Wednesday, May 31, 2006
The Perfect Score
The things you learn trolling Amazon.com! For example, I just stumbled across the cover of my August Blaze, The Perfect Score. Pretty nice, huh?
This book has had a long and bumpy path. I originally wrote the proposal right before chick lit really hit the market in a huge way. In its original incarnation, the book was not a romance, and poor Mike (the hero) wasn't even a figment of my imagination. My working title was Lipstick & Liposuction: The Semi-Sordid Adventures of a Slut Wannabe (or L&L for short). My agent shopped the proposal, and we received tons of wonderful feedback about the clever premise (girl seeks to up her slut score) and my voice. What we didn't receive, however, was an offer. In the meantime, I'd sold other proposals and my calendar was full-up. So we stopped marketing it, and I didn't worry about revising to resubmit. Life, and my career, went on.
Fast forward a few years, and suddenly, I am writing chick lit (and mommy lit!). At one point I was looking through my idea file, and saw L&L. I still thought the concept was loads of fun and I still loved the voice and Mattie, the heroine. It didn't fit, however, with the type of chick lit I was publishing. No demons. No codes or assassins. What to do, what to do?
Enter Brenda Chin, my editor at Harlequin. Sometimes authors sign a contract for multiple books without any idea what a subsequent book will be about. My last contract was like that, with the 2nd book in the two-book contract being simply described as "next year's book." Brenda called to discuss this upcoming book and I bemoaned the fact that the only thing on my mind at the moment was this old chick lit proposal that I wanted very much to bring back to life. Because she's wonderful – and because I believe in karma – Brenda announced that Harlequin was now doing a chick lit "flash" within Blaze. So, yes, I should send her some pages, because this sounded like a perfect fit. Yay!
Obviously, the story needed to be a romance, so I rewrote the first chapter to include Mike and his point of view, and totally revamped the overall story, keeping the basic kernel, but fleshing out the love and family relationships, as well as Mattie's motivation for diving into this unusual venture. Then I sent the chapter to Brenda, who loved it and bought it.
Probably the longest "labor" of all of my books, but I think it was worth it. Hopefully you will, too!
This book has had a long and bumpy path. I originally wrote the proposal right before chick lit really hit the market in a huge way. In its original incarnation, the book was not a romance, and poor Mike (the hero) wasn't even a figment of my imagination. My working title was Lipstick & Liposuction: The Semi-Sordid Adventures of a Slut Wannabe (or L&L for short). My agent shopped the proposal, and we received tons of wonderful feedback about the clever premise (girl seeks to up her slut score) and my voice. What we didn't receive, however, was an offer. In the meantime, I'd sold other proposals and my calendar was full-up. So we stopped marketing it, and I didn't worry about revising to resubmit. Life, and my career, went on.
Fast forward a few years, and suddenly, I am writing chick lit (and mommy lit!). At one point I was looking through my idea file, and saw L&L. I still thought the concept was loads of fun and I still loved the voice and Mattie, the heroine. It didn't fit, however, with the type of chick lit I was publishing. No demons. No codes or assassins. What to do, what to do?
Enter Brenda Chin, my editor at Harlequin. Sometimes authors sign a contract for multiple books without any idea what a subsequent book will be about. My last contract was like that, with the 2nd book in the two-book contract being simply described as "next year's book." Brenda called to discuss this upcoming book and I bemoaned the fact that the only thing on my mind at the moment was this old chick lit proposal that I wanted very much to bring back to life. Because she's wonderful – and because I believe in karma – Brenda announced that Harlequin was now doing a chick lit "flash" within Blaze. So, yes, I should send her some pages, because this sounded like a perfect fit. Yay!
Obviously, the story needed to be a romance, so I rewrote the first chapter to include Mike and his point of view, and totally revamped the overall story, keeping the basic kernel, but fleshing out the love and family relationships, as well as Mattie's motivation for diving into this unusual venture. Then I sent the chapter to Brenda, who loved it and bought it.
Probably the longest "labor" of all of my books, but I think it was worth it. Hopefully you will, too!
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Our fabulous news posted at Red Thread Chronicles
Red Thread Chronicles: "I didn't want to blog about this earlier for fear I would jinx something, but we recently applied for a little girl from Great Wall China Adoption's Waiting Child list ... and today we found out that we were approved!!!"
Click the link to read more!
Click the link to read more!
Monday, May 29, 2006
Once Upon Stilettos
I absolutely adored ENCHANTED, INC., the first book in this wonderful series by Shanna Swendson that continues with Once Upon Stilettos .
If you haven't checked this book or the first out, you really don't know what you're missing. Shanna has created an absolutely charming magical world, and the book is a delight for all readers. They also have darling covers!
See? I was lucky enough to read an advance copy of ENCHANTED prior to the book's release, and I've been hooked on the series every since. I picked up my copy of STILETTOS recently when Shanna was in town for a booksigning. (Alas, b/w adoption paperwork, long summer weekends, and many, many deadlines, I haven't had a chance to start it yet ... but I can't wait!)
Here's what Shanna had to say in response to my questions:
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL "WRITING DAY"?
