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Where Jane talks about everything on her mind…and yes, as usual, there is quite a lot on her mind.

An Afternoon With The Girls

June 23, 2010 – 1:59 pm

I’ve been in Hawaii a week today, but before I left Bellevue last week, I had the chance to spend part of the afternoon with some very smart, very literate young ladies who attend Seattle’s French-American School together.  I’d met one of the moms at a fundraiser back in April (at least I think it was April….) and she invited me to join the mother-daughter bookclub for an afternoon discussion of books, writing tips, and insights into the writing life.

The girls shared with me some of their favorite authors (Rick Riordan and JK Rowling) and I shared some of mine from when I was little (Louisa May Alcott and Laura Ingalls Wilder).  Most of the girls had read the Little House on the Prairie series when they were younger but none had read Louisa May Alcott yet. 

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The mom hosting the tea had actually surfed with Ty during Spring Break which really made it a small world.  And the mom who’d invited me, Laura, made the most yummy orange pound cake and I had to have the recipe.  Yum.

I love the idea of a mother-daughter bookclub, but then again, I love everything about girls and how we turn into women.  Our world is complicated and the more we can support each other, the better.

I know it’s been a long time since I last posted but it was hectic with the end of the year activities and then packing for Hawaii for the summer, but I’m back now with a little office set up in the corner of my bedroom (my window overlooks the ocean!) so you’ll be hearing from me more regularly. 

But to help me catch up with what you’ve been doing, please share with me your summer plans, or how you’ve spent the last two weeks, and you’ll be entered for my Afternoon with the Girls prize, which includes Kona coffee. a gift card, fragrant tropical soap and much more.   There will be two winners and the contest runs through Friday night with me announcing the winners Saturday morning, and even if you don’t care about the prize, please chat with me because I miss all of you!!  Now I’m off to write but do fill me in when you’ve time.  Happy Summer all!!

By Jane | Posted in Book Clubs, Book Talk, Feminist Fun, Hawaii, Mom World | Comments (78)

Fun Review at B&N!

June 8, 2010 – 10:39 pm

Today I read one of the first ‘public’ reviews of She’s Gone Country over at B&N.com, and I loved it!  Made me get that super excited feeling about the book’s upcoming release all over again and I thought I’d share the review with you:

From Unabashedly Bookish: The BN Community Blog:
I’ve Gone Country… Thanks to Jane Porter

Does the review make you want to read the book?  Post a comment over at B&N.com,  and then let me know in the comment section what you thought of the review, and you’re entered to win a copy of She’s Gone Country, along with a Texas Cowboy Cookbook, a Starbucks drink card and lots more JP reader treats.

Contest runs through Thursday night midnight and I’ll announce the winner Friday morning and if you get back to me quickly, you could have a copy of She’s Gone Country in your mailbox by Tuesday!

By Jane | Posted in Book Talk, Promo & Contests, Publicity | Comments (67)

Fittings

June 3, 2010 – 10:00 am

I leave in two weeks for Hawaii for the summer. It sounds fabulous but is also kind of wrenching as my two oldest sons will be with their dad for the first month and then come to me for the second–and I’ll be away for one of those weeks they’re with me attending Romance Writers of America’s national conference in Orlando.

I’ve never been away from Mac for more than a night and flying thirteen hours away from him for 6 nights of business makes my heart hurt. I think I’d be better with the week away if that were my only week away from the boys, but that’s just the beginning of three months of frequent, and sometimes hard, travel. I’m excited to promote She’s Gone Country, but struggle at leaving the kids.

The She’s Gone Country booktour kicks off in California, with four stops there, before zipping to Henderson, Nevada (just outside Las Vegas), and then back to Bellevue where I’ll turn my attention to Pacific Northwest events. Surfer Ty and I head to London for a week in September, too, so I can attend the annual meeting for AMBA, the Association of Mills & Boon Authors. I haven’t attended an AMBA meeting since September 11th, and that entire trip was shadowed by grief and shock.

