Moving, Vacation, Signings, and Prizes for a Giveaway

Just popping in to let you all that I returned from vacation alive, rested, and happy. However, it is now officially moving week for my family.

The Caribbean Sea as seen from my own eyes.

Why yes, yes we did just move. In August. BUT that was from Texas to Utah, and I'll spare you the longer explanation by saying that we found and bought a house (we are not fans of renting), and we are now moving into that house to make this the last move EVER. Or, you know, until I'm a little old lady who can no longer get up and down stairs or whatever.

I am very excited about the house and the office in which I plan to finish a plethora of projects that are chilling on my computer waiting to be completed.

While I was gone, Water So Deep surpassed a milestone review goal, and because of that, I think a giveaway will be necessary. I picked up a beautiful jewelry set in the Caribbean, except, um, well... my husband sort of packed it away in a box yesterday, and we have about half of what we own at our new house, and half at the old house. So it might be a couple of days before I find it. So please be patient. I haven't forgotten the giveaway, just postponed it until I can actually find the prize!

But here's a hint. The more of my books you've reviewed (and the more places you've reviewed them) the more opportunities you'll have to win.

What else? The LDStorymakers writer's conference is coming up in May, and I am working hard to help that come together. Really excited to see all my writing friends. And also there will be a massive signing that includes a whole lot of fabulous authors--including yours truly. This will be my first signing since the release of Water So Deep, so if you want a chance to get a signed hard copy of it, plan to attend that on May 16 at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo, Utah. (No ticket required.) Time to be determined, but I'll let you know.

Okay, now that I've caught you all up on what I'm doing, what fun things are you doing this spring?

Some Cool April Things

It’s April. And with the new month comes some cool things. Some VERY cool things. Like…

1.       Descendant is officially available for pre-order, and it’s entirely possible you *may* be able to get it in ebook form within the next couple weeks. Just…you know, if you’re interested in that little tidbit.

2.       The launch party will officially be held at The King’s English book store in Salt Lake City, UT on Saturday, May 4^th, 2013 at 4:00 pm. I hope to see lots of you there!

My flower in honor of Descendant.

3.       Because of that launch party, and also because of the upcoming LDStorymakers writer’s conference, in Provo, UT during the following weekend, where I am presenting, I have purchased my plane ticket and will be going to Utah in ONE month. Actually, less than one month. So yeah. Lots of excitement over here.

4.       Spring has sprung in Texas, and I found this at the store the other day. Matches the one on the cover of Descendant, so I had to have it. Flowers make me so happy.

5.       I am planning to write a new book this month. Going to be tricky, since I have TONS of other things to get done before May, but it seems like I work best with tricky. Going to give it a shot.

What about you? What are you excited about this April?  

Spring Things

I don’t know about you, but I’m really quite relieved to say goodbye to February and usher in March. It’s like the light at the end of the long winter tunnel. Also, this spring I am looking forward to lots of things. Spring THINGS!

Like my cover reveal. Because I’ve been waiting to show that off for weeks and weeks, and now I finally can!

And blog tour and book launch planning, searching for contest prizes, stuff like that. Because I like to give things away, and I am ridiculously excited about the release of DESCENDANT and can’t wait to share it with the world.

And like spring break. Wherein we take our kids and drive a few hours to Galveston, TX, where there is a cruise port, and we board a ginormous ship and leave all our troubles behind for a week. (Yes, it’s a Carnival Ship, YES, we were scheduled to sail on the Triumph and had to change our reservation, and no, we are not nervous to sail on the Magic, because we’ve cruised before and we know that what happened a couple weeks ago is not something that happens often. It’s like flying on a plane. Crashes happen so rarely that when they do, it’s BIG news. But there are thousands of planes taking flight every single day.)

I am also anxious for spring flowers and planting season and sea turtle hatching season. (Oh my goodness, there’s a national beach near me where this is a seasonal thing and you can go watch the baby turtles waddle out to sea. True story!) And dolphins in the harbor and baby bunnies which show up randomly on my front lawn.

And Cadbury Mini Eggs, because, well, who isn’t excited about those?

Now it’s your turn. What are you most excited about this spring?

March Monday Randomness

1. Thanks to the appearance of the sun, I’ve been thinking about life and spring and new babies. I drove around with my convertible top down for three out of the seven days this week. Well, okay, actually, I put the top down for a short amount of time, got cold, then put it back up. But it was still really nice.

2. The new baby thoughts come with my itty-bitty new nephew, who was born six weeks early, but thanks to modern medicine is doing very well. He’s the tiniest little person I’ve ever, ever seen. It’s miraculous to think that someone that small can breathe on his own and open his eyes and be alert. Just. Amazing. Can’t wait to hold him.


3. This weekend, I got the bug to clean out my closet. Not only is it purging to thin out the junk, but it’s so much fun to find stuff I forgot I had or that’s been “lost” for a while. Like a mini treasure hunt. I wonder if I can live in my closet and ignore the rest of my house, which is also in desperate need of thorough cleaning. No? Dang.

4. I got something in the mail on Friday. It made me very happy. In May, it might make you very happy, too. Coolest. Prize. Ever. Pay attention, ya’ll. This super-sekrit-giveaway is going to be EPIC. (No, I’m not telling you what it is. Yet.)

5. In January, I made a sort-of goal to read approximately a book a week this year (in addition to writing and critiquing and being the mom and living my life). So far, I’m keeping up with that. Surprised? You shouldn’t be. I have fantastic taste in books. And I read fast. Tonight I’ll finish Brenna Yavanoff’s The Replacement, and holy scary/beautiful/amazing/thought-provoking. #booklove peeps. Seriously.

So. How was your weekend?