Put It on Repeat

Diana Krall's The Look of Love cd. It's emerged as the cd of choice for this time travel book. Love, love, love "Cry Me A River" and "The Look of Love." God, I wish I could sing. Of course, there are days I wish I could write, too.

Jennifer on 01.31.06 @ 09:58 AM EST [Entry Link] [No Comments]

Ready, Set, Go

Two of my girlfriends and I have made a pact. It's the 10 pound challenge. We're all going to lose 10 pounds by April 1. I personally have 15 that need to come off, but they only need to take off the 10, so we're rolling with that. This is going to be tough. I already have good eating habits--well, most of the time--okay, I know I had that banana hot fudge sundae with nuts at 11:00 the other night but that's unusual. I already exercise at least 4 days out of the week. I guess I'll have to step it all up. Winners all go to the day spa together for half a day...I don't want to sit home alone!

Jennifer on 01.30.06 @ 07:16 AM EST [Entry Link] [2 Comments]

Busy

Yesterday I attended a truly lovely memorial for Gin Ellis. It was held at the home of one of her closest friends. I feel sure Gin was with us there and I believe she was quite pleased. There was food and drinks and collages of Gin and her friends and family throughout the house. There was also a time where everyone gathered together and anyone who wanted to say something about Gin or tell a story had the opportunity. I was lucky to have crossed paths with her in this life and I wish I'd known her better.

Afterwards I met two friends for dinner and the musical Menopause. Dinner was great and the musical amusing, but faintly depressing. I've never had a hot flash and, quite frankly, I'm not looking forward to it. We can explore space and have camera phones, why can't they do something about hot flashes?

I know I have to slow down. Yesterday, I was about to leave the house. As usual, I'd showered, gotten dressed, done the hair and make-up thing all in about 40 minutes because I was running late--thank goodness I'm not a high-maintenance woman. Then I was running around putting one cat in the bathroom, feeding the other one and crating the dogs. Finally, I'm ready to walk out the door but I know I'm forgetting something. What is it? What is it? What have I forgotten? Oh, yeah. My shoes.

Jennifer on 01.29.06 @ 08:59 AM EST [Entry Link] [2 Comments]

A Great Evening

FABULOUS!! The only way to describe last night. We had such a great time! Dinner at Mick's--arguabley some of the best fried green tomatoes and sweet tea around. Then the musical Annie at The Fox Theatre. The production was great and the Fox is simply beautiful.

The only down side was all the kids. I know, it's a show for kids, but the kid behind us was really too young to be there. "Riley, sit down." "Riley, be quiet." "No, Riley, no." "RILEY." I came very close to turning around and suggesting that Riley's mother take Riley out. My husband is deaf in one ear and partially deaf in the other and he had on ear phones that pipes the sound directly in--and even he could hear Riley and her mother's antics. Riley must've been all of four and a 7:30 production strikes me as past Riley's bedtime, but...whatever.

During the first half, a well-mannered girl was to my right. Her brother, on her other side between herself and the mother, was spazzing around like he had ants in his pants. We come back from intermission and "Oh, joy!", they've seated Spazz Boy next to me. He's old enough to be there and old enough to behave. He kept putting his foot on mine. Finally, I shoved it off with my foot. I felt him look at me, but that took care of it.

We did have a scary moment when The Girl slipped on the stairs (we were seated on the balcony) coming out. Thank goodness she had a hand on the rail or she would've tumbled down head first and it could've been very bad. As it was, she bruised an ankle and a knee and her pride. The up side, according to Girl, is that it didn't hurt that bad for that long and we got to wait in the private reception area which was tres cool while my husband fetched the car and picked us up curbside.

Afterwards, we stopped by Sonic for a banana hot fudge sundae...with nuts.

Jennifer on 01.26.06 @ 09:34 AM EST [Entry Link] [2 Comments]

The Sun'll Come Out Tomorrow

I'm so excited...we're going to see the musical Annie tonight at The Fox! It's our anniversary on Friday so we're celebrating early. And yes, we're taking The Girl along. Hey, we passed the two decade mark a couple of years ago (What? How can that be? I'm sure you're thinking I must've been a child-bride! ) and if we left her home, we'd just keep looking at one another and commenting on how much she'd enjoy it. I like to dress up and I like to eat out and I adore The Fox, so it should be a great time!

