May everyone who reads this blog have a wonderful, joyous, tryptophan induced day tomorrow. Here’s to good company, good food, and a great nap after the engorgement!

My one regret about tomorrow? I won’t be able to hug my brother. It’s kind of hard to do that 3K miles away. Bro’ I love you! And I’ll call!!

But to fill that gap for me this year is my lovely granddaughter Gianna. She is such a joy to me. Her uncle and soon to be godfather spent the night last night. He’s 6’2” 250 lbs has hands the size of catcher’s mitts and wears a size 14 shoe. He played O line in high school and college. He is a big boy. To watch him coo and rock his 8 pound niece was priceless. He helped with her bath this morning, and well, I could not stop laughing at his falsetto voice every time he talked to Gianna. It was priceless. I am sooo damn thankful for this morning. The image of my son, his sister and her baby will stay with me forever.

Jeff and Gianna

I have a lot going on here. Times are tough for many. Tougher on some more for others. In the last year, as a family, we have had some rough patches, but as I look back and review how we all handled the adversity, my heart gets all warm and squishy. We have galvanized as a family. Having my daughter and son-in-law here has cemented our relationship for the rest of our lives. My son-in-law is a wonderful young man who I could not love more if I gave birth to him and whom I could not hurt if the fate of the free world was at stake. And my daughter. Wow, she has stepped up so much and blossomed into a wonderful woman. She’s a tigress with her baby and family just as I am. Go figure. I love it! I’ve watched my youngest son grow in leaps and bounds as a young man who still has miles to go, but for the first time in his life, I’m not so worried. I have seen glimpses of the great man he will one day be.

Today I visited my eldest son’s house for the first time since he moved in with two buddies earlier this year. I have not been ‘allowed’ over because well, it’s a singles pad for three hot properties. But today I just forced myself in. And yes, the house was a mess. But, it wasn’t disgusting. Well, except for the empty taquitos box in the tableless and chairless dinning room, and the splatter on the wall by the overflowing trash can in the kitchen, and the empty casserole of whatever someone recently ate, and the food left outside by the grill along with the mustard and ketchup and all of the empty beer bottles on the beer pong table. Bathroom? Not going to go there. I asked my son where they ate, his answer, “On the couch or standing up.” Okay. I managed to step fully into his bedroom. I was amazed I could get the door open wide enough to do so. ‘Nough said.

My son has a cat, Mrs. Kensington, Kensy for short, who he has had since she was still on a bottle. She is adorable and I’m sure living with three bachelors is not easy for her, but I watched her love up all over my boy while we were there. He loved her back. He’s a good boy, with a good heart, a young man who still has miles of oats to sew, but I’m sure when he hits his thirties he’s going to make a great husband and father. I could not be more proud of him. For that I am thankful.

My eldest daughter still struggles but she is on the right path. Back in school with a goal in sight. She, like her siblings, has a warm heart. She is sensitive and loves animals. She is a gentle soul who once she realizes all of the power she possesses will blast off.

My husband, still, after all these years, makes me laugh. He makes the best coffee and makes it for me every morning. He puts up with me, and that is not an easy task. Even I can’t tolerate me the way he can. He is my go-to guy. He gets me. He is the one and only person on this earth that I trust with my heart and soul. I know he would never intentionally hurt me. I know he would die for me. I know he would move mountains not to see me cry. Every hero I write carries a part of him.

There really is nothing more that I need in this life. If my house was taken away, and my cars and my lovely bling, if I never sold another book, if I was stripped of every possession I own, it would be ok. I have my family, and to realize they are all I need or really want, is a priceless gift. I am so thankful for them.

The birth of my granddaughter made me take off my sunglasses and see the true light of my life. I am profoundly changed by the miracle of her birth. So much doesn’t matter and all that does matter, matters even more.

There is only one other aspect of my life that comes close to mattering like my family and that is you, my friends. Those who I have met in cyberspace, and my dear friends who I see and who put up with me in real life. It’s really my honor, and privilege, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. What a family we are!

So, Family, go forth and pig out on turkey, have a wonderful day with those you love, and I’ll see y’all in a few days! And for those who are traveling, travel safe!

Karin*

xoxo

It’s been a good week, despite the Harlequin cluster fuck.  Which btw I think in the end is going to shake more things up and in a good way.  I LOVE how so many writer’s associations are banning together to say, “Hey, enough.  This vanity press stuff stinks and if you insist on continuing with this business model you get nuttin’ from us.” 

Hey, I get it, this economy sux.  We all need to reinvent the wheel and make some cash, but vanity publishing is only good for the publisher.  I know Torstar is hurting.  Their shining light of profit is all wrapped up in Harlequin Enterprises. Now, they are jeopardizing that profit by smarmy business practices.  I feel bad for the H/S authors. I know they are disappointed in their publisher.  Hang in there, ladies, once the dust has settled, methinks this will have been a huge lesson learned for many. 

Rock on RWA for upholding policy (but I never doubted that you wouldn’t, what surprises me is those who are surprised by your integrity!). RWA BOD, I salute your dedication, hard work and sacrifice!

So, my granddaughter is way cute!  Too damn cute for her own good.  She’s a good baby and my daughter and sil are doting parents.  Love having them here and love the new baby smell.  We’ve had lot’s of visitors this week.  Hah, they weren’t two steps in the door before we Purelled them to death.  We have that stuff at every turn in the house.  If anyone has the slightest runny nose, cough or sniffle they are banned!  For Life!  Okay, not for life but until they have a doctor’s note releasing them.  Snerk. Ok we aren’t that bad, but no sickies allowed!

There’s more good news coming out of this week: My vera good friend, Jami Alden, sold three books to Grand Central!  Whoo hoo, Jami! My friend Jaci Burton sold two books to MIRA. Go, Jaci!

