Jennifer Probst's Blog, page 25

An Amazing Tale…

So…I came down with a virus on Saturday night.

Not just the normal, 24 hour annoyance I'm used to. Oh, no, this was a sick, no holds barred, colonoscopy prep gone horribly wrong virus. When you're writhing around naked on the bathroom floor negotiating with God (yes I did that in labor, too and didn't work then either!) suddenly life returns to simplicity again.

All you want is to feel normal. Even eating a Saltine and keeping down water was sheer frikkin bliss.

I crawled into bed and didn't surface for two days. This was enough time to drive my husband nearly to the mental ward, cause all sorts of problems and chaos, and have my poor boys sadly stare at me from the doorway calling out, "Hi, Mommy! Can we come in NOW???"

On Monday morning, I shuffled to the computer, knowing my email had exploded, I was on a deadline, and I had major things to accomplish. My head spun, but I hung in and logged on.

Then found my twitter and email had exploded.

The Marriage Bargain reached number# 14 on the Barnes and Noble best seller list!

Tweets and messages flashed madly before me. Huh? My book had launched for the Lori Wilde Indulgence line at Entangled on Valentine's Day, which wasn't even a week ago. Was this possible? I confirmed with my editor later that yes, it was more than possible. It had happened. And not only that, but as the hours ticked by I steadily climbed up the list.

On Tuesday, the news was finalized.

The Marriage Bargain reached number #1  on the Barnes and Noble best seller list in Romance and ALL Nook books!

Now, I must admit, today is the first day I am literally back to normal and I'm still trying to process such a big event. I am beyond humbled, and amazed, and excited. But most of all, I am so happy readers are loving this book. Because I adored writing it – every last page – and it has been one of my highlights in my writing career. It has been a book I always believed in when many others hadn't. Until Entangled.

So, I'm not posting this to brag. I'm posting to thank my wonderful Entangled editor and team for making it the best book it can be. I'm posting to give my gratitude to the long list of writers who keep me sane and keep me writing, but most of all, who are so incredibly generous in their ability to share in the joy of this success.

Writing is really hard work, and honestly, we beat ourselves up way too much. Much more than we celebrate. There are so many pitfalls in this career, that when a wonderful success comes our way, we need to learn to savor, breathe, and say thank you.

Thank you.

Let's Be Decadent…

I'm thrilled to announce another official release day for my new series with the Steele Brothers!

Catch Me is a 1NS story and if you've read any others in the series, you will agree they are absolutely AMAZING!

To celebrate, I'm blogging at CoffeeTime Romance today on the topic, Satisfying Your Inner Vixen

Look for my upcoming guest blog at Books-n-Kisses entitled The Lust Factor on Monday, February 20th.

Hmmm, do we have a theme going on for the month of love?

Stay tuned for more free book giveaways, free jewelry, and more FREE stuff (I love free). Hit the Books page, click on the cover, and there's all the handy dandy links to buy. An excerpt is found at the Decadent Blog and Allromance links for a taste.

Also, I've finally added a super handy Subscribe to Me button for the blog. Click on the right, sign up and stay with me for more updates and fun.

Happy February everyone!

 

Let's Indulge….

I have a great story about Disney to share.

I have lots of funny tidbits and stories from Valentine's day.

But it will all have to wait. Because I have news. Big news. (Nope…not pregnant. Why does everyone always ask that?)

To celebrate Valentine's Day, Lori Wilde's Indulgence line at Entangled Publishing is officially launched. Let's talk great covers, fabulous authors, yummy plotlines, and fresh writing.

I am honored to be one of the launch authors for the series, and am here to announce The Marriage Bargain is offiically released!

Yummy cover, huh?

So treat yourself to a little indulgence…a lot of heart…and some great humor.  Here's the blurb!

A marriage in name only…

To save her family home, impulsive bookstore owner, Alexa Maria

McKenzie, casts a love spell. But she never planned on conjuring up her best friend's older brother—the powerful man who once shattered her heart.

