Category Archives: Hawaii

The Great Hawaii Book Escape Giveaway!

March 31, 2009 · 18 comments

Have I got a fun contest for you!!  If you’re like me, craving sunshine and summer fun, you’ll love this amazing Hawaii themed contest with 8 fantastic novels (at least 4 of them are set in Hawaii!) and tons of Hawaii treats and reader goodies.   Bestselling authors Mia King, Jill Marie Landis, Jane Porter and Carol Snow are celebrating all things book and beach by offering signed copies of our Hawaii-themed novels along with one signed backlist title. In addition, we’ve thrown in a ton of other fabulous gifts and prizes for one lucky winner. The grand prize winner will receive EIGHT autographed NOVELS and over thirty amazing gifts for your home, kitchen, closet and more, so you can create your own paradise wherever you … Continue reading The Great Hawaii Book Escape Giveaway! →

Hawaii Dreaming

March 9, 2009 · 92 comments

Snowflakes drift past my windows and the sky’s a steely gray. Even though the snow isn’t sticking it certainly looks cold enough. I’m about to head to an OB appointment and my youngest is home sick–although at his dad’s–with a 103 degree fever and a cough that makes the walls shake. And right now Hawaii sounds like heaven. If only I could get on a plane and just go. I’d love to be warm right now, would love to be near the sea. Speaking of the sun and sea, I heard from a number of my Canadian readers that Flirting with Forty finally showed on TV there last night. Not sure which channel/station was showing the movie but I hope … Continue reading Hawaii Dreaming →

Maui Bliss

December 30, 2008 · 55 comments

Have just arrived in Maui with my two boys for New Years and finally have some internet connection and a working password for my blog again!  I somehow got locked out but I’m back again.   I did get to Hawaii on the 21st and then my boys arrived on the 26th, and that’s when we all finally celebrated Christmas.  We’ve been passing the time on Oahu by playing on the beach, redeeming Christmas gift cards, and eating out since our new house is missing a working kitchen at the moment.  But now, after four days of this and that, we’ve arrived on Maui to celebrate the new year.  We thought it’d be fun to stay for a few days at … Continue reading Maui Bliss →

Hawaii Book & Music Festival

May 19, 2008 · 4 comments

I’m in Hawaii.  Tomorrow I fly back to Seattle after a whirlwind trip here to participate in the 3rd annual Hawaii Book & Music Festival.  I arrived Thursday afternoon.  Friday at 6:15 am, I reported to KHON-2, which is Hawaii’s #1 morning news station and was interviewed along with Linda, another author, about the weekend festivities. Friday night I attended Laura Schank’s wonderful book club.  Ty drove me to the 7 pm dinner and discussion and hung out at a local restaurant until he returned at 10 to whisk me home.  I dragged him inside to meet everyone and he was more popular than me.  We both had fun chatting with everyone and posing for pictures with members of the … Continue reading Hawaii Book & Music Festival →

On Set

May 3, 2008 · 20 comments

What an amazing week. For one week I felt like a VIP. It was so cool. Being on the set was far more interesting, far more exciting and far more fun than I expected. Okay, I’m not a good extra. I got hot. And bored. And I’d wander away from the extras to behind the camera where I’d sit with a headset and listen in as the director gave directions and the actors did their scenes. I met Heather on that first day, too, and then we talked on Wednesday, and then by Thursday I felt comfortable enough to hug her goodbye. I have photos with Heather and pics with Robert Buckley. Rob and Heather wanted to meet Ty Gurney … Continue reading On Set →

Fans of Flirting with Forty

April 25, 2008 · 12 comments

From the beginning Flirting with Forty has had a touch of magic. It was a story close to my heart, and a story not entirely all mine, but personal enough I could write with strong, clear emotion and even stronger conviction. Every book I write means something to me but truly, Flirting with Forty, has had a life of its own. As many of you know, Flirting with Forty has been in the entertainment news with the movie currently in production. A week ago the cast and crew moved from Calgary to Hawaii where they’ve been filming for the past week. Many of my boyfriend’s surf instructors and beach girls have been extras on the North Shore scenes. Several Pi … Continue reading Fans of Flirting with Forty →

Waist Not

April 17, 2008 · 16 comments

I’ll be honest.  I think my face looks pretty good for 44.  It’s got lines around the eyes, and some saggy stuff near the mouth so I’ve learned to work a smile since it hides the droopies.  I’ve known for a couple years that if I bend over and look down on something, the skin around my eyeballs sag to the point you think I’m going to burst a vein.  Or an eyball.  I’ve handled this sensitive factoid by not bending over things too much.  Instead I glamorously tilt my head back at a confident, vaguely mocking angle and smile with warm amusement.  It’s a youthful pose and I shall work it forever. But there’s something else going south, and it’s not something I … Continue reading Waist Not →

Aloha

April 13, 2008 · 9 comments

Hawaii and I have an interesting relationship.  Here in Hawaii I savor sun and warm winds and the clear blue ocean.  And here in Hawaii I smack–continually–into my shortcomings and limitations. Hawaii reminds me that I am a control freak. Hawaii’s laid back nature reveals my suffocating Type A personality. Hawaii’s open sharing makes me feel like Scrooge, miserly, money-oriented and obsessive about what’s mine. If I just stayed in Bellevue I could feel smug.  I could feel altruistic and giving and good about myself.  Don’t I donate to a dozen different charities?  Don’t I share my writing tips and techniques through my b-board and workshops?  Don’t I treat people well, speaking with compassion and kindness? Um, apparently not so … Continue reading Aloha →

Flirting Film

April 4, 2008 · 16 comments

The Flirting with Forty movie is officially in production.  April 1st with cast and crew in Calgary, the film began shooting.  My producer contact, Lucy Mukerjee, has been watching the dailies and she reports it’s all going really well.   They’re filming the scenes that took place in what was Seattle but now sounds like Denver.   On Tuesday I sent flowers to Heather in Calgary to celebrate the first day of the shoot and wish her well.   Tuesday noon I received a beautiful gift from the producers.  It’s exciting.  I’ve watched the process for the past year and a half, read the scripts and listened to discussion on casting and wondered if it’d really become a reality or if the story would just … Continue reading Flirting Film →

White Water

February 27, 2008 · 10 comments

I’m not a kick ass surfer.  In fact, on this trip out to Hawaii I couldn’t seem to stand on a wave.  I spent all my time in the water fighting white water. I did everything I knew how–looked for a channel, waited for a calm between sets, sat back on my board, you name it.  But the big waves, the relentless sets, and the endless white churny water grabbed my board and me and tossed us both around. I haven’t really tried to surf in a long time.  For one, I had a year long shoulder injury that has (finally!) healed.  And for another, working on getting pregnant meant lots and lots of drugs and lots and lots of … Continue reading White Water →