up in the trees

Hey Friends! Spent a week in the beautiful northern California redwoods at Mt. Hermon. With so much to do at the writer's conference, I was thankful for all that fresh oxygen and easy-on-the-eyes scenery around me!

My mom, Elaine Navarro, and I shared a room that had a view of towering trees. Ahhhh! What I love about this area is that we're in the mountains, but the beach is a mere 10-15 min. drive away. Crazy, huh?

While I was away, SuperMom posted a review of Sweet Waters over at her What You Reading? blog. If you haven't had a chance to pick up my latest beach read, stop on over and leave a comment ~ you might win a copy, gratis!

Off to cook dinner for the fam. Have a beachy Friday, my friends, wherever you are :)

Writing with the fishies

I started this post DAYS ago, but mi familia has needed me extra lately, it seems. Preteen girl had a "Country Report" due today (A shout out to Rel of Relz Reviews who lives in Australia, my daughter's assigned country :). Another daughter has a wacky schedule, so I've been taxiing her a lot. And I've also been getting ready to head up to the Mt. Hermon Christian Writer's Conference tomorrow, a beautiful spot among the redwoods!

Excited about the conference, not only because I'll have the chance to hang with crazy writer-people like myself, but I also need a break from the chaos (read: worries, messy house, etc.). Seriously, I've begun to feel like those confused, crowded and manic fishies in the picture.

And although Mt. Hermon is on a mountaintop in Northern California, it's only a short drive to Santa Cruz beaches ... woot! Have a beachy weekend, my friends ~ wherever you are :) I'll post "celebrity sightings" as I can.

Closer to 'Shore' ...

What a delightful and heartwarming read! A Shore Thing is a beautiful book about family, friendship, love, commitment, keeping promises, faith, and hope. ~Tweezlereads.blogspot.com

Received the galley of A Shore Thing at 7:55 am. Woot ~ love the way B&H designed the pages. So far, pre-release reviews have been favorable (double woot :) Love the one above. Here's another nice one, recently posted by Carrie Padgett on her blog Chocolate, No Nuts.

By the way, this is a pic of my wily shelter pup, Charlie, the inspiration for the cover of A Shore Thing. And oh, yeah, I'm in the pic too ...

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

Sea Things

So yesterday I finished the draft of my 2011 release. Still not sure what we're titling it :) Then I ran across this picture that my daughter took last summer at the Denver Aquarium. See the open anemones there on the top left? The heroine in the book I just wrote develops an affection for the creatures. For research, I used a 20 page college term paper that I wrote on the anemone way back when :) Knew that paper would come in handy some day! Lol

Thumbs up

Had an icky morning and needed a laugh. And a trip to the beach. This cartoon provided both. Ha!

On another note, saw that Sweet Waters is down to 10.19 on Amazon today. Sweet price, if you're interested (cheaper for Kindle). A Shore Thing priced the same for now. Huzzah

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

A bit of Italy in California ...

After the first day of beach soccer, we stopped by my brother and wifey's house in Venice. They live near the canals, which were created in the early 1900s to be reminiscent of Venice, Italy. My brother proposed on one of the bridges ~ oh so romantique! Until a few years ago, I'd never been there. And I grew up near LA so that's just weird. But now I've been to the canals twice, and love 'em. You can stroll along and say hello to people chillin' on their back decks. Very pricey area but also kind of understated and quiet.

Of course, just a few blocks away is Venice Beach. Which is anything but understated. For instance, a clown on stilts crossed a busy street in front of us, but I was in too much awe to snap a picture ... Lol

More on the Venice Canals.

Beach Soccer

Never been to a beach soccer event before, but pre-teen girl's team played in one today at Santa Monica beach. Sand spraying, players falling, soccer balls bouncing in weird directions ... super fun to watch (but brutal to play!) Had to put ice on pre-teen girl's bruised foot after two fast paced games.

Between games, some of the girls and my brother, Dan, from Venice took a couple of trips on the pier roller coaster. Great end to a stressful week!

Happy Sunday tomorrow ~ don't forget to move your clocks forward! More pics on Monday :-)

American Idol, the results

I chose this YouTube clip because it's all audio. Sweet kid, unique voice, not same ol'. So sorry Alex did not make it into the Top 12 (for the record, my teen daughter has promised never to watch AI again! :)

Hope he gets a record deal soon. We got this one wrong, America. Also sad to see Katelyn and Lilly go (what?!).

