C.H. Admirand's Blog, page 20

Romance At Random 8/31/11 & Giveaway!

It's 2:09pm EST and we just got power and internet service back!!!

Thank goodness, I'm blogging at Romance At Random today     http://www.romanceatrandom.com. Thank you to the fabulous Sue Grimshaw for inviting me...who knew a few months ago when she invited me that I would be on day 5 without power or internet service! How crazy is that?

But the good new is that we are powered up and connected! I am grateful that I upgraded to the android a few months ago, so I was able to keep up with emails, obligations, etc.

My darling husband is my hero, because through it all, he was my rock (as always) and kept our generator going so that we had the basics: running water, kept the sump pump going! Although he's always been my hero, he went above and beyond on Monday, knowing book 3 in my Secret Life of Cowboys series was due, we ventured out to the Wayne Public Library a few towns away so that I could use their wifi to send my book to my editor! Downed trees, downed power lines, roads washed out, etc. did not keep my hero from getting me to the library. Yet one more reason in my list of many to be grateful for my man!

So please stop by I'm giving away a signed copy of TYLER today.



Slainte'
C.H. Admirand

RWA & My Sourcebooks Experience

RWA was a whole new experience for me this year with so many pluses that I'm still pinching myself! My first big adventure was  navigating NJ Transit alone on Tuesday after our daughter dropped me off at the train station. OK, I am from the wilds of northern NJ, we do not have sidewalks, or streetlights in my part of town, and while we do have a local shuttle, it's not quite the same as a real commuter bus. But I'm pleased to say that aside from the half hour wait for a taxi outside of Penn Station, it wasn't as horrible as I thought it would be. But the train ride home Tuesday evening was a late one, and I am so grateful that my darling husband picked me up Tuesday evening.
Newsflash: commuting to a conference is exhausting! On Wednesday morning, I wasn't traveling alone, Tara Nina picked me up and drove to the train station. At the last minute plans changed, and I suddenly had a place to stay Wednesday night--thanks Tara-- and then Thursday night, for which I am extremely grateful...thanks Anne!  At registration on Tuesday, I got to hug my fabulous editor Deb Werksman and meet Aubrey Poole, Leah Hultenschmidt's assistant. A little while later I ran into JoCarol Jones...second hug of the day...things always look better when you've been hugged by the special people in your life.
A huge thank you to my wonderful friend, Anne Elizabeth, for sharing her time, a few meals, and then the safe haven where we had a chance to unwind and catch our breath. Sharing a pot of tea will always remind me of our chat while being surrounded by history. Oh...and my first taste of Scottish Smoked Salmon, which was yummy, BTW. Be ready, my dear, it will be my turn to treat you at RT!
I have to say a special thank you to my wonderful agent Eric Ruben for keeping me grounded and supporting me during the conference. He was there when I needed him, smiling and encouraging me even though he had a number of clients attending RWA and had a very hectic schedule of his own. Seeing his familiar face before the Literacy Signing and the Sourcebooks Signing helped to calm my nerves. He never fails to inject the dose of reality that I tend to need during high-energy events like RWA.
The Literacy Signing had memorable moments for me: making new friends and visits from old friends. I was so surprised when Kimberly Rocha from Book Obsessed Chicks Book Club arrived with two other lovely ladies that I am so sorry to say I cannot remember their names -- my fault entirely -- but they had a tote bag and t-shirt with their logo on it for me! Here is a picture of Kimberly and her posse.

And one with Kim and myself. 





Check out the bag and t-shirt they gave me, which I am so wearing when I go to visit their book club in the Fall. I'm on deadline right now and finishing JESSE's story...book 3...I can't believe DYLAN is already in production! Time certainly flies when you are doing what you love.I have something special that I'm mailing out to Kimberly this week...but if I post it, it won't be a surprise. ;)

Anne Martel stopped  by with her husband and sister, they traveled all the way from South Carolina (my home state) to attend RWA. I really miss getting in the car and driving down to Anne's bookstore when she was in NJ. Check your mailbox this week, Anne. ;)

 
Here is a picture of Anne Elizabeth and new friend Rosanna Cordero. We met Rosanna while chatting with Sara Humphreys who was interviewing us for her vlog.

 

And one of Anne Elizabeth during the Literacy Signing on Tuesday.

