Kathryn R. Biel's Blog, page 10
August 24, 2014
Helping Out
I've often been asked what is one surprising thing I've found since publishing. My answer on my latest interview was to say the people who I don't know who have come out of the woodwork to support me. Now it is my turn to pay back some of that support.
I'm about to publish my third novel, I'm Still Here. The main theme of the book is finding family. The main character, Esther, has to learn what it means to be family. As the back cover blurb says, "... blood does not always mean family." While I do happen to have a wonderful biologically-related family, I also have a family of friends and a family of other writers.
As I'm on the cusp of publishing my latest work, one of my fellow writers is going through a very difficult time. Although we live in the same community and know some of the same people, we've never met. We've liked each other's posts and shared each other's links, but we've never met. But I know that I need to do something to help her at this time. Her husband is the former fire chief in the fire department in which my grandfather was a charter member. And now her family is going through a terrible time due to an accident at the fire house.
So, here's what I'm proposing. No, not proposing. Here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to donate a portion of my royalties during the month of September to the Wheatley family. So that means, anyone who pre-orders I'm Still Here will be donating to this family. Any pre-orders or purchases of any of my books through September 30 will count. The more people who buy books, the more we will be able to help this family out.
I thank you all in advance for helping me to show a small amount of support to the Wheatley family during this difficult, uncertain time. If you would prefer to donate directly to the family, you can send a donation to this address:
I'm about to publish my third novel, I'm Still Here. The main theme of the book is finding family. The main character, Esther, has to learn what it means to be family. As the back cover blurb says, "... blood does not always mean family." While I do happen to have a wonderful biologically-related family, I also have a family of friends and a family of other writers.
As I'm on the cusp of publishing my latest work, one of my fellow writers is going through a very difficult time. Although we live in the same community and know some of the same people, we've never met. We've liked each other's posts and shared each other's links, but we've never met. But I know that I need to do something to help her at this time. Her husband is the former fire chief in the fire department in which my grandfather was a charter member. And now her family is going through a terrible time due to an accident at the fire house.
So, here's what I'm proposing. No, not proposing. Here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to donate a portion of my royalties during the month of September to the Wheatley family. So that means, anyone who pre-orders I'm Still Here will be donating to this family. Any pre-orders or purchases of any of my books through September 30 will count. The more people who buy books, the more we will be able to help this family out.
I thank you all in advance for helping me to show a small amount of support to the Wheatley family during this difficult, uncertain time. If you would prefer to donate directly to the family, you can send a donation to this address:
The Chief Jason Wheatley Fund
C/O The Verdoy Fire Department
988 Troy Schenectady Road
Latham, NY, 12110I'm Still Here is available for pre-order on Kindle, Kobo, iBooks and Smashwords.
August 9, 2014
A Piece of Cake
My mom always made our birthday cakes. And, of course, as a child, I wanted nothing more than the bakery concoctions with mountains of frosting and brightly colored roses that could induce a diabetic coma. However, as I grew up, I realized I don't like most bakery cakes (unless they're chocolate with chocolate ganache). I was attracted to the intricate designs. I wanted my cake to look pretty (not that my mom didn't do a great job. She did. There were no fancy roses or intricate piping though).
Then, when I was in college, Martha Stewart came into the picture, establishing an impossible xenith of decorating and home keeping. I have no where near the talent and skill it takes to be Martha, but dammit I'm gonna try. For years, I spent Christmas Eve frosting sugar cookies in six different colors of royal icing, just so they looked smooth and professional. They looked nice, but my mom's round ones with cream cheese frosting taste a whole lot better.
For my wedding cake, I chose a cake with fondant, just because it looked so smooth and nice. Just like Martha Stewart would make. I didn't actually eat any of my wedding cake that night. People kept coming up to me and asking what type of frosting it was. I smugly replied, "It is a buttercream frosting with fondant over it." Most people had never heard of fondant. I thought I was impressing them. Until the day after, when I tasted it, and realized it was horrible (fondant has come a long way in 13 years).
This was the only taste of the cake I got that day. You can see it in the bottom left corner.And then I became a mom myself. I had three co-workers at the time who had taken the Wilson cake decorating classes and they made cakes. One of them even made the cake for my baby shower.
And as mom, I wanted to make my own cakes. Of course, I wanted them to be fancy and professional looking. My first attempt for Jake's first birthday was not that successful.
What you can't see in this picture is the horrible time I had with the chocolate cake crumbing up. It kills me every year, trying to frost a chocolate cake (because that is what the kids ALWAYS want) with white frosting and not to get crumbs. Since 2005, I have tried several methods to reduce crumbing. My current one is to bake the cake, and then freeze it. Frosting it while frozen seems to help a little.
By Jake's second birthday, I was branching out into better designs. I'm pretty proud of the free-hand design on this one. I was still using canned frosting and the tube gel for decoration.
His third birthday had me thinking a bit outside the box, as I couldn't find how to make a Thomas cake without buying the pan and doing star tips, which scared the bejeezus out of me at the time. I was, however, stuck in the rut of using a 9 x 12 pan.
For Jake's fourth birthday, I finally changed it up. For the first time, I made my own frosting and started using gel coloring, rather than the liquid stuff. So many more color options and it doesn't thin the frosting out either. I also branched out into cupcakes this year. Go figure ... finally getting complicated when I have a baby in the mix.
With said baby, that meant I got to make two cakes a year. I finally tackled the star tip frosting for Sophia's first birthday. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. Of course, I went off the deep end and made candy to go with her cake as well.
Jake wanted an ice cream cake for his fifth birthday. Not much to look at, but it tasted pretty good. He had a friend birthday party that year, for which we used a store-bought cake. His party and actual birthday were about a week apart, so we definitely needed two cakes.