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

American Idol, the Guys

I've gotta say, the guys sang better last night than I'd predicted. My faves: Aaron, Tim, Casey and (this one's for you, Ang) Alex. I know Big Mike got the kudos of the night ~ Kara sobbed ~ but it didn't move me that much. Fickle, fickle, I know, but I'm on the receiving end of such fickleness sometimes myself. One reviewer will say that a book I wrote touched them deeply, while another will say they didn't get the story at all. Go figure.

Honestly, I've no idea who'll be out tonight. I'd have to guess maybe Andrew and Todrick. Andrew got slammed by the judges and Todrick is seen more as a musical theater performer/dancer. Tough night for anyone to leave considering the remaining contestants will be in the Top 12.

I'll probably watch from Twitterland. Maybe I'll see you there? :-)

American Idol, the Girls

Favorites from American Idol last night: Didi, Crystal, and Siobhan. Liked Katelyn and Lacey too. Btw, does anyone else think Ryan has a crush on Katelyn? Seems obvious to me, but I'm writing a romance right now so maybe I'm over thinking the way he looks at her just a beat longer than the others... Lol

Who do you think'll go? Hmm ... if I had to guess I'd say Katie and Paige.

Okay, I couldn't help putting up this pic of Danny Gokey doing the white man's overbite. Such a cutey patooty he is. Last year I wrote an article about Danny comin' to Ventura. If you missed it, you can find it at this link.

Off to work (and more coffee!). Have a beachy day, my friends, and don't forget: the guys sing tonight!

The busy season

Look closely and you'll see the ocean shimmering beneath that ominous cloud. Pre-teen girl had a couple of soccer scrimmages in Malibu over the weekend and she played early to beat the rain. That's the view from the soccer field at Malibu High. Nice, huh?

Life's been crazy-crazy busy lately, more so than I like. We all have our seasons of that, and this seems to be mine. I could've skipped the soccer match and stayed behind to work, but something about driving along PCH on a drizzly day drew me. Teen daughter and I watched my girlie play soccer while huddled beneath a wool blanket, then we left just as the first few drops fell. We stopped for coffee in the Trancas area, then enjoyed the ride along the coast (thanks, hubby :)

Today, it's back to work! How about you? Did you get the chance to enjoy the weekend, even if only for a little while? Maybe a little Oscar party or something? Lol Hope so!

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

Tsunami watch

Had a little excitement in Ventura over the weekend. That's me on the left with my friend, Angel, watching her boat dock float away. The earthquake across the world in Chile sent water surging through the Ventura harbor, wreaking havoc on more than a dozen boat docks attached to homes. Such a bummer, but no lives hurt or lost, so that's the good news. By the way, to the news helicopter pilot buzzing the beach area early Sunday morning, may you soon be awakened by the sharp call of an air horn in your ears...

AI says goodbye and a beach break!

Sad to see Joe an Janelle go, since both have nice chops, but wasn't surprised about the other two. Although I have to say, Tyler in a bathrobe and short boots make good television...Fox'll probably lose a few Nielson points for letting the 70s throwback go. Btw, Kris Allen's getting better and better, don't you think?

On to other things...

Yesterday I got super STUCK on the novel I'm writing. Unusual since I'm nearing the end and this is the spot when, normally, I'd race to the finish. But there's been a lot going on in our family lately, plus a cold last week, and I think my brain had all it could take. So yesterday afternoon, I threw on sweats and running shoes and hit the beach. Only for a little while, but woo-hoo, it opened things up for me. I realized that sitting alone in this tiny office every day doesn't exactly dredge up incredible creativity. Other than text messages with my kids all the livelong day ;), I was beginning to feel closed in and unimaginative.

But all that ocean spray awoke my senses. I watched waves crest like jade walls and fat plover skitter at my feet and the tide wash over glittery, smooth rocks. Ahhhh! It was good to get out of this office and go somewhere other than the grocery store and my kids' schools.

Here's hoping YOU can find a way to take a break at one of your favorite spots. Have a beachy weekend, my friends ~ wherever you are :-)

Idol Season begins

Watched American Idol in its entirety last night. Those of you who've been around awhile here on this blog know the obsession that Idol season usually brings. This year, though, I've been rather 'meh' about the whole thing. And I realized why: I miss Paula.

I know, I know, she was sometimes hard to figure. She could be wishy washy, and vague, and speak in purple prose (haha...like me). Nothing against Ellen. She's also someone who takes a more pollyannish view of the contestants, something they need after being pummeled by Simon and the others. But Paula's work in the music biz gave her an edge in the credibility department.

So on to the show... Last night, the Top 12 women sang and it was ... just okay. If I had to wager ~ haha, don't be accusing me of promoting gambling now ~ I'd say that Lacey and Michelle will go home. Third guess is Ashley. I liked them all, but two have to leave, so those are my guesses.

