September 29, 2008

The Song That Never Ends

Oh, girls.  I feel like I've been running and running and never getting anywhere.  Have you ever felt like that before?  Between the two kids that graduated this year, the one that got married, the travel that took up so much of the summer, and the hurricane ... I am FINALLY at a point where I am ready to turn in my manuscript for A BRIDE IN THE BARGAIN (my June 2009 release).

My original deadline was September 1st, but my editor graciously let me take an extra month--praise the Lord!!  Anyway, I finished it in August, then took a month to polish it all up and now I can't WAIT for you to read it!  I am giving it a final polishing today and tomorrow, then I'll overnight it to Bethany House so it is there on my editors desk on October 1.  Hurray!

Problem is, I'm now behind a month on my research for the historical that is due NEXT September 1st!  So, as soon as I mail this manuscript off, I will write a chapter for the collaboration I'm doing with Mark Bertrand (we're collaborating on a romantic suspense and it's my turn to write a chapter).  Then, I will be heading off to the location of my 2010 historical--South Carolina.

I'll be gone from Oct 7 to 17.  Since my sister is my new official "plotting partner" (she helped me plot A Bride in the Bargain), she is going to go with me on my research trip.  It will be the first time I've taken someone with me since I researched A Bride Most Begrudging (my mom went with me on that one).  This isn't the same sister I saw in San Francisco.  That was the middle sister.  This one is the oldest sister.  (I'm sure she'll appreciate me telling you that. ;D   )

I'm so excited to have her come with me--especially since she is going to move to England for six months starting October 27th!!  Anyway, we will take pictures and I will share them with you, but for now, I need to finish polishing the one I'm turning in on Wednesday.

Needless to say, I feel like the Song That Never Ends.  Ha! 

posted by Deeanne on 09/29/2008 - 10 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

September 24, 2008

Home Again

I returned home from my travels for the first time since the hurricane and was shocked at how many trees our community lost--not to mention the damage to homes.  And I'm not just talking about a limb here and there, but trees.  Big, giant beautiful trees.  Some lost their footing at the roots, some snapped in two and formed an inverted V.

This isn't a photo I took, but it gives you an idea of what thinks are looking like.  My best friend had a GIGANTIC oak fall across THREE LOTS.  It decimated their pool, but they were so thankful it fell in that particular direction.  Had it fallen any other way--and I mean any other way--it would have sliced a house(s) in two and casulties would have certainly resulted. 

We have power now, but didn't have cable or internet.  So, I've been checking email up at our neighborhood coffee shop.  It was packed with folks working on their laptops and talking on their phones.  Many of them still don't have power and they live only a few blocks over from us.

On the radio yesterday a woman called in who'd lost her ten-year-old to Ike.  My heart simply broke.  Another gal was supposed to marry a fellow in the Navy and he was only on leave that weekend.  From what I understand, the community pulled together and donated enough stuff for the two of them to say their vows and have a small celebration before he had to report back.  Since power is just now being restored, many of us are seeing the full reaches of Ike for the first time.

Our cable and internet were restored last night, so I'm back up and running.  Blessings to you and please continue to pray for those folks who have suffered losses in the hurricane.

posted by Deeanne on 09/24/2008 - 3 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

September 17, 2008

Meijer

In conjunction with Meijer Stores and Levy Entertainment, I'll be doing book signings in nine Meijer stores starting Friday.  I'll be in the following Michigan towns: Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Ann Arbor, Canton, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak and Monroe.  Click here for a full schedule. 

The Meijer "Read This!" Author Tour 2008 includes 25 authors--mostly romance--and runs from Friday, September 19 to Sunday, September 21.  I hope to see you there!

posted by Deeanne on 09/17/2008 - 5 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

September 15, 2008

We're Okay

The power is out.  Trees are down.  Grocery store shelves are empty.  Gas pumps are sold out.  School and work are cancelled.  But our family is safe and the house survived. (We didn't lose any trees in our yard.) 

I'm only able to get online because I'm not in Houston.  I'm in Minnesota visiting my publisher, but will be home next week.  So, if I don't blog for a while, it's because we don't have power.  I'll let you know as soon as we're back up and running!

posted by Deeanne on 09/15/2008 - 5 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

September 08, 2008

New Doo

My 20 yo son (the newlywed) cut his hair!  He had been saying he was getting tired of it, so he just went to a salon and told them he wanted to donate his hair to Locks of Love--a nonprofit that donates hairpieces to children suffering from long-term medical hair loss.  You have to have at least 10 inches to donate.  He had 18 inches!!

Here's the BEFORE and AFTER.

And here are the newlyweds.  :)

He said it took him three minutes to shower.  LOL.

posted by Deeanne on 09/08/2008 - 12 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

September 01, 2008

Only in Texas

Our grocery store has two aisles devoted to international foods.  To make it easy for shoppers, they have placed the flags of the country above the foodstuffs from that country.  When you walk down those aisles you'll find food from Britain, Italy, India, Asia, South America, Middle East, Caribbean and ... wait.  Whose country flag is this on the INTERNATIONAL aisle of the store?

Who else, but Texas' Lone Star Flag.  Underneath are ingredients for making what we refer to around here as Tex-Mex.  It's not authentic Mexican food (that's under the flag of Mexico), it's our own special version.

Still, I got a chuckle out of having our big, grand STATE flag soaring with the others as if we still hadn't quite come to terms with the fact that we aren't our own seperate country.

posted by Deeanne on 09/01/2008 - 7 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

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