For Sophia's second birthday, I traced this picture on waxed paper and then frosted that, putting it right on top of the cake. Back to the 9 x 12, but I always liked how it came out. The purple looks blue in this picture, but it was definitely purple and red. Or rojo, as Dora would say.
I went back to cupcakes for Jake's sixth birthday. I started to get more creative and confident in my skills.
But for Sophia, I don't know what got into me. I was like a person possessed. This is where my rush-through-it and OCD battle, which is really tough. Two of my dad's favorite sayings are, "I cut it three times and it's still too short" and "Ready, fire, aim!" Both of those apply to me. However, when you have crazy high expectations of perfection, it leads to a lot of hard work, over ambitious projects and ultimately disappointment. It wasn't terrible, but certainly wasn't what I wanted it to look like. The project engineer needs to be fired. Still, Sophia remembers getting the princesses to play with, so that's what's important.
I borrowed a friend's sphere pan to do a Mets themed baseball cake. This really wasn't that hard and I think it turned out pretty good (especially considering his party was about an hour away, and I had to carry this all the way up there). I need to remember that sometimes, the simpler cakes come out better.
But I forgot that lesson by the time Sophia's birthday rolled around. Pinterest had hit the scene, which can be a cake-maker's best friend and worst enemy. Still, not terrible, and I ventured into fondant again, used glitter and candy flowers. I don't want to think about how much this cake actually cost me to make.
About one month after Jake turned seven, he was looking at a catalog that has birthday party supplies and said, "For my next birthday, I want Tom and Jerry. I am going to be eight, you know." Eleven months later, I found a company that does edible images and ordered it so Jake could have his Tom and Jerry party. He had a homemade ice cream cake again for his family party.
Sophia wanted a horse birthday for her fifth birthday. This was her first time having a friend party. One of her friends had a peanut allergy, so I was limited in the ingredients I could use. I also need to come to terms with the fact that I cannot make a straight line.
Jake wanted a Star Wars birthday for his ninth. For some reason, I am not very creative in February when his birthday rolls around. However, I think my frosting ability has improved slightly. It could be because I've invested in better tools over the years (a lazy susan has made all the difference!).
I hit Pinterest again for Sophia's birthday, and was pleased with this one. Still didn't love the way my frosting tasted but I loved the way this one came out.
Ok, mom-fail moment here. I have no cake for Jake's tenth birthday. But before you pass judgement, we were in Disney for his birthday and he got a cake there. He didn't have a friend party (his choice), so there was no second cake. I did send cupcakes into school (of which I have no picture). Sophia's birthday is in August, so she never gets cupcakes for school.
Which leads us to Sophia's birthday again. The party is tomorrow. She is having a spa birthday party. The spa's theme is zebra print and pink, so that's what she wanted for her cake. She also wanted a tiered cake (despite the fact that there will only be seven girls there). So, I combed Pinterest, and this is what I came up with. I think it is my best cake ever. Don't look too closely. It is a bit crooked and my fondant could be trimmed a bit cleaner. But I totally love it. Totally.
And now, I finally have a decent frosting recipe. As it happens, I have a friend who writes stories about a fictional baker. This fictional baker has a real buttercream frosting recipe that is AMAZEBALLS. Completely and totally. Best part, you can have that recipe too. It's right here. Follow the directions. Use room temperature salted butter.
As much as I love these cakes (even the messy, ugly, crooked ones), what I love is that my kids love them. Sophia came in the kitchen today and looked at the half-done cake and said, "That is the most beautiful cake ever." She helped me make it and decorate it as well, dictating where dots should go and what size they should be. She also approves of the frosting.
I love looking back on the themes and remembering where the kids were at that time in their lives. What their interests were.
My cakes don't belong on Pinterest. They are more in the Pinterest fails category, but I don't care. My kids have loved them and that's what makes this all a piece of cake.
Then, when I was in college, Martha Stewart came into the picture, establishing an impossible xenith of decorating and home keeping. I have no where near the talent and skill it takes to be Martha, but dammit I'm gonna try. For years, I spent Christmas Eve frosting sugar cookies in six different colors of royal icing, just so they looked smooth and professional. They looked nice, but my mom's round ones with cream cheese frosting taste a whole lot better.
For my wedding cake, I chose a cake with fondant, just because it looked so smooth and nice. Just like Martha Stewart would make. I didn't actually eat any of my wedding cake that night. People kept coming up to me and asking what type of frosting it was. I smugly replied, "It is a buttercream frosting with fondant over it." Most people had never heard of fondant. I thought I was impressing them. Until the day after, when I tasted it, and realized it was horrible (fondant has come a long way in 13 years).
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This was the only taste of the cake I got that day. You can see it in the bottom left corner.And then I became a mom myself. I had three co-workers at the time who had taken the Wilson cake decorating classes and they made cakes. One of them even made the cake for my baby shower.
And as mom, I wanted to make my own cakes. Of course, I wanted them to be fancy and professional looking. My first attempt for Jake's first birthday was not that successful.
What you can't see in this picture is the horrible time I had with the chocolate cake crumbing up. It kills me every year, trying to frost a chocolate cake (because that is what the kids ALWAYS want) with white frosting and not to get crumbs. Since 2005, I have tried several methods to reduce crumbing. My current one is to bake the cake, and then freeze it. Frosting it while frozen seems to help a little.
By Jake's second birthday, I was branching out into better designs. I'm pretty proud of the free-hand design on this one. I was still using canned frosting and the tube gel for decoration.
His third birthday had me thinking a bit outside the box, as I couldn't find how to make a Thomas cake without buying the pan and doing star tips, which scared the bejeezus out of me at the time. I was, however, stuck in the rut of using a 9 x 12 pan.
For Jake's fourth birthday, I finally changed it up. For the first time, I made my own frosting and started using gel coloring, rather than the liquid stuff. So many more color options and it doesn't thin the frosting out either. I also branched out into cupcakes this year. Go figure ... finally getting complicated when I have a baby in the mix.
