Jane Porter's Blog, page 35

Work, Work, Work

I've had my head down the past few weeks, writing feverishly and sitting long hours at my computer, to meet my October 15th deadline. Meg's story, the first in the Brennan trilogy, is really shaping up and I'm so excited about the next two stories in this trilogy, too. Meg's book will be out next September, with Kit's in Spring 2013, and Sarah's in Fall 2013.  It sounds like a long time away but I do have several Harlequins out before then and they are really fun reads!

To spotlight my newest Harlequin release, Mistletoe Wishes that includes my Venice Christmas novella, I posted a new blog yesterday on the Harlequin Presents website about my wedding (we romance readers love weddings!) and the new novella, One Christmas Night in Venice, featuring Domencio and Diana's story, which is available now through Amazon and B&N.com.

I think most of you know how much I enjoyed our family trip to Venice a couple years ago with my boys, my sister Kathy, and her daughter Krysia. Now I'm returning later this month with Ty Gurney for our honeymoon! Our honeymoon is a whirlwind trip to three of my favorite European cities–London, Dublin, and Venice.  In Venice we'll be staying at a gorgeous hotel on the Grand Canal, and in a former life the hotel was a palace from the 18th century. It's a very posh hotel so I've booked the smallest room there, but I can't wait to explore the hotel and all the grand public rooms. For more on Venice, and Domenico and Diana's story, here's a Sneak Peak.

 

I need to get back to writing, but if you have a moment, pop over to the Harlequin Presents Blog and check out my post and leave a comment.  I'll be giving away a fun festive prize with a signed copy of Mistletoe Wishes and Halloween cookies from my favorite bakery, Cheryl & Co to one of you that comments. So for a chance to win, head on over there to check it out, comment and then comment back here and you're entered!  Contest runs through Thursday night and I'll announce the winner Friday morning.

Have a wonderful week everyone! Thinking of you as I write, write, write and hoping you'll love this new novel I'm working on!

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Smile

Last week my great friend Liza Palmer shared this Operation Smile Video with me, and I shared it with my guys and it literally turned my day around.  I'd been having a hard day and the video gave me perspective and helped me remember what's important in life…and why I love Operation Smile.

I'm having another couple of tricky days back to back this week.  The kids have appointments and lessons and activities all at the same time and need so much from me right now, Gurney is back in Hawaii for ten days, my childcare is uneven, my deadline is rushing at me, and the stress is making me twitchy and nervous.  And so I thought it was time to watch this beautiful video again and remember that I am blessed, and my children are blessed, and everything will be all right.

For every one of you that watches this video and leaves me a comment, I'll donate a $1 per view/comment to Operation Smile.  Tell your friends and family and everyone to check it out, let me know you watched it, and let's see if we can't bring this gorgeous video some attention and raise some money at the same time!

And to share the love, I've got a great fun international prize package for one of you that views the video and comments.   The international prize includes a $10 Starbucks drink card from NY, a cool shopping tote bag from Sydney, a Turkish bookmark, a gorgeous glass letter opener from Venice, aa signed copy of Easy On The Eyes, and so much more!  Contest runs through Friday night and I'll announce the winner Saturday.

And now I'm in a great mood agan!

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Wedding

The wedding was great.  Had so much fun.  I should say more but I'm wiped out, and have so much writing to do today that my head is buzzing with noise, so I'll just share a few pics and promise to return later today or early tomorrow with some more.

Favorite things about the wedding?  The friends and family who came.  The cool retro feel of old Las Vegas with the wedding chapel, the pool side cocktails on top of Binion's with the setting sun in the background, and then entering Binion's Steakhouse on the 25th floor and discovering the glamorous red and black color scheme…black table cloths, red roses, red glass votives glowing with light and the little black and white dice box filled with chocolate casino chips inside.  I loved my bouquet, my dangly earrings, the English six pence coin in my shoe (thank you Elizabeth Boyle!!), and my wonderful red shoes.   But most of all, I love my guy and my three boys and making us an official family.

 

Fill me in on what you've been doing as I'm totally out of touch.  I've got a Mystery Prize for one of you so comment today and I'll announce a winner for the prize in the morning!

