Launch Party Recap

Thank you to all you came out to support me at the launch of Bundle of Trouble. Special Thanks to Sprout San Francisco for hosting us and providing a giveaway and to LibraKnits for the giveaway.

Below are a few pictures for you to enjoy.

Sprout San Francisco

 The beautiful store Sprout.  They were such gracious hosts for us, they have a beutiful garden area and a nice playarea. If you haven’t yet been to the store - you’re in for a treat!

Signing Bundle of Trouble

Inside the store

Group of friends inside the store.

Outside of the store

Friends enjoying the outdoor patio. We were fortunate to have good weather that evening.

Tommy Jr.

One of my favorite little guys enjoying the play area. Actually, he never left the train station!

Tom Sr. and Bobby

Another picture of some of my favorite guys, my darling husband and our 6 month old! In fact, the only one missing in these photos is Carmen. She was whipping around the store greeting everyone and being a perfect little hostess, maybe someone took a picture of her and can send it my way.  Next time, I’ll be sure to snap one of the family together!

Release Day

Today is a huge milestone day for my family. My littlest is 6 months old today and Bundle of Trouble: A Maternal Instincts Mystery is finally available for purchase.  You can buy it here through this web-site or at your local bookstore.

I’m celebrating by doing a couple guest blogs – you’ll find me discussing Time Management (or lack thereof) on The Working Stiffs and in conversation with another “Berkley Babe” Jennie Bentley author of the Do-It-Yourself Mystery Series over at The Thrill Begins.

Hope you enjoy the book – I’d love to hear from you.

Good Girls Kill for Money

I’m guest posting today at the Good Girls Kill for Money blog. 

It’s strangely quite in my house today – gives me the calm before the storm feeling.  Tomorrow is the book release and I have a radio interview and then Wednesday I’m having a book launch party at Sprout in San Francisco.

So, I’m just taking time right now to appreciate the quiet. The baby is still asleep (even though we had a fitful and interrrupted night) and my two-year-old has found something to distract himself in the other room…hmmm maybe it is too quiet. 

Must go check – hopefully my five-year-old is keeping him entertained with something safe…

…Noise…

Last month I attended Scott Sigler and Seth Harwood’s Author Boot Camp.  Among the many things I learned the number one was how to make a great podcast.  Based on Scott’s recommendation I immediately ordered the Microtrack II recorder from Amazon, which arrived just a few days ago.

Now I am ready to read and record chapter one – in fact, I’m completely stoked about it. I can’t wait to try out the microphone and mess around with audacity the only problem is that the house needs to be quiet.

Quiet? How quiet? As in…silence? Yes.

Now, let’s be realistic. I work from home and I have three kids (under 5) uh…

You mean there can’t be anyone yelling, “mom!” in the background? As in no one yelling “stop touching me!” or saying “I’m hungry” ?  What about the sound of little feet chasing another pair of little feet in circles – really loudly – would that work as “background”?

As I’m writing this – here is what I can hear.

Top Five Sounds at my house right now:

1. My daughter is sharpening a pencil with an electronic sharper.

2. PBS kids is on while my two-year-old stomps to the music and talks to himself.

3. My husband is listening to the radio and typing furiously, so I can hear the tap, tap, tap on the computer.

4. My 5 month old is making little sucking noises with his pacifier.

5. My cell phone is ringing.

Full house, full of noise.  In fact, the only thing missing is my mom. She was supposed to come over today  – she is lots of fun – but very loud, of course, extremely loud. The level of noise goes way up around here even when all she does is ring the doorbell – the kids all run around and shout – except for the baby, who just kicks his feet in delight and makes his bouncy chair music chirp.

So what is the solution?

I’ve considered hiding out in my car with my portable microphone…but then will the recording sound like it was made in a car?

Take a listen and let me know what you think.

…Oh Dear – One month to go…

Last night a very good friend contacted me on Facebook and asked me, “One month until the book release, how can you stand it?”

Well, the truth is after giving birth three times and living through the 9th month I really have no problem waiting another month for the release of the book. At least my feet aren’t swollen along with all the other various horrendous symptoms.

It is nerve wracking though, wondering if you’ve done enough to promote your debut. I started with a huge list of things, a million ideas and, of course, those who know me well will not be surprised to hear that I had a project plan. But with the sequel due to the publisher, a five-year-old, a two-year-old and a newborn I quickly had to make realistic decisions about what I’d be able to do and not do to get the word out about Bundle of Trouble.

After all, how realistic would it be for me to travel across the country promoting my book? I had to be selective. I choose BlogHer 2009 conference and Bouchercon 2009. Two well attended conference that will be tons of fun and a needed break from the demands of home life.

Last night I confessed to my husband that I was worried about having done enough to promote the book. His reply, “It’s the sum of everything you’ve done up to now.”

That made me feel better.

Yes! It wasn’t just a conversation here and a booked conference there – maybe all those actions could add up to create a ‘buzz’.

Then my darling husband finished with, “It’s the sum of everything you’ve done minus everything you haven’t done.”

Nice.

Announcing the blog

This is a test post – I will be blogging soon, but right now going on a family vacation to Kenwood California!  Yippee. And I need to pack.

Oh- and Bundle of Trouble is getting great reviews – I’m so excited!

See this one -http://www.listology.com/whitneylove/list/bundle-trouble

Bundle of Trouble – Chapter Five – Podcast

Thanks for tuning in!!  Here we go with Chapter 5 – wheeee!