The Palo Alto signing and party will only be the first of many events, though.  I’ll be hitting different cities on the West Coast, along with Texas, a number of Southern states, and fingers crossed–maybe a city near you.  I’d love to meet my readers in the Mid-West and North…I’ve promised Lesli and Sharon G among others a visit for years.  But to be able to come see you I need one of two things–a bookstore willing to have me in to the store for an event (and people to attend!), or a book club/book party where women can buy my books, or will have read my books, and are now eager to discuss them.   So if you’ve got a book club of ten or more readers that would like to meet me, let me know and I’ll try to schedule a visit to your neck of the woods during the coming year. 

As many of you know, I just attended a book club in San Marino, California on Thursday night.  I flew to Burbank Thursday, made my appearance (thank you to Liza and Megan for picking me up, driving me to event, keeping me company and then returning me to airport!) and returned home.  On one hand it’s a lot of time and energy for a two hour event, but on the other hand, a great discussion is worth every penny and every moment of my time, and the women in San Marino were incredible.  It was a fantastic group of women and a very thoughtful discussion and I so appreciated everyone’s time and support.   I love writing for women.  I love meeting women and hearing what they think about my books.  Even if not everyone loves my writing, I still like hearing other perspectives.  Writing can be so solitary that doing events and sitting in on book clubs reminds me that my readers aren’t this faceless, nameless blob, but real women with real lives and quite often, juggling intense demands.

So as my publicist and I discuss book festivals and book signings and book parties, let’s hope that one of my events will bring me close to you!  But just to be on the safe side, tell me where you are, and if you think an event near you, or with your friends, is possible.

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

And the sick, sinking feeling takes over.  The anxiety hits like a big wave. 

Have to stop, take a deep breath, do a shoulder roll, shrug off the stress and the tightness in my chest.  Things are fine.  Everything’s fine.  Don’t look at everything at once.  Just focus on one thing at a time. 

And then the phone rings.  The cell phone vibrates with a text.  Baby’s crying.  Boys are fighting. 

What do you do when life feels crazy?   I exercise, or try to find a little time to read.  Reading is my favorite escape.  Reading really relaxes me, makes me feel whole.  Safe.  Sane.  But I haven’t been reading a lot lately due to all the other demands but I swear, I’m reading today…even if it’s just for a half hour!

With reading in mind, I have two prizes for my blog readers–copies of Liza Palmer’s wonderful new novel, A Field Guide To Burying Your Parents.  You know I’m a huge Liza Palmer fan and this is a fantastic read.  Along with Liza’s novel, I’ve got a little Starbucks card and some sweets, treats and JP reader goodies for the winners.  So tell me how you’ve been and what you’re doing today or this coming week, and you’re entered to win.  The contest ends Tuesday night midnight and I’ll announce the winners Wednesday morning in the comments section. And even if you’ve won before, or won recently, still post because anyone who shares a comment can win.  I just wish I had a copy of Liza’s book for everyone!

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

My next public event takes place this coming Saturday afternoon at the Kingsgate Library on 143rd Street in Kirkland, WA.   My talk begins at 2 pm and I’ll be reading from Easy on the Eyes and then leading a discussion on the writing life and the publishing industry as well as answering questions.  Third Place Books will be selling my books in case you want to pick one up for a sister, friend or mom for Mother’s Day.  I will also have fun goodie bags for all who make it so stop by the library if you can.

Next Thursday I head to Pasadena for a book club event and then the following week I’m in Portland, OR for the PLA Conference and then I’m back in Portland again on April 17th as the keynote speaker for the wonderful Rose City Romance Reader Luncheon–if you’re in the Portland, OR area this is such a great event!  Dozens of incredible authors will be in attendance and they always give away stacks and stacks of books.  If you love romance–and I do–then try to squeeze this event in.

Two other fun events that have been added is the Grand Opening for Ty’s new shop in Waikiki.  I’m going to be there that night on April 8th signing books and hanging out with any and all my Hawaii readers and friends.  If you’re on Oahu, please plan to stop by the party and have a beer or glass of wine and chat.  But if you’re not on Oahu and just happen to be in Montana, then I’ve got an event for you!  Just today  the wonderful Kari Andersen put together a book event at the Barnes & Noble in Bozeman for me.  It’s scheduled for 7 pm on May 1st and I’d love to see you  if you’re in the Big Sky region.

