Jane Porter's Blog, page 42

Win Jane! … Okay, a Visit with Jane

I love my readers. I really do. You guys are the reason I keep writing even when everything gets chaotic or hard. I so appreciate your support and friendship and sense of fun.

During my book tours and book discussions, readers frequently ask me how much my life experiences influence the stories and characters I write. I get this question so frequently, in fact, that I created a special feature on my site—"How much of me is in my books?"— to address where I show up in my contemporary novels.

There is a little of me in every book, of course. It's only natural for a writer to draw inspiration from her own life. Certainly, though, there is more of me in some of my books than in others. What do Shey of She's Gone Country and I have in common? Read more about She's Gone Country and some of my other titles here.

Some of you, though,  know a lot about me and apparently want to know even more. I've been getting so many emails lately asking me to come to your hometown for a reader event that I thought I'd do a very special contest that I've never done before. It's a contest where you get the chance to win me. Or at least, you win the chance for your bookclub to have a night chatting about books and life with me. In person. In your town.

How does that work? You enter your book group in the contest by posting a comment below. The winning name/group will receive 12 signed copies of She's Gone Country, a dinner in your town with me, and a chance to discuss the book and any of my other books over dinner and drinks. Yes, I will be flying to you. And then driving to you. Surfer Ty and Mac might join me as well as they seem to like adventures. I'll bring your group fun reader goodie bags and we'll have a great time. I will join your group for this special event between January and late April on a mutually agreeable date.

Sound good? Think this is something your friends or group would like? Nominate your group! Tell me a little bit about yourselves. books you've read this year, number of women in your club, why you think a visit from me would be the thing to do and you're entered. Contest will run for one week and I'll draw the winner/winning group next Thursday morning, October 28th and announce the name at the bottom of my comment section.

But wait! There's more! I will also draw 2 runner ups whose groups will receive 12 signed books from me (could be any of my books, not just She's Gone Country), 12 reader goodie bags, and a call in from me the night of your book club discussion. And everyone who enters a group will get a little Halloween thank you from me –2 new recipe cards from She's Gone Country, a Gone Country pen, JP goodies, and  chocolates. So nominate your group, tell me why you'd love me to come see you, and then let's hope you win!!

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Texas Round-up

I arrived back in Seattle late last night and Mac couldn't cope with sleeping in his crib in his own room.  I tried to let him cry it out since it was after eleven pm but after 30 minutes of him crying hard I retrieved him and put him into bed with me.  He clung to me for a long time absolutely terrified from being in his room on his own after nine days of sleeping with dad and mom in various hotel rooms.  But now it's time to settle back into our Bellevue routine and hopefully some sleep because I'm tired!

I did have an amazing Texas Tour though, as you can tell from the fun Katy Pi Phi alum crew that joined me at Katy Budget Books for my Western party.   The Buckaroos, the band that played during the party was awesome and I think I enjoyed the BBQ and music more than anyone.  Such a fun party and a great kickoff to my Houston area events.

At every Houston event–particularly the Mom's Morning out at Blue Willow Books on Monday morning– I met new people as well as greeted readers who've kept me company on my blog and through email for the last few years.  It's always so interesting to hear how readers first found me, too.  Lots of my readers discovered me through Redbook Magazine's excerpt of Flirting with Forty in the summer of 2006 while others happened across Odd Mom Out or Mrs. Perfect in a library or bookstore.  Regardless of how you found me, I'm so glad you did.

And now that I'm back home I'm gearing up for another half dozen events.  I'll be doing special reader lunches and dinners in these cities below so stay tuned for details if you live in or around: 

Spokane, WA  (Thurs, Oct 28th)
Atlanta, GA  (Thurs, Nov 11th)
Frankfort, KY  (Sat, Nov 13th)
Wachtung, NJ  (Sun, Nov 14th)

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Making Friends

The best part of a book tour is finally meeting readers in person and having these readers become new friends.  That happened Friday in Georgetown and Austin when readers joined me for lunch and later for dinner before and after my Georgetown signing at the Hill Country Bookstore.  It was such a pleasure to spend time with people who have posted comments on my blog and sent me emails during the last few years.  Thank you to everyone who has taken time to come see me and to those who are part of my community of readers, writers and friends!