 
On Wednesday morning, I met with Susie Benton, one of Deb's assistants, who like me has a fondness for color-coded spreadsheets, at last, a kindred spirit. She's very organized, something else I strive to be, but the most important thing was that she was gracious and understanding when I arrived late having missed my first train due to circumstances beyond my control as I wasn't driving to the train station. Thanks, Susie!
Thursday afternoon was the Sourcebooks Publisher-Sponsored Author Signing...my first! Yet one more thing that is different in the mass market paperback world. I was extremely nervous, anxious, well you get the picture. ;) Sourcebooks sister, Anne Elizabeth and I arrived early to help set up, shades of RT where we do the same thing...work behind the scenes! Here are some pictures that I took before they opened the doors. The last two are of the line waiting to come in. OK...I'm definitely not jaded, it was totally cool! 
Oh, and one other moment I will never forget: when I asked Dominique Raccah, Publisher of Sourcebooks, to pose in a picture with me. She agreed and then I pointed to the table where I'd be signing and said that I'd written TYLER because I would not have expected her to remember me. She shook her head at me, smiled and said "Honey, I know who you are." It was truly a humbling experience to be known by my publisher.Yet one more reason I really love being a part of the Sourcebooks family.

Here are the pics!





















Funniest moment at RWA, when Kim Adams mentioned in passing that I was a guest at her blog on Thursday and to make sure that I stop by and comment! I didn't have internet during the conference, so I stopped by her blog, SOS Aloha yesterday. Here's the link http://sosaloha.blogspot.com/2011/06/ch-admirand-and-saxon-bride.html#comments
Thursday evening, we were lining up outside to wait for the limos to pick us up for the Sourcebooks Dinner at Omai Restaurant. I was in a limo once before...the day I got married, but I'd never been in one this big. It fit 9 people and had a bar in it! When we arrived at the restaurant, there was a sign on the door: Closed For Private Party and I thought oh too bad, then I realized WE were the private party! I know...I don't get out much. I'd never had Vietnamese food before - I guess I had a lot of firsts this RWA ;) The food just kept on coming, course after course, artfully arranged on the plates, if only I could get those darned chopsticks to cooperate. I got to sit in between Anne Elizabeth and Leanna Renee Hieber and across from Ashlyn Chase and Susanna Kearsley. Sara Humphreys was on the other side of Anne...what a great group. I met Cat Clyne, another of Deb's assistants; it's great to now have a face to correspond with the voice. What a lovely surprise to see Carol Stacy and JoCarol Jones at the dinner. It was wonderful to touch base with them again. I'm really looking forward to RT in Chicago in 2012!
Friday morning was the Sourcebooks Spotlight. I have attended these at the last two RT Conventions, but this one was by far the most exciting. We had so many Sourcebooks authors in the audience attending, some who had been with SB for a few years, others as debut authors and still others who had just signed contracts with them. I was momentarily stunned to see my publicity photo among the others in the slide show, but then got distracted by the slide with TYLER's cover and the cover for DYLAN which releases in January 2012!
After the spotlight, I met with Danielle Jackson, our Sourcebooks Publicist. We had a great meeting and discussed upcoming events and books for me. Then I had a wonderful lunch with Anne Elizabeth, Tara Nina and our totally fabulous agent, Eric Ruben. 
This RWA I learned to be a little more flexible, my ride home from the train station had a change of plans and was leaving right after lunch, so I didn't get to say good bye to everyone as I had hoped, or cheer Joanne Kennedy fellow Sourcebooks Sister on during the RITAs, but I was there in spirit! I cannot wait until the next Sourcebooks get together. 
For me, the next big event is Lora Leigh's RAW 2011 in Maryland. Here's the link http://www.readerappreciationweekend.com/
See you there!

Slainte'
C.H. Admirand

From My Yard to Yours ;)

When I was young, I sipped the nectar from a honeysuckle vine, we were pretending we were little bees-boy did we end up with bellyaches-but that's a story for another time. I've always loved flowers, gardens and playing in the dirt-which actually started with the old dead tree at the edge of the woods in our back yard--it was my sailing ship, my house, my castle, my car. I had a vivid imagination, for as long as I can remember.
So I thought I'd share pictures from my garden as flowers are blooming for the first time this summer, or the last time as they die back. I had this idea in May, but haven't had the time to blog about it yet. It actually coincides with a great idea I have for a whole new book series...but that is a blog for another day. ;)
I love the way the sunlight peeks over our house as we sit and have our first cup of coffee or tea (I drink the tea first thing in the morning, and my hubby and our darling daughter drink the coffee) out on the patio. For some reason our boys don't enjoy hanging out with nature before getting ready for work...on the weekends...well that's another story.

