Celebrate the Small Things - Surprise visit edition

Lots to celebrate this week!

For starters, my brother is coming into town for a few days!  His old college roommate just won a Grammy (yes, really) and my brother is going to help him celebrate!  While he'll be spending most of the weekend with his friend, I hope I'll get to see him for a meal or two over the course of his visit.

My Gentleman Friend got some good news on the career front, having landed a new position in his company!  It's actually a promotion, and he'll be getting to work with some programs that he's really interested in.  I'm very happy and proud, and I hope he enjoys his new job!

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As for me, I'm celebrating the fact that I'm wrapping things up with Book 3.  Alex and Jillian are so much fun to write, and I can't wait until December when you guys will get to meet them!

What about you?  How was your week?

If you've been reading my blog, you know that Fridays are reserved for a post where I celebrate the little things that have happened during the week.  This is a blog hop hosted by VikLit, and it's one of my favorite blogging things to do.  I encourage you to check out her blog and the full list of participants, because who doesn't love reading about good things?

Pirates!

Sadly, not of the Johnny Depp variety.

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The other day, I discovered a website that had the full text of DEADLY CONTACT posted for all the world to read.  I was a bit stunned, a bit angry, and a whole lot frustrated.  Believe me, I understand the desire to get something for nothing, and I appreciate that readers may not want to take a chance on a debut author like me.  However (and I know I'm preaching to the choir here) may I suggest your local library?  They are a great way to try out authors, and you don't have to risk your hard earned money on a book that might turn out to be a dud.

Fortunately, my publisher told the website to avast! er, I mean cease and desist.  The website has complied, which is a good thing, as my swashbuckling skills are a little rusty. ;-)

I know piracy is nothing new--I think people have been doing this ever since people began.  It's still enough to make me a little sad...

Monday Motivation - Let's all do our part...

Photo Friday and Celebrate the Small Things - Only in Texas edition...

I ran into this beauty in the Fort Worth Stockyards.  I think she's wearing a lovely shade of lipstick, don't you?

I'm a bit tired this week, so I'm celebrating the fact that I made it through the week!  I have an all-day meeting for my local RWA chapter on Saturday, but Sunday should be nice and relaxing.  What are you up to this weekend?

If you've been reading my blog, you know that Fridays are reserved for a post where I celebrate the little things that have happened during the week.  This is a blog hop hosted by VikLit, and it's one of my favorite blogging things to do.  I encourage you to check out her blog and the full list of participants, because who doesn't love reading about good things?

No Strings Attached Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to everyone who participated in this great hop!  It's one of my favorites :)

The handy random number generator has spoken, and the winner is.....

Pauline Milner

Congratulations!

Hope you all have a great week!

Monday Motivation - Let's get started

Books Go To The Movies: Jack Ryan, Shadow Recruit

Okay, so I know this movie isn't technically based on a book, but since it uses Tom Clancy's characters, I felt like it is the descendant of the Jack Ryan books.

In Shadow Recruit, we get a lot more of Jack Ryan's past.  We know from the original Tom Clancy novels that he was a Marine, and his military career was cut short after a chopper accident.  In the film, we see his early days at the London School of Economics, his reaction to the 9/11 attack, and the crash.  Then we see his physical therapy and eventual recovery, during which time he is recruited to the CIA.

I know that sounds like a lot of backstory, but in reality, it takes up maybe 20-30 minutes of film.  The rest of the movie deals with Ryan's initial CIA assignment, which soon has him traveling to Russia.  He is a bit out of his depth, but to me, one of the best parts of the movie was watching Ryan grow into his role as an agent.  As he is told at one point in the film: "You're no longer an analyst.  You're an operative."

Chris Pine does a nice job filling Jack Ryan's shoes.  Ryan is a well-known character, and Pine has the acting and action chops to do this role justice. Kenneth Branagh was a nice treat as well--I've always liked him, and it was a delight to see him in the film, which he also directed.  Overall, I enjoyed this origins story, and I hope they continue to make Jack Ryan movies in this vein.

Have you seen Shadow Recruit?  What did you think?

Celebrate the Small Things - Second Christmas edition

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Woo hoo!  We made it through another week!  By the time you read this, I'll be on a plane traveling to Odessa with my Gentleman Friend.  We're going to see his mom's family over the holiday weekend, to celebrate Christmas with them and to celebrate his grandmother's 92nd birthday. I'm really looking forward to spending time with everyone, and I'm also excited to see Odessa, as I've never been before.

What are you celebrating this weekend?

If you've been reading my blog, you know that Fridays are reserved for a post where I celebrate the little things that have happened during the week.  This is a blog hop hosted by VikLit, and it's one of my favorite blogging things to do.  I encourage you to check out her blog and the full list of participants, because who doesn't love reading about good things?

No Strings Attached Giveaway Hop

It's time for another giveaway!  This month, I'm participating in the No Strings Attached Giveaway Hop, hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.  Be sure to check out her blog for a full list of participants!

Up for grabs are 2 Harlequin Desire books!

