Jane Porter's Blog, page 38

Birthday Boy!

My littlest boy is two today!  I've cleared my schedule so that Ty and I can spend the day doing fun toddler things with Mac before celebrating with a family dinner with his brothers tonight.  And then tomorrow I start writing again!!  But first, today will either be a zoo today or a Pacific Science Center day or something else fun day.

And because I love to celebrate birthdays, I have a present for one of you to celebrate Mac's 2nd birthday.  Do you remember a favorite birthday?  When I was seven I got a white toy poodle that I named Muffin and a vase of red carnations from my godparents, along with a red shawl.  I felt grown up and beautiful, as I'd never received flowers for a birthday before.  Tell me about one of your favorite birthdays as a child and you'll be entered to win gift cards and fun stuff!!  Birthday contest runs through Friday night and I'll announce the winner Saturday morning!  Now I'm back to Mac to play, play, play!

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Happy Easter

On Friday Ty and I took some time out for ourselves and drove to Skagit Valley to see the tulips and have lunch in La Conner.  All the tulips were already gone except for a few fields but we had a great time just driving and chilling in Ty's classic Chevy truck.  It was fun to go for a drive, especially as Friday and Saturday were beautiful with blue skies.

Today isn't a blue sky day but the kids still had an Easter Egg hunt in the light drizzle and are now stuffed full of chocolate and candy and its not even noon yet!  We're heading to a brunch at Bellevue Club a little later…have never been there for a holiday brunch before and am hoping Mac will keep it together long enough for us all to eat.

I so appreciate everyone's love and words of support these past few days.  Ty really appreciates it, too, and is grateful his mom had lots of adventures and love in her life.

Tell me about your week.  What are you doing today and/or this weekend?  I'd love to catch up and have some gift cards for one lucky reader, too.  The prize is $15 B&N gift card, a $10 Starbucks card plus a signed book from my back list as well as some fun Jane Porter goodies and chocolate treats from the Easter bunny!  Contest runs through Tuesday night and I'll announce the winner Wednesday morning.

But picking a winner isn't the only thing on my to-do list this week.  I've got a busy week coming up…a week with three events between now and Friday.  Two private auction parties to attend and a girls night out Friday.  If you live in Western Washington and would love a fun night out with friends, come join me for Wine & Women in Woodinville: An Evening in the Chateau Wine Shop at the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery.  The event is from 5-8 pm and I'll be there signing books with other cool women and sipping yummy wine, too. Interested?  There are more details on my Events page or call the winery (425) 488-1133 to find out more. I'd so love to see some of my readers and friends there so grab your girlfriends, your book club, your bunco club, or your wine tasting group and come hang out!!

I hope your Easter Sunday is filled with family and friends.  Sending you love and hope to see you soon!

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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With So Much Love

I'll keep this short as there's no easy way to do this, but we lost Ty's mom, Patricia Gurney, yesterday morning.  We were driving from LAX and 45 minutes from the house when we got word from Ty's brother, Mike.

I know a number of you met Pat at one or more of my Southern California book events.  Pat was one of my biggest supporters and attended every book event she could, whether it was in San Diego, Laguna, or Westwood.

She was such an amazing woman–tough, loving, a real spitfire.  She was always reading, a gifted quilter, and she treated my boys as if they were her own grandchildren.  I can't type too much right now or I'll fall apart so I'll share a few of my favorite photos of Pat from last May when we celebrated an early Mother's Day with her with a lunch out in La Jolla.

Pat, you were so loved and will be so missed.  I promise to tell Mac lots of stories as he grows up so he'll always know just how amazing his grandmother was!

Love you, Pat.

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Mac and Max

Getting ready to head to airport and it amazes me how much an almost two year old needs for a trip!  Or maybe, it's all the stuff I need to entertain a two year old on an airplane!  Either way, it seems like we have a lot between cars and toys and snacks and diapers and a change of clothes.  But I love my almost two year old so much.  Next week is his 2nd birthday and I can't believe he's growing up so fast!!

Mac gets to go to all his brothers' sporting events, including Ty's lacrosse games.  Mac likes Ty's lacrosse games because they are on a field and there are always dogs, including his favorite, 5 month old Max.  Max likes Mac a lot, too.  :)

 

I'll check in when I can, but in the meantime love to all and have a wonderful week!

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Gladiator For a Day

I have my very own gladiator and he was amazing in battle.

Two weeks ago Surfer Ty and my boys attended "Gladiator School" in Rome and Surfer Ty was pretty amazing.  He's always been a fighter–he's something of a legend in San Diego–but watching him fence with his gladiator instructor wowed me.  Ty only needed one run through of the different moves–defensive and offensive–and then he was sword to sword with his instructor and it was like a beautiful ballet of man and muscle.

Ty isn't always the easiest guy.  In fact sometimes I think he and I are two different species.  But oh, even after eight years I find him so very sexy.  I love watching him surf…his ease in the water…the effortless way he moves on his board…and then when he was fencing I was awed all over again.  He's graceful…magical.   Inspiring.  He uses his body the way I use words.