We watch the birds, admire the flowers and trees, and any other wildlife that has decided to drop by for a visit. The chipmunks have been very vocal since the currants and raspberries have started to ripen. 
It's usually a battle, since the catbirds and robins like them, too....the downside is that the wildlife will eat the berries before they are ripe, and they just don't taste the same if we pick them too early. So far it's Lindy's Lake Wildlife 3: Admirand Family 1. 
But I may have an idea for evasive action...not sure...am working on it. LOL.



I love this shot from the other morning, the sunlight was illuminating the throat of the morning glories on our front steps...check it out...

I'll leave you with some pics of the rain just now...an amazing amount of water was rushing down the slope in our backyard toward our patio.


Here's a shot from our front steps looking at the water pouring out of the side yard and into the street.


And here's one looking across the street into our neighbor's yard...I'm always amazed at the power of Nature when she flexes her muscles!
  OK...because it was cool...so much water in so little time that the gutter couldn't hold it!

As much as I love the rain, I'm going to leave you with an image of flowers, because I love them, too.
This is a close-up of one of the many privet bushes we have in our yard. With the help of our feathered friends, they've re-seeded themselves all over our yard, but I love the haunting scent this time of year. It will always remind me of our grandmother's house down at the shore--Spring Lake--there was a privet hedge separating their house from their neighbors.
And OK...seriously...just one more of the rose bush outside the kitchen window.

Slainte' C.H. Admirand

LA Banks Auction - please show your support!

Please support the LA Banks Auction, which goes live at 9pm EST tonight! Here is the link http://www.labanksauction.org.
Your donations will be greatly appreciated. For lovers of Western Romance, Cowboy heroes,  Medievals and more...I have a tote bag filled with signed books that I've donated. Check it out:


Thank you!
Slainte'C.H. Admirand

Lori Foster Event! by C.H. Admirand

It was my first Lori Foster Event and will not be my last. I haven't been to a reader event in a long time...there aren't that many in NJ...so I drove out 12 hours to West Chester, Ohio and 14 hours back. And you know what? I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
Lori and her fabulous volunteers were warm and welcoming. I have to admit I was really nervous about attending alone, but I had heard so much about the event that I couldn't not go. ;)


There were friendly faces everywhere I looked, and despite the fact that I'm not outgoing, I butted into a conversation three friendly-looking faces were having at the bar. I met Kristen Daniels, Mari Freeman, and Samantha Kane, all of whom already knew one of my good author friends, Tara Nina. These ladies all write for Ellora's Cave. What surprised me was that they didn't look at me as if I were crazy or intruding, they smiled and included me in their conversation. I am truly grateful, ladies!
The volunteers working behind the scenes took me in and let me stuff bags with the others, my trick to not feeling quite so awkward, diving in headfirst and having someone put me to work. ;) But my life savers (Cherry flavored) at the event were a lovely couple that I'd met two years ago at RT in Columbus, Ohio, Sharon and Art Harbaugh. Sharon and Art and my hubby Dave and I were working side-by-side behind the scenes at RT for most of the first day before I found out she was a bookseller and she found out I was an author! They were so easy to talk to and we formed a friendship that saved me from hiding in my room at the Lori Foster Event. Sharon left a message for me to call her, but I got in very late and was afraid that they'd already retired for the evening, but Friday morning, Sharon was the first person I saw smiling at me when I arrived in the lobby.
Sharon and Art introduced me to their friends Betty Jo and Rex Ridgway who live in northern Ohio, too. The four of them adopted me, making sure I had a seat at meals and that I didn't lift anything too heavy. I love them for it! When I first me Rex, he smiled and said, "I read Tyler." That's all, but it was the big smile on his face that just went right to my heart. Here's a pic of the three of us.


Sherry Burkett, a new author friend who writes inspirational romance, won the centerpiece I donated. Here's a picture of Sherry and I that Art took.

Funny thing...while stuffing the conference bags, I met Mary G from Canada who won a copy of TYLER back in March on the Casablanca Authors Blog! How wonderful to meet her in person!



I met one of the reviewers from Dark Divas, Tammy Moody, and as fate would have it she won the Western Reader Bliss Raffle Basket that a few of my favorite Western Romance Authors donated books for. When she mentioned Dark Divas, she introduced me to the owner of Dark Divas Reviews...Deb...so I just had to thank her for the totally fabulous 5 Diva rating I received for TYLER...Shelly was the reviewer.


Here's a pic of Tammy after she won the basket!






