Jane Porter's Blog, page 41

He's Soooo Busy

Thank God Surfer Ty arrives in the morning on a red eye from Honolulu because I need him to wear his son out before his son wears me out.  Mac is the busiest boy I've ever had and at eighteen months he is clever and curious and persistent and creative, as well as a little devious.   Although still not very verbal, he can open anything and pull apart everything and has tremendous agility, which means he climbs everything and balances on everything and loves skateboards almost as much as he loves dogs and his daddy.

The photo below was taken of Mac in the Elements store at Bellevue Square Mall and he was riding the skateboard….while it was moving.  Okay, it wasn't moving fast.  But I pushed him on the board, backed away, crouched down and took a couple shots while he stood there like a pro, riding forwards, and back, and forwards again without me touching him once.  From birth he's been riding skateboards in his dad's arms, and then later standing on them while holding his dad's hand, and now he likes to balance on his own.  It's awesome  And scary.  This is a kid that's going to give me a run for my money.

Heading to bed now as I need my rest to keep up with wild child again tomorrow.

Oh, and I start a new book tomorrow.  I do need my sleep for that, too, as I have to get serious about my writing and its always tough in the beginning after not writing for a couple weeks.

What are you doing this week?  Share 5 things on your to-do list and you're entered to win of the 3 mystery prize packages sitting in my office.  It's going to be a short contest, running from now, Monday night, until Wednesday night and I'll announce the 3 winners Thursday morning.

5 things on my list:

1)  Write chapter 1 of new book.  (Maybe even chapter 2….)

2)  Exercise at least twice this week.

3)  Work on Christmas cards at night.

4)  Finish wrapping presents that I've purchased.

5)  Draw three winners for my contest Thursday and mail their prizes out on Friday!!

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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A Grateful Heart

It's a powdery white Thanksgiving morning here in Bellevue, Washington.  Monday's snow stuck and it's been snowing steadily since I woke up three hours ago.  Supposedly temperatures will rise to 40 later today so our snow might melt, but for now I savor the quiet white morning and think about all I have to be grateful for.  And there is so much.

I lay in bed, snuggled under covers, thinking of all that makes my life good…joyous.  My three boys whom I absolutely adore.  My tough but big-hearted surfer who spends so much of his life on a plane so he can be with us every moment he can.  My mother, my sister, my brothers and their wives and all the nieces and my one nephew.  I think of my grandmother Lyles who has been gone two and a half  years but who remains in my thoughts every day.  I think of my late father Tom Porter who gave to me my passion for books and writing as well as my Porter jaw, nose, and chin.  I think of my home–warm, comfy.  I think of 1992 Tahoe that still only has 46,000 miles on it and is so very reliable.  I think of my girl friends–Lisa Johnson and Lorrie Hambing–that always have me over for the holidays and make sure I know I'm loved and part of their extended family.  I think of my writer friends–Liza, Megan, Barb, Carla, Melissa–who have spent hours and hours talking about books and plots and publishing problems with me.  I think of my publicity and publishing assistants who tackle all kinds of jobs for me–Lee, Kari, Farrell.

And then I think of you, my readers who have been with me through thick and thin.  In New Jersey there were two readers at my lunch who started with me with my first book–The Italian Groom–in 2001 (Latesha Ballard and Marelou Azares) and readers who found me with Flirting with Forty or Odd Mom Out or my most recent book, She's Gone Country.  I have made friends all over the world thanks to books and the internet.  I have you.  And I'm so very grateful for you.  I'm grateful to those that lurk.  Grateful to those who comment.  Grateful for those who love the contests.  Grateful for those who've donated to m World Vision pledge.  And the donations keep coming in.

I heard from Farrell yesterday that she'd just sponsored a child through World Vision.  Hurray!!  And I went to the post office yesterday and there were a half  dozen envelopes with checks and emails saying more checks were on the way.  Through everyone's efforts we've already raised $350 and found two children sponsors.  I'm going to match every gift, which means I'm donating $350 and will sponsor an additional 2 children.  I still hope to hit $1,000 by Christmas and see a total of 10 new children sponsored and will continue offering a signed book for every $10 donated through Christmas Eve.  If you can give, great.  If you can't, just keep my efforts in your thoughts and prayers.

