As the holiday season winds down, I want to wish you all the best for this and the coming year. May you be happy, healthy, and surrounded by love in 2012!
Before 2011 disappears completely, though, Omnific Publishing has one last gift to give. Through December 31, 2011, if you purchase one ebook from their online store, you can get a second 50% off. Just use check out code ebooks2011.
Happy Holidays and New Year!
You might have seen people (authors) talking about the magical mystical thing called NaNoWriMo recently and wondered what the heck it is. No it’s not text speak for something illegal or immoral, it’s short hand for NAtional NOvel WRIting MOnth. Every November a call is put out to writers everywhere to stop, drop and write. Many of us are talk about that book idea that’s a guaranteed best seller, but until it’s on “paper” it’s just a pipe dream. The point of NaNoWriMo is to wake us up and get us to write the darn book!
To help motivate us and keep us accountable, the Office of Letters and Light has set up a website, nanowrimo.org. It’s a place to connect with other writers and track your writing progress. No, you don’t actually publish your writing – this is an honor system setup – but you do post how many words you’ve written.
Oh, did I mention, the goal of NaNoWriMo is to write 50,000 words in 30 days? That’s half a novel like Whirlwind.
Now that I have Book 2’s first draft just about finished, I’ll be working on getting Book 3 in the Whirlwind Series kick-started during NaNoWriMo. So if you don’t hear from me, I’ll be busy writing as fast as I can.
Are you a writer? Join me in this writing-fest – I’m blondieakarobin on the nanowrimo website. If you’re a reader, be sure and cheer on your favorite authors as they write their minds out. If you want to know how I’m doing, click on the link. I can use all the love and whipping–er–support I can get!
What would be better on a cold winter night than a hot, new Kindle Fire filled with great reads? You can win just that, in time for Christmas* by entering the Reading Next to the Kindle Fire giveaway.
Entering is easy. Click on the image to find the entry form and the list of participating authors. 20+ books are also included in the prize, so check out the authors on the list.
And be sure and follow this and other participants’ blogs to get the latest info on the giveaways, the books, and more fun stuff. You can subscribe to this blog by entering your email in the box on the right.
Good Luck!
*Christmas delivery for US winners only. See the Rules below the entry form for more information.
Click here to check out the Blog Bounce
It’s Thursday, and that mean’s it’s time to bounce!
What’s the Author! Author! Blog Bounce?? Well, it’s a fun way for readers to find new authors and for authors to connect with their readers!
All you have to do is click on the picture!
Is this really Rudolph?
What’s playing right now? Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer by Mannheim Steamroller
Amongst all the decorating, music and shopping, one thing dominates my life right now: The Countdown. Another form of a list, The Countdown encompasses a whole raft of things I need to do and deadlines I need to meet – and there’s not a partridge or a pear tree on it. So {takes a deep breath} here it is:
9. NINE days until Christmas. How many more presents do I need to buy? I’d better start planning my Christmas menu NOW. If everything goes right, in NINE days I’ll be able to sit back and watch the wrapping paper fly with a cup of hot chocolate and a cinnamon roll.
8. Christmas Eve is in EIGHT days. It’s our tradition for the kids to open one small gift that evening…man, ANOTHER present I need to buy! Looking forward to the Christmas Eve service at church, though. Wrapping, wrapping, wrapping…please, no shopping!
7. Grocery shopping for Christmas happens SEVEN days from now. I just hope I’m not in line at FedEx for overnight delivery of a present I forgot! This’ll be the “checking my list” twice day, for sure. Probably will bake a pie or two; They’ll probably get eaten before Christmas day.
6. Last music lessons for the kids are in SIX days. It’s been a busy year for my kids, but an extremely successful one. Make them a special dinner to celebrate the REAL start of vacation! Make sure all the laundry gets done for trips planned after Christmas.
5. FIVE more days until Whirlwind releases! YAY! Announce winner of autographed copy.
Image via Wikipedia
4. The biggest mailing day of the year is in FOUR days – I’d better get my Christmas cards done!
3. THREE days until the last “day of rest” before Christmas. Rest? If only. Clean house (again) after all the partying. Probably ought to start wrapping some presents, among other things.
