Hunt has said that through the years she's used various formulas in her writing, and this has given me great inspiration (and comfort!). Because even though she'd written so much, she was still seeking new and better ways to create her books. I'm writing the first of three novels set in Otter Bay, California, and one of Angela's writing techniques has helped me immensely. She calls it the Plot Skeleton, and basically, what it's done is helped me to boil down my next novel to the bare bones. It's kind of a pre-outline, and if you have SOTP writing tendencies like me (seat-of-the-pants), this just may be the technique that will keep you on course. I made one for my current WIP (work-in-progress) and it's been an amazing guide! You can read Angela's post here.

In addition to the Plot Skeleton, I'm also reading Susie Warren and Rachel Hauck's Booktherapy blog, and re-reading (and dogearring, Jim Bell's book, Plot & Structure). Here's the thing, though. These resources are working for me at the moment, but there are all kinds of helps out there. A pet peeve of mine (okay, I've got more than one ;) is reading that you have to write a certain way. I'm part of several online writing groups, and while they are choc-full of resources and conversation, they can also be overwhelming and discouraging at times, especially when someone makes a black and white statement of how things must be done.

Sure there are rules, and there are expectations from readers, but that said, different minds get there in different ways. Try out a few ways to write. You may be able to listen to lectures and 'get it' (I'm jealous of that, btw), or you may need to use an Excel spreadsheet to organize all your scenes (a very popular technique for some), or you may need to stand on your head at the beach until all the ideas have a party in your head (I keep trying this--Not!). Whatever.

If you've believe writing is your calling, yet you've been stuck on the journey, maybe it's time to press on. Find a technique that works for you at this time in your life, but know that as you grow as a writer, it's okay to try something new. Let me know how you do!

When I began this blog...

back in 2006, I wrote about my journey as a beach chicky, newbie author. My first book had just been contracted and in addition to actually finishing it (I'd sold it on proposal), I had much to learn about important stuff like branding, marketing, and which pens to use when signing books ;)

I'm on a new journey now as I write a new series of books. So I'm going to try to 'write about writing' on bookend days (that's what author Susan Meissner calls them): Mondays & Fridays. (Of course, I'll still be showing up here throughout the week with fodder of all kinds ;)

I won't be teaching grammar or other how-tos, although I will be recommending some great resources. What I will be talking about is the journey, so if you're interested in writing books, or if you are writing them now and you're feeling isolated (I SO get that), stop by Mondays and Fridays when I'll be offering glimpses into the writing life. Oh, if you have questions, feel free to comment here or send them via my website, and I'll attempt to answer them.

And now, here's a post from my first week of blogging, when I began to understand the intricacies of what it takes to market a book. Be warned :)

p.s. Have a beachy weekend--wherever you are!

Somebody hand me a hanky!

This is my favorite season of American Idol. Love the top three, and the hometown visits, and the tears. All three seemed genuinely humbled by the experiences of the past week, and how rare is that these days? (I choked up a time or two myself :) Anyway, for those who haven't heard, the two Davids made it to the finals. So next week, America will choose either David A or David C to be their next--in Ryan Seacrest's dramatic voice--American Idol!

Oh, what will we do with our Tuesday/Wednesday nights!

Top 3

It's the final three tonight, signaling the wind down of this (long-winded?) show. Kinda sad, but then again, this means summer's comin' so--woohoo :) Three contestants, three hometown visits, and three songs. Should be fun!

Last night, I lapsed into a bit of reality show binging with a looksey at both Dancing with the Stars (Kristy Yamaguchi is fabulous) and, I know I shouldn't admit this but, the finale of The Bachelor. I know, I know--that second one is so wrong in so many ways, but since I tend to include pop culture refs in my books, it was all work related. Lol...let's see if that excuse flies.

Anyhoo, teen daughter watched with me (we didn't see the rest of the season so our opinions were based soley on this one over-edited hour), and she wants me to MAKE SURE to say that SHE figured out who the handsome Brit, Matt Grant, would pick. So there you go, kiddo--the credit's all yours (does this earn me points?) Anyway, how fun to learn that Shayne, Matt's pick and new fiancee is the daughter of Lorenzo Lamas. There's a blast from the past for you. Hopefully they'll be able to beat the odds...

This just in...