And  I’ve one more special mention….

I’m hosting a private, exclusive screening and party for my good friend Christine Fugate’s incredible, moving, inspriing film, Grief Becomes Me:  A Love Story in Redmond, WA on Sunday, April 25th at 2 pm.  I’ll be mailing out invites for this event and due to the limited seating in this swanky gorgeous movie theatre I have to cap the headcount at 130.  If you think you’d like to attend, and meet the real life film director who inspired the character of Christie, Tiana’s film maker friend in Easy On The Eyes, save the date and email me ASAP for an invite.  Christine’s flying up from Laguna Beach just to meet my readers, fellow writers and  friends.  I’ve told her I know the most amazing women in the Pacific Northwest and I know you’d enjoy hearing about her experiences as a film director.  Christine is an Emmy award winning director and has such a fascinating perspective on women and creativity and women in the film industry.  Please do think about joining us if you can make it.  I’ll have copies of my books available, lots of fun drinks and appetizers and terrific conversation.  It’ll be a fantastic afternoon, I promise!

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

My brain is working almost constantly as I try to piece together the plots and the layers and the driving motivation.  My editor has asked for one thing.  I’m drawn to something rather different.  Can I find a way to meld the two?  Can I give her what she wants without losing what I’m compelled to do?  Publishing is such a delicate balance of art and acumen…must be creative…must be viable.  Must make money.  Must sell many books.

The idea I’m most intrigued by isn’t light and cheery at the onset.  It’s more reality than fantasy.  Editor very much wants fantasy.  Readers want feel-good.  I want truth.  How to make everyone happy?

I think I can.

I hope I can.

I sit down at the computer and tell myself I can do anything.  I go to sleep at night and ask my brain to come up with solutions.  I turn the pieces of the story puzzle around and around to see if there might be a stronger hook or more commercial spin that would allow me to spin a fast-paced, yet emotional, yet empowering read.

I think I can.

I know I can.

And so it begins again.  New book.  New ideas.  New possibilities.

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

I love this book.

I’m really proud of this one, too.

I want to write more novels like this She’s Gone Country.  I want to continue writing books the way I’ve been writing them.  As I’ve said before, I’ve been asked to change direction somewhat and I know I can do it, but I’m proud of the books I’ve written so far.  And I am really glad I wrote Shey’s story.  It’s probably my favorite book I’ve ever written and I don’t say that about all my books.

I love the setting, the characters, the conflicts.  This is a book I stand behind and a book I hope lots of people buy.

I’m Fed Exing the manuscript back to my publisher in New York in the next half hour but it’s been really fun spending the past day and a half reading this story.  I can’t wait for you all to read it, too.

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

Mac has learned to not just crawl, while we’ve been here, but to haul. He’s everywhere! I’m exhausted chasing him around a not-yet-baby-proofed house. Ugh. I forgot how busy, busy, busy an active mobile baby can be!

But tomorrow we fly home and I’ll be back at my desk by Monday starting a new book. I’m excited to get back to writing. I’ve missed it these past two weeks although I have enjoyed reading the three novels I managed to squeeze in between mom duties and watching the Olympics.

Have you had a favorite Olympic moment or a favorite Olympic athlete? I’ve loved this year’s Winter games in Vancouver. Share with me something of your week… can be Olympics, can be life stuff, can be a book you’re reading, and you’re entered to win one of my two Goodbye Hawaii prize packages. The boxes are filled with great things and are already to go. Here’s the deal–the contest ends tonight at 9 pm by time in Hawaii (11 pm PST) and I’ll post the two winners names tonight, too. The winners have until tomorrow morning at 10 am my time (noon PST) to send me the addresses or I won’t be able to mail the boxes before we leave for the airport. So, enter today only if you can check back first thing in the morning and send me your name should you win!!

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

Obviously, Hawaii’s not a bad place to be–this is paradise, after all–but it’s tough sending my boys away.  I always get sad. 

Maybe I’m too clingy of a mom, or too emotionally connected but it hurts when they head off.  It shouldn’t.  They’re 11 and 14 and there’s a baby here needing me, but those boys are still my boys and it doesn’t feel the same when they’re not with me.