And I'm going to have that song running in my head all day...the sun'll come out tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow...

Jennifer on 01.25.06 @ 08:49 AM EST [Entry Link] [3 Comments]

Ready to Read

I've got plenty to do today. What do I really want to do? It's dark and raining and I really want to plop my butt down on the couch and dive into a good book.

And now I'm going to put that thought right ouf of my head. The guilt would outweigh the pleasure. At least I think it would....

Jennifer on 01.23.06 @ 06:36 AM EST [Entry Link] [3 Comments]

Filling the Well

Yesterday was our monthly Georgia Romance Writers meeting with a book signing afterwards at a B&N. Even though it was a melancholy day with one of our members gone, I think we all needed it. At least I know I did. Writing is such a solitary endeavor--I spend most of my day alone with my computer--I really need that day spent with other writers. We talk about projects and ideas. We celebrate good news and we even celebrate rejections because rejections mean at least you're putting your work out there. It refills my well.

Picked up a couple of new cd's--I was due -- Diana Krall and Asrud Gilberto. If you've never heard Diana Krall's The Look of Love...well, you should. It's just what I need to listen to as I wrap up this book.

Jennifer on 01.22.06 @ 08:56 AM EST [Entry Link] [1 Comment]

What Happened to the Hawks?

The Girl is a member of a professional children's choir. Last night they sang the national anthem to open the Atlanta Hawks game. They did a great job. Very exciting. We stayed afterwards for the game. Not exciting. It wasn't because they lost. I can handle a loss. It was the lack of passion on the court.

Many, many years ago when I was in the corporate world, free basketball tickets were one of the perks. My husband and I loved going to Hawks games. It wasn't about the winning on the court, it was about the heat players brought to the game. Dominique Wilkins. Larry Byrd. The stands were packed and it was great basketball.

Last night more seats stood empty than filled. Not hard to see why.

Jennifer on 01.21.06 @ 08:36 AM EST [Entry Link]

In Memory of

It is with great sadness that I post the death of a talented writer and mentor to many. Gin Ellis, a fellow Georgia Romance Writer member, was found dead in her home on Wednesday evening. Gin was a unique person who lived life on her own terms and wrote brilliantly about loss, love and hope.

Gin was also one of my judges in the first Maggie contest I entered and the first published writer to say, "I think you have a lot of talent, finish that book." Those were powerful words for a struggling unpubbed to hear and I'll always carry them with me.

I want to thank her for the books she wrote, the friendship she extended, and the love of writing and reading she fostered. Gin will be missed.

Jennifer on 01.20.06 @ 07:47 AM EST [Entry Link]

The Dream

I have a fair amount of imagination. In fact, when I'm home alone at night and the house creaks and settles, I have a surplus of imagination. I'm often distracted at restaurants and airports, even the doctor's office, because I see people and start filling in the blanks--giving them stories. I write romance with a fair measure of sensuality in those books. So, you're getting the picture here...lots of imagination, the brain's always churning with some story or another.

Lean in a little closer and I'll tell you what I dreamed last night. Often I don't remember my dreams, but I recalled this one with vivid, startling clarity. Do you really want to know? That's it, lean in just a little bit closer to the screen...last night I dreamed about...shaving my legs. How absolutely bogus is that? No sex. No great food. No exotic foreign travel. Me...the queen of imagination...I dream about shaving my freaking legs! I don't even want to know what a dream interpretation book would have to say about that.

I'm disgusted. Sheesh, you'd think I could come up with something better than that....

Jennifer on 01.19.06 @ 08:26 AM EST [Entry Link]

Where is the Tough Love?

AI was back for season five last night. I tuned in for about a third of it. I'm not sure I'll be a watcher this season. There wasn't a shred of spontaneity in the interaction between the judges. Whatever energy they might've had going between the three of them has long died and we're watching cariacatures parrot scripts at one another. Even Simon has crossed the line from droll, blunt honesty to cruelty. It's like watching a small boy poke a stick at a kitten. And Secrist has joined the Ashley Olsen/Lindsey Lohan diet club. Too thin. Cute last season. Ick now.