My super-fun writing friend, Katie Cushman, invited me over to her cyber-beach blanket for a chat this afternoon--and she's giving away a free copy of Truffles by the Sea. Hop on over there, and if you leave a comment, you might just win it--just in time for summer reading :)

All the pretty places

Had a fabulous Mom's Day with my own mom, who for some reason I've been calling her "Mamacita Figureoa" since I was like, 10. Have no idea how that got started, but it's tradition so that's how her cards are addressed. So, we met the rest of the fam in Westlake Village for brunch, then my architect brother took some of us for a tour of an amazing house he's building in Malibu. Ahhhh....the views were to die for beautiful. My kids climbed in and out of the infinity pool (empty of course) that's being built to look as if it's on the edge of the sea. The house itself is huge, with too many rooms to mention, plus a master bedroom and bath the size of my house, people.

On the way there my brother pointed out homes of the rich and famous, and all I could think of was the sermon our pastor gave this morning on the dangers of materialism. LOL Is there some reason he chose Mother's Day for that message? Let's just believe it was a coinkydink, shall we?

For you Zoey 101 watchers, we drove home along PCH past Pepperdine University where the show is filmed. Plus it's my husband's alma mater, not to mention the place we were married (in the campus chapel that looks over the sea). After that, we stopped at La Jolla beach where there's this incredibly steep sand hill that looks much easier to climb than it actually is (trust me, my knees and I know). Hubby and I sat in the car while our kids bravely climbed the hill (sometimes on their knees). Hey, this is standard tourist fare that all who visit So Cal must attempt. Just so you know.

Tomorrow it's back to writing the next great american novel. Lol...hey, it's good to have goals. What about you? Tell me how you spent your weekend! Hope it was a good one for you :))

...but he did not shoot the deputy

I'm so proud of Jason. As predicted, he went home tonight, but he did it with fun and style (Bob Marley anyone?). Did y'all hear him say under his breath that if he had stayed another week then he'd have to sing 3 songs and "I don't know what I'd do!" He's so honest. And talented. And cute (in a little cousin sort of way).

Next week we'll get to watch the hometown visits for Syesha (way to go!), David A and David C (my guess as the final two). This, I believe, is how it should be.

What do you think? Is this thing winding down as it should? Speak your mind...:)

Top 4

Even before the lavish praises from the judges, I thought David A kicked it tonight. The boy--can't believe I have a son almost his age!--has super smooth vocals, the kind we music buyers spend tons of money on, am I right?

Syesha has really done well against the odds. She's been in the bottom 3 how many times? Good for her for overcoming--I hope she sails on through this week (and why was Randy so down on her second vocal? Hm). David C looked like a deer in the headlights this week, but he still sounded very fine. So that leaves our Jason, who most probably will go home tomorrow. Let's just leave it at that...;)

What's your prediction?

Really Bad Poetry

There once was a girl from Ventura
who wasn't always too sure-a
that they'd dig her beachy style
and then opt to stay for a-while...

Okay, it's a start. If you're interested in winning a really bad prize for your really bad poetry, hop on over to agent Chip Macgregor's blog. At the very least, you'll be entertained for awhile as you wade through all his terrible entries.

I'm off to write on a gloriously sunny Tuesday...if you feel like sharing your bad poetry here, or finishing what I've started, go for it ;) Sorry, no prize though...

Monday Madness

Rented August Rush over the weekend. Seen it? It's the story of an orphaned boy who believes his parents would find him if only they could 'hear' him. See, he's a musically gifted child (who's never had a music lesson), and he often 'hears' music. Eventually, he teaches himself to play it...and the rest is history.

Honestly, the movie had its hokey moments, but it was also surreal and charming, if that's possible. Something else stood out for me, though, and that was the very real presence of evil. Just like the Bible says, in this story the devil (or resident evil) masqueraded as an angel of light. At one point, 'evil' sees he's losing and makes one last, desperate attempt to win...but to no avail.

I've no idea if the writer of this story intended to weave in that spiritual thread. Just my observation. And I think that's because when I write, I include the spiritual life of my characters, just as I do their physical, emotional and intellectual aspects.

***

I've moved out of my office today and am writing on the couch. Thank the Good Lord for laptop computers! Our neighbors moved out a few months ago to remodel the house. This is a good thing, except for the gazillion people and trucks there every day. The grinding and banging and yakking carries right through my window, and although I can hear it out here in the living room too, it's slightly less disturbing. If my next book has an ax-wielding writer in it, you'll know where that came from, LOL...

