Jane Porter's Blog, page 34

Munich

Thank you to everyone for your wonderful sister tag suggestions.  Loved them.  Love you.  You are the best of the best.  Feel so fortunate to have readers and friends like you.  Speaking of reading, I just finished a fantastic Georgette Heyer, Faro's Daughter, and it was truly wonderful.  Faro's Daughter and Arabella have to be my two favorites so far…and that's saying something as I really love Heyer's writing.

Later today I will be heading to Munich with my son Ty to celebrate his 13th birthday.  We come home Sunday so its a very short trip, but Ty didn't want to miss school and I wasn't thinking, so we're traveling all that way to spend two full days in Germany, but hey, I'm the intrepid traveler, and the Christmas Markets will be gorgeous and I'm hoping we're going to take the train to Salzburg for one of those days, too…

Surfer Ty is coming with us, and Mac and Jake will be staying home with my wonderful nanny/assistant, Jamette.  I'm lucky to have someone like her, who has known me for over 15 years, to manage things while I'm gone.  I've caught a bit of a cold, though, and am taking handfuls of zinc and vitamins and Tylenol to help me weather the trip.  And once we return Sunday, I'm only home a few days before Ty, Mac and I head to Hawaii for the holidays.  I really need to get back to writing but that might not happen until January when all the holidays are behind us and I can focus on nothing but the book.  If it sounds like a rush, it is.  I've been on the road every weekend for the past couple weekends and wasn't thinking when plans were made, but what's done is done and January and most of February are devoted to work.

I do have three fun holiday boxes sitting here for three of my readers.   Tell me which is your favorite Christmas Carol, or favorite thing to make for the holidays are you're entered.  Contest will run through Saturday and I'll announce the three winners on Sunday. Be patient with me, though, as I'll be posting from the airport so it might happen early in the day, or later, depending on time zones and travel.

Have a wonderful few days and I'll check in with you soon!

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Anyone Feeling Clever?

Happy December!  I've been working with my editor on the backcover copy for my new women's fiction book out in September from Berkley.  So far the title is my own working title, The Good Woman, and I'm hoping they keep it.  I thought I'd share the back cover blurb with you, but remember that it will probably change before the book comes out.  Editors have to get approval from sales and marketing folks on everything from cover art, to title, to that all-important back copy before the book his the shelves.

The backcover copy that we're playing with right now:

——————

Is it possible to leave it all behind?

Meg Brennan Roberts is a good woman…a successful publicist, faithful wife, and doting mother

of three.  She is also the eldest daughter of a large Irish-American family and takes her role as

the first born very seriously, priding herself on making the right decisons.  But the years of being

'good' have taken a toll.  While her career at Dark Horse Winery is thriving, Meg's tired and

empty, and her husband has never seemed more distant.

After an emotional weekend with her mom and sisters during their annual Brennan Girls' Getaway

at the beach house, Meg returns home with a desperate need to connect with her husband but

he's distracted and pushes her away. Lonely, Meg accepts the opportunity to attend the London

Wine Fair with her boss, the ruggedly handsome vintner, Chad Hallahan.  In London, Chad

confesses that he's attracted to her.

Shocked, Meg can't believe someone like Chad would want her, and returns home questioning

her life and marriage.   Suddenly Meg wants to escape…but for more than a weekend this time.

When one risky decision leads to another, Meg's world comes crashing down.  Meg's sisters are

horrified, unable to believe that virtuous, do-gooder Meg would do so wrong.  Now with her

marriage in tatters, and her sisters shunning her, Meg must make the choice of her life.

——————-

Now what I need from you (and everyone that makes a suggestion gets entered to win a Regency Escape prize, which includes Mary Balogh and Elizabeth Boyle histoical romance novels, 2 Jane Austen movies, and more wonderful goodies) is a tag-line that could go on the front and back of the book that says something about sisters, since this is a sisters trilogy…and I'm so bad about this sort of thing.

Are any of you clever?  Want to pretend to be clever for my sake?    Here's my best attempt:

Sisters…can't live with them, but can't live without them

You can suggest one, or three, or three hundred.  Anything and everything that might have something about being a sister in it, or being a Brennan sister will be added to the list.  Suggest something and you've got a chance to win the Regency Prize. And if this isn't your thing, I get it.  It's not my strength but I'm trying…I'm trying!

PS  This is a super short contest–just a day–as I'd like to compile a list to send to my editor by Friday afternoon!

 

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Random Happiness

I haven't been blogging a lot lately.  I'm sure you've noticed.  But things here at home have consumed me.  Being a mom has meant I've had to focus my energy on the kids and the writing has been pushed to the side for the time being.   It's okay.  That's how it goes.  I don't know any writer, or woman, who doesn't have to juggle hats, and sometimes juggle incredibly fast.

This morning I was checking email early and I had an email from Amazon.co.uk saying if I was looking for a great romance they were now shipping Not Fit for a King by Jane Porter and it made me smile.  I read it and thought, That's me!