But the reason I don't think I can watch, at least not until we're past this stage, is I just don't think I can bear to watch people who are truly horrible find out on national television. Where in the hell are their friends and family? You listen to some of these people who can't carry a tune in a bucket, we're talking no range, no pitch -- read my lips here THEY SUCK. But in some mad state of delusion, they believe they've got a voice to set the world on fire. I'm all for dreaming and reaching for dreams...but people...there's got to be a glimmer of reality in that dream.

My point is, someone, somewhere is feeding that delusion. Where is the tough love? Why isn't someone telling them before they leave home that if they want to pursue a career in singing, they might want to sign up for voice lessons first? That would be encouragement. But to let a loved one debase themself in front of people who don't love them and aren't going to be kind. Well, in my opinion, it's much kinder for them to hear YOU SUCK from a loved one at home rather than finding it out before millions.

And as for those contestants who come out afterwards swearing the judges will be sorry when they go on to become a star...have a nice life on whatever planet or reality you live in. Those people scare me.

Jennifer on 01.18.06 @ 08:41 AM EST [Entry Link]

Life's Little Mystery

One of those little mysteries weighing on my mind this morning? Why am I the only person in this house who sees dirty clothes or a dirty dish or something out of place? Would it ever occur to either one of the other occupants to throw in a load of laundry or fold it? To load or unload a dishwasher? Obviously not. How about someone else visiting the mecca of domestication--the grocery store? Not happening either.

Last night after kickboxing I tell my husband I'm running to the grocery store.

Him: But I thought you needed to work on your book.

Me: I do. But we're out of milk, juice, eggs, cereal, peanut butter, dog food, bread, fruit, veggies, and toilet paper. Do you want to go?

Him: Uh. No.

45 minutes and $163 later I arrive home and the other two occupants of this house are glued to the boob tube.



Jennifer on 01.17.06 @ 10:17 AM EST [Entry Link]

From the Cave

The Girl is home from school today. I'm STILL working on this book and trying to plan two future projects. I'll have to say I'm not so great at working through other ideas when I'm embroiled in one. Yesterday the family went and did something--can't remember what. I didn't leave the house. Only plan to leave the house to go to kickboxing tonight. I'll even change out of my pajamas for that.

Jennifer on 01.16.06 @ 11:09 AM EST [Entry Link]

A Day in the Life...

The Girl's in her room going through some books. I head to the shower because I have the seroiusly nasty sweat going on from kickbox workout. I'm in the shower when a scene pops in my head, complete with dialogue. With the shower still going, I yell for The Girl. She pops into the bathroom.

Girl: "What, Mom?"

Me: "Grab a piece of paper and a pen and write this down."

She grabs and writes while I dictate.

Me: "Okay. That's it."

Girl: "You want me to leave it on the counter?"

Me: "Sure. Thanks."

Girl: "Uh-huh. I'll be in my room."



Jennifer on 01.14.06 @ 07:40 AM EST [Entry Link]

Contest Added!!

Hey, if you're into entering contest, I just added a second contest this month. I won't even make you go to my goodies section to check it out. Because I'm a nice person , I'll tell you about it here.

ANTICIPATION, my current January Blaze release, is the focus of Reading with the Hosty, an eHarlequin on-line book discussion. All you have to do is follow the link provided below and join in the discussion to be eligible to win an autographed three-book collection (THE LAST VIRGIN, REALLY HOT!, and ANTICIPATION) plus a $20 Barnes&Noble gift certificate. When you join the discussion, simply mention that you heard about the discussion via my website and your name will go in the pot for the drawing. The discussion lasts through January 31st and the winner will be announced on February 1 in my contest update. Oh, yeah, Harlequin’s also offering a prize though the discussion – yet another opportunity to win a freebie. Don’t wait! Go now! It’s fun and easy. http://community.eharlequin.com/WebX?14@981.qPBlahP6M3N.0@.4a836e62




Jennifer on 01.13.06 @ 11:22 AM EST [Entry Link]

What Was I Thinking?

How do I let myself get talked into these things? What was I thinking?

The Monster Truck Show is going to be at the Georgia Dome tomorrow night. The Girl and her dad were positively rabid to go. Me? How much interest do I have in the Monster Truck Show which my husband billed as the "every redneck from three states will be there" event? Uh...none. Zippo. Zilch. Nada.

