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Join Jane at Christine’s Film Premiere!

October 14, 2009 by Jane · View all 6 comments

If you’ve read Easy On The Eyes, you’ve met Christie, the independent filmmaker who is a good friend of Tiana Tomlinson’s. Well, Christie is actually inspired by a real life friend of mine–Christine Fugate–who also happens to be an independent film maker in Laguna Beach.

I met Christine two years ago while on my Odd Mom Out book tour and absolutely loved her. She’s so smart and warm and witty and kind. Very, very kind and yet so much fun, too. We had lunch at the gorgeous Shutters in Santa Monica (scene of the swanky baby shower Tiana attends in the beginning of Easy) and I knew Christine had to be a character in a future book as well as my friend.

Tomorrow, Thursday, I’m flying to Orange County to attend the premiere of Christine’s newest film, Grief Becomes Me, a Love Story.

Christine has graciously allowed me to invite some of my readers and friends, so if you’re free do join me. It’s going to be a fantastic evening. Screening details:

When: Thursday, October 15, 2009

Where: The Woman’s Club, 286 St. Ann’s Drive, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

If you need more info, or want to RSVP, just email me and I’ll get you squared away!

And don’t forget, this Saturday, October 17th I have an event in Laguna Beach, too. I’ll be visiting with readers, writers and friends at Laguna Beach Books from 4-6 pm. You can pick up a signed book, or just hang out and chat. It’s going to be lots of fun and I’d love to see you there! For more details, check out my events page here on my site.

Time Flies

October 13, 2009 by Jane · View all 13 comments

Time flies. It must, as I have no other explanation for the past eleven days that have zipped by since I last posted.

Surfer Ty has come and gone and is about to return tomorrow to join me and Mac for this weekend’s Southern California book events.

I’m not sure where the time has gone, though. I did have a couple weeks that were packed with events, ranging from appearing this weekend at a a writer’s conference to speaking to a PEO meeting to attending a wine and cheese in my honor to joining two different book clubs to hosting a Sunday brunch fundraiser. Each event has meant making goodie bags and gathering my blown up book covers and getting directions and kissing the kids goodbye all while wanting to be back in my house. The hotel is wonderful and the staff here treats us like family now, but I need space. I need my office. I need my house back. I feel like I’m 39 weeks pregnant and about to pop and am absolutely desperate to deliver this baby and get my body back. Except in this case, my body’s my house and I want to go home.

So I’m working hard at calming myself. Things are good, I remind myself. Editor loved revisions on book, Shey’s story is scheduled for release Summer 2010, and it’s a fantastic sprawling story with a great Texas setting and some of my favorite characters yet. Only now I need to get going on new book, which is a Christmas novella for Harlequin. The story is set in Venice and it’s going to be a great story. I just need to make myself slow down, sit down and write!

Speaking of events, I’ve got several fun things slated for Southern California in the coming week. I’ll post all the details in tomorrow’s blog, but in the meantime, here’s a pic from the Open Window book event I did in September:

Jane Porter and some of the guests at the Open Window School Auction Party in Bellevue, September 18, 2009

October 1st

October 1, 2009 by Jane · View all 25 comments

Happy October, everyone!

Surfer Ty just arrived minutes ago on a red eye from Hawaii. He came bearing gifts…Mac’s first pair of Vans. Mac is totally styled out now. Lucky little dude.

Monday night I emailed the revised She’s Gone Country to my editor and the week has been busy with reader events. On Sunday I hosted a brunch for a book club of moms who have kids attending Clyde Hill Elementary, last night I attended a book event at Linda Kruse’s, today I head to join a book club in Lake Tapps, and Sunday I have another brunch for another school, this time Newcastle Elementary. Whew!

Better jump in the shower so I can make my event but if you have a minute, tell me what you’re doing as I’d love to catch up!

When They Were Little

September 25, 2009 by Jane · View all 17 comments

My niece Krysia Sikora just sent me this picture of my ‘big boys’. It was taken at our old Arizona house years ago. Jake’s wearing Power Ranger pj’s so he must have been 5 and in Kindergarten. Ty must be around 2 1/2. I absolutely love this picture as Jake is now way taller than me and Ty’s a cool 10 year old.

I look at Baby Mac and squeeze him trying to keep him from growing too fast. I love my big boys now, but they were so delicious when they were little. My boys just own my heart. Maybe the writing is hard and maybe I’m not always a perfect parent but the love is there.

So happy Friday everyone. And give the people in your life an extra squeeze. Life is so short. We have to live and love every single day!

Befriend a Friend

September 21, 2009 by Jane · View all 98 comments

I haven’t been able to log on to the internet in days due to the hotel’s moody wireless router but I finally got a chance to jump on so here I am.

Quick update: Ty’s gone back to Hawaii. Mac’s got his first cold. Boys had a crazy busy weekend of sports and birthday parties and I’m down to six days before my revised book is due. Maybe it’s a good thing I couldn’t check email or update my blog. I’m stretched pretty darn thin and need to focus focus focus as much as I can.

