And The Winner Is...

MATT! Kid 2 did the drawing (and I only put his name in once, even though he commented twice, because we're all about fairness around here) and Matt, you are the winner.

I will get a copy of RRO out to you in the mail as soon as you email me with your address. (that's becca (at sign) whisperingvoice (dot) com)

And for the rest of you? Here's a little excerpt for your reading pleasure.

"You," she says, pointing her straw at my face, "are an idiot. One of these days, young lady, you are going to have to learn to believe that you're good enough." She looks like my mom when she says that. Like she's humoring me into something. Like she has some stash of Great Wisdom that someday, if I'm extremely lucky, I may get to glimpse. That is so annoying.

Okay, there you have it. So happy New Year, everyone!

XO

B

Holding the Happy

Hey, guess what? I've got something to tell you... I received a small box of small books. Really pretty books with a cute swoony redhead on the cover. And also on the cover? My name. Right down there in the lower right corner.

And I discovered something about myself, about how I work. Something about my M.O., my style, my heart. I am a giver-away-er. I want to give a book to everyone I know. Also strangers. And Libraries. And set them in public places, like waiting rooms and bus stops and grocery lines.

Husband laughs.

I laugh, too, because I know it's silly to give away all the twenty books Mr. Publisher gave me.*

But.

I want to give one. Just one. Here's the deal. You leave me a comment, telling me either:

1. The best book you've ever read that's a romance but not a Romance, if you know what I mean, or

2. Your most embarrassing slip-up regarding a "person of interest" of the opposite gender, or

3. Who you will share "My Ridiculous Romantic Obsessions" with (after you read it) if you win a copy (bonus points if they blog)**

Easy, right? I'll choose a random winner on, um, let's see... Thursday morning. Yes, dear, I know that's a holiday. But I'll be home, and you can check in anytime. Please don't let me disturb your busy social schedule.

As for softening your despair if you aren't the random winner... I hear rumors. See, this book is published by Shadow Mountain, who is owned by Deseret Book. So even though the official release date is March 4th or something (I only know that because in a fit of insanity I checked on Barnes&Noble's website), books are being spotted at Deseret Book stores near you.*** And if I were less lazy, I'd go check the Shadow Mountain website to see if you can order online. Oh, all right. Hold on, please.

(Hm, hm, hm....****)

Yeah, okay. Maybe not online yet. But soon. Soon, I tell you! (as far as I know)

OH, YEAH - also, my toe is mending. Thank you. I can sleep. I can breathe in and out. I can hobble. I have to put on shoes later this morning. Pray for me.

So have a happy day, please. And if you want to be a winner, just know that you already are, in my book. But not necessarily OF my book. You know what I mean.

*There aren't twenty left. Because... well, haven't you heard what I've been saying?

**That is a lie. This will be random. Because I'm feeling sort of random, you know?

***I mean, if you live near a Deseret Book Store. You understand.

***That's your hold music. Hope you enjoyed it.

How Publishing Is Like Giving Birth. And Also Not.

Like: There's this beautiful new thing, and I want everyone to see it.

Not Like: I invite a whole lot more people to come around at delivery when it's a book.

Like: There's that gasp of surprise and delight to see it whole and shiny.

Not Like: Much less mess.

Like: I find myself telling people all kinds of details they SO don't care about.

Not Like: Nobody really even pretends to be interested*.

Like: I just know someday, someone is going to say mean things about it. And it will hurt.

Not Like: I don't have to listen to critics. I can pretend they don't exist. (But bullies are real. Forever.)

Like: There will be mistakes, and I might be embarrassed.

Not Like: They're all MY mistakes. (Worse, right?)

Like: I love this new thing.

Not Like: It doesn't need me - my work is done.

Like: It still keeps me up at night.

Not Like: I can't rock it back to sleep.

Like: I find myself in there, when I peer. (Does anyone else love that word? Peer. Try it. Peer. Mmm.)

Not Like: Chances aren't good that it will take care of me when I'm old.

*This is a complete lie. Everyone is interested. Or pretending to be. And that is fun, fun.

Post # 250. No Kidding.

In honor of the fact that this is my 250th post, I am absolutely not going to tell you 250 possibly interesting (or possibly not) things. I am not going to give away 250 random items I have sitting around my house. I am not going to spam 250 people and ask them to read my blog (because I don't know how). I am not going to do any of that. I am going to give you... (drumroll, please) another RRO mini-excerpt.


Mom pulls her new toy, a talking GPS directions-thingie up close to her eyes. “Turn right here. No, here. Sarah, you missed it. Now Mildred’s recalibrating.” I swear if I hear the polite British GPS voice, which, yes – Mom named, tell me one more time that she’s recalibrating, I’ll chuck her right out the window.
“It’s okay, Mom. There’s another entrance to the parking lot.” I point ahead half a block and turn into the lot between two huge trees. It’s almost over, I tell myself. And then somehow you’ll miss this.
Try me, I respond.

"My Ridiculous Romantic Obsessions" Chapter 1

I know, right? We can hardly wait. So, I have some good news about that. The Lovely Editor (whom we shall call Lids because I have a small typing handicap and it feels so much like Lisa - she understands and so should you) has recently let me know that My Ridiculous Romantic Obsessions is at press this week. THIS WEEK, people.

I know.

So it looks like we might have an earlier-than-expected release date, too. Yip!

Also, 19,000 words as of today. Yip, yip!