With said baby, that meant I got to make two cakes a year. I finally tackled the star tip frosting for Sophia's first birthday. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. Of course, I went off the deep end and made candy to go with her cake as well.
Jake wanted an ice cream cake for his fifth birthday. Not much to look at, but it tasted pretty good. He had a friend birthday party that year, for which we used a store-bought cake. His party and actual birthday were about a week apart, so we definitely needed two cakes.
For Sophia's second birthday, I traced this picture on waxed paper and then frosted that, putting it right on top of the cake. Back to the 9 x 12, but I always liked how it came out. The purple looks blue in this picture, but it was definitely purple and red. Or rojo, as Dora would say.
I went back to cupcakes for Jake's sixth birthday. I started to get more creative and confident in my skills.
But for Sophia, I don't know what got into me. I was like a person possessed. This is where my rush-through-it and OCD battle, which is really tough. Two of my dad's favorite sayings are, "I cut it three times and it's still too short" and "Ready, fire, aim!" Both of those apply to me. However, when you have crazy high expectations of perfection, it leads to a lot of hard work, over ambitious projects and ultimately disappointment. It wasn't terrible, but certainly wasn't what I wanted it to look like. The project engineer needs to be fired. Still, Sophia remembers getting the princesses to play with, so that's what's important.
I borrowed a friend's sphere pan to do a Mets themed baseball cake. This really wasn't that hard and I think it turned out pretty good (especially considering his party was about an hour away, and I had to carry this all the way up there). I need to remember that sometimes, the simpler cakes come out better.
But I forgot that lesson by the time Sophia's birthday rolled around. Pinterest had hit the scene, which can be a cake-maker's best friend and worst enemy. Still, not terrible, and I ventured into fondant again, used glitter and candy flowers. I don't want to think about how much this cake actually cost me to make.
About one month after Jake turned seven, he was looking at a catalog that has birthday party supplies and said, "For my next birthday, I want Tom and Jerry. I am going to be eight, you know." Eleven months later, I found a company that does edible images and ordered it so Jake could have his Tom and Jerry party. He had a homemade ice cream cake again for his family party.
Sophia wanted a horse birthday for her fifth birthday. This was her first time having a friend party. One of her friends had a peanut allergy, so I was limited in the ingredients I could use. I also need to come to terms with the fact that I cannot make a straight line.
Jake wanted a Star Wars birthday for his ninth. For some reason, I am not very creative in February when his birthday rolls around. However, I think my frosting ability has improved slightly. It could be because I've invested in better tools over the years (a lazy susan has made all the difference!).
I hit Pinterest again for Sophia's birthday, and was pleased with this one. Still didn't love the way my frosting tasted but I loved the way this one came out.
Ok, mom-fail moment here. I have no cake for Jake's tenth birthday. But before you pass judgement, we were in Disney for his birthday and he got a cake there. He didn't have a friend party (his choice), so there was no second cake. I did send cupcakes into school (of which I have no picture). Sophia's birthday is in August, so she never gets cupcakes for school.
Which leads us to Sophia's birthday again. The party is tomorrow. She is having a spa birthday party. The spa's theme is zebra print and pink, so that's what she wanted for her cake. She also wanted a tiered cake (despite the fact that there will only be seven girls there). So, I combed Pinterest, and this is what I came up with. I think it is my best cake ever. Don't look too closely. It is a bit crooked and my fondant could be trimmed a bit cleaner. But I totally love it. Totally.
And now, I finally have a decent frosting recipe. As it happens, I have a friend who writes stories about a fictional baker. This fictional baker has a real buttercream frosting recipe that is AMAZEBALLS. Completely and totally. Best part, you can have that recipe too. It's right here. Follow the directions. Use room temperature salted butter.
As much as I love these cakes (even the messy, ugly, crooked ones), what I love is that my kids love them. Sophia came in the kitchen today and looked at the half-done cake and said, "That is the most beautiful cake ever." She helped me make it and decorate it as well, dictating where dots should go and what size they should be. She also approves of the frosting.
I love looking back on the themes and remembering where the kids were at that time in their lives. What their interests were.
My cakes don't belong on Pinterest. They are more in the Pinterest fails category, but I don't care. My kids have loved them and that's what makes this all a piece of cake.
July 25, 2014
No Way That Just Happened (Oh, and a Preview from My New Book)
A while back, I wrote this blog post about how things I've written about in my books have a strange way of coming to fruition.
So, today, I was returning home from a family outing. The hubs had met us out and was in the car behind us. Much of the time, when we have two cars, at least one of the kids decides to ride with Dad. Today, it wasn't discussed and they were both with me.
We live on a main street and about 5 p.m. on a Friday, it's a pretty busy thoroughfare. I had stopped while waiting to make a left turn into my driveway. Next thing I know, I hear a loud crash, then feel an impact as we're hit from behind. Turns out, a Ford F150 had rear ended my husband, who then rear ended me.
We pulled right over and assessed the damage. Now, keep in mind, we paid off my van two weeks ago. My husband's car is totalled. His passenger side airbag deployed, but the driver's side didn't. His rear bumper is barely on. His seat broke as his weight went backwards. His front end crumpled into my rear lift gate and the whole rear quarter of my car.
We're okay. We're all okay, and that is the important thing.
I'm thankful for three things: that my husband is okay; that my children are okay; that I wasn't eating a Ho Ho.
If you want to know what that third thing is all about, read on:
Yes, this is a sneak preview of my new novel, out September 2, 2104. Please note, this is not the final, edited version, so don't judge the typos. You can add I'm Still Here to your to-be-read list on Goodreads, where you can also enter the giveaway for an advanced review copy!
So, today, I was returning home from a family outing. The hubs had met us out and was in the car behind us. Much of the time, when we have two cars, at least one of the kids decides to ride with Dad. Today, it wasn't discussed and they were both with me.