When Ty and I first started dating he said he'd had a dream that he was a gladiator in the Colosseum and I was an empress in the stands and I held his life in my hands.  Would I save him, or let him die?

I would have saved him.  Freed him.

I think there's a story there…

Do you ever think you've lived a past life?  Do you feel like you've been someone else in the past?  I do and I'm certain I knew Ty in it, too.

Everyone that posts in the comment section below will have a chance to win a very special Italy prize package that includes a beautiful Venetian red heart necklace plus other great gifts.  The contest runs through Sunday night.  I'll announce the winner Monday.  Chat with me and then come back to see if you won!

 

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Home from Rome

It was an amazing ten days in Italy and a rather hard jolt back to reality when I woke up yesterday morning at 3:00 am and couldn't go back to sleep due to jet lag.  There was so much to do but Mac wanted Mommy to himself, away from the phone and computer and stacks of mail.  I ended up spending the day with the little guy but today I did confine myself to my office to tackle the massive piles of mail and bills and requests covering my desk.  I was supposed to start my new book for Harlequin today, as well as kick off a diet to help me shed some of the weight I've gained the past few months writing, writing, writing and then from eating lots of pasta and pizzas in Italy, but neither has happened yet.  It's pathetic that it's so hard to take weight off and so easy to put it on.

I had good news while I was gone, though.  She's Gone Country finaled in two contests which is very fun.  (The details are in the news section on my site.)  And I know the film producers who optioned She's Gone Country had a meeting with some important folks while I was away, and that's pretty cool, too.

Something that isn't so fun is that my move to California is on hold.  I'm hoping the snags can be worked out soon and that the move will still happen before kids return to school, but right now its out of my control.  I can't move if my former husband won't, and he's no longer sure he wants to leave Washington so we're in a wait and see.

And since I've been gone so long, I have a really special prize for my readers this week!  The contest runs through Friday evening and I'll announce the winner Saturday morning.  It's a late Spring Break prize consisting of a pink striped beach towel, a copy of Megan Crane's brand new I Heart the 80′s (a fun fun fun novel that is chick lit and romance and sexy and wonderful!!!), a signed mass market copy of Flirting with Forty, a colorful Vera Bradley sunglass holder, Jane Porter water bottle, and lots more goodies.  Want a chance to win?  Fill me in one what you've been doing while I was gone and you are entered!  And then come back Saturday to see if you won.  The winner has only one week (7 days!) to get back to me or I'll pick a new winner.

Now I really do have to start my new novel…even if it means I only write a paragraph or two.   Ciao!

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Hello from Positano!

Just a few lines as I have a line behind me waiting to use the computer at the internet cafe (should have brought my laptop!) but its been gorgeous here in Italy–perfect weather, 70 degrees, blue sky, lots of sun.  We flew from Sicily this morning to Naples, toured Pompeii for several hours and then drove to Positano to check into our hotel overlooking the sea.

I feel like I've stepped from a Harlequin Presents novel…absolute glamour and seduction! 

I will be returning to Naples tomorrow or the next day to try to begin replacing son Ty's lost passport and its not how I would have spent my few days on the Amalfi Coast, but it is giving me story ideas!

Computer is about to kick me off so hello to all and more when I return!

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Taking Off

Heading to airport in a few minutes and am leaving computers behind.  Will try to check email now and then from an internet cafe but as this trip is all about enjoying Italy and my guys I'm not really worried about business at all.  This will be a real vacation–no work, no writing, no blogging (unless by miracle I've found an internet cafe near hotel that's got great hours and no lines…) but I do have a really fun contest over on my author page at Facebook.  The important thing about this contest (besides the prize) is that it helps me.

I want to know what you look for in a Jane Porter novel in five words, or five phrases.  As I write my new series I thought it'd be good to keep you in mind.  What do you want in a great read?  And what do you want when you read ME?

If you're not a Facebook person feel free to post your five things below…again, just five quick words or five sentences or whatever. The prize is a B&N gift card, a Starbucks gift card, and a signed novel from my backlist.  Contest runs through Saturday night and winner will be announced Sunday. And remember, this is a 'contest' but its also research for me.  I want to write more books you want to read!  So tell me what you love and want and I'm going to take careful note!

Now I'm off to airport and that means saying goodbye to my lovely little guy who has added so much joy to my life…even if his favorite phrases are this: "Momma mad.  Momma mad Mac.  Oh no."

Love to you all and keep well and read a ton and fill me in when I return!!

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Little Bear Love

I'm leaving my littlest guy behind for 11 days soon while I take my big boys to Sicily and then the Amalfi Coast.  We were supposed to be heading to Egypt with my mom and sister but the unrest and political changes in Egypt made me rethink our decision to cruise the Nile and visit the Valley of the Kings and Queens now.  We booked the Egypt trip two years ago but Sicily should be fascinating and I've never been there even though I've set two Harlequins there–The Sicilian's Defiant Mistress and my upcoming North American August release, A Dark Sicilian Secret.