Waterfalls and giveaways

Spent Saturday buying and installing a rock fountain in our backyard, and it's bellisimo! Today, though, I. hurt. everywhere. Teen Son helped me with it, but oh! that thing was heavy! (Although it did help when at one point we slapped a pair of kayak wheels under it and carefully pushed it through a narrow path.)

Anyway, when I look outside, and see the gentle cascade of water...I'm over it.

A BIG CONGRATS to the winners of my Mom's Day Giveaway: Stacey D. and Bev W. Both ladies will receive a copy of Truffles by the Sea along with two 1/2 lb. boxes of truffles--one for them and one to give to Mom (or other wonderful woman in their life). Congrats, ladies, and thanks to all who played!

If you give away my books as gifts, feel free to request one of my new bookmarks via my website! They're hot off the press, glossy on both sides and I'm itching to give some away :)

Playing Catch Up

Teen Daughter sang a solo last night in the school's spring musical. American Idol, here we come! Seriously, I'm proud of her because this is a kid who really had to face her fears. Several years ago, she gave me permission to write about those anxieties for Focus on the Family magazine. I know she was super nervous up there on that stage (alas, she gets that from me), but she faced it and did it--and did it well!

And in book news, I wanted to let you know about John Olson's latest book, Fossil Hunter, but my pal Katie already wrote about it, so please stop by her site for all the info. John's a fabulous guy and writer who I've sat next to many times up at the Mt. Hermon Writer's conference. He's written a novel that's a companion to the Ben Stein movie that's out in theaters now, Expelled, and it sounds fabulous. I'll be grabbing my copy this week!

Have a beachy weekend, wherever you are!

Bye Brooke

Busy day today, but wanted to say so-long to Brooke. Surprised to see her go just yet, but now that AI's been going on for awhile, I think the top two are become clearer.

More tomorrow...but feel free to drop by with your comments and predictions!

Hello Again

Haha...it's Wednesday morning and I'm still cracking up that David A sang Sweet Caroline last night. I was just kidding in my post yesterday, but did I call it or what? LOL...

Actually, the contestants sounded pretty good singing Neil's stuff, I have to say. While voting last night, I got a busy signal for everyone but Jason (yeah, we give everyone at least one vote, just to be nice ;) I'm becoming more and more of a David Cook fan each day, although this year, I really do like them all--much different than in past years when our family of five would shout at the TV and each other over our preferences (family bonding and all).

As for the vote-off? It really should be Jason--I even think he wants to go, don't you? Beautiful face, that one, but oh, those expressions! David C rocked it, David A was just average for me (as Randy would say, "I'm not mad at you."), Brooke's last half of the Monkeys' song was much better than the first--I think it took her time to get comfortable and just rock out, and Syesha looked and sounded terrific, in my opinion. I wonder why Simon gave her the death knell? Think he was trying to stir up votes for her?

Opinions, please? Oh, and what did you think of the show's frenetic pace? Even poor Paula didn't know what was going on...

Mom's Day Giveaway & Neil on AI

Did a radio interview this morning at 6:30 am PT for KREJ in Wichita, and let's just hope the latte had kicked in enough for me to make sense--ha! If you were listening, then you know I said I'd be doing another chocolate giveaway, and if you weren't, that's okay because you can enter to win too just by being on my mailing list. The sign-up is over on the right sidebar there, or you can stop by my website.

Anyhoo, this Saturday I'll pick two winners who'll each win one copy of Truffles by the Sea and Two 1/2 lb. boxes of truffles (yummo!)--one for you and the other to give to Mom (or a mother figure in your life). You've got to be on the mailing list to be entered in the contest, though. Oh, and I'm so sorry my International friends, but I'm going to limit this one to the US in order to get the gifts to winners by Mother's Day. Next time, I'll make sure I've got more lead time. Promise.

Enough of that...Neil Diamond's on American Idol tonight and I'm just not seeing it. Well, I will see it, but my hopes aren't especially high. But that could actually make for a pleasant viewing experience, especially if they do better than my expectations. (I keep hearing David A singing "Sweet Caroline" in my head and cracking up...)

Maybe I'm a bit cynical today...I did have to get up early, you know, Lol. What do you see happening tonight?

Feeling Grateful

We writers often spend our time (okay, way too much time) ruminating on the age-old question, "Do I stink?", often answering in the affirmative, so it's a great relief to our tender psyches when we read something happy about our work.