I don't know that there's anything typical about any of my days, but my work
days tend to go like this:
Check e-mail. Respond to e-mail. Wait for responses to my responses.
Read various industry blogs, friends' blogs, etc. Make comments. Check for
responses to my comments.
Write my own blog. Check for comments. Respond to comments. Check for
responses to my responses to comments.
Open file for my work in progress. Make tea. Check e-mail.
Realize there's something on my to-do list I need to do. Take care of that
item.
Repeat above items until about 10 p.m. Then settle down and write about ten
pages.
It varies by book. Some books, I can start work in the afternoon. The last
book I wrote would only cooperate late at night.
DO YOU RECALL THE KERNEL OF INSPIRATION FOR THIS BOOK?
I had two main ones. One of the main story ideas came from a line in the
fourth chapter of ENCHANTED, INC., the previous book in the series. When I
was writing the first draft, as soon as I wrote that line, in which a
character mentions something that's a possibility, I knew it was something
that would have to happen in the next book.
Then the other main inspiration for this book was a certain pair of red
stilettos I saw in Nordstrom. I HAD to have them, but they were way out of
my price range. I'd just submitted ENCHANTED, INC. to an agent, and I swore
that if I sold the book, I'd buy the shoes. The day I got an offer on the
book and its unwritten sequel, I went with a friend to the mall to buy them,
and I got the last pair in my size. On the way home from the mall, I told my
friend that they were magic shoes, and that's when the idea to use them in
the book struck me. They became a major motif in the story.
PICK A CHARACTER IN THE BOOK AND TELL US WHAT TRAIT YOU SHARE (OR COME CLOSEST TO SHARING) WITH THAT CHARACTER.
Katie Chandler, my heroine, isn't really my stand-in. We're different in a
lot of ways, but we do share an almost extreme sense of practicality.
Neither of us like to waste a lot of time on things that we can tell right
away won't work, and we also don't see much sense in being extravagant
(which is why an obsession with a certain pair of red shoes is big news for
both of us).
IF YOU WERE STUCK ON A DESERT ISLAND, WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE A MAGICAL TRUNK THAT GAVE YOU LIMITLESS BOOKS TO READ, OR A LIMITLESS SUPPLY OF PAPER ON WHICH TO WRITE?
I'd rather have the books because I can always write in my head. That's the
way I amused myself as a kid, and it took me years to realize that if I
wrote that stuff down, I'd have a book. If I'm stuck on an island, there
wouldn't be much point in writing the stories down. I'd perfect them in my
head, and then I could always write them after being rescued. But I'd
certainly need books if I had to spend any time at the beach.
BEER OR WINE?
Wine. I don't actually like beer at all.
CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA?
Chocolate when it comes to flavor/eating, vanilla when it comes to scent.
WHAT'S YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE BOOK?
That really depends on my mood, but a front runner is Connie Willis's TO SAY
NOTHING OF THE DOG -- a hilarious science fiction time travel mystery
adventure romance involving the near future, Victorian England, WWII and the
Middle Ages. It's got a little something of everything to it. The first time
I read that book, as soon as I closed the cover I flipped the book over and
read it again. I want to crawl inside that book and live in it sometimes.
*****
And here's a bit more about the book ...
As a Texan-turned-Manhattanite and an executive assistant at Magic, Spells,
and Illusions, Inc. (MSI), Katie's seen more than her share of fantastical
occurrences. She's no wizard; in fact, she's just the opposite. Katie has
a special immunity to magic that makes her a wiz at spotting the deceptive
enchantments and spell-laced documents that make business go a little too
smoothly for MSI's competitors and contractors. If only she could avoid
falling under the spell of Owen, a hunky wizard who also happens to be her
co-worker. Owen, however, is too preoccupied with an alarming security
breach to notice. Someone has broken into his office and disturbed
top-secret files, and it reeks of an inside job. CEO Merlin (yes, the
Merlin) taps Katie and her special ability to uncover the magical mole.
Keeping her feelings in check while sleuthing alongside Owen, Katie is
shocked to discover that her immunity to magic is waning, putting her in
grave danger. Soon she's surrendering to the charms and enchantments of
everyone and everything around her, including a killer pair of red
stilettos. Katie must now conjure up her instincts to get to the bottom of
the break-in, regain her power, and win the wizard of her dreams.
So polish your fairy wings, put on your magic shoes, and join Shanna
Swendson as she catapults us into the frenzy and fun of magical Manhattan
this summer.
Praise for ONCE UPON STILETTOS:
"Swendson offers a fresh spin on a genre in this exceptional Manhattan fairy
tale." – RT Bookclub
"ONCE UPON STILETTOS is not to be missed if you're in the mood for a fast
and funny read where chick-lit meets urban fantasy." —Mary Jo Putney, author
of A Kiss of Fate
Swendson's smart, snappy novel will delight fans that loved the first
installment, and win over new readers, too. – Booklist
***
About the Author:
SHANNA SWENDSON is the author of Enchanted, Inc. She's also contributed to
Flirting With Pride and Prejudice and Welcome to Wisteria Lane. She's a
member of Romance Writers of America and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers
of America. She lives in Dallas, TX. Visit her web site at www.shannaswendson.com
If you haven't checked this book or the first out, you really don't know what you're missing. Shanna has created an absolutely charming magical world, and the book is a delight for all readers. They also have darling covers!
