The launching party at the Gourmet Way was wonderful and I so appreciate everyone who came by and bought a book!  I thought I’d write a quick run-down about FATED’s release day…in outline form since I’m trying to get organized.

• Got up, sent kids off to school and jumped on the internet.  Friends already tweeting about my release day on Twitter—friends rock.
• Return ‘happy release day’ emails to both Cynthia Eden and Jillian Chantal.  Very happy to be sharing a release day with these two.
• Run down to Hastings.  Find book.  Try not to cry.  Take several pictures, ignoring the odd looks from other people.  One elderly lady finally asked what I was doing.  Said… “That’s my book.”
• Drove to Borders, hoping but not expecting to find book on shelf.  Not there.  (Borders filed for bankruptcy last week…lots of books not there.)
• Drive away, get phone call from sister who just had surgery on her lower leg…sister needs a latte.
• Take sister a latte.  Sit and listen as she calls the Spokane Valley Barnes and Noble, using a high voice with slight accent asking about my book.  Don’t know why sister is using the accent, but it’s hilarious.  Then high-five sister when she finds out that not only is FATED there, it’s on the front table.  BTW, sister’s name is Debbie.
• Swing by Gourmet Way.  Everything is in order and I’m just in the way.  Do happy hop and take off.
• Grab a sandwich from a deli—carbs don’t count on release day.
• Go home, get on internet.  Lots of best wishes.  Brandie calls, has a surprise, lasts about thirty seconds before she reveals she bought some really cool cookies with FATED on them.  Am impressed Brans lasted half a minute.  Am also thankful Brandie has arranged launching party.  Brandie rocks.
• Look outside; realize it’s starting to snow.  Think…crap.  Roads will be bad and nobody will come to launching.
• Get text from critique partner Sayde Grace that says…”relax.”  Am happy crit partner knows me so well.
• Go and get ready.  Hate outfit I thought I’d wear.  Try on sixteen other outfits.  Finally put the first one back on.  Husband comes home, says ‘great outfit…but you have lipstick on your teeth’.
• Wipe off teeth.  Head to Gourmet Way.  Nearly sigh at the pretty flowers from family and nuns.  Notice Deb’s eyes dilated from the pain meds from her surgery…prop her next to table.  Notice she is drinking white wine too…figure she’ll be fine.
• My folks show up with big smiles. My folks are the best.  Husband and kids arrive…son wants to know when the paparazzi are showing up.
• Friend Bonnie Paulson shows up with a cool mat for people to sign.  Bonnie rocks.
• Sister Stephanie shows up with camera…she’s ready to roll.
• The doors open.  Spend three solid hours signing book.  Lots of family show up from the Silver Valley and all around.  The Hintz girls bring goodies and Aunt Lisa brings gorgeous flowers.  Lots of friends from town, as well as people I’ve never met walk through the door.  My entire town rocks.

 So, that’s my debut launching day in a nutshell.  It was a truly wonderful day and I’m so grateful for everyone who shared it with me-both online and in real time.

First, I’m over at the SOS Aloha blog today giving away a copy of FATED…drop by for a chance to win!

Okay, I’ve been going a bit crazy with deadlines lately and thought I’d have some fun.  So, you know you’re a writer if…

1)  The UPS guy has actually released you from handcuffs because you needed to see if you could shimmy your bound hands from behind your back to your front.  BTW, you couldn’t.

2)  All of the ‘yous‘ and ‘yours‘ in the above sentence bug the crap out of you.

3)  The UPS guy no longer comes to your door.

4)  Your husband asks if you’ve met anybody interesting lately in one of your worlds.

5)  You’ve tried to find at least six different ways to describe the word ‘green.’

6)  You’ve decided that the word ‘emerald‘ sucks.

7)  You see and fully understand:  TSTL…POV…HBF…TMB

8)  Those acronyms at one point made you cry…now you laugh your head off.

9)  You have a special calendar to remind you when you’re guest blogging other places…as well as who’s guest blogging at your place.  And you’ve mixed them up more than once…

10)  The idea of a muse makes you alternate between bawling and laughing hysterically.

UPDATE:  The winner of FATED from the overall blog hop is Gabrielle and the winner from my blog is Karli A.  Congratulations!

Welcome to the Spreading the Love Blog Hop!  These are so much fun.  And I really liked the picture they chose for people to interpret this time.  However, FATED will be released in less than two weeks, and I thought I’d tell you about it…as well is give away a signed copy to someone commenting on my blog.  This gives you two chances to win; one on the entire blog hop and one on my blog.  Good luck!

FATED is a sexy romance featuring a strategic soldier (who happens to be a vampire) and a tough single mother (who is an empath).  The back cover blurb and a couple of excerpts are available on this site, so I thought I’d add an excerpt that isn’t on my website.  Here it is, and I hope you enjoy! 

Slowly, Talen pushed to his feet and strolled across the conference room.

Cara took a step back, her breath hitching.

Smiling, he leaned against the closed door. 