So-woohoo!--on Sunday morning, sweet Debbie emailed me the following review of Truffles by the Sea written by Cindy of Ck2s Kwips and Kritiques. It's a stunner and almost made me cry, so I thought I'd share it with you: Cindy's Review

Laurel Wreath, who writes for CWO Magazine, also emailed me via my website recently to let me know how much she loved the book, and then she posted the following terrific review on her site and on Amazon. (Sorry I made you so hungry, Laurel--Not :)) Laurel's Review.

Thanks so much to you ladies and to all who've taken the time to both read my newest release, and to also post a review--many did so back in February, and I so appreciate you all!

Interview and Giveaway
I'm spending the rest of the day over at Author Lena Nelson Dooley's blog. If you haven't had a chance to read Truffles by the Sea, come on by Lena's site and enter a comment--you might just win a free copy. Good luck!

Friday Fodder

For those who missed this yesterday, here's a sheet of bubblewrap for you (Teen Daughter got addicted to this last night :).

I've still got a word count to finish today but it's Friday and the girls are out of school early and one of them has an event to get ready for tonight. Plus the sun's out and my garden's begging for some attention. Hm, choices, choices. I think I'll hang out my new garden flag, watch the hummingbirds siphon their red juice (that's a pic of my new lighthouse bird feeder to your left), then sneak in a few hours of work. After that, the weekend's here -- yippee ;-)

Have a beachy one--wherever you are!

p.s. Read any good books lately? I'm looking for some recommendations (because I've already read my own--Lol...)

So-long, Carly

I wasn't completely surprised by Carly's departure, however, weren't y'all shocked by Syesha's placement in the bottom two? Really, she gave an outstanding performance the night before, so I thought she'd escape the low ranking this time. But, eh. What do I know?

When I really think about it, Jason and Brooke, the two being bandied about as probable losers of the night, weren't terrible. Brooke just messed up the intro, and poor Jason chose a song originally sung by a big-voiced female cat (which begs the question: aren't the contestants guided in their song choice?) Anyway, they've both been pretty much consistently good in their performances, and it has obviously paid off for them.

That said, can't wait to see them singing Neil Diamond songs next week (yawn). LOL...

If you're stressed over tonight's results then you must check out the link I found over at author and editor, Karen Ball's site. Make sure to choose manic mode! Go here for way too much fun :)

Live...On Stage!

It was Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber night on American Idol, and may I just wax poetic for a moment? See, my dad brought me up to love musicals. Together we saw live, LA productions of Les Miserables, Chorus Line, Cats, and then with Mom and my hubby, Phantom of the Opera. When I was single and went to England with my pal, Aimee, I insisted that she and I attend a matinee performance (all we could afford) of Lloyd Webber's then-newest creation, Aspects of Love. So it bombed? I saw it live...on a London stage! Hubby even took me to see Beauty and the Beast in LA for my birthday one year. (I couldn't believe all the kiddos in the audience until I remembered, oh yeah, it's from a cartoon. Duh.)

I Must Get to the Thea-ter!

Ahem. Okay, about the top 6 contestants:

Syesha--She sang and danced like she meant it--and loved it too! Extra votes for her tonight.
Jason--I love you, but I saw Cats live, and I think this might be your undoing. Oh, but I'll buy your records, I will, I will (especially that version of Somewhere over the Rainbow of a few weeks back.)
David A--Sounded great, as always. But nothing new to add.
Carly--Powered out a song from Jesus Christ Superstar. (On a side note, hubby says this musical was much better than Godspell, which I wrote about a couple of days ago.) Anyway, she's got these fun Cher-like riffs, and like Syesha, played the stage well.
Brooke--Really messed up by forgetting the lyrics, but oh, she started well with a song from Evita. Kind of worried for her.
David C--Hey, if he can sing Music of the Night (from Phantom) that well, he just may win this thing (although a little more emotion would have been nice.)

So what did you think of the show?

Tuesday Tidbits

Anyone here on myspace? (Other than Vader's Mom and Mrs. Sidney :) I've had one for a couple of years, but rarely use it. I do like getting bulletins from my kids' friends, though, so I thought I'd update it. Not sure I like its looks yet, and lots of the words run together, but I'm working on it. You can check it here, and watch my progress. Advice is welcome :))

If you're in the Wichita area, I'll be talking with Kelly Long live on KREJ at 8:30 your time, April 29. Just giving you a heads up. (And give me grace--it'll be 6:30 my time. Ack.)