See? I was lucky enough to read an advance copy of ENCHANTED prior to the book's release, and I've been hooked on the series every since. I picked up my copy of STILETTOS recently when Shanna was in town for a booksigning. (Alas, b/w adoption paperwork, long summer weekends, and many, many deadlines, I haven't had a chance to start it yet ... but I can't wait!)
Here's what Shanna had to say in response to my questions:
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL "WRITING DAY"?
I don't know that there's anything typical about any of my days, but my work
days tend to go like this:
Check e-mail. Respond to e-mail. Wait for responses to my responses.
Read various industry blogs, friends' blogs, etc. Make comments. Check for
responses to my comments.
Write my own blog. Check for comments. Respond to comments. Check for
responses to my responses to comments.
Open file for my work in progress. Make tea. Check e-mail.
Realize there's something on my to-do list I need to do. Take care of that
item.
Repeat above items until about 10 p.m. Then settle down and write about ten
pages.
It varies by book. Some books, I can start work in the afternoon. The last
book I wrote would only cooperate late at night.
DO YOU RECALL THE KERNEL OF INSPIRATION FOR THIS BOOK?
I had two main ones. One of the main story ideas came from a line in the
fourth chapter of ENCHANTED, INC., the previous book in the series. When I
was writing the first draft, as soon as I wrote that line, in which a
character mentions something that's a possibility, I knew it was something
that would have to happen in the next book.
Then the other main inspiration for this book was a certain pair of red
stilettos I saw in Nordstrom. I HAD to have them, but they were way out of
my price range. I'd just submitted ENCHANTED, INC. to an agent, and I swore
that if I sold the book, I'd buy the shoes. The day I got an offer on the
book and its unwritten sequel, I went with a friend to the mall to buy them,
and I got the last pair in my size. On the way home from the mall, I told my
friend that they were magic shoes, and that's when the idea to use them in
the book struck me. They became a major motif in the story.
PICK A CHARACTER IN THE BOOK AND TELL US WHAT TRAIT YOU SHARE (OR COME CLOSEST TO SHARING) WITH THAT CHARACTER.
Katie Chandler, my heroine, isn't really my stand-in. We're different in a
lot of ways, but we do share an almost extreme sense of practicality.
Neither of us like to waste a lot of time on things that we can tell right
away won't work, and we also don't see much sense in being extravagant
(which is why an obsession with a certain pair of red shoes is big news for
both of us).
IF YOU WERE STUCK ON A DESERT ISLAND, WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE A MAGICAL TRUNK THAT GAVE YOU LIMITLESS BOOKS TO READ, OR A LIMITLESS SUPPLY OF PAPER ON WHICH TO WRITE?
I'd rather have the books because I can always write in my head. That's the
way I amused myself as a kid, and it took me years to realize that if I
wrote that stuff down, I'd have a book. If I'm stuck on an island, there
wouldn't be much point in writing the stories down. I'd perfect them in my
head, and then I could always write them after being rescued. But I'd
certainly need books if I had to spend any time at the beach.
BEER OR WINE?
Wine. I don't actually like beer at all.
CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA?
Chocolate when it comes to flavor/eating, vanilla when it comes to scent.
WHAT'S YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE BOOK?
That really depends on my mood, but a front runner is Connie Willis's TO SAY
NOTHING OF THE DOG -- a hilarious science fiction time travel mystery
adventure romance involving the near future, Victorian England, WWII and the
Middle Ages. It's got a little something of everything to it. The first time
I read that book, as soon as I closed the cover I flipped the book over and
read it again. I want to crawl inside that book and live in it sometimes.
*****
And here's a bit more about the book ...
As a Texan-turned-Manhattanite and an executive assistant at Magic, Spells,
and Illusions, Inc. (MSI), Katie's seen more than her share of fantastical
occurrences. She's no wizard; in fact, she's just the opposite. Katie has
a special immunity to magic that makes her a wiz at spotting the deceptive
enchantments and spell-laced documents that make business go a little too
smoothly for MSI's competitors and contractors. If only she could avoid
falling under the spell of Owen, a hunky wizard who also happens to be her
co-worker. Owen, however, is too preoccupied with an alarming security
breach to notice. Someone has broken into his office and disturbed
top-secret files, and it reeks of an inside job. CEO Merlin (yes, the
Merlin) taps Katie and her special ability to uncover the magical mole.
Keeping her feelings in check while sleuthing alongside Owen, Katie is
shocked to discover that her immunity to magic is waning, putting her in
grave danger. Soon she's surrendering to the charms and enchantments of
everyone and everything around her, including a killer pair of red
stilettos. Katie must now conjure up her instincts to get to the bottom of
the break-in, regain her power, and win the wizard of her dreams.
So polish your fairy wings, put on your magic shoes, and join Shanna
Swendson as she catapults us into the frenzy and fun of magical Manhattan
this summer.