She’d need to go through him to get out.  God, he was huge.  Even if she had known how to fight, she doubted she’d stand a chance when faced with such size and obvious strength.  A feminine fear and a flutter she refused to identify whispered through her, and her spine straightened with a sharp snap.

“I won’t hurt you.” His voice lowered, deepening to a tone that increased her flutter.  He relaxed his stance against the door, his muscled arms crossing.  “I won’t let anyone harm either of you.  Ever.”

Okay.  Fine.  He was too big for her to fight, but she did have a brain.  “Listen, Talen,” she kept her voice soft, soothing.  “It’s great your dating pool just opened up and all, but I’m not looking for—”

A dimple winked in his cheek, stopping her words.  She fought to keep her tone mild.  “Am I amusing you?”  Her chin lifted.

“Yes.” 

“Why?”  She could even feel his amusement in the air, damn it.

“Your people.  I’ve never understood why you ignore fate.  She has her own plans.”

“Fate?”  He was throwing destiny at her?  Come on.

He nodded. “Fate.” 

“Wow.  That’s poetic, Talen.”  Sarcasm replaced the softness.  “But there’s no way fate is involved here.”

“You’re wrong.”

“Prove it.”

“Okay.”  He lifted his right hand, palm out.  A crest, an intricate one, spread across his calloused skin.  Thick and black, a webbing of arcs together formed a knot with what might be an elaborate ‘K’ in the middle.

“A tattoo?” She quirked an eyebrow, wondered if he had other tats on that magnificent body.

“No.  A brand of sorts.  It appeared earlier after I took your arm.”

“A brand?”  She snorted.  “Bullshit.”

Talen shrugged.  “It’s true, Cara.  The Mark usually doesn’t appear until the mating act, but there are exceptions.”  Golden eyes pinned her.  “Our bond must be strong.”

“No.”

Talen lifted a shoulder.

Her mind rebelled at the physical evidence before her eyes.  “I said, no.  I choose to ignore your fate.”  How could the mark have appeared?  Conviction sat easily upon his face and her stomach rolled at the question of how far he’d go to follow his fate. 

“That is your choice,” he agreed.

“Damn straight.”  She searched his face for a trick, determination tightening her own jaw.  A raised eyebrow met her glare.  “But you don’t know anything about me.  I could be married.”

“You’re not.”

“How do you know?”

He shrugged.  “My brother Dage shot your file to my smart phone.”

Smart phone?  Vampires used smart phones?  Come on.  “Where were you?”  Damn her curiosity.

“In a meeting with my other brother, Conn.”

Geez.  Sounded like a family oriented creature of the night.  Or day.  Or whatever.  She tried another tack.  “Besides, I have a date tonight.”

She wasn’t sure what her goal was, but she didn’t reach it.  A genuine smile played across his lips, and he uncrossed his arms.  “You’re not going to make it.”

Here’s the blog hop link: http://justromance.me/valentineshop/

So, please leave a comment below for a chance to win a signed book.  Do you believe in fate?

Wow!  Thank goodness for the days of email…I just received a reminder from the State Bar Association to renew my license for 2011.  I TOTALLY forgot.  Completely.  They sent the packets out in early November…so long ago.  Packet?  What packet?  I’m sure I put it somewhere.  The good news is that I can renew on the internet.  Thank GOD for the internet!

But wait, you ask.  Why would I renew?  I’m writing now.  Well…I worked hard for that license.  And I’m going ‘affiliate’ this year, which means I’m not going to practice law.  BUT, and it’s a big but, I can change my mind at any time and just pay the full licensing fee.  If I go inactive, I think (don’t quote me on this but I’m pretty sure) it’s a done deal and I’d have to take the bar exam to practice again.  NOT going to do that. 

Someone asked me the other day if I miss being a lawyer.  Um, not really.  I do miss the shoes and power suits.  But I liked research and plotting strategy as a lawyer…which I get to do as a writer, often in my jammies.  You can’t wear jammies in court.   🙂

It occurred to me earlier today that I was a clutz.  Well, I kind of knew it, but sometimes we deny certain things about ourselves.  When I dropped my computer mouse in my coffee an hour ago – there was no more denial.  I liked that mouse.

For some reason I flashed back to childhood when my mom taught me to read.  Well, she taught me to love reading and getting lost in a good story.  Being the wise woman she still is, she might’ve been trying to save my limbs from disaster.  I still remember the first Nancy Drew book she put in my hands while I sat safely on the sofa surrounded by nice, soft pillows.  If I fell, no harm done. 

As I grew up, I used to sneak into her romance pile and read those wonderful love stories.  Sometimes I still feel like I’m getting away with something when I find myself lost in a steamy romance.  Then the day came when I was old enough we could pass books back and forth.  She gave me one of Nora Robert’s MacGregor stories – and I was hooked for life.  Remember those?

And now, my mom has read my book.  I asked her if she thought it was too steamy and she said that it was wonderful.  Then she said, “Oh my.”  🙂  So here’s to our moms:  When they ensured we survive childhood, they may also have given us the key to a happy adulthood.  Thanks, mom.

So question: Who taught you to read and what book do you most remember?