For Sale

I'm such a huge, geeky fan of the home shows on HGTV. I love House Hunters and First Time Homebuyers, and Income Property and Property Virgins (though I don't trust this one completely--do they really buy that house??). If there's a marathon I'm in house heaven, a special kind of euphoria that comes with phrases like "spacious" and "granite countertops" and "master suite."

Although I'd love to move, somewhere in the country (or to a mountain in Vermont), we have no plans to do so any time soon. We have kids to put through college, after all, and moving would put a huge dent in the budget. But I do love looking at the houses out there, seeing what other people like and dislike. Sometimes I agree, sometimes not. One thing I always find humorous is how hard realtors will work to make a sale. Every dislike seems to be "an easy fix." And one thing that always drives me nuts is when a buyer can't overlook paint color.

So until I can put a For Sale sign out front, I'll be content to watch HGTV. And dream a little bit...

Wishing You...

...Christmas Blessings

Have a wonderful Christmas, full of much love and happiness.

Random Bits

Amazingly enough, I'm not frantic this year--well, in terms of getting ready for Christmas. I slept late today (ahhh), and have been lounging around in my robe most of the morning. My husband has the next week and a half off, as do the kids, so I'm looking forward to a lot of family time, though I will still be working. I have to come up with three proposals plus tweak a women's fic novel I hope to send out after the first of the year. And I'm writing another short story, that's due ASAP but I'm almost done with it, so not frantic about that, either.

I've been getting some great reviews for Truly, Madly. Here are two:

From Pub Weekly:

“This clever paranormal mystery series launch is sure to delight fans of Webber’s gardening detective, Nina Quinn (Weeding Out Trouble, etc.). The Boston Valentines have been professional matchmakers for generations, but Lucy Valentine’s psychic talent tends to show her people’s lost car keys rather than their ideal mates, so she’s shocked when her parents stick her with running the company. A vision leaves her wondering whether a client murdered his girlfriend, so she hires sexy PI Sean Donahue to find the missing woman, but while she’s imagining them naked in bed, he’s suspecting her of murder. Lucy has to contend with her meddling grandmother’s efforts to find her a new boyfriend as she dodges the cops, hunts a killer, and struggles to explain the truth to Sean. Fun characters, sparkling prose, and a twisty plot add up to a great beginning for Valentine Inc.”


From Night Owl Reviews:

Score: 5.00 / 5 - Reviewer Top Pick

Lucy Valentine doesn't really know what she wants to do with her life. She does know that dog walker didn't work out nor did day care worker nor did several other jobs that she's tried. She also knows that she's not able to work in her family's business, matchmaking. Her family has a unique gift of seeing auras around people, matching them up and sitting back to watch happy couples. Lucy was struck by lightening and lost this gift though she did get one, which lets her find missing objects, not people or animals though.

Her family has a curse to go with their gift. Marriages within the Valentine family usually don't work out. Lucy's parents present a united front for business sake but haven't lived together in years. When her father has a heart attack while in the company of someone other than his wife, Lucy's parents get together to leave the country for her father to recuperate leaving Lucy in charge of the family business. She's anything except thrilled.

Positive that she's going to make a mess of things, Lucy takes it slow but some how fate steps in making things go a little faster and a lots more chaotic then she ever expects or wants. One of her first clients gives her a flash of a missing engagement ring but it's on the hand of a skeleton! Another client has her loosing her temper. The big news in Boston is a missing child and Lucy feels compelled to do something even though she knows she can't find missing people. Her grandmother even gets into the mess by volunteering to fill in as the receptionist and by setting Lucy up with a blind date.

Lucy knows she needs help, at least concerning the dead body and turns to the PI that works above the matchmaking business. He's not there but his sexy ex-firefighter brother, Sean is. Sean's learning the business and is more than willing to give Lucy a hand. He's not so sure that was a wise decision when the state police become involved and he knows Lucy is keeping more secrets. Is Sean going to loose his PI license before he even gets it? Worse yet, is he going to jail?