Praise for ONCE UPON STILETTOS:
"Swendson offers a fresh spin on a genre in this exceptional Manhattan fairy
tale." – RT Bookclub
"ONCE UPON STILETTOS is not to be missed if you're in the mood for a fast
and funny read where chick-lit meets urban fantasy." —Mary Jo Putney, author
of A Kiss of Fate
Swendson's smart, snappy novel will delight fans that loved the first
installment, and win over new readers, too. – Booklist
***
About the Author:
SHANNA SWENDSON is the author of Enchanted, Inc. She's also contributed to
Flirting With Pride and Prejudice and Welcome to Wisteria Lane. She's a
member of Romance Writers of America and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers
of America. She lives in Dallas, TX. Visit her web site at www.shannaswendson.com
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Lucy Slays A Demon!
Hey y'all! Lucy's slain a demon over at SLAYYOURDEMONS.COM ... and thanks to Lucy for being the first guest their after my Sordid Fight With The Domain Name Host.
Sometimes, technology is a pain!
Sometimes, technology is a pain!
Doin' the Review Happy Dance!
Okay, I confess, I don't read reviews all that much anymore. Actually, that's not entirely true. I still read them if they come my way, but I no longer seek them out. (Picture me with my first book on the shelves, desperately Googling as I searched for reviews.) Why? In part because the good reviews are fabulous fun, but the bad reviews aren't. But that's not really it (I have a remarkably thick skin; years of practicing law will do that to a person ... I mean, how many shark jokes can one woman take?) No, it's more a question of time. There's just not that much of it in a day!
But even that doesn't lessen the fact that when a good review comes my way, I can happy dance with the best of them. So I was thrilled to see this review of CALIFORNIA DEMON in RT BOOK Reviews Magazine: home -- "more witty, funny and poignant adventures from the marvelous Kenner." Let me repeat the "marvelous" part ... just in case you missed it!
Seriously, color me happy on this one!
But even that doesn't lessen the fact that when a good review comes my way, I can happy dance with the best of them. So I was thrilled to see this review of CALIFORNIA DEMON in RT BOOK Reviews Magazine: home -- "more witty, funny and poignant adventures from the marvelous Kenner." Let me repeat the "marvelous" part ... just in case you missed it!
Seriously, color me happy on this one!
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Is this for real??
TheDenverChannel.com - Irresistible Headlines - Teens Using Ring Tones Adults Can't Hear Okay folks, I'm dying to know ... can your teenagers hear the tone? There's a link at the end of the article. I heard NOTHING. Sigh. And I thought I was young at heart ....
Red Thread Chronicles
"Here's something you don't say everyday (or at least I dont): CIS rocks! " To read more from this blog entry, click here: Red Thread Chronicles:
So what, you might ask, is the Red Thread Chronicles? It's my new blog about our adoption journey. Today's entry (which happens to be the first) was prompted by the receipt from Homeland Security of our Notice of Favorable Determination For Advance Processing of Orphan Petition. Or, in other words, we're allowed to adopt internationally.
YAY!
Because this is obviously near and dear to my heart, I'll probably be noting here my posts there (and because, well, when you spend all day WRITING, sometimes you don't want to blog about WRITING)
Ta ta! And Happy Memorial Day Weekend. Be safe!
So what, you might ask, is the Red Thread Chronicles? It's my new blog about our adoption journey. Today's entry (which happens to be the first) was prompted by the receipt from Homeland Security of our Notice of Favorable Determination For Advance Processing of Orphan Petition. Or, in other words, we're allowed to adopt internationally.
YAY!
Because this is obviously near and dear to my heart, I'll probably be noting here my posts there (and because, well, when you spend all day WRITING, sometimes you don't want to blog about WRITING)
Ta ta! And Happy Memorial Day Weekend. Be safe!
So I updated my Amazon Plog ...
Cheap Demons (aka cheap thrills?)
Amazon.com: Carpe Demon : Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom: Books: Julie Kenner
So in my pathetic trolling of my own books on Amazon, I noticed that CARPE DEMON is currently on sale. Cheap! Yes, the trade paperback can be yours for the low price of $3.99.
Why not pick up a copy? Along with, of course, the Hot Off The Presses CALIFORNIA DEMON?
Hey, it's just a suggestion!
So in my pathetic trolling of my own books on Amazon, I noticed that CARPE DEMON is currently on sale. Cheap! Yes, the trade paperback can be yours for the low price of $3.99.
Why not pick up a copy? Along with, of course, the Hot Off The Presses CALIFORNIA DEMON?
Hey, it's just a suggestion!
Friday, May 26, 2006
Adoption Bill in Congress.
Here's an important bill currently winding it's way through Congress. ...
(We're in the process of adopting internationally. Take a guess on what topics will be coming up on the blog in the future!)
WASHINGTON ˆ The Senate adopted today by voice vote the Inter Country
Adoption Reform (ICARE) amendment offered by U.S. Senator Mary L.
Landrieu, D-La. The amendment seeks to improve the international
adoption process by affording children adopted internationally by
American parents the same rights as children born abroad to American
parents.
"We have millions of children around the world who need an
opportunity for a family," Sen. Landrieu said on the Senate
floor. "Children should be raised in families, not alone."
