Jane with Mac
Mac Bran Gurney
Mac with his Daddy
Mac meeting big brothers Jake and Ty for the first time.
Please click over to the previous post for Mac’s stats.
Ten Fingers, Ten Toes
This is Jane’s webmistress reporting in:
Jane and Surfer Ty are thrilled to announce the arrival of their baby! Mac Bran Gurney was born Sunday, April 26 at 6:05pm. Baby Mac weighed in at 7lbs, 8oz. He is 19.75 inches tall. Both mom and baby are totally healthy and doing great.
Little Thoughts & A Mad World
I’m writing this blog to Adam Lambert’s Mad World which I just bought and downloaded from iTunes. For those who don’t watch American Idol, Adam is one of the show’s contestants but he’s so much bigger than the show. He’s going to have an amazing career and I will be one of the first in line to buy his future CD. There’s so much emotion and expression in his voice. He’s not just an artist, but he’s the kind of artist I like to write to. His voice inspires me. Lets the words loose. Makes writing fun.
The countdown is on for Sunday. It’s almost all I think about.
Surfer Ty’s en-route from Hawaii as I type, landing in Seattle at 10:30 tonight. He’ll be here for the next month. He’s never been here for that long. It’s cool to know that I won’t have to say goodbye to him anytime soon.
Since Mac and Jake’s bedrooms won’t be ready until mid May due to delay in the remodel, I’ve cleaned out part of my bedroom for bassinet and rocking chair, cleared off my dresser and topped it with a changing pad, and made space on my bookshelves for baskets of newborn clothes and blankets. It wasn’t the plan–we were supposed to have a darling little nursery ready for him–but such is life.
I’m reading the final chapter in What to Expect When You’re Expecting and the first couple chapters in my baby books on newborn care. Jake noticed and asked me why. I tell him I’m nervous. And a little scared. Babies change everything, and even though this is a much wanted baby, I’m a little overwhelmed by it all. Soon Mac will be here and nothing will ever be quite the same.
And presents arrive.
Friends and family are calling.
I guess I’m ready.
Wish it wouldn’t hurt.
Hope recovery won’t be too bad.
It’s not that I can’t handle pain, but it’s the mental thing…the unknown. It’s leaving the big boys to go to the hospital, the worry that they won’t get enough TLC while I’m fussing with the new little guy, the worry that things will fall apart if I’m not on top of my game, in control of everything.
I’ve asked my web designer, the incredibly brilliant and loyal and dedicated Emily Cotler of www.waxcreative.com to post the news once Mac arrives, and then once we have some pics of the little guy she’s promised to upload those here on my blog as well. So Sunday we should have details here and then by Tuesday or Wednesday, some first baby pics. Again, all the news will be here on my JaneBlog so if you’re curious, check in.
In the meantime tell me what your plans are for this weekend. Tell me what you’re reading, watching, thinking, dreaming. Tell me anything and everything because I need to relax and I definitely have some time on my hands. And as a thank you for taking time to share and chat, I’ll give away two fun mystery prizes that are great prizes, but surprise prizes since I’m getting surprises in the mail. The contest will be open through Friday night midnight PST and then on Saturday morning I’ll announce the two winners.
Love to all my readers and friends. You rock.
You make my life pretty dang sweet.
Happy Monday
Happy Monday, everyone. It was a relatively quiet weekend for me with the highlight being a 90 minute pre-natal massage on Sunday followed by a girls lunch out, my ‘baby gift’ from Lisa and Monica, two of my Bellevue friends. I loved the massage, and needed it, too. Sleep is becoming more and more elusive and now that Mac has changed position and dropped—that’s right, he flipped into the correct position sometime last week—I can tell that my body’s getting ready to kick that little guy out into the world. I’m excited but definitely more emotional than I was a couple weeks ago. It’ll be such a relief to finally have him here. And in six (six!) days he will be.
Since my boys were at their dad’s this weekend I also had plenty of time to think, and I spent a lot of time thinking about your comments on my blog, “Do You Reader Review?” I thought it was really interesting to see that most of you are influenced by reviews, and that a great number of you also review, if not at Amazon then over at Shelfari or a blog somewhere, maybe even your own.
Thank you all very much for your input about reader reviews, and congratulations again to our three winners—yes, I had to pick three, couldn’t pick just one—I hope you’ll enjoy those gift cards and JP reader goodies.
As some of you emailed me privately to say you’d like to post a review for one of my books, I’ve pulled together some handy links to my pages over at Amazon.com:
Mrs. Perfect, Odd Mom Out, Flirting with Forty, The Frog Prince.
And here is the link for Easy on the Eyes…
Ah, but wait.