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I recently went up north to do some research for my next set of books. I'm thrilled to be able to write stories that are set along the rocky and majestic central California coast. Think otters and brimming tidepools and moonstones on the beach...ahh! I'll let you know more as I can.

In the meantime, I'm continuing to love the reader mail I'm getting, and what's especially fun is I'm still hearing from many of you who have recently read my first book, Chocolate Beach. Lots of requests for recipes, so I'm working on a cool .pdf file of brownies, chocolate chili, and other yummy surprises. To receive it, all you need to do is sign up for my mailing list (on sidebar or on my website.) I'll let you know when I'm about to send it out!

Off to do what I love...

the Gospel according to Godspell

One of those mornings. I just realized that Elementary Girl forgot her lunch--grrr. Which means doubling back (15 min. each way
plus time to run into her class), plus a gallon of gas. Grrr..grr. Such is the life of Mom, huh?

Probably wouldn't be so tired if I hadn't stayed up so late watching Godspell. As y'all know, I love watching movies over the weekend. Anyway, my friend gave us a copy to watch, and out of curiosity, I did. Adapted from Broadway, it's a groovy, psychedelic, musical take on the Gospel of Matthew. Sort of. I remember a troupe performing it at my Catholic school when I was in about third grade. To this day I can sing one of its hit songs, Day by Day, and all the echoes, by heart. Think that's because we sang it in church a lot. And I also chimed in when in the movie all the flower children disciples sang the melodious Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord.

And check out this picture of Victor Garber (Titanic, Alias) as Jesus.

Unfortunately, I was So Sad that the resurrection was left out. My hubby was sure that the song Oh Happy Day (we heard this live by Chris Tomlin last year) was in the movie, which it surely could have been since it was released in its modern form (it was originally a hymn) in 1967. As it was, the movie ended with the flower children carrying the crucified Jesus through the crowded streets of Manhattan.

But how much more powerful would it have been if they'd included the whole Gospel? After he rose from the dead, they could've all gathered around and sung Oh Happy Day ("When Jesus Died...He Washed my Sins Away...He Died and Rose Again.") Too bad nobody asked me for my opinion, eh? My friend's daughter is in a stage version, and I'll have to ask if it carries the storyline further...hm.

Ah well. I realize that this is old news for some, but since I'd never seen the movie version, it's fresh in my mind. As is the heavy responsibility that we authors have to get it right when we include the spiritual lives of our characters.

I'm signing off to write, because my mom just called and offered to take Elementary Girl her lunch! (Oh, Happy Day :) Feel free to offer your opinion of this movie or play, if you've seen it. Oh, and this song is stuck in my head. Tell me if you know it (and love it!), too.

Oh, Dear Lord, Three things I pray~

See thee more clearly
Love Thee more dearly
Follow thee more nearly

Day by Day

What was that?

So the other day, my agent calls to give me some good news about a project I'd proposed, and instead of being in my cluttered office with its view of my spring-has-sprung garden, I'm at the mall. Actually, in the dressing room of a store in the mall. And not just any store, but one with laughably loud music blaring at dangerous levels (this is probably a tactic meant to keep older clientele like myself away, but who am I to follow protocol?)

Anyway, you may recall a post I wrote about a previous visit to this same store, where I stood up for helicopter parents everywhere. Unfortunately, I longed for the soft-cottons they sell, so I had dashed in for a quick try-on, with hopes that my eardrums wouldn't burst (nor my morals be offended).

I'd just pulled on a pair of clearance sweats, when I saw my phone light up--you know, because I couldn't actually hear it--and grabbed for it. I couldn't easily leave the dressing room because I wasn't wearing my own clothing, so I just stood there in my barefeet, one finger in my ear as I shouted a few ya-hoos to my agent, Steve. Believe me, it's so loud in that store--even in the dressing rooms--that I could have been talking about a crime I'd committed (if I had a criminal mind, that is) and no one would have heard a thing. I barely heard a thing.

After explaining where I was, including my lament over trying on clothes made for anoxeric teens, Steve told me this was probably the oddest deal discussion he'd ever had. Lol...yeah, well, I like to make an impression.

***

Happy Friday, my friends! What a difference a week makes. Last weekend, we Californians experienced record temps in the 80s and 90s. Already today, not so much.