Annnnd, drum roll please! My uber good friend, Virna de Paul, made her first sale to Berkley this week!  Two books to be released in 2011.  I’m so excited for her.  She has worked so damn hard and the hard work paid off in spades.  Go, Virna!!!

Congrats, ladies! I’m very happy for you!

Hubby’s football season is over so I have him hanging around, which is nice.  He says he’s going to write.  We shall see about that.  And speaking of writing, I’m moving along with my wip.  I really love my h/h. Love the story, the concept, the everything. 

So that’s about it for me. 

What’s everyone got planned for Thanksgiving?

Karin*

I’m using today to catch up on all of the things that have been put aside in anticipation of my lovely granddaughter, Gianna’s arrival, who by the way is too damn cute for words.  She is just a sweet pea!  And such a good baby.  Hardly fusses.  The kids are typical first timers and I love watching them hover.  My son-in-law went out and bought a video monitoring system yesterday.  The day before he installed the heartbeat monitor, and they have the audio monitors as well.   We can remote monitor her on tv or on the computers.  It’s like an FBI observation room around here with all the technology to keep an eye on one tiny baby.  How did our babies ever survive without all this stuff?

Today they take her to the doctor’s for her well check.  I doubt she’s lost any weight. That baby has the appetite of a linebacker.  It’s all good.  I’m happy for them and I’m happy for me!

So while they are out doing their parental stuff, I’ll be here tidying up things for them.  Once that is done, I’m pouncing back on my story.  Which I am loving btw.  I hope my editor does too.   I sent her the first half last week. 

So, I’m going to be laying low until I type The End, which if all goes well will be this time next week!  Wish me luck, and behave while I’m gone, coz once I turn in this book?  I am so going to kick back and party!

Karin*

Gianna Isabella was born at 9:04 tonight weighing in at 7 lbs 13 ounces.  She is freaking adorable.  AND! I’m not just saying that because she’s my granddaughter.  She is all pink sweetness. 

My daughter and son-in-law did an amazing job and I could not be more proud of my kid.

Here’s a pic of mommy and daughter

Yet to be named Grandmother and Gianna.

I’ll have better pics tomorrow.  We were all pretty exhasuted when this one was taken.

Goodnight for now, and thank you everyone for your prayers and good wishes.

xoxo

Karin*

Baby is coming!  I’ll report back with pictures as soon as I can!  Wish us luck and say massive prayers that all goes well.

And thank you to everyone who has put up with my nervous pacing these last weeks.

xoxo

Karin*

I have to make this brief.  Two things going on right now, I’m writing like a fiend and my daughter is on the verge of having my granddaughter.  The weekend was a crazy flash of memory.  Saturday was my last FBI Citizen’s Academy class.  After our graduation, we went out and met with SWAT.  Great bunch of guys.  We played hostage.  J  Then it was a free for all on the range.  I was able to shoot a .308 sniper rifle.  I hit the metal target each time, I was so accurate I shot the target off its holder.  I was then instructed to shoot at a smaller target, I nailed it!  I shot an M4, a Tommy Gun, Glock 22 and a 12 gauge shot gun.  My right arm and back is killing me!  But my groupings with all of the weapons I shot were tight and on target.  My fave was the long shot.  Love that .308!  It was single action and well, it was very cool.  I want to be an FBI sniper when I grow up. 

Yesterday my eldest son brought a bunch of his friends over for dinner. Great bunch. They took all of the leftovers. I really enjoyed them. My daughter was having serious contractions all day yesterday, and my son-in-law, whom I adore, thought it would be funny when he said, “Ma!  Rhianna’s water broke!” and watch for a reaction.  Oh, he got one. We all came running.  They both laughed thinking their little fun at our expense was hysterical. I got him back this morning.  I got him good.  Who’s laughing now, sucker fool????

So, I need to take care of a few things around here, then take my kid to the doc’s.  I’m sure they’ll hook her up to the monitor to make sure the baby is fine. I suspect more waiting after that.  But this baby is on her way. 

I’ll keep y’all posted!

And please say a prayer for my daughter and granddaughter to stay healthy and for everything to go smoothly. 

xo

Karin*

Too many life interruptions!  Some good, some bad, some meh.  But they are all interfering with my writing!  I wish I could just close up the lap top, hop in the car, and go to the local Holiday Inn and take three days to hammer out the rest of my book.  But, as many of you know, my granddaughter’s debut into this crazy ass world is imminent.  What’s an almost granny to do?

Do what she has always done: just deal.  And I am, but something is different with this book I’m writing, and it’s slowing me down. I can knock out 5-10K words in a day if I know where I’m going. Not that I’m a plotter, I’m a quasi pantser.  But this book is more layered plotswise then any book I have written.  I keep telling myself since it’s a romantic suspense, I need to make it uber suspensey.  So, to that end, I keep going for plot, but the plot is hanging me up, coz I just want to write about my characters.  Then I sit back and think, wait a minute, romance is about the characters first, the plot is secondary. So then I happily jump into the writing, knocking out pages like nothing flat, but then come to a screeching halt when I come up against the plot again. 

I do have this little voice in my head telling me, I’m don’t have the chops to write a bigger book, but when I go back and read the story, I love it.  It’s dark, sexy, edgy, and well, it’s good.  Really really good.  My best contemporary hands down.

So, I’m kind of scratching my head here wondering what I need to do to get on the hot streak.  Any suggestions?

Karin*

No baby yet!   But I have insider information that says, soon.  Very very soon!

Say a prayer all goes well and in a couple of days I’ll have a picture of my granddaughter to post!

Now?  I need to get back to this book!

Karin*