So, I'm back

Hi everybody! How you been? What you been up to? Me? Sleeping, walking, reading (Tethered, Not a Day Goes By, Spontaneous Healing, The Thirteenth Tale, The South Beach Diet, 8 Weeks to Optimum Health, Anti-Inflammatory Foods for Health, The Once and Future King, The Cold Dish), watching movies (Wall-E, Hancock, Get Smart, Mamma Mia!), getting addicted to the first season of Mad Men, and keeping my peace-garden pumpkin, cantaloups and morning glories alive during triple-digit heat and NO RAIN for over a month. Also doing a little editing on Children of the Waters (which now has a pub date of July 2009).

Officially, I was on a break from book promotion, but I still had a few events planned that I kept. I met with a couple of book clubs. I have to say authors not courting book clubs: you don't know what you're missing! One book club (which doesn't have a name) held an orange, mint & honey-themed dinner (honey wheat bread, shrimp in an orange, mint sauce)-very yummy! Another book club (Circle of Sisters) held their meeting at Pete's Greektown Restaurant (which is right up the street from the fictional record store in my novel) and gave me a gift bag crammed with orange, mint & honey bath and body stuff the likes of which thrilled me to no end! I think I'm going to call my next books Chocolate and Champagne and Wads of Cash.

I also participated in a panel discussion at the University of Denver with writer, chef, and friend Marisol, Margaret Coel, author of Blood Memory, and Craig Johnson, author of the Walt Longmire Mysteries. The panel, moderated by the lead buyer at the Tattered Cover, was part of a class on the business of publishing. Interesting takeaway: All four of our stories of how we got published had a bit what might be called magic or good luck or fate. Never underestimate the power of paying attention to your life. And all four of us benefitted from the kindness of others in the profession. Never underestimate kindness.

For the folks who emailed me or left comments about taking care of themselves, I will be in touch soon about sending you a signed paperback or an audiobook.