The ICARE amendment centralizes the current staff and resources
working on international adoption into one office, the newly created
Office of Inter-country Adoption (OIA). This allows for greater
coordination, focus and expertise regarding international adoption,
and enables the U.S. State Department to provide greater diplomatic
representation and proactive advocacy in the area of international
adoption.
"Every child should try to stay with the parents that bring them
into the world, but when that is not possible and no parents in their
home country can be found, then these children have a right to find a
family somewhere in the world, and we must help them," said Sen.
Landrieu.
The ICARE amendment was originally introduced in 2003 by Sen.
Landrieu and former Sen. Don Nickles, R-Okla., in an effort to
improve the facilitation of the international adoption process as the
numbers of inter-country adoptions increased. In 1990, Americans
adopted more than 7,000 children from abroad. By 2004, Americans
adopted more than 23,000 children from abroad.
"This legislation has taken us far too long to pass, but today we are
helping eliminate barriers and provide a more effective international
adoption system which will help the hundreds of thousands of children
who are waiting for the safe and loving family they deserve," said
Sen. Landrieu.
(We're in the process of adopting internationally. Take a guess on what topics will be coming up on the blog in the future!)
WASHINGTON ˆ The Senate adopted today by voice vote the Inter Country
Adoption Reform (ICARE) amendment offered by U.S. Senator Mary L.
Landrieu, D-La. The amendment seeks to improve the international
adoption process by affording children adopted internationally by
American parents the same rights as children born abroad to American
parents.
"We have millions of children around the world who need an
opportunity for a family," Sen. Landrieu said on the Senate
floor. "Children should be raised in families, not alone."
The ICARE amendment centralizes the current staff and resources
working on international adoption into one office, the newly created
Office of Inter-country Adoption (OIA). This allows for greater
coordination, focus and expertise regarding international adoption,
and enables the U.S. State Department to provide greater diplomatic
representation and proactive advocacy in the area of international
adoption.
"Every child should try to stay with the parents that bring them
into the world, but when that is not possible and no parents in their
home country can be found, then these children have a right to find a
family somewhere in the world, and we must help them," said Sen.
Landrieu.
The ICARE amendment was originally introduced in 2003 by Sen.
Landrieu and former Sen. Don Nickles, R-Okla., in an effort to
improve the facilitation of the international adoption process as the
numbers of inter-country adoptions increased. In 1990, Americans
adopted more than 7,000 children from abroad. By 2004, Americans
adopted more than 23,000 children from abroad.
"This legislation has taken us far too long to pass, but today we are
helping eliminate barriers and provide a more effective international
adoption system which will help the hundreds of thousands of children
who are waiting for the safe and loving family they deserve," said
Sen. Landrieu.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
I can't wait for Book Group Expo!
Check this out!
Especially if you're in the San Jose, California, area, be sure and check out this link to Book Group Expo! It promises to be a huge amount of fun, and I'm so thrilled to be a participant!
More info coming soon, but mark your calendars for June 17 and 18!
Especially if you're in the San Jose, California, area, be sure and check out this link to Book Group Expo! It promises to be a huge amount of fun, and I'm so thrilled to be a participant!
More info coming soon, but mark your calendars for June 17 and 18!
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
I gotta get me a dog!!
Don't miss Pug Hill by Alison Pace ... I mean, for one, isn't this cover darling?
And in addition to the cute little puppies (my cats are now giving me the evil eye ...) the story sounds awesome, too!
To get into the most elite spot of Manhattan’s Central Park, there are a few stiff requirements: you must have short legs, a round tummy, a pig nose, and walk on all fours—or at least know someone who does! Pug Hill is a place for pugs and pug-lovers alike to bask in the camaraderie that comes from owning (or dreaming of owning) one of the world’s most cherished and irresistible dogs.
Author Alison Pace has been to Pug Hill and she knows first-hand the joy and stress-relief that these tiny pooches offer. Now, the author of the hilarious If Andy Warhol Had a Girlfriend introduces readers to the congregants of Pug Hill in a novel that’s as full of love, humor, and heartwarmingly-awkward moments as the adorable dogs themselves—PUG HILL (Berkley Trade Paperback Original; $14.00; May 2, 2006).
You can visit Allison on the web at www.alisonpace.com or at her blog www.alisonpace.typepad.com"
Allison was nice enough to answer my questions...Here are her awesome responses!
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL “WRITING DAY”? I try to do some yoga in the morning because it chills me out and makes it a lot easier for me sit still all day and focus. Then I force myself to be at the desk from 10 - 6 everyday. I take a break for lunch (the occasional laundry excursion, etc.) and check emails and blogs throughout the day so it's not as dedicated as it sounds
DO YOU RECALL THE KERNEL OF INSPIRATION FOR THIS BOOK? I knew I wanted to write a book that focused quite heavily on dogs and how deeply they can affect our lives. One day, I was walking by Pug Hill in Central Park and just being completely blown away by so many pugs running off leash and playing together. It left me with a smile on my face for the rest of the day, and I got to thinking...