I loved this book. I've been busy since I finished it raving to all my family and friends about this great new book that will be coming out around Valentine's Day. This one will definitely be a keeper!

The characters are great. They have depth and are unique. Lucy doesn't have all the answers. Heck, she's still working on the questions. This lets you feel her frustrations as she tries to figure out what next. Sean misses being a firefighter but knows he's unable to go back to a job he loves. He doesn't want pity but wants to be accepted as a whole person. Lucy's best friends seem to have to all together but as you get to know them, the cracks in that show and their real lives and problems come out.

Lucy's grandmother is one of the most unique characters. She's ready for great grandchildren and is working hard to get them. Her manipulations are not only realistic but also hilarious. Lucy works hard at skirting the blind dates that are set up but when Sean starts helping, you can't help but laugh.

I never thought dealing with the police could possibly be funny but Lucy ends up with two different departments after her and she didn't even do anything! While the officers are serious, Lucy's maneuverings to miss them aren't. Too bad she can't just throw the police to the reporter that just won't leave her alone either. She's determined to get a story so she can move to a bigger paper and Lucy is just as determined not to give her one.

Not to leave out the mystery of the dead person. I was sure I knew who it was and who did it and then the twists and turns started and I wasn't so sure any more. In fact, those twists and turns kept coming until you finally got the answer and it wasn't one I was expecting. The ending was a bit gruesome for the killer but worked out well for Lucy.

Though hitting the shelves around Valentine's Day, this book is set before Thanksgiving which means I can't wait to see Lucy at Christmas. At least two more books are planned and I'm planning on reading them. I fell in love with Lucy, her wacky family, her terrific friends and one hot PI in training. If Ms Webber can keep the rest of her stories as fresh and entertaining as this one, I foresee a long line of stories about Lucy.


Pretty cool, eh? Today I'm off to pick up a couple of last minute gifts and go back to a store that left a security sensor on one of the items I bought. I tried getting it off myself, but that sucker wouldn't budge. Plus more cookies! Mmm.

Hope you're having a non-frantic day, too.

Cookies

It's no wonder my favorite character on Sesame Street was Cookie Monster. I love cookies. Almost all kinds, but mostly chocolate chip and sugar cookies.

And wouldn't you know it, that's exactly what we're (my daughter and I) baking this week. The sugar cookies, especially, are tradition around here this time of year. Rolling the dough, cutting the shapes, decorating with vanilla frosting and sprinkles and colored sugar. The kitchen is usually such a mess by the time we're done but it's so very worth it.

Do you have a favorite cookie?

Who Needs Sleep?

Me! I do. Sign me up. I woke up at 2:15 am this morning, wide awake. Those who know me well know how unusual this is. I'm a sleeper. I need at least seven hours a night--or else. Which means those who know me well should hide later this afternoon.

I spent the first hour of being awake trying to convince myself I could fall back to sleep if I just tried harder (does counting sheep ever really work?). I spent the second hour wondering if I should just get up and work or read or something. But really, under the covers it was warm and toasty, whereas the rest of the house was not. The covers won.

But finally I couldn't take it anymore and dragged myself out of bed. So here I am, checking email and Facebook and writing blogs at five in the morning (this is just so wrong). I'm hoping I'll exhaust myself, so I can go back to bed for a while since the kids are now on vacation, and I don't have anywhere I need to be until 4 pm (I love vacation).

Though I have to admit there's something nice about being up so early. I keep thinking there's so much I can get done. I can write, and workout, and clean and...then I start thinking about those covers.

Hmm. Wonder which will win out...

