Category Archives: Travel Girl

Celebrating Flirting with Forty

December 5, 2012 · 141 comments

Can you believe that tomorrow it will be four years since the Lifetime premiere of Flirting with Forty? I can still remember getting the news that the book had been optioned by Sony, and then the regular updates after that…the hiring of a screenwriter, the outline of the screenplay, the script, the casting, and finally, the project being greenlighted.  It was a whirlwind of activity, with filming taking place in Calgary and Hawaii.  The cast and crew worked twelve hours a day, six days a week, to make sure the film was made in the 30 days they’d been allocated for budgeting purposes. I flew out to Hawaii for the last week of the April shoot, and was able to … Continue reading Celebrating Flirting with Forty →

Checking In

November 26, 2012 · 63 comments

It was a wonderful treat to have so many of my family here for Thanksgiving.  We also had some of Ty’s best friends from Hawaii, Tucker and Nichole, here, too, which made it a full house, and a fun house, and with all the work we did, trying to get ready for our guests, this 1927 Spanish Colonial Revival finally feels like home. I did spent Saturday and Sunday writing, and am about to get down to writing now.  This book I’m working on is really interesting, and I love the story and how the characters are coming to life, but I’ve got a long way to go.  Writing always takes time, and its the one thing (like so many … Continue reading Checking In →

I Heart Caitlin Crews

October 16, 2012 · 89 comments

A lot of you may know Megan Crane is a very close friend of mine but you may not know Megan also writes as Caitlin Crews and I just love her, and her books, and one of the best parts of moving to Orange County is that now I get to see more of her!  A couple weeks ago I convinced Megan she would enjoy a road trip to my hometown, and she was the most delightful date for the Tulare Library Foundation Auction fundraiser in Tulare, California, and then allowed me to give her the grand tour of my town, Visalia, which included a trip down Main Street, a drive past Dance-Arts, the library, and Taylor’s Hotdog stand (a … Continue reading I Heart Caitlin Crews →

First Stop… San Francisco!

September 4, 2012 · 26 comments

Well, today is the day! The Good Woman released today and the reviews so far have been wonderful and I feel so happy and grateful for all the love and support from my readers. It’s been so fun to watch all the good wishes come in from Facebook, Twitter and the countless emails.  I am so blessed! The next two weeks will be very busy as I leave on my Good Woman book tour to sign books and meet readers.  My first stop is San Francisco! Tonight I will be at Books Inc. in the Marina at 7pm.                                 Then on Wednesday the 5th, I will be … Continue reading First Stop… San Francisco! →

Love my Harlequins!

April 17, 2012 · 65 comments

I have officially started writing my new Harlequin Presents as I anticipate the late May 22nd release of my next Harlequin Presents, Not Fit for a King?, which has gotten a stellar 4 1/2 star Top Pick review from RT.  I try so hard not to get attached to reviews, good or bad, because I give each book my all, and pour my heart and soul into every manuscript, but it does feel good to know this one resonated with the reviewer. I do hope you’ll love Not Fit for a King?, too.  It’s the first book of my royalty duo, (twin princesses separated at birth!) with the second one, Emmeline’s story, out in late June.  So even if you don’t … Continue reading Love my Harlequins! →

Easter Parade

April 5, 2012 · 97 comments

This will be a very short post as I’m on a plane right now heading to Hawaii with Ty and Mac and we’re going to lose our internet connection any moment.  I am so happy to be getting to Hawaii for Easter…but sorry I didn’t get my book in before I left, so Hawaii is going to be all about writing for the first four or five days, and then hopefully I’ll get it in mid week and have a few days to play with Mac on the beach Sending you all love and wishes for a wonderful Easter and beautiful Spring.  I’ve been writing a lot and its been an intense book…I’ll feel so much better when I hit … Continue reading Easter Parade →

Playing the Harlequin Presents Heroine

March 7, 2012 · 67 comments

Last August I had the pleasure to attend Romance Writers of Australia’s annual conference in Melbourne.  I love attending the Australia conferences.  I love my Australia author friends.  Such good people.  Such good fun.  And last August I begged Megan Crane (aka Caitlin Crews) to go with me and she did, which made the four day whirlwind trip out of Honolulu even more special. On one of the final days of conference Trish Morey, Yvonne Lindsay, Lilian Darcy, Megan and I (and someone else, I’m sure of it, why can’t I remember??!) headed out for a little sight-seeing in Melbourne and we visited a very upscale jewelry shop and I tried on jewelry that cost thousands and thousands but oh, … Continue reading Playing the Harlequin Presents Heroine →

Dreaming of Beaches & Book Stores

January 27, 2012 · 84 comments

We’ve made an offer on a house in San Clemente, California and hope to close before the end of February.  It’s a great house, a historic home, very close to the beach and the San Clemente pier, and so it looks like we’re definitely heading to California in June once boys finish school. It’s exciting to think that come Fall, Ty and I will be in one house, under one roof, more and more.  Even better, its a house we bought together so no more his and hers, but ours.  Ty will continue to operate his Oahu based surf school, but plans on opening a Southern California branch sometime in 2012 or 213.  He needs to find the right spot … Continue reading Dreaming of Beaches & Book Stores →

Snow Play

January 20, 2012 · 78 comments

What a week!  We’ve had days and days of snow and the kids have absolutely loved being out of school.  I haven’t been playing though as my deadline is less than a month away and I’m deep into this new book.  I really love this one, its complicated and intense, but also really fun as every day I can’t wait to see what will happen next. I’m lucky I have great help with little Mac as he’s made the most of his snow days, too.  While Jake and Ty have been hanging out with friends, Mac has gone sledding and tramping through snow and throwing snowballs with anyone that will play with him. Late yesterday afternoon I’d just wrapped up … Continue reading Snow Play →

Back to Work

January 11, 2012 · 124 comments

I am working–writing–and it feels good.  Really good.  I’m one hundred pages into my story and there are areas I need to tighten and edit, and other areas I need to build up and flesh out, but its exciting to start understanding the story and feeling the characters come alive.  I am going to be writing a lot, which means long days at my desk, but it actually sounds fun right now.  After the rush-rush of Christmas, I welcome quiet and a chance to really concentrate on what’s at hand. I kicked off January with a three day writing retreat in Palm Springs with pals Megan Crane, Liza Palmer and Elizabeth Boyle.  The photo below is me at my ‘desk’ … Continue reading Back to Work →