Impossible to Resist by Janice Maynard (autographed by the author!)

Imposing and brooding, Dr. Jacob Wolff has built a wall around his heart as impregnable as the mountain on which he lives. Until, with one simple request, Hollywood beauty Ariel Dane knocks it down….

Ariel needs Jacob to pose as her lover. But weeks on location with the young, sassy extrovert torture the reclusive doctor…and her seductive body teases him, making him burn white-hot and hungry. Ariel hired him to protect her, not bed her. And now Jacob finds himself in an untenable situation—lusting for the one woman he can never have.


More Than He Expected by Andrea Laurence

Playboy Alex Stanton likes his relationships short and without strings. But his fiery fling with Gwen Wright left him craving more. So when a holiday weekend getaway provides an opportunity for another taste of the tantalizing woman, he grabs it. Only, things have changed since their last encounter….

Besides being noticeably pregnant, Gwen insists she's sworn off men. As if the challenge weren't tempting enough, Gwen's enticing new curves have made the sexy spitfire even more appealing. But how can the footloose bachelor hang on to his heart when he can't stop longing for the soon-to-be mama?

This hop will run until Tuesday, January 21, and is open to US readers.  I'll post the name of the winner on January 22, so please be sure to check back and see if you won.

To enter, please leave a comment with your email address.  That's it.  If you want to follow the blog, or follow me on Facebook  or Twitter  you are welcome to do so, but it is not required to enter the hop.

Good luck! :)

Monday Motivation - Keep it simple...

Celebrate the Small Things - Back to School edition

Yay for Friday!  It's been a long week of meetings for my day job, as the spring semester officially starts on Monday.  It's been really nice seeing my colleagues and catching up with everyone, and I feel like I'm just about prepared for classes to start (or as ready as I'm going to get, anyway).

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I'm also celebrating the fact that I'm on track to finish book 3 before my deadline in February.  I've managed to hit or exceed my daily word count goal, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed I'll continue this pace after classes start.  Wish me luck!

What are you celebrating this week?

If you've been reading my blog, you know that Fridays are reserved for a post where I celebrate the little things that have happened during the week.  This is a blog hop hosted by VikLit, and it's one of my favorite blogging things to do.  I encourage you to check out her blog and the full list of participants, because who doesn't love reading about good things?

Photo Friday - Wishing for spring edition...

It's cold and dreary here, but not nearly as bad as other places in the U.S. For those of you stuck in the freezing cold, stay warm!  It may not feel like it now, but spring is just around the corner!

IWSG - January edition

Welcome to the first IWSG post of 2014!  Be sure to check out the webpage for more information about this great community!

I know a lot of people have made writing resolutions this year, and I wish you the best of luck in keeping them.  Whatever you do, just remember...

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So let's strive to keep our thoughts positive as we move forward in this new year!

Until next month...

Monday Motivation - Today's motto...

Celebrate the Small Things - New Year edition

It's the first Friday of 2014!  This calls for a celebration!

This is the last Friday of my holiday break, and I have mixed feelings.  On the one hand, I am eager to get back to work and start a new semester.  It will be nice to see my co-workers again and catch up on how they spent their holidays.  I'm also excited to get a new batch of students, and to start back in the classroom.

My latest: metallic silver and rose
scarf-in-progress

On the other hand, I've really enjoyed my break.  I've gotten a fair bit of writing done-I finished a short story and sent it to my agent, and I've made good progress on Book 3.  I've also had a really nice time hanging out with friends and family, working on jigsaw puzzles, crochet projects, and my under-construction house.  And let's not forget all the books I finally had time to read!

So I'm torn.  I'm incredibly lucky in that I love my job, but it does cut into my social life, know what I mean? ;-)

In the meantime, I'm going to celebrate by taking a writing day with some friends.  They're coming over to my place today, and we're going to write all day.  It'll be my last marathon writing session until spring break, and I intend to make the most of it!

How was your week?  What are you celebrating today?

If you've been reading my blog, you know that Fridays are reserved for a post where I celebrate the little things that have happened during the week.  This is a blog hop hosted by VikLit, and it's one of my favorite blogging things to do.  I encourage you to check out her blog and the full list of participants, because who doesn't love reading about good things?

Photo Friday - Silly Signs edition

I feel like this should be a Saturday Night Live sketch...

I'll keep my panties where they are, thank you very much!

Something to keep in mind...

Happy New Year and Giveaway Winners!

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First of all, HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I hope 2014 is a happy, healthy, and successful year for every one of you!

What better way to start the year than by giving away books?  Seems like a no-brainer to me.  With that in mind, let's get to the winners of the Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop:

The Naughty List Anthology
Book Briefs

A Very Gothic Christmas Anthology
Donna Clark

A Texas Christmas Anthology
Stacey A Smith

Under the Mistletoe Anthology
Lori Harvey

An O'Brien Family Christmas by Sherryl Woods
Ruth Mayer Hill

The Bite Before Christmas Anthology
Carolyn Johnson









As always, thanks to everyone who entered!  Be sure to come back next month for another giveaway!