PICK A CHARACTER IN THE BOOK AND TELL US WHAT TRAIT YOU SHARE (OR COME CLOSEST TO SHARING) WITH THAT CHARACTER. Hope McNeill, I share with her a fear of public speaking. She's a lot worse off than I am, though.
IF YOU WERE STUCK ON A DESERT ISLAND, WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE A MAGICAL TRUNK THAT GAVE YOU LIMITLESS BOOKS TO READ, OR A LIMITLESS SUPPLY OF PAPER ON WHICH TO WRITE? Books to read.
BEER OR WINE? Wine.
CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA? Vanilla.
WHAT’S YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE BOOK? Oh, so hard. Too many. I have to think about it...I'll be back!
And in addition to the cute little puppies (my cats are now giving me the evil eye ...) the story sounds awesome, too!
To get into the most elite spot of Manhattan’s Central Park, there are a few stiff requirements: you must have short legs, a round tummy, a pig nose, and walk on all fours—or at least know someone who does! Pug Hill is a place for pugs and pug-lovers alike to bask in the camaraderie that comes from owning (or dreaming of owning) one of the world’s most cherished and irresistible dogs.
Author Alison Pace has been to Pug Hill and she knows first-hand the joy and stress-relief that these tiny pooches offer. Now, the author of the hilarious If Andy Warhol Had a Girlfriend introduces readers to the congregants of Pug Hill in a novel that’s as full of love, humor, and heartwarmingly-awkward moments as the adorable dogs themselves—PUG HILL (Berkley Trade Paperback Original; $14.00; May 2, 2006).
You can visit Allison on the web at www.alisonpace.com or at her blog www.alisonpace.typepad.com"
Allison was nice enough to answer my questions...Here are her awesome responses!
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL “WRITING DAY”? I try to do some yoga in the morning because it chills me out and makes it a lot easier for me sit still all day and focus. Then I force myself to be at the desk from 10 - 6 everyday. I take a break for lunch (the occasional laundry excursion, etc.) and check emails and blogs throughout the day so it's not as dedicated as it sounds
DO YOU RECALL THE KERNEL OF INSPIRATION FOR THIS BOOK? I knew I wanted to write a book that focused quite heavily on dogs and how deeply they can affect our lives. One day, I was walking by Pug Hill in Central Park and just being completely blown away by so many pugs running off leash and playing together. It left me with a smile on my face for the rest of the day, and I got to thinking...
PICK A CHARACTER IN THE BOOK AND TELL US WHAT TRAIT YOU SHARE (OR COME CLOSEST TO SHARING) WITH THAT CHARACTER. Hope McNeill, I share with her a fear of public speaking. She's a lot worse off than I am, though.
IF YOU WERE STUCK ON A DESERT ISLAND, WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE A MAGICAL TRUNK THAT GAVE YOU LIMITLESS BOOKS TO READ, OR A LIMITLESS SUPPLY OF PAPER ON WHICH TO WRITE? Books to read.
BEER OR WINE? Wine.
CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA? Vanilla.
WHAT’S YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE BOOK? Oh, so hard. Too many. I have to think about it...I'll be back!
Monday, May 22, 2006
Okay, this is REALLY the last time...
Last time ...
I¹m determined to figure out this picture thing ...
<img src="http://www.juliekenner.com/CalifAmz.jpg">
Hmmmm.
So, what’s with the pictures?
Let’s try this....
Here’s the bed we just sold .... let’s see if the picture shows up.
Isn’t this fun :)))
Let’s try this....
Here’s the bed we just sold .... let’s see if the picture shows up.
Isn’t this fun :)))
email test!
Just a little email test to see if this works ....
And, just to test the photo feature ... look what’s coming out soooooon!!!!
<img src=”">http://www.juliekenner.com/CalifAmz.jpg”> <http://www.juliekenner.com/CalifAmz.jpg”>
Okay, enough with the testing ...
And, just to test the photo feature ... look what’s coming out soooooon!!!!
<img src=”">http://www.juliekenner.com/CalifAmz.jpg”> <http://www.juliekenner.com/CalifAmz.jpg”>
Okay, enough with the testing ...
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Love Without Boundaries
Monday, May 15, 2006
ChinesePod | Learn Mandarin Chinese with Free Daily Podcasts and Personal Learning Center Direct from Shanghai, China
ChinesePod | Learn Mandarin Chinese with Free Daily Podcasts and Personal Learning Center Direct from Shanghai, China
I'm soooooooooo sad! This is the coolest site, and it's down! I just had to vent my bummed status. Come back on line, Chinesepod!
I'm soooooooooo sad! This is the coolest site, and it's down! I just had to vent my bummed status. Come back on line, Chinesepod!
I am SO getting this book!
Domestically Challenged: A Working Mom's Survival Guide to Becoming a Stay-at-home Mom: Books by Alana Morales
As a former attorney turned work-at-home-mom turned soon-to-be-homeschooling mom, I think this book needs to be on my nightstand! Especially after hearing what Alana has to say about it!
First, my standard questions.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL “WRITING DAY”?
Ha! It's anything but typical. In between getting the kids fed, cleaned and to school (for the oldest), working from home full time, working on my column or the radio show I co-host, I don't have a lot of extra time. I make use of all the time available to me by keeping writing with me wherever I go. I have written in parking lots, doctor's offices, stoplights - anywhere I have a spare moment. There are also a lot of late nights.