You haven’t read Easy yet. In fact, it’s not even out for another couple months.
But you can read it. If you win an Advanced Reading Copy. And I have some copies here in my office I’m dying to give away to my wonderful readers.
Here’s how you can maybe win one of those Easy On The Eyes ARCs: Over the next couple of months while we wait for it to come out, (and while I am trying to get as much sleep as I can with a newborn in the house) I’ll be posting questions from my reader’s guides for Odd Mom Out and Mrs. Perfect, the two books that share some characters with Easy on the Eyes, in future blogs. If you’ve read the books and want to discuss them, here’s your chance. All you’d have to do is answer the questions and we’ll have our own mini book club on my blog. You can comment on a single question from one of the books, or on all the questions, but every blog with new questions and discussion will have a winner, and the winner will received an ARC of Easy on the Eyes—with no reader review required. 🙂
I’m going to be joining in on the blog book discussions as much as I can, so this will be a chance to share what you think, and ask me, the author, what I think, or what I intended, and I’m excited about some of the possible discussions. Hope you like the idea. I think we’re going to have a great time.
The first mini book club blog will be posted next week so keep your eyes peeled, and let’s get ready to talk!
You Tube Surprise
Everyone’s talking about Susan Boyle. She’s a hit. A break out star. A total surprise and delight.
I hadn’t heard of her until Tuesday when one of my Facebook friends, Diana Hill, sent me the most amazing link and told me to watch it. I was suspicious at first, thinking it was a gag video and even watching it, I kept thinking it was a gag video. She was lip synching. She was faking it. She didn’t really have that voice.
But she did. The video’s real. She’s real.
Magic. Absolute magic and joy.
I’m sure you’ve seen the You Tube video by now as it’s been on the Today Show, featured on MSN.com’s home page, and even splashed across the front page of yesterday’s Seattle Times. But it’s still wonderful, even days later. It reminds me tha we don’t know everything and we can’t ever judge a book by its cover.
So watch this clip if you haven’t, or if you have, watch it one more time and celebrate the sheer beauty of the human spirit. This woman triumphed and every time I watch this video I cry and cheer for her. Moments like these should be shared with others. It’s not about the “I, me, self” winning. It’s about hope and love and the state of grace. Susan Boyle, you have given me such joy. Thank you.
And don’t forget to tell me your opinion on reader reviewing. The contest is open though tomorrow — I am really interested in your opinions and feedback.
Much love, and may your weekend be full of wonder and joy.
Jane
Do you “Reader Review”?
As an author, reader reviews are extremely important to me because I write for ‘real’ readers–real women–not critics and I want to know what real readers think. Besides the obvious perks of word-of-mouth, I love seeing positive reviews from fans on sites like Amazon and Barnes&Noble.com. Readers always have favorite books, and some books will be more loved than others, but I appreciate every review, especially when readers can share their experience with another reader. For one, it makes me feel like I’m part of the reading community, and for another, it makes my work all the more worthwhile.
So I’m curious. Do you “reader review”?
If so, are you an avid or occasional reviewer? What are your favorite bookseller sites to post and read reviews? Amazon.com? BarnesandNoble.com? Is there a different one you like? Are they easy to use? Do you give reader reviews much weight? I really want to hear what you think! I’m doing a shortie contest just for this impromptu “study” with the prize being a $10 B+N gift card and tons of my fun JP goodies. Enter to win by posting a comment about reader reviews: Do you do them? Do you read them? What do you think of them? Your comment enters you in the drawing. Contest closes Friday night midnight PST and I’ll announce the winner Saturday morning.
PS If you’ve never posted book reviews, but you want to, my fellow author Hope Tarr has a wonderful guide on how to get started. Check it out.
Tuesday Nights
My favorite night of the week is Tuesday night. I also love Mondays and Wednesdays but Tuesday is the best as I’m a reality TV show die-hard and on Tuesday night I get American Idol, The Biggest Loser, and the results show for Dancing With The Stars (which I of course watched Monday night).
You should see me with the remote control, juggling programs, taping this one, finishing that one off. Commercial breaks are a chance to race (okay lumber) to the bathroom, get some more water, and relax before the next frenzied viewing begins. My kids know better than to fight during American Idol, especially if Adam Lambert is singing. He rocks. He’s really, truly unique and I look forward all week to seeing what he’ll do next.
My favorite part of The Biggest Loser isn’t the challenge, or the diet tips, or the contestants bonding/competing, but the moment where everyone gets weighed. I love to see the results, and I really love the last minute at the end of the show where they reveal how the person voted off is doing at home, and how much they weigh now, and how much happier they are.