Picture of the Day

Sunbathing

Photo credit: Mr. Webber

(click to enlarge)

Almost everyday (for months!) this little guy (girl?) is in this spot in our backyard. It's a bunny-sized divot just perfect to snuggle up in. When the bunny first started doing this, we thought a) he was dying (he sits there for hours) or b) maybe it's a she and there's a warren underneath her with babies in it. But upon further inspection, it's just a bare spot in the yard--no babies. Well, my speculation is that she has babies somewhere and escapes to this spot everyday to get away from them (needy little things that they are). It's always so cute to open the blinds in the morning and see the bunny out there, but honestly, we wish he/she would pick a different, safer, spot. There are so many hawks in this area! I'm such a worrier.

Do You Believe...

In fate? Kismet? Karma? Magic?

I use all of those in the Lucy Valentine books, and I have to admit I want to believe. It's been nice writing about it, exploring it a bit, controlling it so it comes out the way I want. :)

I wrote a book proposal years ago about a book based on karma (obviously I have a fascination with this stuff), it never went anywhere, but I still love the idea of it. And I love the idea that karma really exists. That good will triumph. There are a few people I know who I hope get a taste of what goes around. Just sayin'. And it would be nice to know the universe will take care of that for me as I hate confrontation.

I bring all this up because last night I had to run to Walgreens, which is about 2 minutes from my house. I left, got there, went in for about ten minutes (mental note--not the time of day to go to the pharmacy), and by the time I headed home, there had been a big accident in front of my neighborhood (it opens onto a four lane main road and has no traffic light--lots of accidents--but that's rant for another day).

I couldn't help but wonder if that would have been me in that accident if I'd left home a few minutes later, or if there hadn't been a line at the pharmacy.

Fate?

I don't know, but it makes me wonder. And will probably keep me writing about it for a long time to come. (Lucky you!)

Tell me I'm not the only one who thinks about this kind of thing--have you had any close calls?

Old School

Earlier this month, "New York Magazine" ran a list of items that have become obsolete over the past ten years.

And, zoinks, I need to catch up with the times!

1. Answering machines

Yep, we still have one. It's currently not working since the power went out last week and no one wants to record a new message.

2. Lickable stamps

Thank goodness they don't have these anymore--and let me just plug self sealing envelopes while I'm at it. Love them.

3. Foldable maps

Have a whole storage container I call the "Map Bin" filled with foldable maps. I can't imagine ever getting rid of them, GPS or no.

4. Cathode ray tube TV's

Yes, yes. Still have one or two (or four) of these around with their sad little antennas and digital converter boxes.

5. Incandescent light bulbs

Guilty.

6. Smoking in bars

I don't smoke and am very glad smoking in public places is banned in Ohio.

7. Fax machines

Don't have one, never had one, and can't foresee ever getting one.

8. Hydrox cookies

I so remember these from my childhood, the knockoff Oreos. They were such a treat!

9. Cassette tapes

We finally, finally, got rid of ours two years ago.


10. Floppy disks

Still have them. Don't use them, but still have them.

11. Phone books

I have about four or five in the front closet, and yep, still use those too.

12. Polaroid photos

So fun when we were younger! And our kids loved them, too. But yeah, our Polaroid camera is long gone. Did you hear they have a modern version now, one that prints digital pics as you take them? I wonder how the quality is.


13. Bank deposit slips

I must really be old school because I always use bank slips--never the ATM for deposits. Surely, I can't be the only one.


14. Subway tokens

I don't live near a Subway, but it's so strange to go to DC and swipe a card now, ditto with Boston.


15. The Rolodex

It's currently sitting on the desk behind me.


How do you fare? Are you going into the 2010s completely modernized?

Déjà Vu

I went and did it again.

On the way to take the kids to school this morning, I was stuck behind a delivery truck. I couldn't help but notice the writing on its side: "Mooses and Money."

BUT, now that I'm aware that my (evil) little brain likes to play tricks on me, I knew to look twice.

"Mooney and Moses."

Ah.

Yeah. I'm thinking it might just be one of those days.

Confession

Okay, deep breath.

I think that those reindeer antlers and red noses stuck to cars and trucks this time of year are adorable.

There, I said it.

I feel better now.