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Craziness

I'm walking out the door in ten minutes to grab kids from school and head to airport for Las Vegas.  I'm a little bit nervous from all the last minute things to do.  I'm not a calm traveler until I hit the plane, and then I chill.  But I always stress a little about packing, getting to airport, parking, checking in, getting through security, boarding the plane…silly, but that's me.

My crazy Ty Gurney headed off on his motorcycle last Friday for a solo trek to Vegas and has had quite an adventure.  He's my guy.  Can't quite believe that two people so opposite work so well, but we do.  People always say we have a fairy tale relationship and while I wouldn't call it that, I do think its amazing that we found each other (remember, he was just the guy I interviewed for Kai in Flirting with Forty…he wasn't supposed to be my real life guy!) and we've found a way to make it work, long distance and close distance.  I think humor helps.  And perspective.  Now that I'm older I know what's important and have learned to pick my battles, too.

I will be sharing a link in the next day or so to the wedding chapel so you can watch the wedding live–or archived for a few days–if you feel like joining our festivities on Saturday!  The service with Elvis is at 5 pm PDT on Saturday.  I'll get the link up via Lee.  Have a wonderful weekend everyone!  I'll check in Monday once I'm home!

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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How Does She Do It?

People always tell me that I'm amazing…that I juggle so many balls and get so much done…two houses, busy travel and speaking schedule, two publishers, multiple book contracts, three kids, and now a wedding in just a couple weeks.  So how do I do it?

I get help.  Lots of help.  I have childcare, and great college girls who come in and serve as personal assistants and run errands and hit the post office for me.  I have someone who is focused on my social media and then there is Lee.  My #1 girl.

Lee Hyat of Author Sound Relations has been my assistant and friend for several years now.  We met briefly just when my first book, The Italian Groom was published in 2001.  A few years later, she attended my booksigning for The Sultan's Bought Bride and we got to know each other better.  She's worked with me since then and has been a huge help along the way.  I honestly couldn't do the promo and marketing and reader mailings I do without her assistance.

Just what does Lee do?  Well…what doesn't she do?  Lee Hyat handles lots of different things for me from all types of administrative work (maintaining databases, doing some basic bookkeeping, ordering office supplies, making phone calls) to event bookings, media follow-up, promotional mailings, contests, travel arrangments, book club coordination and much much much more.  She's designed bookmarks and postcards and recipe booklets for me and helps me come up with different ideas to promote each book.  Lee is also my First Reader – she reads each book I write and I trust her as she's read every book I've written and while she loves some more than others, I always value her insights as she approaches my work as a real reader would.  She also brings over 12 years as a reviewer to the table and it makes a difference.  Lee knows books, loves books, loves romance, and is totally informed when it comes to who has what coming out, who has the hot new release, who is changing genres, who is the new debut author that I must read.

Do you have a friend, family member or person in your life that makes your life better or easier?  I'd love to hear!  You could also tell me who you'd hire if you could hire anyone to make your life easier…would it be a driver?  A chef?  (Oh, I want both of those!!) Someone to clean?  Organize?  Grocery shot for you?  Watch the kids?  Watch your folks?  Tell me!!  I'm going to be drawing a winner from those that comment and you, and your VIP, will both win a great prize full of gift cards (Barnes & Noble and Starbucks!), See's chocolates, JP reader goodies, a choice of books from my backlist and so much more.  This contest runs through Thursday and I'll announce the winner on Friday so chat with me!

Love you all and now I'm off to write!

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Loving Life with a 2 Year old!

Mac has had a fever for the past day and a half and my busy little boy is content to just lie in my arms and snooze.  I didn't get much work done yesterday but I was glad I could just hold him and love this little boy of mine.  He's learning so much, so fast!  He's just begun learning letters of the alphabet and of course the first one he learned was "m" (from M&M's and Mac) and the second was "o" and he's just mastered r, e, and a.  I love how he wants to know everything about everything and his favorite expression at the moment is "what's that?"

With my oldest son about to start his junior year of high school, my middle son starting 7th grade, its so fun to have Mac just running around being Mac…no homework, no stress, just a smiling face boy that is eager to do everything.