I know not everyone loves reality shows, and I’m selective in my viewing. I don’t watch all of them. In fact, I won’t watch shows that are a race, or a competition about survival or beating others. I don’t like the scheming and conniving and forming of alliances. Maybe it’s because I’m a lone wolf, but most alliances involve manipulation and back-stabbing and the worst worst part for me is when people sit around and talk about others. Or laugh at others. I loathe that…. I really do. One’s integrity is everything to me. Courage and honesty are important, but even more important is kindness and compassion. Mean people aren’t cool. And they’re not funny when they’re making fun of others.
So my favorite TV shows aren’t dramas or comedies, but programs that showcase talent, or demonstrate growth, or are a shot at love… even if it doesn’t work out.
And why don’t I have any favorite dramas or comedies? You’ll hate my answer. But it’s an honest one. For me, most series programs are too scripted. I can predict the dialogue too much of the time, and know where the story is going in advance. Maybe it’s because I’m a writer I understand how writers think, but for me to be entertained I need to be surprised. The Sopranos used to do that for me (although I had to run from the room when it looked like someone was going to get killed). Lost did it for awhile but after a couple years I just got tired of the storyline. And years ago I was addicted to ER.
Anyone else love Tuesday nights? What do you watch on TV? I’ve got a signed copy of the mass market edition of Flirting with Forty to give away, Macadamia nuts, a really fun red sarong and some other great JP goodies. Tell me what TV shows hook you–or what turns you off–and you’re entered. It’s that easy! Contest will run through Thursday night midnight PST and I’ll announce the winner’s name Friday morning.
But first–fun viewing tonight! It’s going to be a good day. 🙂
Quick Flirting Movie Mention
I was asked by a number of my readers to let them know if I knew when Flirting with 40 would play on Lifetime again, and last night as I was watching a movie on LMN (Lifetime Movie Network, a sister channel to Lifetime) they suddenly played the Flirting movie trailer, along with the announcement that the movie would air on LMN on Sunday evening.
I always get goosebumps when I see the trailer. It’s still so cool to me that it actually happened so I flipped ahead to see the show times for the West Coast and it looks like it’ll air here first tonight, Easter Sunday, at 5 pm and then again at 9 or 10 pm. So for those of you in a different time zone, and you’re still trying to catch the movie, go through your movie channel listings, look for LMN (should be right after Lifetime) and see if you can track down the exact time for your time zone.
And if you can’t watch it or catch it, remember that you can buy the DVD of the movie itself in May from Amazon!
Have a great day everyone. Happy Easter!
Shout Out To Single Moms
This one is for all the single moms out there who are facing another holiday and trying to do it all on their own.
I want you to know that I get it. I want you to know that I care.
I know it’s hard. Holidays can be particularly brutal, and sometimes really lonely, even with kids around. If you’re still getting used to be a single mom, trying to get through holidays and special days can feel anything but special. It can feel stressful. It can feel hollow. It can feel hurtful.
But it does get better, with time and a positive attitude. Like with everything else in life, you have to have a positive attitude. Mourning a failed marriage or the end of a relationship is normal. It’s expected, and it’s part of the grieving process. But at some point you have to start opening yourself to good feelings, even if its in little tiny increments. With all our rain here in Seattle, our weather gurus have come up with the term, “sun spots” to let us know that we’ll see the sun sometime that day or week, even if very briefly.
Single women and single moms need to learn to look for the sun spots in their lives, too. Look for the moments when things work, when you feel good, when the kids succeed, when you’ve that moment of calm. Tell yourself that there will be more of these good moments. Remind yourself that eventually the good moments will outweigh the bad. And remind yourself that you don’t need a man or a new relationship to provide you with happiness. You and your kids can be your own source of sun and fun. You and your kids (or if you’re a single woman, just you) can create new traditions to rival the old, new holiday memories that are as strong and happy and healthy as the old, if not stronger, happier, and healthier.
I have been doing holidays alone for five years. Even though I met Surfer Ty years ago, we actually share very few holidays together. My kids holidays are Ty’s biggest work days of the year. It’s not practical for me to haul the kids to Hawaii during the school year for every school break, and it’s impossible for me to ask Ty to not run his business just so we can have a man at our holiday table, or participating in a holiday tradition.
And so all my favorite traditions are traditions I share with the kids. Valentine’s Night isn’t about romance, but about love, family love. Easter isn’t about having certain people over, or certain things happen. It’s about togetherness, forgiveness, hope, and love. Family love. Mother’s Day isn’t about me being spoiled but about me being grateful for the amazing people in my life… my children.