Picture of the Day

Waxing

photo credit: Mr. Webber

(click to enlarge)

Taken earlier this month when we had some of the most gorgeous crystal clear skies I've ever seen.

Am wondering if we look close enough if we can see the crater NASA's little bomb made.

Hustle and Bustle

I've been a busy Christmas elf this week, hustling and bustling. Spent most of Tuesday shopping for gifts, mostly things I needed this week to mail out, but some family gifts too. I have to admit I have about an hour in a mall before it sucks the life out of me, so I rush, rush, rush, frantically trying to buzz in and out of stores in record time. Not so easy when it seems everyone is of the same mind set.

One thing that is a bit alarming is how easy credit cards are to use these days. None of the stores I went into even looked at my card and the majority didn't even have me sign anything. Does this strike anyone but me as idiotic in this day of identity theft? Almost makes me want to go back to writing checks all the time, but the threat of mutiny from the people in line behind me is enough deterrent.

One of the things I love most about this time of year is giving back. Our church has a giving tree, where they hang paper ornaments printed with presents (ie, doll for ages 5-7) that will be given to those in need this Christmas. We always take two or three of these ornaments and it's always such a joy, no matter how crowded the stores are, to shop for these gifts. My critique group also bands together every year to give back to the community. This year we're supporting a local home for abused children. Their wish list is printed on their website and we shop and pool resources to buy as much as we can. And a few weeks ago, I was volunteering at the local animal shelter, where they also had a giving tree set up, and I couldn't help taking one of those ornaments too. I'm really just a big sap that way. I've been so blessed in my life that this is just such a small way to give back. It truly makes me happy.

So I've been shopping, wrapping, shipping. The snow is falling again this morning and it's currently 21*. Brrr. The duck family is doing great! They waddle up to my husband's parents' back door and quack until his parents feed them (a corn mix). They come three times a day, almost always at the same time (how do they know???). They're apparently living in an abandoned muskrat nest on the edge of the pond. So cute. I'm really hopeful that they're going to make it.

It's good to busy. And happy. And hopeful. Happy Thursday.

~heather

Yikes

I'm not quite sure how it happened, but I accidentally deleted a letter a reader sent to my website a few days ago. And unfortunately, I have my site set so my deleted folder gets, well, deleted when I log off, so the letter is gone forever. I have no return email, no nothing. But I do remember the gist of the letter and hope the writer checks this blog once in a while:

Now that I'm writing Lucy Valentine, what's going to happen with Nina Quinn?

The fifth book in the Nina Quinn series, Weeding out Trouble, was the finale. Lots of times in this industry, the decision to pull the plug on a series isn't the author's idea. I knew Avon was making cuts, so I decided not to submit more proposals and they didn't ask for them. Moving a series to another publisher is super difficult, and this wasn't really an option for me. I chose to move on to another series, another publisher. I do miss Nina Quinn and her band of merry troublemakers, but writing the Lucy books has been a silver lining...

And speaking of, there's a couple of reader discussions about Truly, Madly going on over at BN.com this week. There's a general discussion--don't read if you don't want spoilers--and also a thread on the supernatural element, and a thread of reviews, which don't give much away at all. And thankfully, most have been positive, which makes up for the few that have been really bad. If you're interested, follow this link. I'll be joining the conversation next week...

Babies!!!!!

The ducklings started hatching on Sunday morning.

These pics were taken through a window.

By Monday morning, the area had its first snowfall. And Mama Duck

had enough of her nest. She took the little ones, 14 in all, into the

backyard so she could find some food.

Don't the Papa Ducks look so proud?

Luckily, there it was only a dusting of snow, but the pond is almost frozen--

those babies are going to have to learn to swim another time. (We call that

white duck "Aflac".)

All in all, a Christmas miracle, I'm thinking. I really hope they pull through and

 survive with the odds stacked against them. Right now they're living in a

 drainage ditch to the pond, so they are out of the elements.

Sigh. I love a happy ending.