Billionaire Nicholas Ryan doesn't believe in marriage, but in order to inherit his father's corporation, he needs a wife and needs one fast. When he discovers his sister's childhood friend is in dire financial straits, he's offers Alexa a bold proposition.

A marriage in name only with certain rules: Avoid entanglement. Keep things all business. Do not fall in love. The arrangement is only for a year so the rules shouldn't be that hard to follow, right?

Thanks for letting me share..and look for upcoming blogs, giveaways, and hops all ready to celebrate!

Beginnings, Endings, and Everything In Between…

This is an interesting month.

Besides getting ready for three new releases, my boys celebrate their birthdays in February. Usually, it's a mad rush of chaos with too many presents and too little room left in the house, excitement that rivals Christmas morning, ice cream cakes and birthday candles, migraines at ChuckECheese, and eyes shining with the thrill of life.

I have always believed birthdays are special – for everyone.

Tomorrow my oldest son turns 7 years old.

I wrote a letter to him I published on this blog two years ago on his first day of kindergarten. A road was being turned, and I knew things would change. They did. School forced him to grow up a lot. It also revealed a sharp mind and a quest for knowledge that humbled me. As days flew by in repetitive motions, it became easier to ignore his growth spurts or his startling questions about God and the universe, and his sudden demands for play dates and more social stimulation other than me and his brother.

When I walked him onto the bus today, I kissed him and told him to have the best day ever. I explained he would never be six again – and this day must be cherished, enjoyed, and savored. He skipped off, back into his own world, and I watched him through my tears as I waved from the driveway.

It seems as if a mother's job in life becomes watching our children leave as more birthdays rack up. I don't think it will ever get easier. I just think I may get more used to it.

Every evening before his birthday, I watch the video of his birth so I can remember that moment. I tell my children about their birth stories so they can claim them as their own. As a writer, family sagas are the first real stories a child begins to hear and identify with. I embellish and dramatize and tell the truth of each moment, while they watch with glee and pride.

I think more people need to stop in the mad dash to the goal and savor the final or beginning days of something. The first of the month or year. The last day before one turns a year older. The beginning of a new book, or the end of one.

I have a new release that came out February 1st and another one in a week.

I have my first blog tour with a stop at Books-N-Kisses today.

I have writing deadlines, proofing deadlines, and an explosive schedule pulsing with demands.

But right now, today, I am celebrating my son's last day he is six years old. And that is enough.

Happy Birthday, my sweet boy. Thank you for changing my life for the better.

Mommy

Free Stuff! Welcome To My First Blog Tour…

I'm pumped.

With three hot new releases coming up in the next month, I'm launching my first official blog.

On February 1st, Sex, Lies and Contracts releases on the Red Sage site, and will shortly be available through other online outlets such as Amazon.

On February 17th, Catch Me releases on the Decadent site and will also be avaialble at all other online vendors.

On March 1st, The Marriage Bargain releases with Entangled Publishing and will be avaialble at all other online vendors.

Wow. We have a lot to talk about.

Here is the schedule of the blog tour with dates and sites. I'll be mixing it up, talking about each of the books, doing character interviews, spotlights, interviews, and blog posts. And of course, I'm giving away free books!

 

February

Thursday, 2nd – Book Spotlight @ Books-n-Kisses *Catch Me www.books-n-kisses.com

Monday, 6th – Book Spotlight @ Tamaria Soana *Sex, Lies, and Contracts* http://tamariasoana.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, 8th – Book Spotlight @ Everyday is an Adventure *Sex, Lies & Contracts* Http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com

Wednesday, 15th – Guest Blog & Giveaway @ Sexxy Bloggerhttp://salaciousreads.blogspot.com/

Monday, 20th – Guest Blog @ Books-n-Kisses www.books-n-kisses.com

Tuesday, 21st – Interview @ Mike Woody http://woodyswritings.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, 22nd – Book Spotlight @ Tamaria Soana *Catch Me* http://tamariasoana.blogspot.com/

Saturday, 25th – Guest Blog @ Reading Between the Wines http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, 28th  – Guest Blog & Giveaway @ I Just Wanna Sit Here & Read *The Marriage Bargain* http://www.sithereandread.com/

Wednesday, 29th – Book Spotlight @ Everyday is an Adventure *Catch Me* Http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com

Keep me company on the journey…and thanks as always for your support! 