And before  I go, let me share a few photos from my incredible trip to Kentucky.  It was an amazing weekend and a truly special dinner wit my friends and readers at Sarafina's.  We had 21 attend and among the 21 were six mother and daughter pairs.  Six sets of moms and daughters who've shared my books back and forth.  Six moms and daughters who took time out of their busy schedules to meet me and chat and have a meal together.  What a joy for me to know that my stories can bring people together, that my themes appeal to women and girls of all ages.  And so here are the pictures of one of my favorite days in recent years.

Jane with the lovely Tonya Kappes who helped organize our dinner at Sarafina!

Jane with some of her wonderful Kentucky readers and friends before dinner.

Jane with Tonya Kappes, Heather Webber and Cathy Liggett

Jane with Molly Harper signing at the Kentucky Book Fair in Frankfort

I am blessed.  I truly am.  But my life hasn't been all easy times and good things.  I have had dark days and tragedies and loss.   I've struggled with depression in my teens and twenties.  My father died young when I was 15.  I learned about domestic violence.   I fell in love but it wasn't a happy ever after.  I didn't think I would ever get published–15 years of trying is a long, long time–and then I discovered when first published that not everyone will like your writing, or you.   But then I got tough.  And I gathered my courage.  And deepened my faith.  And took some serious risks.  Miraculously, life opened–my heart opened–and I've learned what joy is.  I've learned who I am.  And I've learned how to love.

And that's what I'm grateful for, too.  This banged up, beat up heart of mine that loves, loves, loves….and truly loves all of you.

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Feels Like the Holidays!

It's snowing here!  Both my older sons went to school elated about the snow flurries.  The oldest, my high school sophomore, predicted early dismissal since his high school is up a steep hill and school officials don't want a bunch of teenagers navigating a slippery hill in snow and ice.  My 6th grader wore his new ski jacket and snow boots to school and said he felt like lived in Minnesota.

It was snowing off and on last night as we drove home from Salem.  Once we reached the house we had an early Thanksgiving dinner and it was fun and festive as Mac ate his first real turkey.  (However, he wasn't big on my yams though…spit those out everywhere….)  And now I write facing the window with snow falling just outside my window.  So beautiful as the big evergreens are dusted powdery white on every limb!

Jane and son Ty having fun in the snow

To help celebrate Thanksgiving week and the upcoming holidays, my friend, beauty editor and blogger, Hillary Quinn I have a cool girlie contest to kick off the holidays!  It begins today and runs for the next 6 days to Sunday, Nov 28th.  There will be a total of 2 winners–one drawn from Hillary's blog and one from mine–and the prize is a gift tote with 4 signed Jane Porter novels, a Starbucks gift card and some wonderful beauty products that I'd kill for!!

Want a chance to win?   There are two steps to entering.  First, visit www.hillarythebargainhunter.com and find Hillary Quinn's motto for shopping. Then, click on this link http://www.janeporter.com/contest-blog.php to enter your answer and hopefully win!   Winners will be drawn and announced by December 3. Hillary will choose a winner from her entries and I'll choose an entry from my blog so check it out and hopefully you'll win.

But wait–that's not all!!  I'm doing an extra contest on my own for those of you who are feeling lucky.  Tell me in the comment section below what your favorite Thanksgiving dish is and you'll have the chance to win my special Cozy For The Holidays prize.  This is a super cozy, super comfy prize of a fleecey robe, hot chocolate, bath soaps, and some books.  It's a warm cuddle package just for you!  My blog contest ends Tuesday night and I'll announce the winner Wednesday morning.

And before  forget, I just want to say I've heard from 12 of you now that you're sending money for World Vision, including my amazing Canadian reader friend Natalie who is also going to sponsor a little girl in China.  Natalie–you rock.  And that little girl in China will have her life forever changed by your sponsorship.  The three kids we sponsor in Africa have better health now, better medical care, more clothes, more food, which means more opportunities to succeed.   If any of you want to donate–remember for $10 I'll send a signed book to you or a friend plus JP goodies–see my last blog for full details.  I'm grateful for anything you can do!!

Now its time to bundle Mac up and take him outside to play in the snow!  It's going to be a great day!