2. TWO days until the kids are out of school for Christmas vacation. I’d better finish up the shopping for them NOW! Hosting another holiday potluck for just the girls, including my good friend, Killian McRae. No kids, good friends, and wine. Now that’s a present!
1. ONE day until our monthly neighborhood dinner…at OUR house this year. MUST CLEAN HOUSE! If you’re shipping by FedEx ground you have to get your shipments in on Friday to guarantee delivery before Christmas.
What’s on your holiday countdown? I’m sure there’s a lot more I need to add to mine, and though it sounds hectic, it’s all part of the season. Christmas is a big deal, and not just because of the presents. It’s a celebration, and that makes all the preparation more fun than work.
That’s what’s missing from my lists…Peace and Love. Two things I wish for you, too.
Happy Holidays!
Filed under Uncategorized
If your holiday season is as crazy as mine is, you’d probably like a break right about now. How about a small taste of Whirlwind? It’s coming in just 12 days!
Melissa Williams isn’t really looking forward to her best friend’s wedding, especially since she’s alone. What she isn’t prepared for is the effect one particular groomsman has on her:
Marching with new purpose toward the ribbons and balloons, I was halfway across the asphalt when two tuxedo-clad men stepped out of the shadows near the foot of the stairs.
Image by searching4jphotography via Flickr
One I recognized. At six-and-a-half feet tall with straight blond hair that constantly hung in his eyes, Chase Linwood was hard to miss. He said something I couldn’t make out, pointed at his collar, then lifted his chin.
His companion, several inches shorter, turned his back to me and went to work on Chase’s tie. His identity was a mystery. Slowing my approach, I tried to paste on the appropriate I’m-so-happy-for-the-bride-and-groom face.Held up by another passing car, I inspected Chase’s friend. Not a strand of his thick, wavy brown hair was out of place, and the tailored fit of his suit coat emphasized his broad shoulders and trim waist. The jacket didn’t have tails, but it was long enough to prevent me from checking out his ass. Beth was right: this guy was hot…and way out of my league.
I waved another car by. I wasn’t in a hurry to make a fool of myself in front of Mr. Sexy-From-the-Back. I had to pace myself.
During this crazy time of year, I think we all could use a little “Mr. Sexy-From-the-Back”! Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for an autographed copy of Whirlwind.
How’s you’re holiday season coming? Mine IS crazy–which I expected–but I checked off one huge event last night: my son’s band concert and fundraiser. The band hosts a clam chowder feed for 150 people to raise money for competitions later in the year, and I volunteered to coordinate the event…in December…between my daughter’s birthday, a family reunion, and, oh yeah–Christmas!
Thanks to Justin and Whitney at the Fish Market for their help!
Luckily, the chowder feed came off without a hitch (at least any BIG hitches), thanks in large part to the many parents, grandparents, and kids who helped out. Because of their hard efforts and a huge donation of the best-tasting chowder in town by The Fish Market, we made almost $800 in a couple hours. And now I’m due for a break!
GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK #2: Take a few extra minutes and take your next shower by candle light. I’d recommend doing it in the evening, after work and after the kids are in bed. Just a few minutes of steam and candles and quiet can do a lot to rejuvenate a person. And if that special someone happens to join you…well, happy holidays to you both!
Filed under Publishing
Santa Came Early This Year!
Happy Thanksgiving – and boy, do I have a LOT to be thankful for today!
Thanks to the hard work of the team at Omnific Publishing, I’m ecstatic to announce that Whirlwind will be released AHEAD OF SCHEDULE and BEFORE CHRISTMAS!
Mark your calendars for DECEMBER 21, 2010 and bookmark Omnific Publishing’s site. It will also be available on amazon.com and Barnes & Noble’s sites a few days following the official release.
Can you TELL that I’m just a LITTLE EXCITED!!!
Things will be moving quickly from here on out. Later this weekend, Whirlwind should appear on Goodreads.com. No, you won’t be able to see the cover just yet, that’ll be coming the first week of December. I can’t wait for you to see it! More goodies will follow, so be sure and subscribe to the blog or follow my fan page on Facebook or my Twitter account for the latest breaking news.
Filed under Great News, Publishing
eBook only $2.99
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Robin DeJarnett 