I don't like crowds. You will never find me at a Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. It makes me queasy just to think about it. Anyway, you've got crowds. Big trucks = big noise. So, we've got crowds, big noise, and big trucks destroying things. I opted not to go. And they wouldn't leave me alone. They assured me I'd have fun. You know where this is going...I said YES, BUY ME A TICKET. I did, however, tell my husband that, in return, he would have to go to an event of my choosing.

Now, the time is nearly upon me. I could be working on my overdue book tomorrow night. I could have taken a break and gone to Barnes & Noble. I could've gone to a movie alone. Heck, I could've slapped a blob of paint on the wall and watched it dry and pretended a Zen moment. Instead I'll be at the Dome with the monster trucks, me and all the other tri-state rednecks.

You know, I think my husband's really going to enjoy it when we go to see the Andrew Wyeth exhibit at the High Museum.

Jennifer on 01.13.06 @ 08:58 AM EST [Entry Link]

Too Skin-nee

Hel-lo. Would someone please give Nicole Richie a news flash? She's too skinny. That girl looks gross. About ten pounds ago she looked way better than when she was heavy but she's crossed the line and it creeps me out just to look at her. And what? It was some big insight that Lindsay Lohan was on the bulemia trip? Pleeeeze. Doesn't anyone look at these girls/women and say "closet puker?" Of course then you have the headline that shouts, "Janet Jackson trades spotlight for fridge" because she's gained weight. It's no wonder women are so screwed up about their bodies.

Jennifer on 01.10.06 @ 09:20 AM EST [Entry Link]

Writing

Great writing day yesterday and my third night on the couch. When I'm getting near the end of a book, I sleep on the couch outside of my office. In part because then I can work weird hours without disturbing anyone but it's also because there's this thing I have where I need to be physically close to the book and my computer. At this point, I've sort of forsaken my real world for the book world and I want that proximity. And no one in my house thinks too much about it. My husband will drop by my office on his way to bed and say, "You on the couch tonight?" "Yep."

I'm pleased with the direction the story is taking. These are the days I love, when things just fly into the story out of left field. Of course I have major points planned when I start a book, but for the most part, I just make stuff up as I go. It's definitely not the easiest way to write and I often wish I was one of those left brainers who has everything planned from page 1 to THE END and it's just a matter of getting it down on the paper. But I am what I am and my process is what it is and all I can do is embrace it.

Jennifer on 01.09.06 @ 08:55 AM EST [Entry Link]

The Push

Big writing day today. The Girl and her dad will be gone all day riding four-wheelers somewhere two hours away. I'm armed with half a gallon of Mrs. Winner's Sweet Tea. Write on!



Jennifer on 01.08.06 @ 08:03 AM EST [Entry Link]

Wigged out by the FlyLady

A good friend sent me an e-mail with a link to the FlyLady's website. She's a very good friend and she knows I'm always fighting this organizational/messy house battle (not that it'd have a thing to do with the fact that I live with two slobs who move from room to room leaving a slime trail ). I'd heard of her before (yet another friend had recommended her once before) and the miracles she could bring to ones life. I'm also a firm believer in the things you need coming to you when you need them, so...I'm thinking it's a sign that I'm ready for the FlyLady in my life.

I really didn't have a lot of time to fool around on her website so I just became an email subscriber. I'm expecting a daily reminder/tip to pop into my box each day--sort of like my daily astrology reading. Uh...I got 13 FlyMails in one day. I don't want 13 emails a day from my best friend--much less the FlyPeople.

But the wiggy part was the content. One asked if I never had people over becaue my house was always a mess? What the....How could she know that about me?

Then there was the email asking if I had wet clothes sitting in the washer for more than a day? We're seriously hitting freaky-ville now. I jumped up from my desk where I'd been dutifully working on my book and ran downstairs and rewashed the load of jeans that had been languishing, wet, in the washer and tossed the underwear from the dryer to the clothes basket so the dryer would be available for the newly washed jeans.

Then...I get an email asking where my shoes are--they wouldn't perchance be laying (or is it lying?) in the floor? (Throw in music from Twilight Zone here for sound effect.) I cut my eyes to the left of my desk. There they are--my running shoes, toed off and in the floor ... in the kitchen, next to the door from the basement, a pair of my clogs and my kickboxing shoes.