We live on a main street and about 5 p.m. on a Friday, it's a pretty busy thoroughfare. I had stopped while waiting to make a left turn into my driveway. Next thing I know, I hear a loud crash, then feel an impact as we're hit from behind. Turns out, a Ford F150 had rear ended my husband, who then rear ended me.
We pulled right over and assessed the damage. Now, keep in mind, we paid off my van two weeks ago. My husband's car is totalled. His passenger side airbag deployed, but the driver's side didn't. His rear bumper is barely on. His seat broke as his weight went backwards. His front end crumpled into my rear lift gate and the whole rear quarter of my car.
We're okay. We're all okay, and that is the important thing.
I'm thankful for three things: that my husband is okay; that my children are okay; that I wasn't eating a Ho Ho.
If you want to know what that third thing is all about, read on:
CHAPTER ONE I stepped on the sidewalk and walked with confidence. My hair was red and curly. My skin was flawless. My dress was tight, little and black. My car was, well shit, it was still a beat up, tired looking non-descript sedan (a 1992 Mercury Topaz, to be exact) with more rust than paint. I looked back over my shoulder. Yep, it was still there. It had not been magically replaced by a Porsche. I lost some (okay, all) of my bravado and my shoulders hunched for a minute. The confidence, fleeting as it was, was gone. I stopped and took a deep breath. I could do this. Aww, who the hell was I kidding? There was no way in hell I could do this. I turned around and walked as fast as my stilettos and tight LBD would let me, back to my P.O.S. mode of transportation. I jangled the key in the lock and jostled the door open. Bending and dipping so as not to flash my wares, I finally was inside my safe haven. With only three attempts at turning the engine over, I was off and sped away. I wanted to go home and hide in my bed for about six years. I decided that I needed some fortification if I was going to stay holed up for that long. I took the much familiar detour to the market to pick up some emergency supplies—a bag of Fritos and a box of Ho Ho’s.
What had I been thinking signing up for speed dating? It wasn't me. I wasn't that type of girl. I didn't do frivolous and flighty things like speed dating. I couldn't believe I let myself get talked into it. I didn't want to disappoint Jillian by saying no to her zany idea. I let her bully me into it. On the other hand, I was tired of being alone. I had been on my own for so long that the prospect of even possibly meeting someone held appeal. Well, it wasn't going to be through speed dating, that was for sure.
As I was powering down the aisle towards the express check out, the heel snapped on my shoe. I stopped and stared, shoe in my hand like an alien life form. Really? Just my luck. I would say the universe was against me, if I believed in that sort of thing. 2013 was not turning out to be my year. Nope, not at all. I limped the rest of the way (why did the Ho Ho’s have to be in the back of the market?) to the check out, praying that no one noticed me. Of course, I was waaay overdressed for grocery shopping and had comfort food, as well as the heel from my shoe in my hand. Now I was lumbering through the store like Quasimoto, and I had the sneaking suspicion that my hair was growing larger by the minute. I’m fairly certain that I stuck out in the grocery store like a sore thumb, like the date-less loser on a Saturday night that I was. I made it to my car and kicked off my shoes as soon as I got inside. Good thing that I didn’t need a pair of black heels any time soon. I was on a restricted budget, and shoe shopping was not high on the list of essentials. Sure, it would now be on the list, but Ho Ho’s and Fritos always took precedence.
Never one to waste time, I had the box of Ho Ho's opened by the time my car had reversed out of the parking spot. I navigated out to the main road and proceeded to begin drowning my sorrows in the delicious goodness of chocolate cake and cream. Yeah, this was the life. It was so much better than going to the speed-dating event. I was waiting at the four-way stop, chowing down with reckless abandon, savoring the creamy deliciousness, when suddenly my car was rammed from behind. This initial impact pushed my car far enough into the intersection to run into the car to my left who was making a left. I felt the two collisions, followed by a loud popping noise right next to my head. For a minute, I thought someone had fired a gun. But no, I could not be that lucky. It was only my airbag deploying. It wailed my chest and face and the air was filled with smoke and dust. The Ho Ho that I had been bringing to my mouth became one with my face as my hand propelled upwards. I tried to breathe, and inhaled dust and a bit of chocolate cake, which immediately sent me choking and coughing. I reached down, impatiently to unhook my seat belt, which had locked up. As I finally got it off, my door opened up from the outside. I jumped out, happy to be free of my death trap, without looking, and promptly fell into the guy who opened my door.
Yup, there I was, covered in dust and Ho Ho debris, coughing and choking, spitting out powder and cake. My red curls now resembled a rat's nest and my dress was riding dangerously high on my thighs. I was standing barefoot in the street with no way to get home. I was so ready to meet the man of my dreams.
Yes, this is a sneak preview of my new novel, out September 2, 2104. Please note, this is not the final, edited version, so don't judge the typos. You can add I'm Still Here to your to-be-read list on Goodreads, where you can also enter the giveaway for an advanced review copy!
July 24, 2014
Cover Reveal for Dangled Carat
When my friend Hilary Grossman told me she was updating the cover to her first book, Dangled Carat, my first thought was, "Well, that's too bad. I really like her book cover. I wish she wouldn't change it."
Now, I'm eating my words because I LOVE this cover! Here it is, the all new and improved cover:
Intrigued? Want to know more about it? Read on:
When I first read Dangled Carat, I didn't realize it was a memoire until I was at least 1/3 of the way it. It reads like a contemporary romantic story.
Here's what you need to know about the author:
And here's what you need to be able to find the book:
Now, I'm eating my words because I LOVE this cover! Here it is, the all new and improved cover:
Intrigued? Want to know more about it? Read on:
For every girl who wondered if she should love him or dump him.....
For every girl who listened to her heart instead of her friends advice....