 

A Safe Place…

We had a snowstorm last week.

Of course, this meant my two young children had to go outside. If you're a mom, this means simply you will be tortured for the next hour. First, you need to dress them, which takes time because of the many layers of clothes. When I was young, I couldn't understand why my mother thought a little bit of snow could make me sick. Now, I find myself stuffing them like a sausage in the hopes they won't get wet and come down with pneumonia. Way to go, mom, for giving me this type of karma.

Anyway, you dress them, shove them out in the snow, and follow them out to build snowmen that never look good, and shovel, and wipe running noses. Then about half an hour goes by at the most (at least with my kids) and they are ready to go in. This involves wet clothes, struggling with stripping them back off, dogs jumping and barking, and then they want to take a hot bath. In the bath, they scream for hot cocoa, and of course you need cookies with that (anyone reminded of the series If You Give A Mouse A Cookie?), and then they want to cuddle in their pj's with their hot mugs and watch a DVD.

So..I did all this and then exhausted, collapsed and watched them.

My heart swelled to monstrous proportions.

They were so happy. And so was I. They were snuggled up in warm clothes, in a safe place, and had all of their needs met. There was nothing else on their minds except the moment, and being happy.

They were in their safe place. At their age, if I am doing my job right, that is their home.

This brought me to the question of safe places. When I was young, my safe place was also my home. As I grew older though, this changed to reading. I was sucked away from the peer pressure of perfection and coolness and swept into a world of romance and perfection. I read a book a day, and I read anything I could get my hands on. From poetry, to romance, to mysteries, and fantasy. Life cracked open and exposed itself in a fruitful manner, and I loved every moment.

I changed in my teens. My safe place became my writing. When life got stressful, when I was confused, I fell back on my words, my writing voice, my own creation where I was God and everything was mystic yet controlled. I wrote stories of love and romance and healing and I made it a beautiful world. My safe place. In my own mind.

When I got married, writing and reading were key, but my safe place became my family. The comfort and love that surrounded me made me feel complete, in a way I never experienced before. And as I age, I expect my safe place to change yet again.

But writing will always remain, in my heart, a main place to rest my head and my worries. As long as writers never lose that, they will be able to follow the twisting path of this very unique journey. Always come back to the voice and you will never be truly wrong.

I was having some trouble with character development for my feisty heroine, and decided to pose the question to her. What's her safe place? The answer surprised me…and deepened my heroine for me to catch a secret peek into her soul. This helped fuel the story.

If you're having trouble with a character, this is an important question to ask. Where is your hero's safe place? Your heroine's?

And you, my reader. Where is your safe place? Home, family, church, books, writing, or something else? Something buried deep?

Take a moment to share with me and leave a comment.

 

 

Baby, Get Back!

It's easy to lose focus on the important things in life.

Sometimes, a scare like an illness, or a layoff, shoves things into perspective. In a way, I believe bad things happen in order to wake us up and remind ourselves to get our head's back in the game. The real game of life.

Kids drain your energy and sometimes you just want to rent a hotel room and check in alone, order room service, and stay in bed for a week. Or maybe a day. But maybe it's a good time to remind ourselves how empty the house would be without their zest. Maybe it's a sign to listen to their needs, in order to satisfy your own.

My boys were bouncing off the literal walls one afternoon when all I craved was a quiet bed or some quality writing time. I became crazed and frustrated, trying to make them play by themselves, when I decided to suck it up and fulfill their needs. I closed the door and we played for an hour in their room – any games they wanted. The joy on their faces made it worth it. I also bargained with them that I'd give them what they needed, if they pinky promised I could be alone for an hour after our fun. They agreed.