Ah, well--whether it's sunny or not, have a beachy weekend--wherever you are!

8-1

The Dodgers beat the Pirates 8 to 1 last night. Not that I'm rubbing anyone's nose in it...lol. My poor hubby, a diehard Pittsburgh fan, wanted to leave in the second inning when his beloved team made the first of many errors to come, but God bless him, he stuck it out to the bitter end. Hm. I'm sure there's a life lesson in there somewhere.

All in all though twas a good night hanging out with my brother Danny and his girlfriend (and future bride, I hope. No pressure coming from this end, haha), Darcy, who force-fed me too much cotton candy ;)

Moving on...Hub and I already knew that Kristy Lee was out, but we still stayed up until nearly 1 am watching the AI results show. It's a sickness, really, it is. Mariah's song was somewhat depressing, but sweet Elliott charmed us with his silky vocal cords and kind words about his mother, who passed away just a couple of weeks ago. What a precious soul that man is.

And David Archuleta plunking himself down on the stage, refusing to choose sides, was too cute. Do you think it was scripted? Never know, but he's got such an expressive face that I doubt it--I think we'd all be able to tell with him.

AI seems to be settling in as it should.

p.s. No April's Fool joke this time--I was just offered a new series contract yesterday. Woo-hoo! More on that--and where I was when I received that word--soon.

Dodgers vs. Kristy Lee

I'm late in posting about AI, but I had a dilly of a headache last night, and as Syesha might say, "O, lo!" (Whatever that means ;)

Anybody's world rocked over last night's show? It was kind of flat for me, or maybe that was the burgeoning headache talking. Let's see. David A sounded good, but maybe a bit breathless; Syesha's voice is amazing, but she's always going to have trouble with the judges and comparisons; I thought Kristy Lee sounded good, but probably not enough to keep her another week; Poor Brooke was shaking like a leaf during her performance--it must be exhausting to compete week after week (kind of like authors watching their sales numbers-bu-dum-bump!); Carly looked fabulous, didn't she?; There was some drama in our house during David C's performance so I had to watch it again to see what the judges were talking about; and Jason got a much better critique than I thought he would (phew).

I really, really think that Kristy Lee will go tonight, but I'll be at the Dodger game, so I'll have to find out via cell phone. It's Dodgers vs. the Pitts. Pirates tonight, and seeing as how my hubby's from Pennsylvania, there's going to be a competition of another kind going on. He'll be the one in yellow, and of course, I'll be the one in blue!

Let me know your opinions about the show and who you think'll go!

Top 7 tonight

Thanks everyone for the kind comments yesterday--and for playing :) Using the random number generator--love that tool!--Christine was chosen to win Every Good and Perfect Gift by Sharon Souza. Congrats, Christine! Please email me your snail mail address and I'll get that out to you.

As for today, it's American Idol night again, and word is that Mariah Carey's mentoring the top 7. I suppose they'll be singing one of her songs? Hm. If so, that should be interesting for people like Kristy and Jason. Any guesses on what they'll sing? And now that the writer's strike is over, and sitcoms are back, are you still planning to watch?

Every Good & Perfect Gift

I'm giving away a copy of a beautifully written book by author Sharon K. Souza. I had the chance to read and endorse this book before it was published, and it took my breath away. If I were to give it a rating, I'd say "Five Hankies", because yes, it's a tear jerker.

Here's the back cover blurb. If you'd like a chance to win this book, leave me a comment. I'll randomly pick a winner sometime tomorrow. Best to you!:

True Friendship is Invaluable, but for Gabby Whitaker the Cost could be Too Much.

"I'm not the strong one. I've never been the strong one."

So believes Gabby Whitaker in her friendship with DeeDee McAllister. They've been best friends since sixth grade, when headstrong and courageous DeeDee began mapping out their lives. But after twenty years with her husband, DeeDee changes the plan. Nearing forty, she wants a baby--now! Two years of infertility, prayers, and outrageous behavior finally result in the birth of DeeDee's demand.

Gabby is present for all of it, noting the increasingly strange behavior of her lifelong friend after the baby's birth. Then comes a diagnosis that threatens to shatter their world. Gabby must find the strength and faith to carry DeeDee and herself through the dark unknown, but is she up for it?


Click here for more info about Sharon's book.