Sometimes I forget that all the stress and work and time actually results in a real book.  Books that thousands, if not millions of people, read.  By the time each of my Harlequins have been picked up by the various foreign countries, it has more than two hundred thousand plus copies in print.  If you consider that I have over 27 Harlequins in print, that's a lot of books.  Approximately 5.4 million books.  And that doesn't count my women's fiction or my most recent releases.

But numbers really don't mean anything to me.  Money hasn't ever impressed me.  I'm not dazzled or wooed by fat contracts.  So what is important to me?  People.  You.  I'm dazzled and overwhelmed by my readers.  I'm dazzled, overwhelmed, and so very grateful that my readers have also become friends.  I don't want or need a Jane Porter Fan Club.  I want and need real people dealing with real issues, around me.   I try to write real issues in my women's fiction books, and create real escapes in my Harlequins.  I love both genres.   And this morning's email from Amazon made me feel a little glow of happiness.  My newest book is out in the UK!  Hurrah!  I want to celebrate.

To celebrate, I'm giving away ten copies of Not Fit for a King, along with special holiday treats and goodies. Want a chance to win one of the signed books?  Just talk to me!  I miss hearing from you.  My fault, I know, but chat with me, and fingers crossed, you'll be one of my lucky ten to win!

 

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Attitude of Gratitude

It's been a tough couple weeks and this week was maybe the hardest yet.  Stuff with kids, especially one boy, has really worn me down and I'm just tired.  But honestly, things aren't bad.  Things are just a little more effort.  A little more work.  A little more patience.  A little more strength.

So I'm going to check my fatigue and tears and mini melt-down and express gratitude.

I am thankful for the beautiful fall colors on the trees outside.

I am thankful for nice soft fuzzy sweaters now that its cold.

I am thankful for pumpkin and spice scented candles.

I am thankful for Jamette who makes my life so much easier.

I am thankful for my littlest guy who sleeps with me and wraps his arm around mine all night long.

I am thankful that my almost 13 year old loves to read.

I am thankful for my 16 year old's huge heart and gorgeous smile.

I am thankful that my surfer guy is coming Monday now instead of Wednesday because I need him here.

I am thankful for my friends who are so very dear to me.

I am thankful I get to see family next week for Thanksgiving.

I am thankful for my library of books.

I am thankful for readers who like my books.

I am thankful for all my blessings, as there are obviously so many.

What are you thankful for?  Tell me one thing or one hundred, and you are entered in my Thankful Prize.  I will draw at least five names for this mystery prize.  I'll announce the winners Sunday and mail the prizes Monday.  Have a great weekend and remember, I am very thankful for you.

 

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Not Fit for a King out soon in UK

I am enroute to Seattle from Dallas, buckled tightly into my seat due to extreme turbulence.  Its not easy typing as we dip and drop and bounce but its kind of exciting, too. Makes flying feel even more adventurous.

After four great days in Texas, its back home, and back to writing in the morning.  Back to those goals I mentioned last Monday, too.  If you'd asked me how well I met my goals you'd hear me confess that I maybe only met half.  But I'm not discouraged.  I'll just try again tomorrow, one little goal at a time. And those goals do add up.  I have proof—another new Harlequin out in the UK in just a couple weeks!

Not Fit for a King? hits stores in the UK December 2nd and its the first of a new Princess duo about two princess sisters separated at birth and they meet as adults, unaware that they are sisters, and briefly switch places with disastrous results.

Sound familiar?  It should. Not Fit for a King? was inspired by one of my all-time favorite movies as a little girl, The Parent Trap.  Well, maybe Prince and the Pauper crossed with The Parent Trap.  In my duo, one sister is a true blue royal princess and the other was raised on a Texas dude ranch.  The princess is the world's most glamorous royal, while Hannah Smith, the heroine in Not Fit for a King? is a secretary and personal assistant to a powerful sheikh.

The new princess duo will come out in the US this summer, back to back in June and July and I can't wait to hear what my readers think.  My UK readers can preorder it now on Amazon.   Fingers crossed that you'll enjoy the story as much as I loved writing it!!

 

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Smart Puppy

It's November 7th and I'm still trying to get settled back into a productive routine and it hasn't happened yet but I'm not giving up.  I vowed last Friday that starting Monday morning, every morning M-F I will get into my garage and do twenty minutes cardio.  Every morning, 20 mins minimum.  If I want to go longer, great.  If I only want to do 20, wonderful.  But I have a bike out there and a treadmill and workout DVDs and I have to do 20 mins of true cardio exercise.  And I did it today.  It didn't happen at 8 or 8:30 but by 8:45 I'd climbed on the bike and put in my 22 minutes.  It wasn't an easy little cycle but it chilled me out and met my goal.

Time to meet goal #2:  writing 10 pages today, and every day M-F, so by the end of the week, I have 50 solid pages for Kit's book, the second book in my Brennan Sisters trilogy.  I tried several times last week but got distracted and frustrated and side tracked into easier things.  But no more easy.  Time to put on my battle gear and be disciplined and smart and get stuff–the important stuff like writing new pages–done.

Speaking of smart, one of my readers in Kirkland, WA has a very smart puppy.   The thirteen week old mini dachshund has excellent taste in books…nibbling on Odd Mom Out in his free time.  Good dog!

