And I’m exhausted! But wow, isn’t this time of year so much fun? Even with the madness, the worries, and all the other stresses of life, Christmas is just magical. Simple as that.

We’ll be finishing our shopping up this week, getting presents wrapped, and by the weekend, we’ll be baking up a storm. My kids are sooo excited, and I’m just enjoying the ride. Partially because I’ve always loved Christmas and that will likely (hopefully) never change, but also because this year I’m home with my family, and I’m healthy. This time a year ago, I was sick…and only days away from being admitted into the hospital, where I’d say for several months.

So yes, this Christmas is more magical than ever because I’m HOME.

Is anything in your life making this Christmas a little brighter than any before? If so, please share!

Don’t Forget!

This week, we’re talking about Christmas Traditions at The Novel Girls. Come say “Hi!” Also, we’re running a completely awesome contest over there to celebrate Lesley Livingston’s soon-to-be-released debut book. Come check it out!!!

Actually, there are several countdown’s going on in my house at the moment. The big one for any house with kids in it is, of course, Christmas Day.

We also have the mini-countdowns that lead up to the big day: putting the Christmas tree up (done), baking and decorating cookies (not yet), visiting Santa (this weekend), visiting Children’s Wonderland (a Christmas tradition for my family and many others in this part of Ohio), and driving around on Christmas Eve to check out the amazing lights and decorations in some of the area neighborhoods. And that doesn’t even take into consideration watching all the classic Christmas shows that are on TV this time of year!

The kids are excited, and becoming even more so as each day passes. And seeing as I’m very into Christmas, I’m nearly as excited as my little ones are. However, this year, the countdown extends past Christmas, past New Years, and right into February–when my first book, A Taste of Magic will hit the shelves. I am (naturally) mega-excited at the prospect of holding my book in my hands, of reading reviews, and of hearing from readers.

And then….the countdown will continue on until March, when I’m having my very first public booksigning, and it will keep on movin’ all the way until July, when my second book, A Stroke of Magic will be released. Speaking of A Stroke of Magic, I finally have some more info to share about the book! Here is the official back cover copy:

You know how freaky it is, to expect one taste and get another? Imagine picking up a can of tepid ginger ale and taking a swig of delicious, icy cold peppermint tea. Alice Raymond just did that. And though the tea is exactly what she wants, she bought herself a soda.

ONE STROKE OF MAGIC,

AND EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED 

Alice’s life isn’t turning out as planned. After breaking things off with her lying, stealing, bum of an ex, she discovered she was pregnant. Motherhood’s definitely on her “someday” wish list, but a baby means less time for her art and no time for recent hallucinations that include this switcharoo with the tea. She has to impress her new boss, the ridiculously long-lashed, smoky-eyed Ethan Gallagher, and she has to deal with her family, who have started rambling about gypsy curses. Only a soul-deep bond with the right man can save her and her child? As if being single wasn’t pressure enough! 

Alice’s life has just become icy cold peppermint tea. She just has to forget the ginger ale.

Isn’t it awesome? And today, I received the cover art for the book. Here it is, in all its shiny, beautiful, totally amazing glory:

Pretty great, huh? I’m blown away by it, just as I was (and still am) by the cover for A Taste of Magic.

Back to countdowns…in between everything I’ve listed, there are much smaller things I’ve been looking forward to. What about you? What countdowns are going on in your house/life?

Don’t Forget!

This week at The Novel Girls, we’ve been talking about our favorite things. Come on over and take a peek!

I’m in the process of writing a new proposal for a new story. The first three chapters are always the most difficult for me to write, and often, they end up being altered significantly several times. I think this is because it takes me a little while to get to know my characters, and because I’m a character-driven writer, I just don’t know them well enough in the beginning to really nail those first three.

I never used to worry about it, because I knew when the manuscript was complete I’d have time to go over those first three again, and make any necessary changes. But now it’s a totally different playing field, because this book is not yet contracted, which means these first three chapters are going out pretty much need to be as close to perfect as possible, before I finish writing the book.

Which means I need to really work hard to get to know my characters, my heroine in particular, as much as possible now. So while I have a rough (very rough) draft of the first chapter, I know it isn’t right yet. Rather than moving on, I’m going to spend the next several days on some characterization techniques and try to get more into my heroine’s head. I’ve already written a letter to myself from her point-of-view, but she hasn’t truly clicked for me yet.

Next on my list? Characterization Q&A’s don’t really do the job for me, so instead, I’m going to focus on some free writing from my heroine’s perspective at different times in her life. I’m hoping this will help me narrow in on her a bit more, so I can get these first three chapters in fighting shape.

That, along with work, is on my list for this week. I hope it all clicks in soon!

Don’t Forget!

This week, we’re talking about names over at The Novel Girls. Come say hi!

Things have been hectic. I apologize! The break was very needed on my end, but hopefully, I’m back on the posting path now. I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving while I was away. We did! And now the Christmas rush begins. Normally, I love the Christmas holiday, but this year–well, everything just seems to be coming at me at lightning speed. I’m sure I’ll find my groove. Well…I hope I’ll find my groove!

This month, I hope to bring on some guest bloggers and do a few giveaways. As soon as I get some folks lined up, I’ll post a schedule.

That’s it for now! Check out my post on names over at The Novel Girls today. I’ll be back with more tomorrow–I promise!