It's a Marshmallow World

It's snowing! It's snowing! Wheeeee!

It's the first snowfall of the year, and yeah, it could have come a little earlier (so kids would get school off) or later (so taking them to school would have been a lot safer) but wheeeeeee!

There's something about the first snowfall that's just so fun and magical. I can't wait until it's light out and I can open the blinds and just enjoy...

Has it snowed where you are yet? Love it? Hate it?

Picture of the Day

Just Hanging Around

Credit: Mr. Webber

Duckwatch

Mama duck is still faithfully sitting on her eggs, leaving only to eat dinner. The two papa ducks (yes, two--the hussy!) are at her beck and call.

We're really hoping against hope at this point...

Reflections of the Day

I spent most of the day in bed yesterday recuperating from a minor outpatient procedure (more Clunkerville--see posts from 11/2, 11/3). Anyhoo, I realized a couple things as I was lying there.

1) General anesthesia is pretty awesome.

2) There might just be such a thing as too much sleep.

Gasp!

I can't believe I just said that. Might be the lingering effects of the drugs talking...

Say Cheese!

Quite a dilemma here at the Webber household. We're in Christmas card mode. Which means pretty much one thing:

The picture.

Getting all three kids to look at the camera and smile is much easier now that they're older, but we like to mix up settings and we're struggling with figuring out where to take the picture this year. Indoors, out. In front of the tree? In front of the fire place? Action shot? Posed?

All I know is we have to figure it out soon. Time's a'tickin!

Reminder!

Today's the last day to enter November's You'll Love Lucy countdown giveaway. Pop over here to read entry guidelines and see the prizes (oooh, ahhhh). And be sure to check out December's goodies tomorrow.

All previous month's entries are rolled over, so if you entered already, you don't have to do it again.

Good luck!

~heather

Picture of the Day

Duck

(click to enlarge)

She's keeping warm 13 eggs. We're all worried

--since when do ducks lay eggs in the fall?--

but trying to think optimistically.

Happy Thanksgiving

Apple, Pumpkin, Blueberry

I'm going to be brave today. I MUST be brave. I'm in need of pie fixings so off to the grocery store I go.

The day before Thanksgiving.

I'm brave and crazy.

I might need to bring reinforcements. The key is not to use a cart. The ability to duck, dodge, and sneak through narrow openings will hopefully cut my time in the store by half.

Ah, the things we do for pie.

Woops!

Ever make a completely stupid mistake?

I'd like to say I haven't, but mistakes around here happen frequently and are almost always my fault. I have no excuses. Not good ones anyways.

The latest goof?

My daughter has trumpet lessons on Monday nights. Her teacher's house is a good 25 minutes away. We were about two minutes from his place when we realized we'd forgotten the trumpet.

Oops.

Sure, sure, my daughter could share the blame in this (maybe mistake making is hereditary?). But really, isn't it a mom's job to double check pesky little details like making sure we have possession of the trumpet before we leave the house for trumpet lesson?

Well, long story short, we rescheduled for tonight. Watch, we'll forget the music.

The funny part was this morning as I dropped my daughter off at school: I was reminding her that I'd be picking her up today since she'll (again) be bringing her trumpet home.

She looked at me and said, "No one needs to know what happened last night."

Ah, she's learning fast about post-mistake embarrassment.

I'm hoping she doesn't read this blog...

Question of the Day

A reader on Goodreads reviewed Truly, Madly: "A delightful no-brainer."

My question: should I be happy or insulted?

I'm leaning toward happy, because delightful is well...delightful.

Picture of the Day

Pipkin

He's 18 months old now, ancient in hamster years,

but he's just as cute as ever.

One Week

One week from today is Thanksgiving. Hard to believe it's here already. I'm still trying to understand how a year can go by so fast.

Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that's all about tradition. Family, food, fun, fights. What's one without the other? Our tradition usually involves going to my husband's parents' house. We'll all be there: 6 adults and 9 grandkids ranging from 18-2. I'm sure there will be tears (might be from the adults) and lots of laughs.