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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NJ Readers Support Jane's Charities

I'm posting pictures from last weekend's events out of order because I thought my NJ readers who bought books and made donations to benefit World Vision and Operation Smile would be happy to hear that their efforts were multiplied due to a matching grant from a corporate donor.  Thanks to all of your generosity and help we were able to buy an operation for one chid through Operation Smile, as well as 20 warm blankets for children after their surgery.  Each child gets to take the warm fuzzy blanket home, too.  Through World Vision we purchased a cow for a single mother to help her provide income and food for her children.  I hope those of you who bought books and made donations approve.

The Crawford, NJ dinner was so incredible.  Thirty of you joined me and I just loved the restaurant, the company, the food, the conversation, the kindness, the love…I honestly can't say enough wonderful things about last weekend's dinners as each and every one was special and I'm absolutely blown away by the amazing women I've gotten to know through my blog, the internet, reader emails, and these reader dinners.  Thank you to all who took the time to join me in NJ!!

Jane and the amazing Cindy Huljack who helped organize the dinner for Jane in NJ. She did an incredible job, too….30 readers and friends attended the event at The Garlic Rose Restaurant in Crawford.

One of the three tables of readers

Jane signing a book for Kathleen

I am still hoping to do more for World Vision before Christmas.  My goal was to see 10 children placed with sponsors and/or raise $1,000 to help families in need.  I haven't come close to meeting either goal and thought I'd extend the offer to all my readers.  I will send a signed book and great JP reader goodies to you–or whomever you'd like–for a $10 donation.  Send a check to me made out to WorldVision and I'll pop Jane Porter goodies and the signed book of your choice in the mail to you in the next week.  You could use these for Christmas presents for colleagues at work, or for teacher gifts, or that White Elephant gift exchange so many of us do, or for the family member who has everything.  I promise to get the book out ASAP, too!  If you're interested, send me a private email, let me know what book(s) you'd like (you can order a number of books…I don't mind!) and I'll sign and get it all out super quick because the holidays are approaching and I so want to reach more who need a helping hand.  If this sounds like something you'd like to do, I'd love your support.  When we join together we can make such a difference!

Have a wonderful weekend and I'll be back soon with more photos and updates on books and life!

PS  Midwest readers I'm booking my air today for my trip out your way!!  I will be in Chicago, Detroit/Ann Arbor, Minneapolis/St Paul, Green Bay, Madison, Kenosha, and Roscoe, IL all in 8 days between April 29th and May 6th!  I will be announcing the specific events and cities in the coming weeks but if you're hoping to attend one of my reader events in one of the above cities, please shoot me a private email and I'll add you to the invite list.  You are always welcome to bring a friend or two, or family members, so keep an eye on my website for more info soon!

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Reader Dinners

My reader dinners have been the best thing I've done in terms of career in years.  I LOVE meeting with my readers and having a chance to sit down and just relax and talk over a good meal.  It's so hard to talk in a bookstore setting and more and more bookstores are cutting back on signings and formal events that hosting my own reader events has made me really enjoy my career more than I ever have.  In stores there is a bit of a pressure to perform–how many people will come? How many books will be sold?  How will the bookseller feel if the numbers aren't what they hope them to be?  But with my dinners, I know ahead of time how many are coming and we have reservations and drinks and fun goodie bags and I love these laid back fun girl events.  They're like parties with my girl friends and I always leave sooooo grateful to have my readers who have become my friends.

Allie Smith's bookclub in Cumming, GA

In the next week I'll be sharing more photos from my trip to the East and Southeast and here are two to get us started.  Both of the pictures are from the book club I attended in Cumming, Georgia last Friday night.  Allie Smith invited me ages ago and once I knew I'd be heading to Kentucky I shot her an email and voila!  We were able to put together a great girls night out at Buckhead Pizza.  As you can see from the group shot above, it was a fantastic turnout of fantastic women and my only regret is that I couldn't have spent another couple hours with them instead of rushing to the airport to fly to Lexington.

While I was playing in Georgia, Kentucky and New Jersey, what were you doing?  Have you begun your Christmas shopping?  Are your plans for Thanksgiving all set?  Fill me in and you could win one of my 2 mystery packages packed full of really cool stuff like books, a gift card and lots, lots more.   The contest is a shortie–it runs through Thursday night and I'll announce the 2 winners Friday morning.