DO YOU RECALL THE KERNEL OF INSPIRATION FOR THIS BOOK?
When I began my "career" as an at home mom, I was lost. I went to the library and checked out every book I could find about being a stay at home mom. I didn't like any of them. They were either outdated, spiritual or religious. That's not what I needed. I needed practical advice that would help me manage my new life. I told my husband that I couldn't find what I wanted and he told me to write my own. So I did.
PICK A CHARACTER IN THE BOOK AND TELL US WHAT TRAIT YOU SHARE (OR COME CLOSEST TO SHARING) WITH THAT CHARACTER.
n/a
IF YOU WERE STUCK ON A DESERT ISLAND, WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE A MAGICAL TRUNK THAT GAVE YOU LIMITLESS BOOKS TO READ, OR A LIMITLESS SUPPLY OF PAPER ON WHICH TO WRITE?
Books to read. I cannot live without books. I could always write in the sand or on the inside of the back cover.
BEER OR WINE? Neither. I prefer Pepsi and Amaretto.
CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA? Chocolate!
WHAT’S YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE BOOK? The Sword of Shannara and To Kill A Mockingbird
(JK note: been meaning to re-read To Kill A Mockingbird. Note to self ... go do that!)
And here's more insight from Alana! Run -- don't walk -- and get this book!
Q: When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
A: You know, that’s an interesting question because I am not one of those writers who has been penning novels since I was 7. I only began writing seriously after my kids came along and I have only been taking myself seriously as a writer for the past few years. I was the weird kid in school who didn’t mind writing research papers.
I never pursued journalism or anything like that, but I wish I had. I did teach high school English for 6 years so I could teach writing. I have been around writing and enjoyed writing my entire life.
Q: Did you come from a family of writers?
A: No! No one in my family writes. My mom has always thought my skill with words was strange – she was a numbers person.
Q: So where did the book Domestically Challenged come from?
A: Well, after my daughter was born I decided that there was no way I could go back to work, which was shocking since I never had a desire to be an at home mom. So I began staying home and I was completely lost! I had no idea what I was doing and was really surprised at how difficult it was.
So, being the dork that I am, I went to the library and checked out every book I could find about being an at home mom. I was very disappointed in what I found because many of the books were either out dated or they were very spiritual. I didn’t need to know about my spiritual journey through motherhood, I needed to know how to get my house clean around my kids and get dinner on the table.
One night I was sitting at the computer complaining about the books I found and my husband said “Why don’t you write your own?” So I did.
Q: What does your family think about you writing a book?
A: I think it was a love/hate relationship. On one hand they thought it was cool that I was writing a book, but they were sometimes upset at the amount of time I spent on the computer, because when you are writing a book, you actually have to sit down and write it. People outside of my family we like “Oh, you’re writing a book. That’s nice.” No one who isn’t a writer understands what it actually takes to write (and finish) a book.
Q: Did you think you were the only domestically challenged mom out there?
A: Yes! But when I finally started talking to different moms I discovered they were going through the same feelings I was going through. I was extremely relieved by this fact. Though, I am still convinced that I have more domestically challenged traits at the same time.
Q: What do you want moms to get out of your book?
A: I want them to find ways to make their lives as an at home mom easier. I want the book to act as a model of support for moms who are new to being at home and are having trouble adjusting. I want them to know that they aren’t alone in what they are experiencing and feeling.
As a former attorney turned work-at-home-mom turned soon-to-be-homeschooling mom, I think this book needs to be on my nightstand! Especially after hearing what Alana has to say about it!
First, my standard questions.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL “WRITING DAY”?
Ha! It's anything but typical. In between getting the kids fed, cleaned and to school (for the oldest), working from home full time, working on my column or the radio show I co-host, I don't have a lot of extra time. I make use of all the time available to me by keeping writing with me wherever I go. I have written in parking lots, doctor's offices, stoplights - anywhere I have a spare moment. There are also a lot of late nights.
DO YOU RECALL THE KERNEL OF INSPIRATION FOR THIS BOOK?
When I began my "career" as an at home mom, I was lost. I went to the library and checked out every book I could find about being a stay at home mom. I didn't like any of them. They were either outdated, spiritual or religious. That's not what I needed. I needed practical advice that would help me manage my new life. I told my husband that I couldn't find what I wanted and he told me to write my own. So I did.
PICK A CHARACTER IN THE BOOK AND TELL US WHAT TRAIT YOU SHARE (OR COME CLOSEST TO SHARING) WITH THAT CHARACTER.
n/a
IF YOU WERE STUCK ON A DESERT ISLAND, WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE A MAGICAL TRUNK THAT GAVE YOU LIMITLESS BOOKS TO READ, OR A LIMITLESS SUPPLY OF PAPER ON WHICH TO WRITE?
Books to read. I cannot live without books. I could always write in the sand or on the inside of the back cover.
BEER OR WINE? Neither. I prefer Pepsi and Amaretto.
CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA? Chocolate!
