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Party in my Hometown!

December 1, 2009 by Jane · View all 14 comments

I love the holidays and I am celebrating… WITH YOU! Those of you in the greater Seattle area, please come to Downtown Bellevue tomorrow to have good drinks, good food and great conversation for my HOLIDAYS ARE HERE GIRL’S NIGHT OUT!

Oodles of beautiful holiday-red invitations were mailed, and sadly many of the envelopes seemingly failed (bad glue?) and I think that lots of people never received their invitation. Did you? I hope so. Are you coming? I would love to see you. Bring a friend!

Here is the info (also on my events page):

Wednesday, December 2, 2009 – TOMORROW!

5-7 pm Holiday Party at Ooba’s. 555 108th Avenue in Bellevue ~ 425-646-4500. Join us for festivities and fun!

Then at 7 pm, walk the 300 feet to the Bellevue Barnes & Noble for an Easy On The Eyes Reading & Signing. 626 106th Ave NE, Bellevue ~ 425-452-8463. All proceed from the booksigning will go to a local non-profit. Celebration and good deeds!

The invitation:

Click here for a printable page.

I hope to see you and your friends there! (Please share this with your friends on Facebook and the like!)

~ Jane

This Is It

November 20, 2009 by Jane · View all 20 comments

With my Thursday night unexpectedly free, and a sitter already booked for the baby, I decided to take son Ty to see Michael Jackson’s film, This Is It. Ty has been wanting to go ever since we heard they were making the film and tonight we finally had the chance and it was wonderful. Better than I imagined.

Heartbreaking, too, though.

Michael’s talent was all there, still there, and it was so bittersweet watching the footage from the final rehearsals, to see his artistry, his craft, his perfectionism…it was like having a front row seat for something very special. For me, there was magic in the film. Michael was still an incredible dancer and his voice was powerful. Those 50 London concerts would have been sensational.

I’ve only ever owned one Michael Jackson album–and it was Thriller. I was a freshman at UCLA and I did morning aerobics to Beat It and Billie Jean (as well as to Olivia Newton-John’s Let’s Get Physical but that might be too much information…). I’ve never been a die-hard MJ fan. But the movie reminded me that he was so much more than a curiosity…so much more than fodder for tabloid magazines. He was a bonafide star. He shaped music. Changed dance. Influenced a generation of musicians, artists, and fans.

I’m so glad I went tonight and saw the movie. So glad to see those feet move.

Have you seen the film? Would you see it? Have you ever owned a Michael Jackson album?

Thurs Web Cam Disc Postponed!

November 19, 2009 by Jane · View all 4 comments

The flu season has hit and poor Jenn, intrepid founder of the Endless Summer Girlfriend Book Club, has come down with a nasty bug and had to be rushed to Urgent Care for care.

We’re not cancelling tomorrow’s book club discussion, as much as we are postponing it until Jenn’s better. She wanted to set a new date today but I thought she needed to wait until her spiking fever died down and she truly felt better.

So stay tuned and I’ll announce our rescheduled online discussion as soon as we have a new date.

Thanks everyone for being so supportive, and remember to take your vitamins, get plenty of rest, and keep washing those hands to avoid nasty bugs and germs!

Couldn’t Be Prouder

November 16, 2009 by Jane · View all 26 comments

This is a gushing mom post. Skip if mom stuff bores you. But this boy, my Ty, had me in tears Saturday with his performance in his school play. He sang. He danced. He acted his heart out and I cried, tears falling throughout his entire first scene.

I was so proud. I loved his courage. To sing solo when we’re not a family of singers. To dance, to utter French exclamations, to play the comedian. This is my quiet son. My son that is so often outshone by his older brother. My son that came alive with hundreds of people watching.

I still get teary when I picture him on stage. He had one of the biggest parts. Had to learn 15 pages of dialogue, and some of his speeches were really long. I was nervous for him. I grew up in theatre, grew up going to auditions, and from junior high on, participated in community plays and apprenticed with a professional Shakespeare company. I wasn’t sure if he’d remember all his lines. Wasn’t sure if he’d be awkward up there with such a big role. Wasn’t sure he could do it.

But he did.

And then some.

And so tears fell, and he saw, and he asked me later why. I told him it was because he blew me away. He was better than I could have imagined. My boy that forgets his homework, loses essential paperwork, has a desk that makes teachers shudder, is a star.

And I couldn’t be prouder.

Happiness

November 14, 2009 by Jane · View all 62 comments

I had all the boys here last night. Jake and Ty, Surfer Ty and Mac. And as we’re living in just a few rooms of the house, we were all squished into Jake’s room to watch TV together. I loved it. I’m happy when we’re all crammed together. I sometimes think its such a mistake to have made my house bigger, to have made it prettier. We were doing really well with what we had before. Yes, Mac needed a room, and yes, I wanted a bath tub like crazy in my bathroom, but still… being cozy is good.