I had no idea one of my publishers, Pam Seres of DCL Publications, was going to Lori's Event, but I was so busy beforehand that I hadn't been keeping up on my loops. Here's a pic she took of fellow author, Veronica Towers and cover model, Bill Freda. 


Billy is on three of my DCL covers. I have to confess, I really love the new cover for the print release of A SCOT'S HONOR.
Pam and Billy toasted the change in my status...yep...in October I'm going to be a grandma for the first time...they are wonderful! 
I'm so excited and happy for my darling daughter and the love of her life, Tom. I've been trying to decide what I want little Jack to call me and I think I've settled on Gramma or Gram...but I have a little time yet if I change my mind. ;)
I also met the lovely Renee Fecher and Linda McMaken from COS (Circle of Seven) Productions. They were wonderful to deal with and I'm looking forward to working with them on the trailer for my January release, DYLAN. Shelia English was there, too, but I didn't get her picture. ;(
Here's a picture of Renee and Linda;)

Another friendly face and fabulous author, Leanna Renee Hieber was there, dressed for the occasion and lovely as always. Here's the pic I snapped of her right before the book fair. Lovely Leanna!

Here's a pic of fellow Sourcebooks Casablanca Authors, Stephanie Julian and Judi Fennell.





On the way down, I just had to stop at the Army Heritage Education Center south of Mechanicsburg, PA...here's the pic from the side of the building...and one of the helicopter poised in flight that compelled me to stop...


 









On the way home, I detoured to Purity, Ohio to snap pics for my upcoming series for Sourcebooks...Small Town USA. Here are two of my favorite pics from Sunday...

Well...my computer is seriously overheated, I've been on it most of the day catching up from being away. Time to shut it down so it cools off.

Slainte'
C.H. Admirand

C.H. Admirand interviewed by Novels Alive's Dayna Linton @ RT

I just got back from the fabulous Lori Foster Event in West Chester, Ohio and found out the interview I did during RT out in LA had been posted to You Tube. ;)


I had such a great time chatting with Dayna Linton. I've been a hosted author at Between Your Sheets since they started and am always amazed at how supportive they are and how they are constantly coming up with new ways to promote their authors. They also have Novel's Alive and are connected with Reader's Entertainment through COS (Circle of Seven) Productions run by Shelia English and her fabulous support team.

Here's the link:  http://youtu.be/ng50pGsPVIk

If you would like my Cream Scone Recipe...email me at c.h.admirand@gmail.com. I'd be happy to share the love...and calories! LOL!

Getting Ready to Leave for my first Lori Foster Event!

This is my first Lori Foster Event and I'm beyond excited...yep...butterflies in my stomach and all! Sooo, please look for me because I have some goodies for readers who stop by during the Author Speed Chat and goodies for the book fair. ;)
Check out the Western Reader Bliss Raffle Basket...the proceeds will be donated to One Way Farm www.OneWayFarm.org - A home for abused and abandoned children. 
The following authors have contributed books to the basket:
Chasing the Sun by Kaki WarnerRough Stock by Cat JohnsonA Lady Like Sarah by Margaret BrownleyWhirlwind by Cindy HolbyA Cowboy Christmas by Janette KennyCowboy Fever by Joanne KennedyLove Drunk Cowboy by Carolyn BrownTBA by Beth WilliamsonTyler by C.H. AdmirandPlus...Cowboy Caviar - a special veggie appetizer spread (low fat & low carb), a Silver Hookmark Bookmark, and aStraw Cowboy Hat all in a pretty basket with a sturdy handle...isn't it pretty?


At the event, authors also had an opportunity to create a centerpiece for the Saturday night dinner tables. What I loved about the idea is that we had height restrictions, so everyone could still see one another across the table and chat.  I found this really cool fabric covered box and have filled it with books: signed copy of Tyler and my historical Irish Western Series: The Marshal's Destiny, The Rancher's Heart, Pearl's Redemption and A Gift From Home along with two mini canvas bags with western logos on them, a journal and a bright bandana...oh and flowers...a centerpiece should have some flowers...right? LOL! 
Here's the pic...the hardcovers are all on their sides behind Tyler so they fit in the box better. (OH...and please ignore the sunflower tablecloth...I should have thought about that before I snapped the pic. ;)








For those of you who haven't read my historical series, I have excerpts on my website: www.chadmirand.com. Check out the covers:


 
Can't wait to meet everyone at the Reader Author Get Together!
Slainte' C.H. Admirand

Welcome to Purity! New Small Town America Series for Sourcebooks!!