But the little guy…oh, he's hard to leave, and I'm leaving him this weekend for a day and a half to do the LARA writing retreat in Los Angeles with pals Megan Crane and Liza Palmer.  I knew when I accepted the speaking engagement it was close on the heels of flying out to Italy, but I didn't realize emotionally how it'd feel.

It feels terrible.

For two days now I've obsessed about how I jump on a Saturday  afternoon for LAX, and then return Sunday night after he's gone to bed, and then three days later I head out for 11 days.  I'm supposed to be writing–and I am–but in between sentences and paragraphs and editing I keep thinking about my  littlest guy and how much I love him and how sweet he is at almost two.  His birthday is a month from tomorrow and he's starting to talk a lot.  Some of it I understand.  Some of it is still jibberish.  But he knows what he's trying to say because he'll repeat it over and over and look at me and wait for validation.  And sometimes all I can do is hug him tight and tell him how much Mama loves him.   And I do.

But I'm a big girl, and I'm going to suck it up and do what big girls do–juggle responsibilities, meet my deadlines, accomplish my goals.  And one of those goals is helping writers grow.  So, if you're a writer in LA and want to attend the LARA retreat on Sunday, info is on my events page here on my site.  (Incidentally, I have a couple Bellevue area book events coming up this Spring and then a number of writing workshops in June and August and those details are on my site, too.)

Time to give away something fun though!  I need fun and so do you.  :)

Bring me up to speed on your life and you're entered to win a fantastic beach read prize:  a pink striped beach towel, a B&N gift card, a Starbucks gift card, a Jane Porter water bottle, and a signed book from my backlist…your choice.  Fill me in from now until Monday morning on whatever you feel like sharing, and then sometime Monday morning I'll draw a winning name.  Remember that I announce the winner's name in a comment on my JaneBlog on my actual www.janeporter.com website.  I realize some of you read my JaneBlog on Facebook or Goodreads so come visit my comments Monday at my site for this specific blog to see if you've won.  This is how I always announce the winners….and I don't go and track you down!  If you want the prize, you have to claim it.

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Friday Already?

I've been writing so much, and working such long hours, that time kind of blurs together and I'm amazed that its already March 18th…that we're at another weekend…and soon the start of another week.

I've been working hard on revising my women's fiction proposal which has meant shifting books/stories around and starting the series in a different place, with a different sister, and a different conflict.  (Which essentially boiled down to putting book 2 first, and moving book 1 to middle, etc).   I really like what I'm writing but its definitely got an edge to it.  The people that have read it like it, which is good, yes?  Now I just need to get another 25 pages or so completed, tackle the synopsis again and then shoot off to my agent so she can get to my editor.  I would LOVE to have a new contract, and pub dates and stories to share with you, but its a complicated process this time since I'm shifting into new territory with a deeper story line and the 3rd person narrative.

In some ways the writing has been a great escape from the world at large.  I've been so saddened by the devastation in Japan.  Having had numerous Japanese foreign exchange students live with us while I was growing up (with one staying permanently and becoming my Japanese sister),  the three months I spent in Japan in college, the years I taught Japanese history to my 7th graders, the fact that my sons are studying Japanese in school has made the destruction and loss so very painful, and personal.   I respect and admire Japanese culture tremendously and wish there was something I could do besides pray and send money.

With Ty in Hawaii for Spring Break Mac has been keeping us all busy.  We Skype with Ty almost every day, and Mac's favorite thing to say to Ty is "Daddy, home.  Come home."  It's sweet and poignant and fortunately he has discovered his brothers can't resist him when he takes their hand and makes them come play with him, or hold him, or wrestle.  Mac is all boy and the wilder the chase, the rougher the wrestling, the happier he is.

I need to get into my story today as the next two days will be spent in Corvallis, Oregon at Jake's ODP Water Polo Regional Championship games.  I wasn't going to go–how do you take a wild 23 month old in the car for 4 1/2 hours and then keep him safe by a pool all day?–but the amazing Jamette Windham is coming over at 4:00 am tomorrow morning so I can jump in the car and make Jake's first game.  It does mean I won't see Mac until Sunday afternoon, and I'll miss son Ty's lacrosse game.  It's tough making choices…which child do you support?  which activity do you attend?  which event will you miss?  But hopefully every boy knows Mom loves him completely, unconditionally, forever.

I've got 3 awesome mystery gifts sitting here in my office uncollected from my last contest.  (People, don't you come back to check and see if you won?!?)  I will give away all three Monday morning.  So tell me how your week was, and/or what you're doing this weekend and you're entered to win!  I hope you know how much I appreciate each one of you, and thank you for your friendship and the time you spend with me here!  Have a wonderful weekend.  Be safe.  Love hard.  Laugh a lot.  :)

©2011 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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