Mi favorita of the night was Katelyn Epperly in her 80s hair singing Oh Darlin.

What did you think?

Doesn't he look angelic?

Found this picture of Charlie the Dog on my iPhone. My daughter likes to dress him up occasionally, and he always complies. You'd think he had the sweetest disposition ever, you know, to put up with all that fussing. But you'd be wrong. We adopted Charlie over a year ago and he still doesn't like many people, but for some reason, he puts up with all of us. Go figure.

He was actually my model for Moondoggy in A Shore Thing (see sidebar). Moondoggy is irresistible too, but friendlier to strangers. Although maybe he'd rethink that if his family kept putting funny hats on him.

Ah, well! Have a beachy day, my friends ~ wherever you are :-)

Julia and Julie II

Sorry for the delay in posts. Been writing on deadline while juggling too many other hats, and it's taking longer than originally expected. Can you relate?

As I've said before, I'm working on a book set in and around the famed Hearst Castle, designed by architect Julia Morgan. Morgan was the first female to graduate from UC Berkely with a degree in Civil Engineering, and later, the first woman to receive a certificate in architecture from Ecole Nationale et Speciale des Beaux-Arts in Paris.

On a recent tour of the sprawling castle, we were shown this lean-to off one outer wall. This was Julia Morgan's office. She spent nearly 30 years working on that hill with some of the most expensive pieces of art from all over Europe, creating a lavish castle that hosted A-list celebrity guests ~ and she worked in a tiny, nearly windowless office. Phew, that woman got a lot done!

With the hot breath of this deadline scorching my neck, I'm looking for a non-distracting place to get my work done. So, I'm wondering...do you think they rent that thing out?

Heart thoughts

People often ask how long it takes to write a book, and don't hate me, but I usually pull a number out of the air. That's because in addition to the writing, there's also the research, and the plotting, and the editing, etc. I'm too unorganized to account for all that time, hence the reason I can't come up with a hard number on that.

So I'm in the thick of writing Otter Bay Novel #3. Love the story, but I'm oh-so-tired of sitting on my derriere. And frankly, I'm just plain, oh-so-tired.

Thankfully, my hubby makes me a latte every morning (yes!) Here's the one he made the other day, complete with his first attempt at creating a heart on top. I set it next to a book about the sea that sits on my nightstand, patiently waiting for me to crack open its pages and give it a look. I figure as soon as I'm done writing this book, then I'll have the time.

Just don't ask me how long that'll be... ;)

Maddy Curtis sings

Sadly, or maybe not so sadly (according to the fam), Maddy Curtis didn't make it through Hollywood Week on American Idol. Her mama's been a longtime friend, and a writer who many of you may know. Read Barbara's post on her Mommylife blog.

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

After hubby's conference on Friday (and my marathon writing session in the hotel room), we were planning to head home for our daughter's soccer tourney. Because of rains, though, the tourney was canceled (Ok, all you in the east...go ahead and get your laughs out. We'll wait.)

So anyway, since we were no longer pressed for time, we stopped in Cambria on the way home. Cambria is the inspiration for my Otter Bay Novels, by the way. While there, I finally took Tour #2 at the famed Hearst Castle. You may remember this post when my girls and I got stuck in a 'gulley washer' up there on the central coast. We had tickets for the tour then, but due to dangerous winds, the castle had to be closed.

So glad the rain didn't close up The Ranch (as it's sometimes called) this time. Loved the tour! On the way up we spotted barbary sheep and black-tailed deer. Took gobs of notes for my work-in-progress, due out next year. You're gonna love it!

Hubby took this pic of me at the castle gift shop. It could be anywhere USA, but he thought it most appropriate to take my picture next to a glass dolphin. Lol...I agree :)

Pass me a hanky

I'm holed up in a hotel room far north of home today, writing as fast as I can. My hubby's attending an all day seminar, so I jumped at the chance to get some undistracted writing time. Of course, since I've been here I've been in touch with two out of three kids several times, played on the Internet, and eaten butter cookies for breakfast (a courtesy of the hotel). Lord, please help me write that killer scene today!

No view of the beach from here, but the mountains are pretty and I've got a late checkout (woo-hoo!). So here I go (again). Off to write a scene that's sure to break my heart...any wonder why I keep avoiding it?

On another note, Dear John comes out today. It's based on Nicholas Sparks' novel, which teen daughter and I loved. It also broke my heart into a million pieces and I can't wait to see it with her when I return. I'll try to save some Kleenex for then! (If you have a chance to see it, leave me a comment!)

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