Happy Bird-day ;)

I really had to mess with this picture so I could show you the amazing bird we saw from our car window. Last night, the girls and I returned from our trip up to the central coast, and while we were tooling around we saw this giant egret. At least I think that's what it was. The picture doesn't do its greatness justice, but I was blocking the road, and another car was coming so I took the picture fast. (The birdie had been closer but I think all my oohing and aahing scared it away too :)

Squint into the brightness, and you'll see its beautifully curved neck. I swear the bird must have been more than 3 feet tall. I know, I know--I'm obsessed. But if you've read any of my books, you're probably not surprised. My first heroine, Bri, loved dolphins, and my second, Gaby, chatted almost daily with a sea lion. What can I say? I've always believed that sea-living creatures give me yet another glimpse into God's amazing creativity, so how can I not love them? (Except sharks. Not wild about them, and that'll be one question I'll have when I get to heaven.)

Moving on. My birthday was yesterday, and I rec'd an inbox full of fun email messages including two singing divas, a note from a long-lost friend who now lives in England, and greetings from a former boss. How groovy to be 29, yet again! :)

Have a beachy weekend--wherever you are!

Mikey J

Oh boy, I really didn't expect to have to say goodbye to Michael John just yet. As Amy said in yesterday's comments, Elem. Girl is smart ;), oh but Michael looked so sad...

Anyway.

Did y'all see the second rendition of Shout to the Lord on the show tonight? Anyone know why they sang it again? Was it because the lyrics were changed in the first rendition? Or was it heavily requested? Or?

Just wondering. I'm going to download it once we get home from our brief trip to the central coast. In addition to lolling around with my girls for a couple of days, this has also been a bit of a research trip since I'm working on a series of books set in this area. SUCH FUN!

More on that later...for now, I'd love to get your reaction to anything Idol. Oh, and next week, I'll be giving away a brand new copy of an incredible book by Sharon Souza. See you soon!

Giving back

Just popping it to say hello from the central coast of California! My mom, daughters and I played hooky from reality yesterday and headed north. We managed to watch most of Idol Gives Back last night. Lots of sad stories, huh. I started a long post last night, but never actually posted it. Anyway, I loved, loved, loved the final song, but thought the subsequent scene with Ben Stiller was in bad taste. Any comments on the overall show? I'll have to watch it more closely on the dvr when we return.

Tonight, Elem. Girl thinks Michael J will go home, Teen Girl thinks it'll be Kristy, and I think it'll be ... hm, Carly. What do you think?

We're off to watch the waves (the girls are off school this week)...

Somewhere over that rainbow

My thumbs are tired from all this AI voting!

LOVED Jason tonight! When he said he'd be singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow, I shouted at the plasma--shouted!--Nooooo! But then he sang that fun little arrangement and I got goosebumps. He's so quirky. And unique. My hub didn't get it, but he's a huge fan of Judy G's version, and anyway my enthusisasm trounced his criticism. So I win-ha.

Michael J always looks and sounds good, but his version of some Aerosmith song was awkward for me (especially those high notes). Kristy Lee C. gave a gutsy "do it anyway" performance. She's got spunk. David C--sang well, but the white "straight" jacket he wore threw me. Syesha always kicks it, although why does she keep picking ones from powerhouses? I'm nervous for her. Brooke! Who did your hair, my friend? (No worries, we've all been there.) Thankfully, her voice was better than the 'do! Carly has such a beautiful voice, I just wish her songs weren't always so angry. And David A.--talent, talent, talent--and a bazillion, teen-aged, screaming fans too!

Test your American Idol I.Q.

Found some random tidbits about this year's contestants. Match the trivia with the right person, and let me know how well you do :) Tonight, the Final 8 performs.

Okay, here goes:

A. This person's toughest obstacle in life is overcoming a house fire when they were in high school.

B. This person's spouse isn't going to cut their hair until he/she gets eliminated from American Idol.

C. The person this contestant would most like to meet is Keira Knightley.

D. One of this person's nicknames is "Lettuce Boy."

E. He likes chick-flicks.

F. This contestant's rituals before performing are to warm up, don't talk too much and to suck on a boiled piece of candy.

G. Before performing, this person always prays.

H. The person this contestant would most like to meet is him/herself in 20 years.

Carly Smithson
Syesha Mercado
Michael Johns
Kristy Lee Cook
Jason Castro
David Cook
David Archuleta
Brooke White

Answers here. No peeking ;-]

Monday Randomness

Teen Son just returned from a week with YWAM (Youth with a Mission) San Francisco where he and other teens spent days packing over a ton of pinto beans into 1 lb. sacks, and bringing food, hot drinks and prayer to some of the many homeless in the area. After hearing his stories, it's tough to complain about much of anything...