What I’m trying to say is that there isn’t just one way to be a family, or one way to celebrate a holiday, or one way to create wonderful memories and traditions for your children. Until my divorce five years ago my children knew only the most traditional of holidays–Easter church service followed by brunch followed by Easter egg hunt; Christmas Eve midnight might followed by stockings and gifts on Christmas morning–and while I try to do the same now, I’ve found there are differences. Without another adult to carry the conversation I’ve learned to listen more closely to my children. Without another adult to shoulder some of the discipline the boys and I have had to battle out our own rules and rhythm and respect. Without another adult to help decorate, or cook, or clean up I’ve learned to simplify, realizing that happiness doesn’t need lots of extras and external stressful. It just needs me to be with the kids and to laugh, and to love, and to sometimes cry. Holidays don’t have to be busy or extravagant or perfect. They just need me to be real, and present.
And being present with my kids feels good.
It feels right.
It didn’t always, but we’ve been creating these memories and traditions for five years now and the boys look forward to them now. They know what to expect, they’re excited about the fun traditions we’ve built, and they know they’re responsible for making holidays festive and celebratory, too.
You see, we women don’t have to do it all on our own. We can let our kids know they’ve a responsibility to making family time fun and festive. Because a family isn’t just about mom giving and giving and kids taking and taking (our spouses, for that matter). It’s about sharing. And caring. And doing your best.
To the newly single moms, you might not be in the sun yet. You might be struggling because tomorrow’s Easter and Mother’s Day is coming and you wish, how you wish, someone else was there to make it easier.
Just know that you’re not alone, and you can do it, and if you do the hard work now–if you stretch and reach for the sun spots and carve out those happy moments for the kids–you’ll eventually have happy moments, too. Lots of them.
So tomorrow while I’m waddling about the wet lawn early in the morning hiding all the plastic and real eggs, know that I’m thinking of you, and cheering you on, and saying you go, girl. Just do the best you can.
Happy Easter everyone!
Jane
PS I’m doing a shortie contest for Easter, and the prize is a cute blue and brown tote bag with a signed book of your choice from my back list, a Starbucks mug, a $10 Starbucks drink card, and lots of JP reader goodies. Enter to win by posting a comment…any comment is fine. Contest closes Monday night midnight PST and I’ll announce the winner Tuesday morning.
Brenda Novak’s Amazing Auction!
Those of you who have followed my JaneBlog for a couple years know that every year I do something special to support Brenda Novak’s auction to raise money to find a cure for diabetes. Diabetes runs in my family. My Grandfather Porter’s mother died in her twenties from diabetes, leaving behind two young children. Insulin hadn’t been discovered yet and this young beautiful mother of two essentially starved to death without insulin. Today we do have insulin, but its not a cure, and even with managing one’s blood sugar, diabetes is still destructive and dangerous.
And this is why I throw myself behind each of Brenda’s auctions. The auctions are so well run, and so full of great things that I go a little bit crazy bidding every year. I don’t buy everything, but each year I do end up with something special. Last year I ended up winning a wonderful lunch with Randall Toye, a top Harlequin VP. Randall took me to a waterfront restaurant in San Francisco during the RWA Conference and we talked about books, life, and my career. It’s not often a Harlequin author gets to buy a VP and bend his/her ear for an hour or two, so it was a rare treat and a smart career investment. Brenda has lots of opportunities like this for writers this year, too, opportunities to be read (and to meet!) some of the top agents and editors in the business, along with lunches and dinner with some of your favorite authors. So take your time, check out all the wonderful donations, and maybe you’ll find something you just can’t live without.
Speaking of donations, this year I’m giving away another trip, another year of books and treats from me, along with several signed books and goodies.
To whet your appetite for the 6 night get away for two to Seattle and Victoria, BC, (a travel package that includes air, hotel, ferry transportation to and from Victoria, and a lunch or dinner with me while you’re in Seattle) you’ll want to watch the video, Online Auction for Diabetes Research Spotlight: Jane Porter.
If you’re interested in one of the other items, like being my buddy for the next year, and receiving signed books, and gifts and treats from me each month for 12 months (June 2009 – May 2010), check out: A Year of Books and Treats from Jane Porter.
I’m also giving away a signed ARC of Easy On The Eyes and 
a Frog Prince package consisting of a soft, plush green frog, a signed copy of The Frog Prince, and a gorgeous purse from Seattle designer designer L. Erickson. (And for those of you who love Flirting with Forty, Marilyn Shoemaker has donated a signed copy of to the auction as well!).
So browse Brenda’s auction and let me know what looks good to you! The online auction runs from May 1st through May 31st and the many of the wonderful items are available to view now.
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