Thank you also to the wonderful Judy Parks of Georgetown who helped arrange my book event as well as some of my publicity.  It was Judy's idea for me to come to Georgetown and I had such a wonderful time in this charming, historic town on the outskirts of Austin.

And now we're on the road again heading to Katy and Houston where I'm hoping to meet lots more great readers as I wrap up my Texas book tour with three Houston area events.

And because I've got some Barnes & Noble gift cards burning a hole in my pocket, I think its time to give away some prizes.  Tell me if you've ever gone to a book signing and you're entered.  It's that simple.  If you haven't gone, would you?  Or does the idea make you nervous?  Contest runs through Monday night and I'll announce the winners Tuesday morning.  Good luck

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Texas Touring

I love Texas.  I really do.  I'm having the best time here with my guys, too.  In between book events we've hit the Texas State Fair in Dallas, visited the Stockyards in Fort Worth with friends Carol and her cowboy husband Garner.  In Fort Worth we checked out boots at Leddys before buying a pair for each of us at Maverick's.

In San Antonio we toured the Alamo and then explored the beautiful Riverwalk–probably one of my favorite places anywhere in the US

Yesterday before my book event at The Twig we drove to Bandera where we visited the cool dude ranch, Rancho Cortez, and got to do a little bit of riding and roping.  (Ty Gurney was much much better at me at both…) Mac loved the goats.  (Of course.)

Now we're heading to Austin and my book event this afternoon in Georgetown.  I'm very excited about my reader lunch before the signing.  Dang, but this trip just keeps getting better and better!

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Not so easy on the eyes

The eyes have it.

Or should I say, they've had it?  I can't see anymore.  I've always worn contact lenses and am used to wearing glasses at night when I need to give my eyes a rest, but now I need contacts and reading glasses and sometimes that is still not enough.  Note pic below where I'm having to hold a candle to the menu, too!!  Oh where oh where has my vision gone?!?

I will tell you what's easy on the eyes though and that's Texas.  I love it!  I'm having a wonderful time with Ty and Mac.  We're in the car right now heading to Fort Worth where we're meeting friends Carol and Garner for lunch and then a visit to the Stockyards.  Garner's a cowboy and is going to make sure we go to all the right places, including hitting the right store for authentic cowboy boots.

And in honor of Texas, I've got three great Texas prize packages to give away–a Texas Cowboy Cookbook, Texas BBQ sauce, BBQ tools, and lots lots more fun stuff to help you feel like you're in Texas with me, too.  Want to win?  Tell me what you're doing this week and that's it.  You're entered!  Contest runs through Thursday night–the night I'm doing my booksigning in San Antonio at the Twig Bookstore– and I'll announce the three winners Friday morning.  Good luck and I'll be back to check in with you all soon!

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Status: Happy

It's been unbelievably gorgeous here in Seattle the past few days.  Blue, blue skies and perfect temperatures.  I'd meant to write this week, too, but instead am getting ready for my Texas tour and handling all the mom stuff that comes up when you get ready to leave 2 school age kids for over a week.

Mac is going to Texas, though, and that makes me happy.  He's at the best age right now–and is so very funny (as well as busy….crazily busy…) and I can't stand to leave him for a day, much less a week, so he goes along with a massive suitcase of promo material and clothes and the tiny bag Surfer Ty uses when he travels.

What else makes me happy?

1)  My big boys.  They're awesome.

2)  My friend Lisa Johnson because she's always there for me, and usually with a platter of chicken enchiladas and a hug or a laugh.

3)  The fact that I'm able to shimmy into my size 8 Lucky jeans again.   It feels so good to pull out things I haven't been able to wear in over two years (9 months pregnancy plus 17 months post baby body) and while the weight loss hasn't been rapid, I'm finding that 1/2 pound loss  every week or two eventually adds up.

4)  The fun events I'm doing in Texas, including the reader lunch I'm hosting in Georgetown next  Friday before my signing at Hill Country Books.  If you're in the Austin/Georgetown area, email me so I can add you to the 1:30 pm lunch reservation.  I'm also trying to put together a reader lunch or dinner for San Antonio so email me if you've got time to meet up for Happy Hour!!