And while I'm really glad to be home with all my boys (Surfer Ty is here right now, too) I do miss those amazing women I spent the last four days with.  I can't mention everyone here (after all, I had dinners with 79 of you!) I am so grateful you took time to join me, chat books and life, and meet each other.  There's a reason I'm successful….it's called YOU.

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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My Favorite Writer's Cottage

The Pacific Northwest Writers Association is a fantastic writers organization headed up the even more wonderful Pam Binder as president.  The PNWA puts on one of the best annual writers conferences around and I'm thrilled to be one of their keynote speakers this summer for the August conference. 

The PNWA is always looking for ways to promote authors, writing, and the craft of writing and has recently opened a Writer's Cottage in Issaquah's Gilman Village.  The Writer's Cottage has offices for the association as well as books for readers and space for writers to work.  When my pals Megan Crane and Liza Palmer were here in October for the Emerald City Conference (hosted by the Greater Seattle Romance Writers of America) we visited Pam at the new space and pulled out our lap tops to work for awhile.

If you're interested in a place to write, host a book signing, or meet with readers and writers, this could be a fantastic space for you.  I just like popping by to talk to Pam and her awesome staff.   For more info on PNWA visit their website, www.pnwa.org or contact the organization to ask about checking out the cool cottage yourself!

And speaking of writers….I've just read a terrific novel by the very fun, very charming Kieran Kramer.  I met Kieran this summer in Orlando at th Romance Writers of America's national conference and she was witty and interesting and really, really nice.  I told Kieran I loved historical novels, particularly Regencies and was so excited when her debut novel, When Harry Met Molly hit the store shelves last week.  I want to share this great book with my readers and have 3 signed copies to give away along with boxes of See's chocolates, a $10 Barnes & Noble gift card and JP reader goodies.   Contest runs through Thursday night and I'll announce the 3 winners Friday morning.  How to enter?  Tell me in the comment section 5 things you like about yourself and you're entered! 

I'll kick off the comments with 5 things that I like about me:

1.  I have a great sense of humor

2.  Absolutely adore my kids & love being a mom

3.  I'm a really good reader. 

4.  I enjoy family & friends but also like my alone time.

5.  I love lifting heavy weights and have better form than a lot of guys out there.  (My favorites are bench press, lat pull downs and seated row!)

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Halloween Fun & Games

Mac had so much fun trick or treating with his big brothers!  It only took a couple houses before he got the hang of it.  You walk, knock, wait and then take candy.  The best houses were the houses with dogs.  Then you walk, knock, wait and pet the doggie.  There was some debate though over Mac's costume.  Was he a cow?  (That's what I thought.)  Or a Panda?  (That's what Jake and son Ty said).  Either way, he was so cute and so happy.  Such a great night!

But now it's November 2nd and there are a lot of events coming up for me!  Several are in the Seattle area (3 private auction party fundraisers this weekend plus my Third Place Book Signing Monday night) and then Thursday morning next week I fly out to Atlanta/Lexington/Newark  for the first of three reader dinners, the Kentucky Book Fair, and a book club gathering in Georgia.   If you haven't gotten an invite yet for my East Coast jaunt, let me know and I'll send you full details as my reader dinners are for you and meant to be relaxing and fun. 

On the writing front I've just shot a proposal for what could be my next three books off to my agent and after reading the 80 pages, synopsis, trilogy outline, she'll forward to my editor.  Fingers crossed my editor will like and I'll soon be under contract again, with a new publishing date set for my next novel's release. 

In the meantime while I wait for my agent's feedback, I think I should distract myself with a little Jane Blog contest.  Need something fun to read?  Want some good coffee drink and snack to go with that book?  Tell me what you're reading now or just finished reading (I'm reading Jane Green's Dune Road) and you're entered.  There will be 2 winners and each will receive a stack of books, your choice of one of my books, a Starbucks drink card, a box of tea, some sweets, and lots of JP reader goodies.  Contest runs through Thursday night and I'll announce the two winners Friday morning so share and you could win!

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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The Cover Girl Contest Results Are In!