Because I won’t be returning to Bellevue to repack for Orlando or the booktour, I’m having to haul all my business attire with me to Honolulu and so I’ve been sorting through my wardrobe, trying things on, purchasing a few new dresses, coordinating shoes and accessories. I was absolutely delighted to discover that I could slide/squish myself into my favorite navy Max Mara slacks. They’re not my tiny navy slacks, but my formerly comfy ones. They’re not as comfy on me as they once were, but they zip, and with a longer blouse, I almost feel like the old Jane. Almost.

The scale isn’t showing that I’ve dropped a lot more weight but my body must still be shrinking from the workouts as I can definitely fit into some of my old size 8 clothes. There’s no chance of squeezing into the 6’s or the 4’s, but that can be a goal for next summer. It’s enough that I see progress. That I feel better than I did. That I have hope.

The writing, though, is still a struggle. I’m in an ego bruising place of fear and insecurity when it comes to my work.  I’m not confident about this new book. Not comfortable with my voice. Not feeling the love. Right now I miss the writer Jane who knew what she was doing and where she was going. But maybe that Jane will return. Maybe it’s like my work outs in my garage with the weight equipment…maybe with time, with effort, with patience…this new story line and voice will fit me. Maybe if I just relax and go with it, the ideas will flow and the story will work.

Until it does, I have to stop the hate. I’ve been so mad at myself for not being more productive, and brilliant, and efficient. I struggle at my keyboard and as I struggle I’m filled with the old self-loathing. The little voice inside my head has so much to say…so much negative talk and put downs. Stupid, stupid Jane. Why do you think you can write? Why do you think you can succeed? Why should you deserve more than you’ve already got? And the voice achieves what it sets out to do.  It stops me. Silences me. Hurts me. Sickened, I remove myself from my keyboard, desk, office. I then pace. Fight with myself.  Do simpler things like email.

But the mean little voice, the mean bully inside my head can’t win.

It shouldn’t win.

It’s wrong.

I know I deserve kindness and patience and encouragement. I know I deserve love.

But its amazing how, when the pressure is on, I crumble instead of squaring my shoulders and locking my knees and digging deep for strength. Must find the strength. Must find the peace. No one can do it for me. This is one of those battles no one can fight but me.

And so that’s my goal. Not to write 5-10 pages a day. But to dismiss the critic and embrace the fear and take that deep breath, that deep calming breath and remind myself–I can do it. I can do anything. I just have to take it one baby step at a time.

By Jane | Posted in Events, Hawaii, Love & Loss, Mom World, Travel Girl, Writing Life | Comments (44)

I Wish I Was a Librarian

May 28, 2010 – 9:57 pm

I practically grew up in the Visalia library.  From an early age I rode my bike there and back, mywhite plastic flower basket on the front of my Schwinn bike with the turquoise banana seat packed with books.  Mrs. Livingstone, the head librarian, always allowed me to check out more than the maximum amount you could take because she knew my parents and she knew how much I loved to read,  as well as how fast I read.  I needed a lot of books.  Not all librarians were quite so accomodating so I learned to visit the check out desk when Mrs. Livingstone was present.

When my two older boys were small, we spent a lot of time in the beautiful Bellevue library as it has an incredible children’s section.  I stopped checking out books personally as I become a purchase addict–had to own every book I read–but I never stopped loving libraries or librarians.

This year I was so fortunate to be invited to speak on a panel at the PLA Conference in Portland.  My dream is to be invited someday to the ALA conference.  Jane surrounded by thousands of librarians.  Heaven.

You can only imagine my joy then when I discovered this news story tonight on King 5.  Watch the video if you love librarians and Information Science, too.   http://www.king5.com/video/featured-videos/Librarians-go-Gaga-at-UWs-iSchool–95142299.html

By Jane | Posted in Book Talk | Comments (16)

Reading Claudia Dain

May 27, 2010 – 11:13 am

I love to read.  Oh, I love to read, and I’ve been so very happy reading for hours every night Claudia Dane’s incredible series, The Courtesan Chronicles.  Megan Crane introduced me to Claudia Dane.  Insisted I read her.  I said yeah, yeah, I’ll make a note of it but never picked up a book.  I visited Megan’s home six months ago,  inspected her library even as I complained that I needed something really good to read and Megan pointed to her shelf where Claudia’s books were, and said, “Read her.”