As a writer, sometimes I get stuck on the promotion and publicity of the career. Trying to make it full-time is hard, and stressful. Though I adore my social media, sometimes a nonstop stream of Facebook and Twitter have the opposite effects I need. Instead of feeling supported, I question my methods, wondering if I am doing enough, blogging correctly, getting enough reviews, or posting enough on author loops. Too much noise clamors in my head, and I lose my way. The endless tasks of promotion and selling can sometimes overwhelm us. As depression closed in, I took a conscious step back.

Away from the trappings of writing and back to the task.

I opened up my new work-in-progress, closed down my Internet pages, and wrote. I didn't go on for the rest of the day. I didn't need to know what anyone else was doing, or not doing. I needed to get back to the story – the real reason I wanted to write full-time. I want to write a great book, and enjoy the majority of the time doing it.

When life pushes us in one direction, it may be a sign to follow. Our natural instinct is to battle back for what we think we want. But the Rolling Stones said it best…

"You can't always get what you want…but you get what you need."

Or if you're into some great hip hop, I prefer the other song.

"Baby, get back!"

 

New Year's Blog Hop Winners!

Congratulations to our two top winners:

#192 from Malia Mallory's site – Lilaz won the Kindle Fire!

#2436 from VK Syke's site – June won the $80 Amazon Gift Certificate!

I picked a commentor from Random.org and the winner of my contest is Miki! I will be sending her a copy of my book, Heart of Steel. Enjoy!

Next blog hop is coming on St. Patty's Day, so grab a green beer and hit the computer for more prizes!

 Look our for my own specialized blog tour blitz to promote my upcoming books in February.

Here's to a fabulous 2012!

 

New Year's Blog Hop! Big Prizes…

Welcome to our blog hop!

The mission? Visit as many authors as possible to read about their New Year Memory, win fabulous prizes, and go for the gold: an Amazon Fire and an $85.00 gift card at Amazon! The more comments you make on each author's page, the more times you are eligible to win!

I will be giving away a copy of Heart of Steel for my winners. Here's a teaser:

Chandler Santell avoids men—especially the rich and powerful ones who believe more in money than people. Desperate to save her struggling Yoga & Arts Center, her last hope is the most powerful man in the finance industry, a man reputed to have a "Heart of Steel."

Logan Grant knew he was in trouble the moment Chandler Santell walked into his office. He agrees to her crazy deal only when she risks all and guarantees him a profit. Behind the scenes a dangerous game of love, power and greed begin to play out—a game Chandler knows nothing about. The payoff is worth millions to the man who can win Chandler's heart. But is love worth the price?

Ready, set, go!

I've spent many new year's wishing for a glamorous party with the perfect boyfriend on my arm, a cocktail in my hand, loud music in my ear, and three inch designer shoes on my feet. Imagine my surprise when I look back and remember one quiet December 31st, sititng in my living room with a chubby, bald little boy in my arms, drool leaking from his lips, eyes closed in slumber, and a peace in my heart that rivaled nothing as I looked at his face and watched him sleep. The television flickered in the dark, showing the beautiful crowd of revelers in the heart of Manhattan as the ball dropped. And I closed my eyes and whispered into my son's ear…"Happy New Year, my sweet child." And knew it was a night I'd never forget.

Click on the link below to visit as many authors as possible…it's hop time!

Happy New Year!

 

The New Year's Blog Hop – Wednesday, January 4, 2012

 

Come visit me Jan 4th for the best blog hop ever! Over 60 authors are going to talk about their favorite New Year Memory.

What does that mean for you? Well, we are giving away gift cards, books, and other swag goodies throughout the day! Each author will chose their own winner – so that means over 50 winners! And you can win on multiple pages!

 And the best thing? We have TWO Grand prizes. 

 First prize: A Kindle Fire to a lucky winner!

Second prize: An $80 Amazon Gift Certificate!

 Leave a comment to be entered to win. To celebrate the start of a brand new year, I will be giving away my contemporary romance, Heart of Steel, to one of lucky commenter. Any electronic format you wish!

 So be sure to come by and try to win some amazing prizes! See you then!