Happily, my two college sitters (they job share) return to us this afternoon after a two week hiatus and fingers crossed I’ll get tons of brilliant writing done this week. I need to get a lot of brilliant writing done. I’m ready to feel on top of things instead of being behind all the time.

On another happy note, I attended a fantastic event Friday night. The Open Window School fundraiser at Grace Wang’s house, an event Tracy Swann put together and the women who were there were absolutely terrific and the discussion was one of the best ever. I felt so welcome and comfortable and absolutely delighted to discover that so many of the women had read my books. Everyone who attended the event got a copy of Easy On The Eyes and a goodie bag and I left feeling like I’d made seventeen new friends.

Speaking of friends, my friends over at Book Candy Studios made this fun video for me as a baby gift for Mac and me, and I wanted to share. Thanks Book Candy Studios! You guys rock.

Friday night made me appreciate just how important our girl friends are, and I was inspired by all the warmth to run a contest here on the JaneBlog where you treat a friend. Think of it as surprise care package for your best friend or your co-worker or sister or someone who needs a little pick me up. I’ll draw ten winners from the comments below, and ask each of the ten winners to send me the name and address of the friend you’d like to surprise with a Jane Porter novel. You who’ve won, get to pick the novel–can be Easy or one from my back list–and I’ll sign it to your friend, and pop it and a bunch of JP goodies in the mail along with a note saying you thought of them and wanted them to receive something special. The contest will run through Thursday night and I’ll announce the winners Friday morning so make sure to check back as gifts will go out in Monday’s mail!

If you’re ready to play, tell me something about the friend you’d surprise… why is this person such a good friend to you, or why your friend should win a surprise package… and you’re entered. You don’t have to use a name. Just sharing something good about your friend will do the trick.

Thank you to Tracy and Grace and everyone who attended the event Friday night, and thank you to all of you who read my blog. I so appreciate all of you and count you among my favorite friends!

Balancing Act

September 12, 2009 by Jane · View all 59 comments

This is going to be short and sweet since its Saturday and a busy sports day with my son Ty having a soccer game in ninety minutes and my high school freshman playing in a water polo game over on Bainbridge Island this afternoon which involves getting us all in the car, over to Seattle and in line for the ferry. But it’s a beautiful beautiful weekend and Surfer Ty is here for the next week (hurrah!) and I’m halfway done with the revisions on Shey’s book.

I continue to write really slow, focus divided by children, hotel, and fatigue. I don’t ever remember feeling so tired and think exercise would help pep me up but now when I have fifteen free minutes I just want to lie down and get a cat nap. As soon as we’re in house I must try to get baby Mac to start sleeping in longer stretches as he’s still up two to three times a night. Dread making him cry it out but I’m exhausted and think its nearly all sleep related.

I have a huge stack of books in my TBR pile. I carried them to Hawaii for the summer thinking that as soon as I finished writing Shey’s book I’d begin reading but there’s been no time yet. I keep adding to the pile–just bought another Georgette Heyer at Barnes & Noble two days ago–but have begun reading in pieces Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth. Have any of you read it? It’s fantastic and reminds me so much of Ruiz’ The Four Agreements which helped me so much in 2004 and 2005 that I used the lessons to fuel Jackie’s changes in Flirting with Forty.

I love books that make me think, and challenge me to live more honestly and simply. It’s too easy to get caught up in the world and worry and fear. But fear doesn’t make anything work better and it diminishes peace and joy.

I do think it’s time to get back to exercising, too. I’ve lost some weight–not enough–but right now the exercise isn’t for my thighs as much as my head and emotions. Exercise is another of the things that helps clear my head, get me focused, and helps me feel mentally strong.

What do you do to get centered? What helps you keep your priorities straight? Share your thoughts with me in a comment and one of you will win a fun prize of a $10 Barnes & Noble gift card, a $15 Starbucks drink card, some indulgent bath products and Jane Porter reader goodies. The contest ends Monday night midnight and I’ll announce the winner Tuesday morning. So talk to me and you’re entered!

The Suite Life

September 5, 2009 by Jane · View all 87 comments

I’ve been back in Bellevue 8 days now and it’s the Suite Life of Jane & Family. For those of you who have kids who watch the Disney Channel you might recognize the play on the TV show The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. And for those of you who know the show, Zack & Cody’s digs were far fancier than ours. We’ve no bellman, or doorman, or lively lobby. We’re in a quiet little residential hotel with intermittent internet service.

