It's Time for Ice Cream!

 
How does one celebrate after completing the first draft of a new book? ICE CREAM!!!

I'm thrilled to report that I've finished writing A Darling Secret. Woot! 

What's next? Lots and lots of editing. And then some more editing. Then a little more...

Stay tuned for details. :D

P.S. My website got a facelift. Check it out!

The 7th Question

I answer the 7th question in Simon Goodson's new interview. Check it out!

The Real Theater of Secrets

I was certain I left the map at Fisherman’s Wharf—the intoxicating aroma of fresh fish and chips distracting me. I thought I would remember the street names she had labeled and headed out again into the city, only to drift deeper into an 
entrapment of fog, brick, and night.

~Chapter 3 of The Nightmare Birds

 ~ ~ ~

Did you know that all of the places described in The Nightmare Birds are based on real-life places in California? It's true! I'm a California native and the fictitious town of Sea Salt is actually based on some of my favorite coastal towns. The entrance to the Theater of Secrets and the hotel Daisy stays in are also based on real places. There are a few other places in the story where the real names are listed like Fisherman's Wharf at Pier 39.

The adorable sea lions are my favorite attraction at Pier 39

You can explore these places through this interactive map. You'll also get to read excerpts from the book about each location. Enjoy!

Mapping Strange Luck

Did you know that all of the places described in Strange Luck are based on real-life places in California? It's true. I'm a California native and the fictitious town of Sea Salt is actually based on some of my favorite places in CA - Half Moon Bay, Loma Mar,  La Honda, and Pescadero.

Explore these real-life places by clicking this interactive map. You'll also get to read fun excerpts from the book about each location. Enjoy!

How To Start A Book Club

Looking for like-minded book lovers? An excuse to geek out over cocktails? Whatever the reason, starting a book club is very rewarding. I recently decided to start my own, but had no idea where to begin. If you're in the same boat, check out these tips to get started:

Pick A Theme: Go with the genre(s) you are most excited about. Can't decide? Have your book club read the classics or the top books of the year. If you really want to do something different, try a blind date with a book. Books are wrapped in brown paper so you can't judge a book by its cover.

Spread the Word: Shoot for 5-15 people to join. Ask friends and coworkers and anyone else you think might be interested. Post a flyer at your local bookstore, library, or cafe. Also, check out Goodreads, Meetup, and Reader's Circle. As soon as someone expresses interest, ask them the best day/time to meet and if they have any book suggestions related to your theme.

Arrange It: Evenings tend to be the popular choice to meet. Poll the group to determine how often and where you'll meet. If convening in your home, will you serve snacks/refreshments or make it a potluck? If you're meeting in public (cafe or library), do they allow outside food/drinks? Could you snag a discount? There's also the option for membership dues which can go towards purchasing snacks, etc.

Send Guidelines in Advance: Give people an idea of what to expect. Include how often you'll meet (once a month is typical), how long the meetings will be (usually two hours), what they need to bring, what the level of participation will be, and any other need-to-knows.

The First Meeting: Depending on the seriousness of the group, your first get-together can be a simple meet-and-greet where you can discuss and poll book suggestions and the order in which you'll be reading them. Or, if you want to dive right into the discussion, be sure to give the title ahead of time and do a bit of research on the author, time period, and any interesting tidbits. You'll also need to determine who will be moderating. As the group gets going, every member should have a voice. It's also nice for the moderator to send a reminder a few days before the next meeting.

Keep It Interesting: If your club is reading Harry Potter, have members dress up as their favorite character. Not into dressing up? Themed food is also fun. If you're reading a popular book turned movie, arrange to see the movie after you finish the book and then discuss the similarities/differences. Don't forget that there are a zillion book club Q&A spreadsheets out there if you're having trouble coming up with questions or getting the convo going.

Engage and Track Online: Consider joining a communal site like bigtent.com or Real Simple's No-Obligation Book Club. Members can post thoughts/questions and you'll save time by eliminating  group emails.

Happy reading...and don't forget to sign up for my newsletter. You'll be the first to learn about giveaways, events, and other cool stuff!

TBT Writer - A Sparkling Dog Named Millie

It's Throw Back Thursday (TBT)! If you're a writer, I invite you to share something you wrote way back when and/or a pic of yourself. Whether you wrote a bad story, silly story, or something really promising when you were eight or thirty eight, share it. It's all part of the journey to becoming a better writer. It's also a really awesome feeling when you can look back and see how far you've come. Don't forget to use #tbtwriter when you post. If you're a reader looking for some laughs, you've come to the right place. So without further ado...