The feast features the usual suspects: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, gravy, rolls. I'm usually in charge of the pies. Blueberry, apple, pumpkin. Mmm.

And afterward, we'll drag out Twister, because the little cousins love to fight play it. We almost always watch a Christmas Story Thanksgiving night while having a piece of leftover pie.

Very traditional. Lots of fun. I'm looking forward to it. Not only for the yummy food, but for the family. And the memories in the making. I'm just sappy that way.

Do you have traditional plans? Any untraditional plans out there?

Unplugged

My son has a friend, a high school senior, who decided out of the blue, to give up all technology for one month. Just to see if he could. Gone was the cell phone, the Ipod, the video games, the TV, and the computer (supposedly his crops on Farmville are withering away).

He lasted three days without the phone, and claims he now knows how lucky he is to have one. The rest he's still holding strong.

I'm not sure how he's doing it. Lives these days are so tied into technology. Our Internet was down last night and it was panic-time around here. The kids had homework to either check online or send to their teachers (yes, some assignments are now uploaded). No email (twitch, twitch), no nothing. Luckily, it came back up after three and a half hours. Whew. Crisis averted.

Then this morning my daughter's I-touch decided to have a hissy fit and stop working. She uses that little gadget so much it's like a fifth appendage. Arms, legs, I-touch. It would still power on but the touch screen refused to cooperate. I was online (see how much we use it?) at 6:15 this morning looking up fixes on the Apple site. I'm happy to say after an hour of pleading (I'm not proud) with it, it decided to come back to life. My daughter will be very happy when she gets home from school (I refuse to text her during school unless it's an emergency and though this was borderline, it doesn't go quite that far).


I can't imagine going a month without technology. A few days, maybe. But that's it. How about you? What bit of technology would you be lost without?

Under The Surface

Writers are often asked where we get our ideas. And for me one of the biggest sources is the news. Some of that stuff is too good to pass up.

I heard a story today that has my gears turning and will probably end up in a story, somewhere, somehow.

I'm paraphrasing the story because my memory's not so good: Somewhere in the U.S.--not sure where--a pair of burglars broke into a house, tied up two grown men and a fifteen year old boy. During the robbery, a baby in the house started crying. The father of the baby and the fifteen year old begged one of the robbers to untie the teen so he could feed his brother. Not only did the burglar comply, but he also took the time to warm up the baby's bottle. No one was hurt; the robbers have not been caught.

On the surface it's just another tale of bad things happening to good people. But in my head it's a fascinating look at what's under the surface. What makes someone tick. How can a person break into someone's home, no doubt devastating that family for a long time to come, yet take the time to make sure a baby is cared for? It's that kind of dichotomy that I love to mix into my books, into my characters. Not sure how or when I'll use it, but it's there, churning...

~heather

Happiness Is...

It's one of those rare Mondays for me.

The kind where I'm actually optimistic about the week ahead. Life is good. Everything will be all right.

I know. What's going on with me?

I'm not sure. But I think it might have something to do with two things: One, I had a great weekend. It was nice and relaxed with two of the most gorgeous November days I've ever seen. Lots of family hanging out time. Watched a movie, had some ice cream, watched some football, laughed at my son's jokes, laughed at my other son's babysitting tales. And I watched my daughter perform on stage in her school play on Friday and Saturday night, just loving the amazing person she is. Life is really good.

The second is romance author Holly Jacobs. I'm envious of her happy-go-lucky personality and simple joy of life. She's been spreading her charm this month with a Giving Glee contest. I love the thought behind it, and I love the stories that have been coming in. More info here: http://community.eharlequin.com/content/giving-glee-contest

Sometimes it's nice to know the world isn't always about doom and gloom, that news isn't always bad, that life can be good even in some trying times.

This week I'm choosing to look on the bright side. I'm going to give some glee. And I'm going carry my fabulous weekend into a great week.

How about you?

~Heather