Category Archives: Events

Brand New Reader Dinners Planned!

October 24, 2010 · 57 comments

As you can tell from the picture below, I really really enjoy meeting my readers and sitting down and having a meal and a drink and just chatting.  To me, nothing is more pleasurable than relaxing with friends over a good meal and that’s what I’m planning on doing as much as I can in the first half of 2011! I can tell you right now I’ve got plans being hatched and events being discussed for: Ann Arbor Chicago Minneapolis/St. Paul Green Bay Milwauke Kenosha Are you in any of these areas?  Does a Girls Night Out or a Reader Dinner sound fun?  Make sure you keep checking back for more details, or email me to ask that you be … Continue reading Brand New Reader Dinners Planned! →

Join Me Sunday in Woodinville, WA!

October 22, 2010 · 3 comments

I have a wonderful, easy opportunity for my Seattle area readers to join me in supporting the truly outstanding Seattle Children’s Hospital. This Sunday, Star Guild will be holding its Fall Fundraising week, with national shopping, and special events at Barnes and Noble and Ruby’s diner in Woodinville, WA.  Have time on Sunday afternoon to join me?  Check out the fun schedule of events below! Sunday’s Schedule at the Woodinville Barnes & Noble: 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Children’s Author: Erik Korhel. Includes special dance performance, book signing and Halloween poem written just for the occasion! 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Women’s Author: Jane Porter. Enjoy an Author Chat followed by a Book Signing of Jane’s new release She’s Gone … Continue reading Join Me Sunday in Woodinville, WA! →

Win Jane! … Okay, a Visit with Jane

October 21, 2010 · 59 comments

I love my readers. I really do. You guys are the reason I keep writing even when everything gets chaotic or hard. I so appreciate your support and friendship and sense of fun. During my book tours and book discussions, readers frequently ask me how much my life experiences influence the stories and characters I write. I get this question so frequently, in fact, that I created a special feature on my site—“How much of me is in my books?”— to address where I show up in my contemporary novels. There is a little of me in every book, of course. It’s only natural for a writer to draw inspiration from her own life. Certainly, though, there is more of … Continue reading Win Jane! … Okay, a Visit with Jane →

Texas Round-up

October 19, 2010 · 17 comments

I arrived back in Seattle late last night and Mac couldn’t cope with sleeping in his crib in his own room.  I tried to let him cry it out since it was after eleven pm but after 30 minutes of him crying hard I retrieved him and put him into bed with me.  He clung to me for a long time absolutely terrified from being in his room on his own after nine days of sleeping with dad and mom in various hotel rooms. But now it’s time to settle back into our Bellevue routine and hopefully some sleep because I’m tired! I did have an amazing Texas Tour though, as you can tell from the fun Katy Pi Phi alum … Continue reading Texas Round-up →

Texas Touring

October 15, 2010 · 20 comments

I love Texas. I really do. I’m having the best time here with my guys, too. In between book events we’ve hit the Texas State Fair in Dallas, visited the Stockyards in Fort Worth with friends Carol and her cowboy husband Garner. In Fort Worth we checked out boots at Leddys before buying a pair for each of us at Maverick’s. In San Antonio we toured the Alamo and then explored the beautiful Riverwalk–probably one of my favorite places anywhere in the US. Yesterday before my book event at The Twig we drove to Bandera where we visited the cool dude ranch, Rancho Cortez, and got to do a little bit of riding and roping. (Ty Gurney was much much … Continue reading Texas Touring →

Not so easy on the eyes

October 12, 2010 · 70 comments

The eyes have it. Or should I say, they’ve had it? I can’t see anymore. I’ve always worn contact lenses and am used to wearing glasses at night when I need to give my eyes a rest, but now I need contacts and reading glasses and sometimes that is still not enough. Note pic below where I’m having to hold a candle to the menu, too!! Oh where oh where has my vision gone?!? I will tell you what’s easy on the eyes though and that’s Texas. I love it! I’m having a wonderful time with Ty and Mac. We’re in the car right now heading to Fort Worth where we’re meeting friends Carol and Garner for lunch and then … Continue reading Not so easy on the eyes →

Status: Happy

October 7, 2010 · 109 comments

It’s been unbelievably gorgeous here in Seattle the past few days. Blue, blue skies and perfect temperatures. I’d meant to write this week, too, but instead am getting ready for my Texas tour and handling all the mom stuff that comes up when you get ready to leave 2 school age kids for over a week. Mac is going to Texas, though, and that makes me happy. He’s at the best age right now–and is so very funny (as well as busy…. crazily busy…) and I can’t stand to leave him for a day, much less a week, so he goes along with a massive suitcase of promo material and clothes and the tiny bag Surfer Ty uses when he … Continue reading Status: Happy →

Emerald City Conf

October 3, 2010 · 12 comments

Can’t believe it’s Sunday night and the Emerald City Conference is over. My writer pals Megan and Liza spent the past four days here and are now getting ready to head home in the morning. I hate that the weekend is already come and gone as this was one of my favorite conferences ever. We had a blast doing our Saturday morning chat, meeting fun authors Kristina McMorris, Elisabeth Naughton, and Kris Kennedy for drinks, going out to dinner with friends Elizabeth Boyle, Christina Arbini, Kelli Estes and more, and then more workshops today. Now we’re about to start another week and I’m hoping to get lots of writing done between now and Saturday when I fly to Dallas to kick … Continue reading Emerald City Conf →

Texas Tour and Voting Begins!

October 1, 2010 · 6 comments

I am back home, gearing up for the Emerald City Conference this weekend and looking forward to seeing my Seattle readers at the Literacy Signing tomorrow. I’ll be signing copies of She’s Gone Country in great company—Brenda Novak, Megan Crane, Liza Palmer, Julia Quinn, and many more will be there, too! Next up on my book tour: Texas. It’s been five years since I toured the Lone Star State, so I’m thrilled to visit again. My event dates are posted here, and don’t forget to email me if your Texas-based book club is hosting a She’s Gone Country event—I’d love to say howdy and help you celebrate! Just in time for my Texas tour, voting has begun for the She’s … Continue reading Texas Tour and Voting Begins! →

Cowboy Mac

September 22, 2010 · 21 comments

Giddy’up cowboy!  I confess, I love this picture of Mac at our fair last week. He had his first pony ride and wanted more. Mac still isn’t talking a lot but he’s so funny even without a lot of words as he can imitate any sound or inflection and mimics every animal and person around. Like my other boys, Mac came chock full of personality, and even when he’s naughty he makes me laugh. (Just like his dad…) Speaking of Mac’s dad, Ty Gurney, is in Bali surfing for the next two weeks and I’m all packed for my trip to Denver in the morning. I’m really excited about my lunch with my readers and am busy planning more happy … Continue reading Cowboy Mac →