5)  All the readers who sent in their friends and family names for the contest.  You guys rock!!

What doesn't make me happy???

The 32 of you who haven't sent me the name and address for the person you nominated!!    The sad thing is, I signed nearly all those 33 books to your person's name that I took from the blog comments.  I have 33 packages made, wrapped, and taped but they're just sitting on my dining room table without an address and a home.  I can't use those books now for anyone.  They're signed to someone specific.  PLEASE if you nominated someone, do follow up with me!

Now I want to be happy again, so I'm going to do a special Frog Prince contest where 3 of you could win a signed copy of The Frog Prince, chocolates, a $15 Starbucks card plus JP reader goodies.  It's a short contest, runs until Saturday to whenever I feel like drawing the 3 winners and will announce those three winners Saturday afternoon before I fly out to Texas.

Here's how to enter:  Tell me 5 things that make you happy in the comment section and you're entered.  I want 5 happy thoughts or things and we can all be happy together.   (If you don't want a prize, but just want to comment–than say so in your comments so I won't pick you.  But if you do want the prize, you've got to claim it!!!  Fair?)

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Emerald City Conf

Can't believe it's Sunday night and the Emerald City Conference is over.  My writer pals Megan and Liza spent the past four days here and are now getting ready to head home in the morning.  I hate that the weekend is already come and gone as this was one of my favorite conferences ever.   We had a blast doing our Saturday morning chat, meeting fun authors Kristina McMorris, Elisabeth Naughton, and Kris Kennedy for drinks, going out to dinner with friends Elizabeth Boyle, Christina Arbini, Kelli Estes and more, and then more workshops today.

Now we're about to start another week and I'm hoping to get lots of writing done between now and Saturday when I fly to Dallas to kick off my Texas book tour.

Are you in Texas?  Can you join me for one of my book events?  I'd love to see you!

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Texas Tour and Voting Begins!

I am back home, gearing up for the Emerald City Conference this weekend and looking forward to seeing my Seattle readers at the Literacy Signing tomorrow. I'll be signing copies of She's Gone Country in great company—Brenda Novak, Megan Crane, Liza Palmer, Julia Quinn, and many more will be there, too!

Next up on my book tour: Texas. It's been five years since I toured the Lone Star State, so I'm thrilled to visit again. My event dates are posted here, and don't forget to email me if your Texas-based book club is hosting a She's Gone Country event—I'd love to say howdy and help you celebrate!

Just in time for my Texas tour, voting has begun for the She's Gone Country Cover Girl Contest. Your photographic interpretations of Shey and the truck on the book's cover are inspired, creative, and overall AWESOME.

Even if you didn't enter, I want you to help me choose the winner! Head over to the official contest page to view the photo entries, then post a comment including the number of your favorite. Voting ends Thursday, 10/20, after which I will choose three winners at random from the entries with the most votes.

(To clear up some confusion, voting officially started today, so only comments posted today through 10/20 will count toward deciding the winners.)

Thanks in advance for your help with my contest, and I hope to see you on the road!

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Big Friends & Family Contest!

I had such a wonderful time visiting with 8 of my readers in Denver before the Mountains & Plains Author Reception that I thought it was time to revisit one of my favorite blog contests ever—a contest where you tell me which friend or member of your family deserves a small care package from me.  The care package will include a signed mass market copy of Flirting with Forty, chocolates and sweet treats, and lots of Jane Porter reader goodies,  along with a little note from me.

Jane and...

Cowboy Mac

Giddy'up cowboy!  I confess, I love this picture of Mac at our fair last week.  He had his first pony ride and wanted more.  Mac still isn't talking a lot but he's so funny even without a lot of words as he can imitate any sound or inflection and mimics every animal and person around.   Like my other boys, Mac came chock full of personality, and even when he's naughty he makes me laugh.  (Just like his dad…)

Speaking of Mac's dad,  Ty Gurney, is in Bali surfing for the next two weeks and I'm a...