For every girl who l wondered if she was wasting her time dating that guy....
meet Hilary....
She had gotten used to dating the commitment-phobic Marc, thirteen years her senior. They had a great relationship--why rush into things? She saw no need to pressure him for marriage, believing that when the time was right, he would propose. But after they had been together for four years, their friends decided to take matters into their own hands, pushing Marc to propose and making Hilary realize how much she really did want to marry the man that she loved. Unfortunately, Marc still wasn't ready--and their friends' meddling in the form of a faux engagement party led to a disastrous New Year's Eve that brought their relationship to an inevitable turning point.
For anyone who has ever dated a commitment-phobe, who has found their patience wearing thin with the one they love, or who has sat around wondering if he is ever going to pop the question while trying to remain the very picture of patience and grace, Hilary's humorous and honest story will hit home.
"Dangled Carat sparkles with humor and shines with wisdom. It is a gem of a book." - Christina Baker Kline - New York Times Best Selling Author of Orphan Train.
"Fans of Sex and the City - Grossman makes a reference to Carrie Bradshaw and Mr. Big - will enjoy the story, but its real-girl charm should draw an even wider crowd." - Kirkus Reviews.
When I first read Dangled Carat, I didn't realize it was a memoire until I was at least 1/3 of the way it. It reads like a contemporary romantic story.
Here's what you need to know about the author:
Hilary Grossman dated a guy so commitment-phobic that she was able to write a book about their relationship. She has an unhealthy addiction to denim and shoes. She loves to find humor in every day life. And she likens life to a game of dodgeball - she tries to keep many balls in the air before they smack her in the face. When she isn't writing or blogging she is the CFO of a beverage alcohol importer. She lives on Long Island.
And here's what you need to be able to find the book:Links for the book:Ebook $2.99, Paperback $9.93AmazonHope you all enjoy it as much as I did! (And if you do, please make sure to leave your reviews on Amazon, Goodreads and Barnes & Noble)
Barnes & Noble
July 18, 2014
Best Date Ever
It started probably close to thirty years ago. Somewhere, in our basement, in the rack of cassette tapes, there was a pirated copy of Queen's Greatest Hits. My eldest brother had recorded it from somewhere and penciled in the names of the songs in his block handwriting.
Occasionally, we listened to this cassette and the songs became part of my childhood. Part of the MTV generation, I remember watching bits and pieces from Live Aid. I listened to my other brother's Iron Eagle soundtrack just to hear 'One Vision.'
By 1991, I was a Queen fan. I owned the album, Innuendo, and played the shit out of it (the cassette tape, of course). My brother had given me the VHS of Queen Live at Wembley '86 for my birthday. I killed time in my sophomore English class by writing out all the lyrics to Bohemian Rhapsody. It was more entertaining than paying attention (sorry Mr. DiPrimio). Then, I remember with heartbreak, coming home from school one Monday in November to hear that Freddy Mercury had died. I wept that day. I was a naive child (just shy of 16) and could not fathom how he could just be diagnosed with AIDS one day and die the next.
I was heartbroken because I would never get to see Queen.
But my love of them did not die. I stayed home on a Saturday that following April and recorded the whole tribute concert. While I know they did a good job, it was not the same. No one could ever compare to Freddy Mercury in my book. I was very involved in summer theater, and was thrilled to find people there who loved them as much as I did (again, being naive, never really made that connection). The cassettes stayed on high rotation in my beat-up old Ford Escort's tape player.
Fast forward a few decades. I have replaced my cassettes with CD's. I make my kids listen to them. They make my father listen to them. And then, on my Facebook feed, it appears. Queen is touring with Adam Lambert. I know, without a doubt, that I have to go. I mentally marked the day in my head that tickets would go on sale--February 28th--and informed my husband.
Now, he's a bit older than I am. He knows many of the older songs, and I even catch him singing along. We've watched several Queen biographies on TV together, so I never even questioned whether he would want to go to this concert. I went online on February 28 and (after consulting with him about Madison Square Garden or Mohican Sun), bought the tickets.
It's been at the back of my mind recently, that this concert was coming up. Well, it finally got here. Last minute, we decided to drive to NYC. It was great until we hit the Lincoln Tunnel, which took us about an hour to get through. We found out hotel without difficulty, including the parking facility across the street. We were only two blocks from MSG, so it was perfect. It never really occurred to me until, after listening and singing along to Greatest Hits I and II on the way down that the hubs is not really a huge Queen fan. But he is a good sport.
The show was phenomenal. Adam Lambert is certainly a gifted vocalist. To me, he lacks some of the stage presence that Freddy Mercury possessed, but no one will ever replace Freddy.
I tried to record this song for my friend, as it is her favorite. I'm going to blame my crappy phone for letting me down, but know it probably had more to do with my beer consumption.
I knew most of the set list, but the most touching moments were when Brian May and the audience sang 'Love of My Life' and got teary eyed at the end of it. It contained some of this video which made the crowd roar.
Also, Roger Taylor singing 'These are the Days of Our Life' from Innuendo had me in tears. This is not from the MSG show, but is from the tour. I was crying during this one, for sure.
It was just such a great show. I'd go and see it again and again if I could. We couldn't have asked for a better day, which included perfect weather, a clean hotel with a free breakfast, a leisurely stroll around Chelsea and the Village and an uneventful drive home.
So, after a good twenty years, I've now had the perfect date. Seeing the band of my dreams with my partner in crime. It's going to be hard to top this one. I don't even want to try.
(But I do have to put in one more video from last night, just because I love the song so much.)
Occasionally, we listened to this cassette and the songs became part of my childhood. Part of the MTV generation, I remember watching bits and pieces from Live Aid. I listened to my other brother's Iron Eagle soundtrack just to hear 'One Vision.'