I'm definitely getting nervous. And defiant. The missive goes on to tell me to put my shoes on my feet cause then my feet will be happy and my shoes won't be in the floor. Okay, maybe my shoes and my house will be happier if my shoes are upstairs in my closet, but my feet aren't going to be happy with those shoes on them. I don't like to wear shoes in the house. My feet don't like it either. In fact, that's always one of those funky hang-ups I have when I'm writing. Say the hero is going over to the heroine's house...it feels weird to me to have her greet him at the door wearing shoes because hey, she's in her house, but I do usually put shoes on them because I think that's how most normal people live. I should take a poll...how many people wear shoes when they're just hanging out in their house...oh, well, back to this FlyDeal....

As I said, I was getting a little nervous, but then the clincher zinged into my in-box. Do I have too many books in my house? Are they stacked about? That does it!! I'd begun to have my suspicions, but now I'm convinced--even though I'm no more paranoid than the average Joe (or would that be the average Jane?)--obviously FlySpies are checking me and my house out.

It's the only logical explanation. And it's wigging me out. My hands were shaking when I unsubscribed myself from the FlyLady e-mail. I guess I just wasn't ready for the FlyLady after all....

Jennifer on 01.07.06 @ 07:05 AM EST [Entry Link]

Winter Respite

Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous. 60-something degrees and sunny. I started out for a run in a sleeveless running top and a t-shirt and had to ditch the tee half way through. Wow! Is this a nice way to start 2006 or what? No doubt winter's going to return and bite us in the butt, but I'm grateful for this balmy break.

The birds have been out in full force the last couple of days. In addition to the regulars--cardinals, doves, wrens, sparrows, robins, chickadees, titmouse, and nuthatches--a beautiful pair of downy woodpeckers have been at the suet feeder and a lovely northern flicker has stopped by. Just a note for anyone interested in suet feeding but can't seem to keep the squirrels out--red pepper suet is your best friend. Squirrels are mammals and they don't like the hot pepper so they won't eat it, but the birds could care less. It's the only thing I've found that keeps the squirrels out of the suet.

Now, I'm going to velcro my rear to my chair, log off of the very distracting Internet and push forward on this book.

Jennifer on 01.05.06 @ 08:58 AM EST [Entry Link]

Book Discussion

ANTICIPATION, my January Blaze, which is out NOW, is part of a new program at eHarlequin called "Reading with the Hosty!" where readers can join the hostess (hosty) Dee--who, btw, is fabulous and funny--throughout the month to discuss the book of her choice. I'm thrilled that ANTICIPATION is her January choice.

The link is
http://community.eharlequin.com/WebX?14@857.wAoyaTW3MVN.0@.4a836e62

I hope you'll drop in! I've found that the next best thing to reading a good romance novel, is disucssing it with others who've read the same book. I'm hoping there'll be some interesting "talk" that also gives me insight into what you like in my books and what you want more of--after all, I write for you, the reader.

Jennifer on 01.04.06 @ 10:25 AM EST [Entry Link]

Sending Hope

Please take a few minutes to send thoughts and prayers and energy to the miners trapped in West Virginia, the rescuers trying to get to them, and their families waiting helplessly. They all need a miracle.

Jennifer on 01.03.06 @ 09:42 AM EST [Entry Link]

Hello, 2006! Wishing everyone a healthy, happy, prosperous New Year! This year I'm going to do the same thing I did last year. Instead of resolutions, I'm going to write down my goals and break them down into small components. And I'm not going to tuck them away. I'm going to post them in a prominent place.

Oh, yeah--don't forget that my Blaze, ANTICIPATION is on the book shelf now at your favorite book store!! Start off the new year with a good read. It's sexy and funny...at least I think it is ...well, I hope it is.

We rang in the new year with two other families last night. Now, I'm going for a run while The Girl and her dad are still snoozing. The Christmas tree is down, all the decorations are packed away, and the house is relatively tidy. My family is going on some kind of four-wheel drive ride which consists of big trucks and jeeps and such going over rough terrain. I'm looking forward to having the house to myself and writing. It's so much easier to get my head into a book when things are quiet and I'm not surrounded by chaos (I feel sorta guilty referring to Christmas decorations as chaos...but, not that guilty).



Jennifer on 01.01.06 @ 09:22 AM EST [Entry Link]