But we’re here, and relatively settled, although it’s interesting trying to manage Abi the one eyed bulldog and baby Mac at the same time. Abi doesn’t like being in a hotel and trying to get her out to use the grass is fine when the sun is shining but when it rains, it’s a whole different story. I can’t leave Mac in our room alone while I take Abi out, but Mac doesn’t like getting wet when I take Abi out in the rain so I struggle to bump the stroller out through the doors while Abi tries to escape back through the doors and I try to keep Mac from crying and Abi from slipping out of her collar and I tell myself it’s only for another four weeks…

Speaking of four weeks, I’ve got more events coming up in October, including The Emerald City Conference’s Bookfair in Bellevue October 10th, and a California event scheduled for Laguna Beach Books on Saturday, October 17th. The Laguna Beach Book event will take place late in the afternoon so if you’re in Orange County or northern San Diego County, save the date and come see me!

In the meantime, what’s everyone doing this weekend? Got any fun plans? Boring plans? Tell me! I’ve an awesome end of summer prize to give away–a pretty pink sarong, a bag of Kona coffee, a box of Hot Tamale candy, lots of JP goodies, and best of all, a signed copy of Easy On The Eyes ready to be mailed. Want to win? Just post a comment! Contest ends Monday night, and I’ll announce the winner Tuesday morning. So talk to me and you’re entered.

Jane Messes Up!

August 29, 2009 by Jane · View all 4 comments

Yikes! I’ve been telling everyone the wrong date for the Bellevue library event. It’s not today… it’s tomorrow, on Sunday!!

So, if you are wanting to come, please please please come… tomorrow. I was actually all dressed and ready to go when I saw Lisa’s comment on my blog saying the event is Sunday. And of course its Sunday. I’m so sleep deprived I don’t know where I am but I do know I’m Jane.

Pass the word and please come see me tomorrow at 2!

Mac & Misc

August 26, 2009 by Jane · View all 93 comments

I told Mac today’s our last day in Hawaii until December so he’s decided to do some sun bathing of his own on the living room couch. He’s a nature baby, that’s for sure.Nude and naked are his favorite states of dress, although he’ll settle for a diaper when we have to go out and about.

My book is now in and my editor is reading. I know I’ll have some tweaks so I’ve just finished mailing all my research books and materials back to Bellevue so I’ll be ready to get back to work as soon as I get the revision letter. In the meantime I’ve got some events coming up–a Bellevue library book signing with three other authors on Saturday, so if you’re in the area, come see me! The event starts at two and I’ll be reading/discussing around 2:15 or 2:30 and then signing books right after. I will be having other local events in the next month so if you can’t make Saturday’s library fundraiser (they’re selling a very cool author cookbook and I’m included among their celeb author recipes) you will have the chance to see me again soon.

I’m doing one last Hawaii contest, and this prize does fit into my suitcase so here’s what I want from you—tell me which of my books is your favorite (and why, if you’d like)–and you’re entered. Contest will close Friday night midnight PST and I’ll announce the winner on Saturday and get the prize in the mail on Monday. It’s a fun prize and includes a Starbucks card, a B&N, a colorful sarong and some more Hawaii goodies.

(And last but not least, my two winners from the last blog haven’t emailed me and I leave Hawaii tomorrow and can’t take the boxes of wonderful goodies in my suitcase so… check the comment section at the end of the last blog on my website, and see if you are either of the two names picked. Otherwise, I will pick two random winners from my reader list and just mail the packages out in the morning on my way to the airport.)

One Week Left

August 20, 2009 by Jane · View all 73 comments

Can’t believe a week from today I return to Bellevue. Can’t believe I’ve been here in Hawaii almost two months already. Even harder to believe I’ve only been to the beach once!! What have I done all summer? Write. And write. And nurse Mac. And make sure boys were happy. And, well, write some more.

Yesterday I turned my book in to my editor but the ending still isn’t what I want so I’m continuing to work with it until I’m happy–which might be another few days–and then on Saturday afternoon I have another military base signing here on Oahu, this time at Schofield. But fingers crossed that on Sunday I can take Mac to the beach to see his dad.

Next Thursday Ty is going to fly Mac and me back home, make sure we get settled in the hotel we’re staying in for the next month (Bellevue house is being remodeled and isn’t ready for us to move back in) and then return to Hawaii for another couple weeks.

I will really hate saying goodbye to him. Already makes me feel emotional. I love it when we’re all together and Mac does, too. He’s such a Daddy’s boy and loves his morning routine with him where the guys get up at 5 to watch baby cartoons and hang out together.

On the book front, readers and friends continue to send me fun shots of Easy On The Eyes on store shelves. The photo below is from Kiersten and was taken at a Target store in NJ. Thanks, Kiersten for the pic!

And because this is my last week here in Hawaii, it’s time to share some more aloha. I’m giving away another fun Hawaii surprise package and I’d love for you to win! How? Just post a comment below and you’re entered. I’ll draw the winner’s name Sunday night and announce on Monday. You can share anything, just talk to me. I miss you all and want to hear what’s going on!

Join Jane at Christine’s Film Premiere!

Time Flies

October 1st

When They Were Little

Jane Messes Up!

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