By 1991, I was a Queen fan. I owned the album, Innuendo, and played the shit out of it (the cassette tape, of course). My brother had given me the VHS of Queen Live at Wembley '86 for my birthday. I killed time in my sophomore English class by writing out all the lyrics to Bohemian Rhapsody. It was more entertaining than paying attention (sorry Mr. DiPrimio). Then, I remember with heartbreak, coming home from school one Monday in November to hear that Freddy Mercury had died. I wept that day. I was a naive child (just shy of 16) and could not fathom how he could just be diagnosed with AIDS one day and die the next.
I was heartbroken because I would never get to see Queen.
But my love of them did not die. I stayed home on a Saturday that following April and recorded the whole tribute concert. While I know they did a good job, it was not the same. No one could ever compare to Freddy Mercury in my book. I was very involved in summer theater, and was thrilled to find people there who loved them as much as I did (again, being naive, never really made that connection). The cassettes stayed on high rotation in my beat-up old Ford Escort's tape player.
Fast forward a few decades. I have replaced my cassettes with CD's. I make my kids listen to them. They make my father listen to them. And then, on my Facebook feed, it appears. Queen is touring with Adam Lambert. I know, without a doubt, that I have to go. I mentally marked the day in my head that tickets would go on sale--February 28th--and informed my husband.
Now, he's a bit older than I am. He knows many of the older songs, and I even catch him singing along. We've watched several Queen biographies on TV together, so I never even questioned whether he would want to go to this concert. I went online on February 28 and (after consulting with him about Madison Square Garden or Mohican Sun), bought the tickets.
It's been at the back of my mind recently, that this concert was coming up. Well, it finally got here. Last minute, we decided to drive to NYC. It was great until we hit the Lincoln Tunnel, which took us about an hour to get through. We found out hotel without difficulty, including the parking facility across the street. We were only two blocks from MSG, so it was perfect. It never really occurred to me until, after listening and singing along to Greatest Hits I and II on the way down that the hubs is not really a huge Queen fan. But he is a good sport.
The show was phenomenal. Adam Lambert is certainly a gifted vocalist. To me, he lacks some of the stage presence that Freddy Mercury possessed, but no one will ever replace Freddy.
I tried to record this song for my friend, as it is her favorite. I'm going to blame my crappy phone for letting me down, but know it probably had more to do with my beer consumption.
I knew most of the set list, but the most touching moments were when Brian May and the audience sang 'Love of My Life' and got teary eyed at the end of it. It contained some of this video which made the crowd roar.
Also, Roger Taylor singing 'These are the Days of Our Life' from Innuendo had me in tears. This is not from the MSG show, but is from the tour. I was crying during this one, for sure.
It was just such a great show. I'd go and see it again and again if I could. We couldn't have asked for a better day, which included perfect weather, a clean hotel with a free breakfast, a leisurely stroll around Chelsea and the Village and an uneventful drive home.
So, after a good twenty years, I've now had the perfect date. Seeing the band of my dreams with my partner in crime. It's going to be hard to top this one. I don't even want to try.
(But I do have to put in one more video from last night, just because I love the song so much.)
July 16, 2014
And now, the moment you've all been waiting for...
In case you didn't know, I don't have a lot of patience. I want things to happen NOW. One of the benefits of being an indie author is that sometimes, I can make them happen NOW. Conversely, one of the drawbacks of being an indie author is that I have to make myself wait to make things happen.
But today is not one of those days. For today, I shall unveil the cover to my third novel, I'm Still Here.
Once again, Becky Monson has really outdone herself on this one. This cover was a group effort though. The ladies at ChickLitChatHQ weighed in endlessly on what makes a good cover. Heather McCoubrey came through with this image. Interestingly, I had picked a different image from the same photo shoot, but this one was the one.
Here's the blurb for I'm Still Here:
So, there it is--my new book. On sale through all major distributors on September 2, 2014.
But today is not one of those days. For today, I shall unveil the cover to my third novel, I'm Still Here.
Once again, Becky Monson has really outdone herself on this one. This cover was a group effort though. The ladies at ChickLitChatHQ weighed in endlessly on what makes a good cover. Heather McCoubrey came through with this image. Interestingly, I had picked a different image from the same photo shoot, but this one was the one.
Here's the blurb for I'm Still Here:
It started out as an ordinary day for Esther Comely-Cox, if you consider simultaneously totaling your car, smashing a Ho Ho in your face and meeting a handsome doctor ordinary.
Estranged from her family over her sister's mental illness and death, Esther can't help but feel alone. And when Esther hears the voice of her twin sister who committed suicide seven years ago, she begins to question her own sanity, leading her to wonder if anything is what it seems. Searching for answers, Esther must confront her past while looking towards a new future—one in which she is finally accepted.
Through humor and heartbreak, Esther learns that blood does not mean family, that absence does not make the heart grow fonder and that silence can speak volumes.
You can add this book on Goodreads! I'm doing a giveaway for five advanced review copies from 7/18/14-8/18/14. You can win a signed, print copy before it is even for sale.
So, there it is--my new book. On sale through all major distributors on September 2, 2014.
July 4, 2014
I know, like young lovers parting at summer camp, I promi...
I know, like young lovers parting at summer camp, I promised I would write. And I have been. Just not here. But trust me, I've been busy. Here's what I've been up to lately:
Editing my third novel and working on the cover. Now, mind you, when I say "working on the cover" I mean looking at things that my cover designer sends and being a complete and total pain in the butt about it. My first round of edits have been completed. The book is with a second critiquer/editor. After that, it gets printed out and goes to my copy editor. Then, all the formatting begins.