My girls are off school another week (I know, it's an odd schedule...), which means more mall runs, giggles and all around insanity joy in the house ;)

The hub and I watched Doctor Zhivago the other night. Actually, it took us two nights--Friday and Saturday--to get through the. longest. movie. ever. Okay, so I don't know if that's really true, but it felt like it. While the "classic" film had its moments, I found it depressing and violent. So unlike Alvin and the Chipmunks, another movie we rented this past weekend. You just haven't lived until you've heard A Bad Day sung by the chipmunks. LOL...

I'm working on a little American Idol trivia quiz to post for y'all (is it ya'll or y'all?) tomorrow. I hope you'll stop by and test your Idol I.Q.!!!

Until then, have another latte and a Happy Monday ;-]

Little House by the Sea

Elementary Girl's playing the piano, I'm reading a novel, and hubby's curled up in the recliner with some sort of sports book. It's official. We are Ma and Pa Ingalls (you know, from Little House on the Prairie?).

Teen Son is on a weeklong mission's trip with YWAM, Teen Girl's hangin' with a friend tonight, and hubby and I just looked at each other, realizing that in a few years, this is how it'll be. The older two will be off at college, and we'll be here with the youngest, wondering where all the chaos went.

Somebody pass me the Kleenex!

Have a beachy weekend :-] I hope it's a warm and wonderful one for you, wherever you are!

UPDATED Friday morning: Yeah, I was waxing poetic last night, but I'm back. The truth is, most nights (especially weekends), the house is overrun with teens and hubby and I eat dinner in the bedroom. How absurd is that?!

Ramiele and Jesus

See you on the tour, Ramiele.

Loved Jesus week by the way :) Seriously, I'm sitting here re-watching Tuesday night's show and both David A. and Jason sang songs that referenced Jesus in a big way. Then on Wednesday night's show, guest band The Clarks (I think that's their name) Country-Rocked This Little Light of Mine (who even knew that was possible???) and then Dolly Parton knocked out Jesus and Gravity (with a full-on Gospel choir in the background). Whew and Halleulia--love this show :)

Hair and outfits and velvet voices!

First off, I had a gazillion hits yesterday, but only about 9 comments, which makes me wonder if some of you thought I was serious about the Amish-Lit thing, haha! It was April Fool's, you know, so before you go off and try to reserve your copy, well, don't! (Now watch, someone else'll propose it and make a zillion bucks!)

On to AI. I'm so glad David Cook got a haircut--he's got a nice face under there! Although at times his facial expressions reminded me of Jason's...heehee. As for Jason, I believe Simon was wrong. Started a bit slow, but he really got into the song mid-way, and even belted the ending, so go-Jason! Anybody else cringe when Syesha chose a Whitney song? I know Dolly wrote it, but the judges are usually hard on those who try to take on Whitney, as both Randy & Simon were this time around. Despite that, Syesha is immensely talented.

When Kristy Lee Cook was singing, I learned over to my hubby and said, "Paula's going to tell her she looks fabulous," and I was right. Ha! One of the first things Paula said was, "Kristy you look stunning!" And Carly sounded better than Simon said she did, but I can't exactly disagree with what he said about her clothes (only on how he said it). As for David "We Love You!!!!" A., he's still a cutie with a smokey man voice in a teenaged body. Whatever happens, he'll have a long career.

Oh, and Michael Johns! Not always my favorite, but he smashed it this time. Smashed. It. G'day! Mate!

The hub and I think Ramiele will be voted off. And you?

Celebrate with me!

I'm so pleased to tell you all that I've just been signed to write a trilogy! Ya-hoo! It's the coolest story ever about a young Amish girl, Trixie, who decides to follow her passion and open a chocolate store only to be banned from her old order church for daring to use an electric mixer in her work, rather than beat the cocoa by hand.

Further conflict arises when Amish women facing PMS sneak into her store, and are later caught with suspicious smudges on their usually impeccable garb.

Will Trixie be able to make a living off her forbidden fudge? Or will she be forced to pack up her troublesome treats and move to Belgium?

More about my new Amish-Lit series here.