Guest post at Pens Fatales

Win a copy of BUNDLE OF TROULBE! Guest blog post on Pens Fatales – the topic was Grace – leave a comment and be entered for a chance to win!

http://pensfatales.com/2009/10/pensfatales-welcome-diana-orgain.html#comments

Interview with Dallas Book Diva

Check out my radio interiview with Dallas Book Diva – the fabulous Cheryl Nason.

http://webtalkradio.net/index.php/show-hosts/3213-inside-the-writers-cafe-hosted-by-cheryl-nason

Top 5 COOL things that happened today (even though it was HOT)

Today was incredible. The weather in San Francisco has been completely out of the ordinary, it was sunny and hot – ice cream weather! I took the kids to the park but we only stayed about 45 minutes because my littlest looked as if we was going to melt.

Aside from the weather some really cool things happened today – here’s my top 5.

Top 5 Cool things that happened today (even though it was HOT):

1. The principal at my daughter’s school allowed me to include a flyer about my upcoming Bundle of Trouble reading. I was super happy about that – talk about community support! My flyer went out to about 400 families!

2. We got to eat ice cream – guilt free. How can you feel guilty when it’s hot?

3. I spoke with my editor – always nice to talk to her!

4. All three kids were sacked out by 8 p.m. How did that happen? Gotta love the heat – it zaps the energy out of…well…out of most, doesn’t it?

5. And – drumroll please – I started Book III – yippee!

Top 5 Reasons I love my little guy.

Why oh why are babies so irresistible? Don’t get me wrong – I love all my babies, no matter how old they are BUT my six month old is so darn cute. Were the other two this cute? (I’m sure they were because actually they all look alike.)

I was staring at the baby this morning and he is so happy and grabby, just wants to grab your face and, of course, all I want to do is study him. So there we are peacefully enjoying ourselves – no complaining, no talking back, no ‘I wants’.

Maybe that’s it – we love babies because they don’t talk back.

Top 5 Reasons I love my little guy:

1. He’s cute.

2. He doesn’t talk back.

3. I could be a hormone thing.

4. He loves me back (I can think that anyway).

5. He doesn’t care if all I do all day is stare at him.

Here’s a couple photos of my bundles of trouble – I’ll do a list for the other two soon.

Tommy and Bobby

Carmen surpervises bath time

Cruising, Book Grouping and Giveaways too

I had a fabulous weekend.  Date night was so much fun we went on a bay cruise – the weather was absolutely NOT usual.  There was no wind on the bay at all. It was sunny and calm and fantastic.  We cruised alongside Alcatraz and then underneath the Golden Gate Bridge and then stayed in a cove for a while to enjoy some pesto dip and red wine.  I’ve got pictures, but they are still in the camera – so I’ll have to post them later.

On Sunday, I spoke at a book group. They choose Bundle of Trouble for their read and invited me to meet with them. They’ve been meeting for 10 years and were a fantastic group of women. We got some video and photos too – but alas, I’ll have to update that later too. (Believe me, this is not some lame ploy to get you to come back – it is purely user ineptness)

Today Bundle of Trouble got several more great reviews and there are giveaways too – so if you would like to enter to win a copy of Bundle of Trouble – follow either or both links below!

http://ittybittybookworms.blogspot.com/2009/08/bundle-of-trouble.html

http://www.lattesandlife.com/2009/08/bundle-of-trouble-giveaway.html

Top 5 Favorite Things about Date Night

I’d like to list “No Kids” five times and although that might be true, it would be a kind of like cheating – so here goes:

1. Time with Hubby (sort of a no-brainer as that is the whole point) but I have to list it.

2. No kids (of course, right up there with number 1).

3. Get to wear “grown up” shoes, becasue I won’t have to chase anyone unexpectly!

4. Can wear a “grown up” blouse or dress – because the only spit up I’ll have to worry about is my own!

5. I can bring a small tiny-teeny cocktail purse!  All I need is my phone – you know, so the babysitter can reach me and lipstick and maybe a little compact so I can put the lipstick on (although I usually use the bathroom mirror – but tonight we are going on a bay cruise) – oh – hey – here is a product idea for you – when are they going to make phones where the screen can light up as a mirror?  Hmmm.

Oh and I forgot I won’t miss the noise. I love just being with my husband and hanging out and being able to enjoy SILENCE!

What about you? What are you favorite things about date night?

Top 5 Fabulous Things about the First day of Kindergarten

Carmen’s first day of school!  Kindergarten – Yippee, I mean Boo-Hoo, I mean Yippee. So many emotions!  How did the time go by so fast?  I’m about to break into tears right now just writing this post.

The Top 5 Most Fabulous Things about the first day of kindergarten:

1. The uniform!  Yippee – we know EXACTLY what to wear everyday! What a relief!

2. The Boo-Hoo Breakfast or Welcome Coffee Social. Met so many wonderful parents and families.

3. The monsters…er…I mean boys stayed home with dad, so I got to focus on my little princess. 

4. The teacher. So nice – just a lovely lady- the perfect kindergarten teacher – the kind that will ease the kids right in!

5. New friends.  Carmen was so excited that she made so many friends and then on the way home I asked her to name them – she could only name one – well, okay, that’s a start!

Top 5 Favorite Things at the Fair

Today we went to the San Mateo County Fair.  I did a reading on Bundle of Trouble and then we took the kids on the rides they wanted to go on (or better put – all the rides they were tall enough for).

Below are my top 5 favorite things:

1. Free Parking!  Becuase I was hosted by the Creative Arts department we got a parking pass – who doesn’t love that?

2. My reading went well (sigh of relief) and Carmen my 5 yr old got to sit beside me during it!

3. Hot dogs on a stick (always a crowd pleaser).

4. Bobby was happy in the stroller for the majority of the time.

5. Carmen and Tommy got to ride the train together!

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!