Which leads me to what else I've been doing. Formatting. I seriously spent FOUR HOURS last night re-formatting Good Intentions. You might ask why I spent that much time on a book that has been out for 13 months. Well, that is a complicated one. Actually, it is pretty simple. As much as I love the cover of Good Intentions, especially after my cover designer spruced it up in December, it really does nothing to tell the story or draw the reader in. In a digital thumbnail, the beach scene just looked kind of blurry. So, I've been on a hunt for a better cover. This was a process and a labor of love. I searched for images. My cover designer searched for it. Other author friends searched. I asked for opinions after opinions (thanks ladies!). Once the image was found, then finding the perfect font was a process. But after blood, sweat and tears (not to mention about five pounds of chocolate and a case of diet Coke for Becky), Good Intentions has a brand new look. Without further ado, here it is:
Isn't it gorgeous! Becky Monson really outdid herself this time. I feel like this is a better representation of Maggie's conflict and struggle to find happiness. And since I was redoing the cover, I decided to fix some formatting things that have been bugging me. In order to change the cover for the paperback, I have to take it off sale for a bit, so this seemed like the perfect time to fix the format. Seemed like a wise thing to do. I've learned a lot about formatting since I first published, so it was time to put it to practice.
But wait, there's more!
I'm writing my fourth novel. I'm participating in a writing exercise in July (Camp NaNoWriMo) to get me writing again. I've been carrying paper with me where ever I go and scribbling away when I have some down time. I didn't get to type up what I wrote yesterday because of all the formatting, but I'll hopefully get to it today. I hope to write 40,000 this month, which would be the first half of my novel. I hope to release that book in spring.
Aaaaand speaking of book releases, I'm getting ready to release my third novel. I'll do the cover reveal in a few weeks, and release it in about eight weeks. So, be on the lookout for that.
But for now, I'll leave you with a promo poster I did for my redesigned Good Intentions. And I promise, I'll write soon!
Editing my third novel and working on the cover. Now, mind you, when I say "working on the cover" I mean looking at things that my cover designer sends and being a complete and total pain in the butt about it. My first round of edits have been completed. The book is with a second critiquer/editor. After that, it gets printed out and goes to my copy editor. Then, all the formatting begins.
Which leads me to what else I've been doing. Formatting. I seriously spent FOUR HOURS last night re-formatting Good Intentions. You might ask why I spent that much time on a book that has been out for 13 months. Well, that is a complicated one. Actually, it is pretty simple. As much as I love the cover of Good Intentions, especially after my cover designer spruced it up in December, it really does nothing to tell the story or draw the reader in. In a digital thumbnail, the beach scene just looked kind of blurry. So, I've been on a hunt for a better cover. This was a process and a labor of love. I searched for images. My cover designer searched for it. Other author friends searched. I asked for opinions after opinions (thanks ladies!). Once the image was found, then finding the perfect font was a process. But after blood, sweat and tears (not to mention about five pounds of chocolate and a case of diet Coke for Becky), Good Intentions has a brand new look. Without further ado, here it is:
Isn't it gorgeous! Becky Monson really outdid herself this time. I feel like this is a better representation of Maggie's conflict and struggle to find happiness. And since I was redoing the cover, I decided to fix some formatting things that have been bugging me. In order to change the cover for the paperback, I have to take it off sale for a bit, so this seemed like the perfect time to fix the format. Seemed like a wise thing to do. I've learned a lot about formatting since I first published, so it was time to put it to practice.
But wait, there's more!
I'm writing my fourth novel. I'm participating in a writing exercise in July (Camp NaNoWriMo) to get me writing again. I've been carrying paper with me where ever I go and scribbling away when I have some down time. I didn't get to type up what I wrote yesterday because of all the formatting, but I'll hopefully get to it today. I hope to write 40,000 this month, which would be the first half of my novel. I hope to release that book in spring.
Aaaaand speaking of book releases, I'm getting ready to release my third novel. I'll do the cover reveal in a few weeks, and release it in about eight weeks. So, be on the lookout for that.
But for now, I'll leave you with a promo poster I did for my redesigned Good Intentions. And I promise, I'll write soon!
June 23, 2014
I Should Be...
I know, I know. I've been terribly remiss with my blogging lately. It is just another thing to add to my list of things I should be doing. Here's what's on the list so far:
Cleaning my house for company that is coming in a few daysFinalize summer camp plans for the kidsPlan a summer vacationFold and put away laundryEditing novel #3Reading a book for reviewWriting novel #4Wrapping teacher presentsSleeping (because that has not been going so well lately)Writing bloggers asking them to review my booksMarketing, marketing, marketing
What I have been doing:Wrapping up the school yearDance recitalsPlaying Candy CrushWatching World Cup SoccerSchool carnivalCleaning out rooms of the houseBook signing at the libraryWatching True Blood (I was a season behind and may have binge-watching)Swinging in the hammockPlaying Bubble Witch Saga and other assorted time suck gamesPTA stuff (I'm winding down my 2 year term as treasurer)Marketing, marketing, marketingSchool is finally done this week. It has been a hectic few months and I hope to get some rest over the summer (famous last words). I am hoping to put the final touches on my third novel by the beginning of August so that I can get it out to reviewers. I'm also planning on re-doing the cover of Good Intentions because my current cover is just not working. I've been doing a lot of promotional stuff for Hold Her Down, including a $0.99 sale (still available at that price on Kindle, Nook, iTunes and Kobo). I plan on doing a considerable amount of writing in July, so I'm giving myself the next week or so to mentally prepare for that.
Ok, so tonight before bed, I WILL get my dedication and acknowledgments written. I will get to bed at a decent hour. Well, at least I should...