WHAT’S YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE BOOK? The Sword of Shannara and To Kill A Mockingbird
(JK note: been meaning to re-read To Kill A Mockingbird. Note to self ... go do that!)
And here's more insight from Alana! Run -- don't walk -- and get this book!
Q: When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
A: You know, that’s an interesting question because I am not one of those writers who has been penning novels since I was 7. I only began writing seriously after my kids came along and I have only been taking myself seriously as a writer for the past few years. I was the weird kid in school who didn’t mind writing research papers.
I never pursued journalism or anything like that, but I wish I had. I did teach high school English for 6 years so I could teach writing. I have been around writing and enjoyed writing my entire life.
Q: Did you come from a family of writers?
A: No! No one in my family writes. My mom has always thought my skill with words was strange – she was a numbers person.
Q: So where did the book Domestically Challenged come from?
A: Well, after my daughter was born I decided that there was no way I could go back to work, which was shocking since I never had a desire to be an at home mom. So I began staying home and I was completely lost! I had no idea what I was doing and was really surprised at how difficult it was.
So, being the dork that I am, I went to the library and checked out every book I could find about being an at home mom. I was very disappointed in what I found because many of the books were either out dated or they were very spiritual. I didn’t need to know about my spiritual journey through motherhood, I needed to know how to get my house clean around my kids and get dinner on the table.
One night I was sitting at the computer complaining about the books I found and my husband said “Why don’t you write your own?” So I did.
Q: What does your family think about you writing a book?
A: I think it was a love/hate relationship. On one hand they thought it was cool that I was writing a book, but they were sometimes upset at the amount of time I spent on the computer, because when you are writing a book, you actually have to sit down and write it. People outside of my family we like “Oh, you’re writing a book. That’s nice.” No one who isn’t a writer understands what it actually takes to write (and finish) a book.
Q: Did you think you were the only domestically challenged mom out there?
A: Yes! But when I finally started talking to different moms I discovered they were going through the same feelings I was going through. I was extremely relieved by this fact. Though, I am still convinced that I have more domestically challenged traits at the same time.
Q: What do you want moms to get out of your book?
A: I want them to find ways to make their lives as an at home mom easier. I want the book to act as a model of support for moms who are new to being at home and are having trouble adjusting. I want them to know that they aren’t alone in what they are experiencing and feeling.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Carpe Demon -- seize the paperback!
CARPE DEMON, mass market edition
Hey hey hey! The mass market edition of CARPE DEMON is available for pre-order on Amazon. The cover's not posted yet, but I'm told it will have Kabit, the cat (who was unintentionally left off the trade paperback edition).
So if you've been waiting to get your copy at a mass market price, run, don't walk, and preorder now!
Hey hey hey! The mass market edition of CARPE DEMON is available for pre-order on Amazon. The cover's not posted yet, but I'm told it will have Kabit, the cat (who was unintentionally left off the trade paperback edition).
So if you've been waiting to get your copy at a mass market price, run, don't walk, and preorder now!
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Me me me!
Visigoths and Opal Mehta
Athenians and Visigoths and Reflections on What's in the News ... Okay, no, this link doesn't talk specifically about the whole Opal Mehta travesty, and I'm not going to talk about it much here, but I ran across this speech by Neil Postman (who I've blogged about before). And as I read it, I couldn't help but think about the applications to so many things happening in today's world. Including the whole Opal Mehta/Viswanathan thing. Read it and see what you think...
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Entertainalin
Entertainalin ... isn't this stuff already being pumped into our water???: Okay, this article from the onion cracked me up. "In clinical trials, the drug has been effective in helping viewers concentrate not only on the new TV format, but also on their immediate surroundings, the couch fabric, a dog passing by the window, and pieces of lint floating in the air." Click the link to read the entire ...
Moms Are Worth Six Figures ...
A full-time stay-at-home mother would earn $134,121 a year if paid for all her work, an amount similar to a top U.S. ad executive, a marketing director or a judge, according to a study released Wednesday.
Let's file this under the "No Kidding" heading, shall we? This recent study shows just how much money (a hefty chunk of change) stay-at-home and working moms would make if we received a pay check. It's a nice amount, but frankly I think it's a little low!
And I wonder how much Kate would make ... as far as I can tell, "demon hunting" wasn't factored in as one of the mommy roles .....
Let's file this under the "No Kidding" heading, shall we? This recent study shows just how much money (a hefty chunk of change) stay-at-home and working moms would make if we received a pay check. It's a nice amount, but frankly I think it's a little low!
And I wonder how much Kate would make ... as far as I can tell, "demon hunting" wasn't factored in as one of the mommy roles .....
Monday, May 01, 2006
This Is Chick-Lit
This Is Chick-Lit: Books
Hey!!!! It's available for pre-order!!!! This actually contains my first published short story (not counting the one I wrote in junior high for Salted Short Stories and Peppered Poems with the print run of, maybe, 50?)! Whoo hoo!!!!
Hey!!!! It's available for pre-order!!!! This actually contains my first published short story (not counting the one I wrote in junior high for Salted Short Stories and Peppered Poems with the print run of, maybe, 50?)! Whoo hoo!!!!