It was a big  job counting all the votes but we've tallied the votes, double checked our numbers, and the 3 highest vote scoring photos were:

Photo 3 – 80 votes

Photo 4 – 86 votes

Photo 15 – 73 votes

Just now I threw the top three numbers into a hat and drew at random Entry #4!

Entry #4, Janine, you have won the Grand Prize! (The Grand Prize – $200 VISA gift card, a colorful picnic hamper for a fun day in the countryside, a totebag full of goodies and Jane's recommendations of perfect books for fall, and other fun Jane Porter goodies.)

The Grand Prize Winner! Entry #4 - Janine

The wonderful two Runner Up winners, #3 and #15, will each receive a signed copy of She's Gone Country, $50 Barnes & Noble gift card, $15 Starbucks card, and JP reader goodies

Runner Up: Entry #3 - Melody

Runner Up: Entry #15 - Janelle

And everyone that entered a photo in the contest gets a $25 B&N card and a $15 Starbucks card and special treats.

So congratulations to my wonderful winners. This was an amazing, creative, and competitive contest and I loved every single entry. I thank each of you who participated–whether you entered or voted–as you really made this contest fun.

And now winners and contestants who entered a photo in the Cover Girl Contest, please, please send me a private email with your mailing address so I can get these wonderful prizes out!

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Brand New Reader Dinners Planned!

As you can tell from the picture below, I really really enjoy meeting my readers and sitting down and having a meal and a drink and just chatting.  To me, nothing is more pleasurable than relaxing with friends over a good meal and that's what I'm planning on doing as much as I can in the first half of 2011!

Jane with reader Lanette and her crew at lunch in Georgetown

I can tell you right now I've got plans being hatched and events being discussed for:

Ann Arbor
Chicago
Minneapolis/St. Paul
Green Bay
Milwauke
Kenosha

Are you in any of these areas?  Does a Girls Night Out or a Reader Dinner sound fun?  Make sure you keep checking back for more details, or email me to ask that you be put on an event invite list so I can make sure to get you all the details once we're ready to go.   In some cities I'm speaking at a library, other places I'm doing an RWA workshop, and other places I'm joining a book club, but if I'm coming to your area, I'm also trying to plan a dinner with you!

For my Canadian friends…I do think we need to put something together for you all.  I've been studying my reader mailing list and I've a great group of Canadian readers and I want to see you.  Let's figure this out!

Lastly,  because I have three unclaimed prizes from my contest last week (why don't you folks check back to see if you won?!?), I'm going to give them away now.   This is a super short one day contest that starts tonight and ends Tuesday morning at 8 am PST.  Want to win one of these cool Mystery prizes?   Tell me 5 things about a person you love and you're entered!

I'll get you started with my own 5 about my middle son Ty, a sixth grader:

I lovethat Ty's his own person and likes what he wants to like without caring if it's cool.

I love his  shaggy blonde hair and the way he smiles

I love how he wants to live with me  in my basement when I'm old (I don't have a basement).

I love that he was more afraid of sea turtles than sharks when surfing

I love that he'll tell me he loves me a dozen times a day.

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Join Me Sunday in Woodinville, WA!

I have a wonderful, easy opportunity for my Seattle area readers to join me in supporting the truly outstanding Seattle Children's Hospital.

This Sunday, Star Guild will be holding its Fall Fundraising week, with national shopping, and special events at Barnes and Noble and Ruby's diner in Woodinville, WA.  Have time on Sunday afternoon to join me?  Check out the fun schedule of events below!

Sunday's Schedule at the Woodinville Barnes & Noble:

3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Children's Author: Erik Korhel. Includes special dance performance, book signing and Halloween poem written just for the occasion!

4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Women's Author: Jane Porter. Enjoy an Author Chat followed by a Book Signing of Jane's new release She's Gone Country and her previous books.

4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Children's Activities continue (babysitting provided in Children's area so adults can attend Jane's presentation or continue shopping in store).

4 p.m. – close Ruby's Diner: Bring the flyer, treat the family and 20% of your purchase will support Star Guild!

If you want the coupons fand flyers for Sunday's events in Woodinville, please email my assistant Lee. Her email address is lee @ janeporter dot com

Hope to see you there!

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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