The boys won’t be here forever. I’m on borrowed time with them. Eventually I’ll see them off to college and lives of their own and I suppose I’ll become a hermit then. My boys’ whirlwind of activity is actually good for me. Gets me up and dressed and out of the house. Out of my writer head. Out into the world of normal.

But for me, happiness is love. I love to love my friends. Love my boys. Love my man. My family. My readers. My memories. My dreams.

It’s been a hard year. It’s been the hardest year I’ve known since 2004, the year I was divorced. This past summer was the worst of it, and I tried to hide my struggle. Tried to gloss over the difficulty I felt while trying to write Shey’s story, and dealing with Mac who didn’t sleep and couldn’t keep anything down, and living amidst construction, and feeling really really blue. But ultimately what got me through was love. From my friends. My family. And you.

You who read my blog. You who comment. You who are good to me are so very appreciated. I do not take you for granted. I do not take your support lightly. I know there’s a million other places you could be, a million other blogs you could read. Every time you stop by, every time you check in, you’re giving me a gift. You’re giving me love. And buckets and buckets of happiness.

Thank you.

And to show my thanks… a contest! One lucky winner will get a fantastic Frog Prince prize package that includes, yes, a signed copy of The Frog Prince, and fun Frog Prince goodies, as well as lots of gift cards to buy everything from coffee, to chocolate, to books, and more. So leave me a comment, share something about your world, and you’re entered. Contest closes Tuesday night PST at midnight and I’ll announce the winner Wednesday morning. You’re the best. And I mean it.

She’s Gone Country!

November 11, 2009 by Jane · View all 35 comments

Happy Veteran’s Day!

I’ve just dropped Megan Crane off at the airport and am so sorry to see her leave. It was awesome having her here! She’s great company and a wonderful friend and it was such a treat to have days just to discuss life and love and books.

Now I’m facing a pile of work on my desk, including finishing the copy edits for She’s Gone Country which will be out next August. I’m excited that I get to finally share the cover as I love this story and think you will, too. Shey’s such a cool chick–and writing about Texas and cowboys and bull riding champs was a lot of fun.

Made the mistake though of wandering over to Amazon (they posted the cover today, too) and read some recent reviews about my other books and the reviews made me shudder. It’s so easy to be an armchair critic! Thank God I rarely read reviews anymore and avoid most internet ‘fan’ sites. I don’t need or want to know who hates me and why. Life’s too short. Far better to focus on the positives.

So what are you doing today? Are you working or are you home? What are your plans for the weekend? Ty’s flying in tonight from Hawaii and I can’t wait for him to arrive. Baby Mac is so much fun–getting more personality by the day and I know he’ll be glad his daddy is here to play with him.

If you have a moment, bring me up to speed! I’d love to hear how you’re doing. And while you’re at it, let me know what you think of the new cover.

On The Sidelines

November 4, 2009 by Jane · View all 12 comments

It’s been busy. So, so, so busy. And chaotic. But boys are thrilled to have their bedrooms back and I’m glad to be in my home again but camping out in an unfinished bedroom, and trying to minimize the smell of primer and glue and wood stain, especially as I worry about all the fumes and Mac, who still sleeps next to me in his car seat and stroller.

Fortunately, Mac is developing into a very happy little boy. I love his personality. He loves to smile and shout to get attention. Mac also spends a lot of time watching his brothers play sports. Every Saturday morning means two hours of water polo and an hour of soccer. Every couple of weeks Jake has a polo tournament which means 4-7 hours of water polo in one or two days. Thank goodness Mac likes people and people watching.

I’m hosting two events this weekend–one on Friday night, another on Sunday morning–and then giving a workshop with brilliant Megan Crane in the Greater Seattle area on Tuesday night for the Eastside Chapter’s November meeting. Megan Crane is such a talented writer and a wonderful teacher and if you can make our Tuesday workshop, do come. All the workshop details are on the event page of my website. We’d love to see you there!

And finally, if you’re in the Bellevue/Seattle area, save the date of December 2nd because I’m doing a great big book party for Easy On The Eyes. Instead of having the party after the event, this time I’m hosting a fun, festive cocktail party from 5-7 pm at Ooba’s prior, with the reading, discussion and signing immediately after at the Bellevue Barnes & Noble. Beautiful, official invites are going out in the mail in the next week or so, so make sure you’re on the invite list! If you’ve received an invite from me in the past, you know you’re covered but if you’re in doubt, shoot me a private email with your name and address and I’ll get you added, or scoop the info from my website’s event page, grab your reading group or a couple of friends, and join me for champagne cocktails and yummy appetizers on the 2nd. It’s really going to be a fun holiday party and I’ve got awesome treat bags and presents for all my readers and friends attending! So save the date, and please come and celebrate with me. It won’t be the same without you!