Yesterday son Ty asked me if I’d cut my arm off if it meant I’d save him or his brother Jake.  It was casually asked as we walked around Waikiki.  I told him of course.  I’d cut both off without hestitation.  Moms love their children.  Moms would do anything for their children.

So why do I feel so conflicted though about my work, my writing, and motherhood?  I can’t write when I’m actively mothering.  I can’t write when I’m cooking or driving carpool or folding laundry.  I need to write though.  It’s so much who I am.  It’s as much me as my name or my hair color or my blood type.  But the children…they have such pressing needs, so immediate.   How do I justify pouring so much of my energy into my work when they’re only small for a short time?

I don’t have answers.   As I can’t not be mom.  Nor can I give up writing, even if it is consuming.  I suppose all I can do is juggle, and hope that finding balance is enough.

But the boys…they’re still in the air.  I won’t feel right, won’t feel secure, until the plane touches down and I know they’re home safe. 

Do you ever feel pulled?  Guilty that you’re not enough, doing enough, being enough?  And do you think men ever feel this way?  Tell me what you think and you could win my Taste of Sunshine package, a sunny Hawai prize package that’s bright, cheery, yummy and fun.  I’ll draw a name from the comments below on Monday night midnight and announce the winner Tuesday morning.  So talk to me, and maybe you’ll win!

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

Yes, today’s my birthday and I’m now 32. My eleven year old keeps looking at me and saying, “Really?” and my heading towards 15 year old laughs hysterically.  Fortunately the baby doesn’t know and doesn’t care. Surfer Ty  has planned a fun day for all of us. He’s taken today off work and we’re heading out to snorkel and have beach fun and lunch in Kailua at the Original Buzz’s Steakhouse. I’m just really glad to be with all my guys today. That’s the best present.

Hope you’re well. Hope you’re having a wonderful day. I send each of you much love and gratitude for being part of my world. You give me lots of love and friendship and support and I couldn’t be luckier. Thank you!

PS  And no, I’m not really 32….you’d have to add a bunch of years to that but I believe in staying young!

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

Yesterday at 2 pm I finished my Christmas novella for Harlequin, the one that’s set in Venice (I love it!  Hope my editors will, too) and then at 2:30 pm we jumped in the car to head to the airport for our 4:45 Hawaii flight.  It’s a long flight from Seattle this time of year, about 6 1/2 hrs, but we’re here now, and Mac–my littlest Valentine–is taking his morning nap and my big boys are crashed on the sofa watching cartoons.

I’m happy.  My story has been submitted to my editor in London.  My kids are on vacation with me for the next week.  I’m engrossed in a JR Ward novel.  And tonight we go  take the big boys to see the new Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief movie.  Life is good.

Wishing you the sweetest of Valentine’s Days.  Tell me how you are, and if you’ve any plans made for tomorrow and you have the chance to win one of my two Valentine’s surprise prizes.  I won’t tell you what’s inside but I like them and think you will, too!

Contest runs through February 14th midnight Hawaii time and I’ll announce the winners on Monday morning.  Good luck and have a wonderful weekend full of hearts, sweets, and love.  Lots and lots of love.

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

I love weights.  Lifting heavy, fatiguing at rep 8, or 11 on the way to 12.  I love doing three sets, and struggling to complete each set.  I love resting 30 seconds to a minute between sets, or immediately shifting to an alternating body part.  Leg extensions and dead lifts.  Bench press and seated row.  Bicep curls and tricep push dows.

I have a garage full of free weights, bench presses, cable machines.  And so three times a week I head to my garage and I blow it out.  I’m also keeping an eye on calories but am not fanatical.  And guess what?  In three weeks I lost five pounds.  I know, it’s only five and I still have at least twenty to go but after six months of no progress to have progress feels fantastic.

I feel fantastic.  My deltoids and lats and glutes feel fantastic.  Muscle is me.  I’m a little bulldog.  I need to carry muscle, need to see definition, need to feel strong.  And the way I work out isn’t for everyone.  Some people respond better to intense cardio, or boot camp circuit training.  I need weights.  I love weights.  They feel…sexy.

Funny, I feel sexier, too. 

So I’m savoring my little success and patting myself on the back.  And while I’m doing that, I’m admiring my lovely new muscles.

©2010 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.