I appreciate my career and am hugely, seriously grateful to have such amazing and loyal readers and friends, but its being a mom that has changed my life, and defined me.  I'm not looking forward to kids growing up and going because being a mom is my favorite part of my life.  I'm so lucky to have these boys. So lucky to experience life with them.   All is good.

Tell me what you're grateful for.  I'd love to know!

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Books, Kids & Vegas Weddings

The little Vegas wedding on September 17th has gotten pretty big and we've just switched to a bigger chapel to accomodate everyone!  Ty has 25 family members coming.  I have another 21.  And then there are the friends, and the friends with kids and so it looks like we're going to have roughly 70 there for the weekend.  Yesterday I took my dress in to have it hemmed and Ty saw a tailor to get his black velvet jacket fitted.  Son Ty has found blue velvet shoes and we've got everything else pretty much nailed down.  Now I just need to write.

I'm back in Bellevue and tomorrow I get back to my desk.  I'll be pulling some long hours in my office for the next 5 weeks but hopefully the writing will flow.  I love the story and characters…just can't lose confidence!

Ty returns to Hawaii today for the next nine days.   I am grumpy about him leaving.  It's so nice when we're all together and after spending the entire summer together, its tough to think about our back and forth we do during the school year.

I've got ten fun prizes for you guys this week!  I'm giving away 10 of my brand new red and black READ totebags filled with various fun things you'll love, including a Jane Porter loves her readers t-shirt, a signed copy of Easy On The Eyes,  and lots more fun things.  How to win one of the ten prizes?   Tell me anything!  Have you seen any good movies lately, read any good books, done anything fun?  Post a comment and you're entered.  Winners will be drawn and announced Friday morning!  Good luck and I hope you win!

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Last Beach Tote Giveaway!

I'm getting married in less than a month now, and summer is beginning to wrap up, and the writing is just starting to heat up! I've so much work on my plate that I can't really think about it and just have to jump in with both feet.

To celebrate the last few weeks of summer I'm doing one last beach tote giveaway packed full of Hawaiian goodies!  Sarong, chocolates, macadamia nuts PLUS one of my brand new Jane Porter Loves Her Readers t-shirts and other reader goodies.  The t-shirts come in women's S, M, L and XL and there will be 5 bonus prize winners who will also get the t-shirt and a Ty Gurney Surf School water bottle.

Want a chance to win?  Talk to me!  Tell me something…anything…and I'll be happy.  I hope you are all having a great August and know that if I'm a little quiet on my end its because I'm writing, writing, writing to get you another book!

The last beach tote giveaway runs through Monday night and I'll announce the winner(s) on Tuesday morning.

Have a fantastic weekend!

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Join me for a Chat!

I just arrived back in Hawaii earlier today after an amazing week in Melbourne, Australia with the Mills & Boon team and my fabulous Aussie and Kiwi friends!  It was hectic and exhausting and I had a great time catching up with everyone…  but it's really good to be home with my boys.

I've missed hearing from all of you too and wanted to share that I'll be chatting at Romance Reviews Today on Wednesday night, 9:00 pm Eastern, about A Dark Sicilian Secret and I'd love it if you'd drop in for a while to say hello.  Here's how to get there:

Visit www.romrevtoday.com and click on the link for RRT Chat.  Once the login screen loads, just type your name and choose Mo's Room from the chat room menu.  There will be door prizes so I hope I'll see you there!

Now I'm off to cuddle with Mac and spend some quality time with my older guys.  Hope you're all enjoying your evening too!

 

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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RWA Australia Conference

I arrived back in Hawaii a couple of days ago and have spent the weekend working on revisions and cuddling my little guy.  He's so much fun right now with his cute toddler-speak and funny antics.

I'm going to miss him terribly as once again, I leave in the morning for another business trip.  This time it's to Australia for the RWA conference. 

I'm so excited to see my Aussie author friends incuding the wonderful Lilian Darcy, Trish Morey, Melanie Milburne, Anne Gracie and so many more I can't mention them all.  Also, the fabulous Caitlin Crews will be joining me and I'm so happy to be visiting Melbourne for the first time.  It's going to be great!

Tell me what you're up to and get entered in this week's Beach Tote contest.   I'll be picking bonus winners too so fill me in on what's new.   Contest runs through Friday night and I'll announce winners on Saturday, August 13th!!  Have a wonderful week!

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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