I will, I said half-heartedly, because really, the courtesan?  I’m not such a courtesan fan.  Courtesans are, well….courtesans.  Not nice girls.  Not necessarily the kind that one would call heroic.

A couple months ago, still complaining that I needed something to really grab my attention, Megan mailed me a brand new copy of The Courtesan’s Daughter, the first book of Dain’s series.

I looked at it.  Started it.  Put it down two pages later.  Then lamenting I had nothing else to read, picked it up again and then bam, about twenty pages into it, I fell in love.  Was hooked.  Completely.  Claudia Dain is brilliant!   She’s not like any other author writing today.  She doesn’t write familiar books, or books with perfect heroines.  No, her heroines are all flawed and at times a little self-absorbed, perhaps narrow minded, or a tad shallow, but the charm of these books is that each of these heroines grows and comes into her own and falls in love in the most marvelously unique, surprising, and well, delightful ways.  Dain’s prose is sharp and witty and, delightful. Yes, I know I used the word twice.  I can’t help it.  I’m seriously delighted by stories with unconventional characters, intriguing plots, fantastic dialogue and wit.  I love a smart book.  I love a smart author.  I love a smart woman.

I’m so enthralled with the series that I recently wrote Claudia a fan mail and posted a review over at Amazon of The Courtesan’s Daughter.  Claudia has the talent of Georgette Heyer and best of all, has a NEW book coming out early July.  Hurrah!  I can not wait and I’m looking forward to meeting her in Orlando at RWA’s national conference this July.

To celebrate Dain’s incredible talent and wit, I’m going to be giving away 5 copies of The Courtesan’s Daughter along with some other fun goodies like a Starbucks drink cards, chocolate and more.  If you want to win, tell me if you’ve ever read or heard of Claudia Dain, and if you like Regency romance, and what kind of heroines most appeal to you.  The contest will run through Saturday midnight and I’ll announce the five winners Sunday morning.

By Jane | Posted in Book Talk, Promo & Contests | Comments (56)

Bid on SHE’S GONE COUNTRY!

May 21, 2010 – 11:20 am

Happy Friday, everyone!

I’ve been having fun bidding over at Brenda Novak’s wonderful auction and wanted to let you all know that there are so many killer deals if you wander over to Brenda’s auction site and check it out. Some of my favorite authors have books listed and I’m wanting those for sure… and there are a couple author promo things that look pretty good as well.

For those of you  dying to read She’s Gone Country before August, you have the chance to win a bound galley over at Brenda Novak’s auction as well. It’s part of my Women’s Fiction package, which includes signed copies of: Frog Prince, Flirting with Forty, Odd Mom Out, Mrs. Perfect and Easy On The Eyes.  You get a total of 6 books, and I can personalize them for anyone you want….could be a great birthday or graduation gift, or just something fun for yourself.  Check it out if interested!

And finally, if one of you, my readers, should bid on, and win, the Hawaii travel package Ty and I donated, Ty has said he’ll throw in 2 semi-private or private surf lessons, 2 T-shirts and your choice of a TGSS water bottle or a TGSS float from his shop. This is an extra bonus that’s not listed on Brenda’s site because it’s special for you guys, my readers. And if you don’t want to surf, you can still get the fun loot and  take a stand-up paddle board lesson instead. If you do go and surf, I guarantee you’ll have a blast. Ty’s awesome crew makes every lesson fun. So if you win, you’ve got to let me know so I can make sure I get a gift certificate to you for the lessons and shirts and stuff.  The link to the Week in Paradise Package is here!

Now I’m back to work.  (Well, okay, make that back to bidding….)

By Jane | Posted in Promo & Contests, Publicity | Comments (7)