LA Happenings

October 28, 2009 by Jane · View all 72 comments

While in Southern California we spent several days in Laguna Beach, then several days with Ty’s parents in Oceanside before heading to LA on Monday. In Los Angeles we stayed at my sister’s in Mar Vista. Her house is so cute, and she’s built a guest apartment over the garage that’s so pretty and comfortable it’s like staying in a posh hotel suite. I always love staying with her. Kathy and I are eighteen months apart (I’m the big sis!) and I just wish I got to see more of her.

During my LA visit, I took some meetings with industry folks, discussing my career, my books, and their potential for film projects. One of my meetings was in Beverly Glen and the drive up the hill was spectacular. Endless blue sky. Euclaptus trees lining the curving street. The glaze of sunlight. The drive itself felt magical.

One of the highlights of my LA trip was lunch with friend and film producer, Lucy Mukerjee, at the very hot celeb hang out Chateau Martmont on Sunset Boulevard. Lucy, if you remember, was instrumental in getting Flirting with Forty made into a movie. Whenever I’m in LA, Lucy tries to take me to cool, fun places for lunch, places I couldn’t get in without her connections. While sitting on the sunny terrace having our lunch, a man walks out of the hotel into the sunshine and I swear he’s Edge from U2. U2 is my fav fav band–I even studied in Ireland in 1986 so that I could be closer to the group–and then a minute after Edge walks out, Bono follows. I confess I’m beyond star struck. This is huge in my world. Better yet, the Edge and Bono and their entourage–business managers? handlers? journalists?–are seated less than 10 feet from us, facing us. I could hear their voices, their conversation and I felt like a little girl seeing a Diseny princess. Was this really happening?

The following evening I wrapped up my California trip with a book party at Leigh’s house (see photo above from our discussion). Leigh is a good friend of Christine Fugate’s and invited me over to meet her book group and friends. Christine drove up from Laguna and one of Christine’s friends that’s a film director who’d just flown in from New York attended, too. Everyone was so nice and its honestly surreal talking about my career, my themes, and my books. Most of the time I’m Jane the Mom, or Jane the Working Writer, but I do love meeting women and having the chance to talk books. Books are my world. Well, books and boys and babies.

Speaking of books, I’m running another contest today which will end Thursday night at midnight. I’ll announce the winner Friday morning. Share something with me–what you’re reading, or what you’re planning on doing this weekend–and you’re entered. Prize will be a signed JP novel, a Starbucks gift card, a B&N gift card and lots of fun goodies. So come talk and you’re entered!

Laguna Beach Book Signing

October 26, 2009 by Jane · View all 53 comments

I’m back from my Southern California sojourn and now facing a move into my house… although we’re going to be relegated to the boys bedrooms for another week or two while the contractor and crew try to finish the downstairs, which is essential considering that’s where the kitchen and dining room and family room is. I still don’t have a master bedroom ready yet, either, so Mac and I will be camping in someone’s room somewhere. Possibly in big brother Jake’s room as I kick him into brother Ty’s room. I dread more chaos but need to get us home and out of the hotel. It’s been two months already!!

I had a great time in California, though. But then I always do. I’m so lucky to have family and wonderful readers and friends who turn out at my events to show me support. Book signings can be stressful but I was so delighted to greet my loyal readers who made a point to join me, despite their hectic Saturday. One of those wonderful readers, Shannon Schell, drove to Laguna from Tustin, and convinced her sister and friend to join her. Another reader arrived with her mom and a bag full of my books, all in need of a signature. And yet another reader arrived who just wanted to say hello in person after emailing with me this past year.

However, Baby Mac wasn’t so sure about the book event. Even though Surfer Ty wore him in the Baby Bjorn, Mac could hear my voice and it frustrated him that he wasn’t with his mom and Mac’s tears made it impossible for me to focus on signing books when I just wanted to get that baby back into my arms. (Which I did, as you can see from the photo of Shannon and me below.)

I’m slow updating my blog as my camera disappeared at the end of the book signing with all my photos and I’ve been begging friends and readers to share their pics with me. So as I post pics and California stories in the next few days, know that I’ve got them because others were kind enough to share.

In the meantime, tell me what you’ve been doing while I’ve been traveling. How’s life at your house? I’ll be drawing a winner’s name tomorrow night and announcing it Wednesday morning with the prize being a signed book from my backlist, a B&N gift card, and a Starbucks drink card, plus JP goodies, so come bring me up to speed and maybe you’ll win!

Party in my Hometown!

This Is It

Thurs Web Cam Disc Postponed!

Couldn’t Be Prouder

She’s Gone Country!

On The Sidelines

LA Happenings

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