What I'm Up To

I've been getting a lot of queries about what I've been up to these days, and when my next book is coming out. All I'm going to say about my latest work is that I LOVE it, and it's a suspense novel. This is the dream novel to write and it's something I would've loved to read as a teen and would also love to read as an adult. Stay tuned... I will update as I make progress.
What else? I found four stray kittens last week and ended up keeping two. It was so strange how they came into our lives. We'd just lost our kitty of 18 years the weekend before. I thought it would be a long time before we ever had cats again, and then these kittens found us. I guess it was meant to be.

What's new?

Party Games has officially hit shelves! Fans of my other books have been asking when I'll be returning to chick-lit. The answer is, I really don't know at the moment. I enjoy writing for teens and a have a million ideas for the entire genre-- horror, drama and my fav -- comedy. I'm currently signed on to write another romantic comedy for Simon Pulse (Oct 2009) so I will be continuing on the YA path at least for this year. The current book that I am writing is a Halloween themed ro com. Now, if you're missing Cate Padgett and the crew from Roommates, my teen books are still totally me and fully reflect my writing style. Just imagine all my previous characters in their younger years. Readers of all ages will enjoy these stories. With that said, there is so much wonderful material in the YA market to be explored.

New Things for 2008

I've been blogging on a great blogspot for my new romantic comedy. Come check it out. www.simonpulseromanticcomedies.blogspot.com. I write on the 3rd of every month, and you can check out several of the other great authors in the series in the meantime.

I received some very honorable and exciting news on Christmas Day from a friend of my husband's family. I'm featured in the Januray issue of San Diego Magazine. It's the "50 People to Watch in 2008" edition, and I'm one of the fifty. I suspected I might be in there, but they don't announce who they've selected until the issue actually hits stands. There are a lot of really neat people in the issue. Check it out. But if you live in the Poway area you may have difficulty finding a copy. I think my parents bought every available copy to send to our huge extended family.

I just got the cover copy for my YA book, Party Games. It is too cute! The copy they sent me actually has the wrong title on it, but I can't it wait to frame it and add it to my others.

I'm not sure if I mentioned that I recently got an offer for German translation for First Comes Love. Very exciting, and the Germans have been very supportive with all my books. I love Germany!

Happy New Year!

Brief Update

I have been sooooo busy this past month. I apologize if I haven't replied to messages. I'm trying to get back on track and I just wanted to give everyone a brief update, considering what our city has just been through. My family is safe, but sadly my parents lost their house in the Witch Fire. They only left with photos, enough clothes for a few days and a feral cat that lives on their property. They built their house 24 years ago, so there are a lot of memories. However, the initial shock is passing and they are optimistic and excited about rebuilding. We know so many people who have suffered from this disaster, and my heart goes out to all the victims.

craigslisters beware

Okay, I still can't believe what just happened. My husband I -- preparing to move-- are in the market for a washer and dryer. We don't need top of the line here, so I checked out craigslist.org and made a few phone calls. We wound up in a French Canadian couples' garage that I'd never met before looking at a decent washer and dryer set. I have to admit on my way over to their house I was worried they might be serial killers (you never know who you're dealing with). At that time it didn't occur to me the people were just shady, greedy, jerks disguised as nice folks who wanted three hundred dollars for a pair of appliances with plugs made for Canada. If I hadn't asked them where they had moved from I would've never picked up on the fact that they were selling us a washer and dryer that wouldn't work in this country. Yeah, I know you can go buy the stuff to swap out the plugs and all that but the point is that these people were perfectly content to sell us appliances that only an experienced electrician would be able to use. And they knew it. They'd first vaguely said they'd moved from "east coast." I had to specifically ask from where, and when the wife answered Canada I saw the husband toss her a look. They even wrapped the plugs with dish towels and shipping tape, so people wouldn't see. And as my husband was examining the plugs I'm looking at their kids bikes hanging on the rafters thinking that people like this shouldn't breed. What kind of example are they setting for the kids? Or worse, what kind of kids are they raising? I couldn't even imagine selling someone anything that I knew would never work for them. It wouldn't even be in my stream of consciousness. And the craziest part of all of it was that came off as very nice, trustworthy people. Frightening. I'm still thanking god that I had enough sense to put two and two together. But I sure feel sorry for the next person who goes over there and doesn't ask where they're from.

Covers and stuff

Sorry, I think I wrote in my last blog that my YA book was called Party Girl, but the title is actually a working title. I think it might be called Party of Three or The Party Planner. Obviously, there are a lot of parties in the book. Very fun and light hearted like all my other books. I also saw the sketch for the cover which is always very exciting.
Also, just got my German edition of Roommates. It's always so fun to get new covers. I'm so sentimental that way. I love getting all the foreign books, even though I have no idea what they say on them.
I've been staying up way too late watching horribly addictive shows like The Hills. These shows are like a bad hangover. I regret staying up watching them when I struggle to wake the next morning. What the hell is wrong with those girls on The Hills? I know I went for some idiots, but Justin Bobby? I've also become glued to The Rock Life, which makes me extremely nostalgic. My husband played in a rock band for ten years, and I have to say there are a lot of similarites there. I miss the old shows at The Viper Room etc. Don't miss having him on the road though or the long hours in the studio. His old band, Louis XIV, is releasing a new CD this fall and they gave us a demo at my daughter's b-day party. I LOVE it. I've been listening to it while writing and it's so sexy.
All right, off to watch the Charger's game.

Crazy week

What a week! Wednesday, had my Fox 6 television interview. Much to my surprise, I didn't pass out on live television. This is my third appearance on their morning show, and fainting or having a heart attack is always a concern. Angela Chee, the anchor, is just lovely and asked great questions. Charlotte (my one year old) waited in the green room while I went on. From what I understand, she terrorized the pet of the day, a very patient and apparently kid friendly Australian Shepherd who was up for adoption. I forget the dog's name but he was due to appear on TV later in the show. Hope he found a good home!

Thursday was my San Diego book signing. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and new faces too! I can't tell everyone who went how much it means to me to have the support. Without you guys, I wouldn't have a job! So thank you, thank you, thank you!

Woke up Friday morning and jetted off to Los Angeles where my niece was born about 24 hrs later -- a girl named Sophie. Obviously, I love the name Sophie as it was my French name in high school. I'm so honored that they named the baby after me. Hee! Hee! Seriously, Sophie is a beauty. I'm so excited that she's here!

Well, my own baby is having a day with my husband and the in-laws while I get some writing accomplished. So it's time to visit to my new characters in the young adult book, as of now titled Party Girl.