 

I have a third goal, too…and that's to lose some weight.   I  had to buy all new clothes for the honeymoon since I spent the summer and Fall sitting and writing and not exercising.  The honeymoon didn't help in the weight department, either, so no more Halloween candy, time to go healthy.  Time to remember how delicious vegetables are.  Hmmm.  I will one day, won't I?

Do you have any goals?  Want to accomplish anything?  Share with me!  I have a special Cozy Fall prize for one of you…a soft fleecy pink robe, a special Pacific Northwest teapot, books by the fabulous Megan Crane/Caitlin Crews, Trish Morey, and me, and more great goodies.  Talk and you're entered.  Contest ends Friday and winner will be announced on Saturday.  Have a great week.  I'm off to write!

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Home for Halloween!

Returned home yesterday evening and have just slept for 10 hours and am feeling human again.  Its great to be back.  We had a fantastic trip but started missing the kids terribly about five days ago.  Ten days is a long time to be away from them, especially the two younger ones.

Ten days just made Mac grow up even more and he's talking nonstop about everything, but his favorite topic right now is Halloween.  He's so excited about Halloween and attended a Halloween party while we were gone, and has been wearing his costume every chance he can.  I'll share photos of him in his costume on Halloween but love this one below of my two toddler 'babies' at the Halloween store.  You didn't know I had twins, did you?

I'm off to make coffee and deal with email but wanted to say hello, good morning, and its great to be home.  I have a special contest prize for one of you to say Happy Halloween.  Just bring me up to date on what's going on in your life in the comment section on my blog below and you're entered!   Contest runs through Monday night and I'll announce the winner on Tuesday, November 1st.  Take care and more soon!

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Daddy, Mommy, Baby

Love the way 2 1/2 year olds look at the world.  Mac had visited a pumpkin patch earlier in the day with Jamette, his 'other mother', and an amazing part of our family, and at dinner when he was in his high chair he spotted the three pumpkins sitting on the kitchen counter and cried, "Oh, Daddy, Mommy, Baaaabbbby!  A family!" and I loved it.  Love how he thinks and associates and all the funny things he says.

Tomorrow Ty and I fly out to London and then overnight in Windsor, grab a fly Thursday morning to Venice, and then on Sunday grab another flight to Dublin, and then one more flight to London for a few days before coming home.  Lots of flying about but travel is huge for me.  It's how I unplug and fill that creative well.  I will be returning to my desk November 1st to work on the second book in my Brennan Sisters trilogy (as well as tackling any and all necessary revisions on book 1) and so I need to chill while I can because I've lots of work to do when I get home.

So glad though that Meg's book is done and in.  Now I just need to finish packing!  I'll try to check in from the road but if I can't, have a great ten days and sending you lots of love!

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Homestretch

Book is due Friday.  A week from tomorrow Ty and I go on our honeymoon.  Kids have wildly different needs but I am all tunnel vision now.  It's writing from 8 am until 8 pm or later.  No TV, no hanging out, no chatting, chilling or anything but getting words on page and tackling the final edit.

In some ways this is a good place to be with the book.  Its almost easy now–not the writing, because the brain is really tired–but the schedule and the choices.  I don't go anywhere, don't wear real clothes, don't answer the phone.  I just write.  And take a couple baths a day.  Baths help me unwind a little, relax, get the kinks out while I try to figure out what I'm going to write next.

And in between baths and protein bars and cups of tea, I think about how fun it'll be to get on this British Airways flight and head to Heathrow with Ty.  I've got a stack of books to take.  I haven't read a novel in weeks and weeks and am pining away without reading, but can't read until my book is done.

I hope you are all well.  I'd love to get an update on you.  How are you?  What are you busy with at the moment?  Anything you can share?  I'm going to be sending out 5 Halloween treats to those of you who post a comment on this blog this week by Thursday night.  Remember, you need to comment below, on this actual blog.  I'll draw 5 names Friday morning.  Talk to me because you are the only contact I'll get this week!

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Mamacation 2011

Can't believe my book is due a week from today.  And I still have 200+ pages to go.  This is going to be a week of extreme writing!  I might even half to check into a hotel for 48 hours to write round the clock…haven't done that since I was newly divorced and trying to figure life out and didn't even know which end was up!

However, once I do make my deadline, I've got something really fun to look forward to on Saturday, October 15th.  Best of all, I don't have to travel for it.  It's taking place right here in Seattle.  It's….Mama-ca-tion!  I'm going, and if you feel like you need a little time to yourself, then maybe you need to come, too!

Mamacation 2011 is hosted by Hip Travel Mama and it's a weekend of rest, relaxation, inspiration, great food, wonderful shopping (girls have to be able to shop) and more all at the stunning Four Seasons Hotel on Seattle's waterfront.  This amazing girls weekend is a week away but there is still time to sign up for a weekend of spa, wine, food, Luxe Style Boutique shopping, style advice, inspirational speakers, workshops and more.

 

Check out the Agenda for the weekend and it'd be brilliant to see you there!!

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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