Cleaning my house for company that is coming in a few daysFinalize summer camp plans for the kidsPlan a summer vacationFold and put away laundryEditing novel #3Reading a book for reviewWriting novel #4Wrapping teacher presentsSleeping (because that has not been going so well lately)Writing bloggers asking them to review my booksMarketing, marketing, marketing
What I have been doing:Wrapping up the school yearDance recitalsPlaying Candy CrushWatching World Cup SoccerSchool carnivalCleaning out rooms of the houseBook signing at the libraryWatching True Blood (I was a season behind and may have binge-watching)Swinging in the hammockPlaying Bubble Witch Saga and other assorted time suck gamesPTA stuff (I'm winding down my 2 year term as treasurer)Marketing, marketing, marketingSchool is finally done this week. It has been a hectic few months and I hope to get some rest over the summer (famous last words). I am hoping to put the final touches on my third novel by the beginning of August so that I can get it out to reviewers. I'm also planning on re-doing the cover of Good Intentions because my current cover is just not working. I've been doing a lot of promotional stuff for Hold Her Down, including a $0.99 sale (still available at that price on Kindle, Nook, iTunes and Kobo). I plan on doing a considerable amount of writing in July, so I'm giving myself the next week or so to mentally prepare for that.
Ok, so tonight before bed, I WILL get my dedication and acknowledgments written. I will get to bed at a decent hour. Well, at least I should...
June 20, 2014
AWOL
I'm sorry for being AWOL lately. Things have just been busy here. Nothing exciting, just busy. I'll try and catch up this weekend. Bear with me.
And speaking of bare, I'll just leave you with this...
And speaking of bare, I'll just leave you with this...
June 4, 2014
It's an Honor Just Being Nominated
Color me shocked today when I found out that Kindle Ninja had nominated me for a Very Inspiring Blogger Award. It sounds totally cool and prestigious right? Right. This was how I felt...
The Very Inspiring Blogger Award is given by bloggers to bloggers. Here are the rules:
1. Link back to the person nominating you for the award
2. Display the Very Inspiring Blogger logo
3. Reveal seven things about yourself
4. Nominate seven others to receive the award
So, again, a shout out to Kindle Ninja for thinking that I am even remotely inspiring. Here are my seven things:
1. I like nothing orange. I can tolerate the occasional shredded carrot, but I find any orange food (or drink) pretty much repulsive. Even the smell of oranges makes me want to wretch.
2. If I had a better singing voice, my career aspirations would have been to be on Broadway. I originally wanted to be a Rockette, but it was pretty apparent by the age of 13 that I would never make the height requirement.
3. I never let my kids have Play-Doh at home because I'm too anal and don't want to have to clean up the mess. I make my parents keep the Play-Doh at their house.
4. I could visit a zoo or aquarium every day. If I had my wedding to plan again, I would get married at the zoo. In front of the penguins. Or tigers.
5. I may have a touch of OCD, especially about the way my bed is made. I have been known to get up in the middle of the night, straighten the blankets and tuck them in again.
6. I eat chocolate every single day, with the exception of the 40 days of Lent. I need at least just a bit each day.
7. I honestly think that I was meant to have curly red hair and that there has been some great cosmic mistake that left me with wavy (not straight, but not curly) brown hair that may have more silver than I'd care to admit.
So, here are 7 bloggers/authors who inspire me:
1. Jessica Miller at Life and Motherhood. College roomie, mom to 5, 5 and under, OT. 'Nuff said.
2. Anne McDonald at Our Little Nuthouse. Uber-mom of 6 1/2 kids. Plus, wicked funny.
3. Becky Monson. Author, photographer, (my) cover designer extraordinaire. Best cheering section.
4. Kate Leong at Chasing Rainbows. If she doesn't get to you, then nothing will because your heart is made of stone.
5. Rants from Mommyland. If they don't make you laugh, then nothing will because your heart is made of stone.
6. Tracie Banister at Books By Banister. Another author I aspire to be like when I grow up.
7. Stacy Menz at Starfish Therapies. Great PT, OT and Speech ideas for kids. Keeps me grounded in my actual profession.
The Very Inspiring Blogger Award is given by bloggers to bloggers. Here are the rules:
1. Link back to the person nominating you for the award
2. Display the Very Inspiring Blogger logo
3. Reveal seven things about yourself
4. Nominate seven others to receive the award
So, again, a shout out to Kindle Ninja for thinking that I am even remotely inspiring. Here are my seven things:
1. I like nothing orange. I can tolerate the occasional shredded carrot, but I find any orange food (or drink) pretty much repulsive. Even the smell of oranges makes me want to wretch.
2. If I had a better singing voice, my career aspirations would have been to be on Broadway. I originally wanted to be a Rockette, but it was pretty apparent by the age of 13 that I would never make the height requirement.
3. I never let my kids have Play-Doh at home because I'm too anal and don't want to have to clean up the mess. I make my parents keep the Play-Doh at their house.
4. I could visit a zoo or aquarium every day. If I had my wedding to plan again, I would get married at the zoo. In front of the penguins. Or tigers.
5. I may have a touch of OCD, especially about the way my bed is made. I have been known to get up in the middle of the night, straighten the blankets and tuck them in again.
6. I eat chocolate every single day, with the exception of the 40 days of Lent. I need at least just a bit each day.
7. I honestly think that I was meant to have curly red hair and that there has been some great cosmic mistake that left me with wavy (not straight, but not curly) brown hair that may have more silver than I'd care to admit.
So, here are 7 bloggers/authors who inspire me:
1. Jessica Miller at Life and Motherhood. College roomie, mom to 5, 5 and under, OT. 'Nuff said.
2. Anne McDonald at Our Little Nuthouse. Uber-mom of 6 1/2 kids. Plus, wicked funny.
3. Becky Monson. Author, photographer, (my) cover designer extraordinaire. Best cheering section.
4. Kate Leong at Chasing Rainbows. If she doesn't get to you, then nothing will because your heart is made of stone.
5. Rants from Mommyland. If they don't make you laugh, then nothing will because your heart is made of stone.
6. Tracie Banister at Books By Banister. Another author I aspire to be like when I grow up.
7. Stacy Menz at Starfish Therapies. Great PT, OT and Speech ideas for kids. Keeps me grounded in my actual profession.