OK...so it's been unofficially official since RT, but I signed the contracts and mailed them off today, so it's now official!!!
I'm beyond excited to be able to announce that Deb Werksman of Sourcebooks has offered contracts for a new trilogy for Sourcebooks...this time Small Town America. I love writing about small towns, and those of you who know me and have read my Irish Western Series, know that the towns in my books are really characters, too.
Thank you to my fabulous agent, Eric Ruben, I wouldn't be making this announcement without his guidance and support. A special thank you to Deb Werksman, my wonderful editor, helping me to dig deeper to reach a whole new level in my writing, and believing in me. 
OK...so I couldn't resist, when I came across this image, I had to What's not to love about a sign like this???FYI, the population in Purity, Ohio (where my trilogy is set) is 997.

 I can't wait to get started on book 1 in the WELCOME TO PURITY series, but first I have to do justice to the youngest Garahan brother...JESSE I'm working on his story now...DYLAN's in copyedits right now. :)




Slainte'C.H. Admirand

RT 2011 Pics from Western Reader Roundup

I've been up since 2am PST, my normal 5am EST, it's almost 10:30 real time (aka East Coast time) and I'm nearly done. I'm hoping breakfast will give me the energy I need to get through the rest of the day! Here's hoping. ;)
Yesterday we had our reader party, the Western Reader Roundup. It was a blast! We had Vivian teaching line dancing, and little did I realize that by the time I'd finished signing bags and books, she was on the "advanced" line dancing lessons. The music should have been my clue...Charlie Daniels' THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA. LOL! Here are some pics



Beth Williamson, Cindy Holby, Janette Kenny, Lorelei James, Margaret Brownley and I hosted the party check out the goodies we gave away!          
Here's our raffle table
Yesterday afternoon was our craft panel: The Good, The Bad and The Hunky Cowboy which was a wonderful session discussing the ins and outs of writing Western Romances both historical and contemporary.
Slainte'
C.H. Admirand

Pics from LA - Pre RT Convention

My hubby and I flew out on Wednesday to Los Angeles and were lucky enough to spend all of Thursday site-seeing and taking pics of LA.
Wednesday evening we found the Border Grille across the street from the hotel...fabulous happy hour menu...and wonderful bartender - Steve! I posted on facebook about the Border Grille Wednesday evening. Here's the link to the restaurant...if you're coming to RT or ever in LA, add it to your list of places to go!http://www.bordergrill.com/
OK, the first thing I should say is that between the two of us we have two pairs of reading glasses...and only one of us is really good at reading maps...Note to Self: Make sure the one who can READ the map is the one WITH the reading glasses! LOL! Yep, we got turned around more than once, due to my map-reading skills. Anyway, here are a couple of pics from LA. You can see all of the pics I took on facebook.
 This is the view from the elevator! Yeah...not a fan of those glass-type elevators. I usually stand with my back to the glass, but I really wanted to get a snap shot of the mountains we flew over to get to LA.
The Bird of Paradise plants were everywhere and so lush! This was by a waterfall in an open terrace not far from the hotel.









Pots of Cyclamen -- I've never seen them planted outside before!





The nearby water gardens were fun to watch.






A view of the gate to the Angel's Flight Tram looking down from inside the Tram...25cents per ride!
Here's a shot of the inside of the tram...lovely wood interior.








Going with public transportation, it was a few blocks to walk to the Metro Station where we purchased our day pass for the bus/metro ($6 - a great bargain...or $1.50 each way for those with exact change)  LaBrea Tar Pit was just a bus ride away on the #720. We took it to Wilshire and Fairfax, from there just a block or so to our destination.
Here are a few shots of LaBrea Tar Pits & Museum:

Mastodon skeletons - naturally preserved by the tar...mother and young found in the tar pit. What's so very different about the finds at LaBrea is that they are actually the skeletal remains of these animals, etc...the tar/asphalt preserved the bones, whereas other finds are fossilized remains of bones.



One of the Mastodon statues at LaBrea Lake...very surreal...it was easy to imagine the poor creature was headed toward it's doom without a clue that it would become mired in the tar pit.




Another view of LaBrea Lake...it was a combination of water and tar/asphalt. The scent of tar in the air was really odd at first. Looking at the Lake you can see bubbles every so often...caused by methane releasing every so often.




The Atrium garden at the Page Museum was lovely and so lush with vegetation!
Turtles in the Atrium pond






We could both take a short break yesterday to walk around LA a bit more, but then it was back to work. We'll be moving boxes, etc. soon, getting ready for the convention.
Slainte'C.H. Admirand