Growing up, my house was like something out of Dr. Doolittle. There were a zillion different animals running around, and yes, we had birthday parties for all of them.

Here's Elmer the iguana celebrating his birthday with a delectable fruit salad.

I especially loved our little duckies.

My brother and I feeding the ducks in our pajamas.

So when I got my first dog, Millie, I was beyond thrilled.

Meet Millie.

Millie was a part of every family event from the very beginning.

Have you ever seen a more enthusiastic dog watching someone open an Xmas present?

I guess it was inevitable that I wrote a story about her when I was in elementary school:

Millie

 

When I first got my dog I was very happy and I got to name her Millie. I took her to a park and saw her long ears fly and her beautiful skin sparkle.

Millie come back. Millie is my new dog. She is a Shaffordshire Bull Terrier. She has golden orange fur mixed with white. I like taking her for walks at the park. She's really fast. I love to watch her golden ears fly back when she runs. She is a very strong dog, fun, and lovable. I enjoy taking here wherever I go.

I've loved MANY animals since Millie, but since she was my first dog, she'll always have a special place in my heart.

Bertha the cat. I think I have more hair here than head. :P

My grandparents dog, Matty.

Gomer the pug in his Christmas sweater.

My brother, Bo, and I.

My puppy, Loki, and me.

I hope you enjoyed my writing throwback. I can't wait to post again next month.


Don't forget to check out my other #TBTWriter stories and pics:

• Good Ideas, Sometimes!
• A Nine-Year-Old's First Horror Story
• Confessions of a Sugarholic

I Want To Go To There - The Coolest Places to Read A Book

Where do you usually read? For me, it's usually in my bright red Alice in Wonderland style chair by the window or in bed at night. But always reading in the same place can become a bit...boring. According to Mark Twain, "In a good bookroom you feel in some mysterious way that you are absorbing the wisdom contained in all the books through your skin, without even opening them.” I couldn't agree more. So I started thinking about super cool places to read and here's what I found.

  

1) New York Public Library Reading Room: This huge room the length of two city blocks is definitely a sight for sore eyes. From its gorgeous architecture and murals, you'll feel right at home reading alongside fellow bibliophiles.

2) The Long Room, Dublin Ireland: This library contains over 200,000 ancient books and is lined with marble busts of philosophers and writers. Can you say good company?

3) University of Pittsburgh, Cathedral of Learning: Aside from its badass name, this historical landmark is something straight out of Harry Potter. Seriously. I recently had the pleasure of touring this building and literally said "I feel like I'm at Hogwarts" a dozen times.

4) Rijksmuseum Research Library, Amsterdam: Visitors can explore the impressive collection of journals and reference books, or simply admire the stunning architecture.

 5) Hearst Castle Library, California: Want to read in a castle? If you answered "hell yeah" then you're in for a treat. This fanciful Gothic study houses more than 4,000 books and showcases the Castle's most treasured collections: 150 ancient Greek vases. Did I mention that this hilltop estate has breathtaking views?

6) Livraria Cultura, Sao Paulo, Brazil: One of Brazil's largest bookstores, this place looks great for lounging and perusing. Love the massive dragon statues too!

7) Libraria Lello e Irmao, Porto, Portugal: Rumor has it that J.K. Rowling’s inspiration to write Harry Potter began here. Rowling lived in Porto for 10 years working as an English teacher and routinely visited the shop for a cup of coffee. There are indeed many similarities between Lello’s bookstore staircase and the one described in Hogwarts. The exquisite architecture alone is worth the trip.

8) Libreria El Ateneo Grand Splendid, Buenos Aires, Argentina: I don't know which is cooler. The fact that this bookstore was an old glamorous movie theater, or that it's old theater boxes are private reading rooms. It's easy to see why a million people visit this majestic place every year.

9) Stuttgart Library, Germany: If Gattaca had a library, this is what it would look like. This cavernous white wonder is unobtrusive in design, where the books and visitors provide the color to an otherwise neutral environment.        

10) Jay Walker's Private Library, Connecticut: Stuffed with eye-grabbing historical objects, this mazelike 3,600 square foot library is extraordinary - especially the 20th-century volumes with jeweled bindings and rare anatomical sketches. I could so see the real Strange Luck shop looking something like this.

Where is your ideal reading spot? Are you inspired to visit any of the places listed here? I know I certainly am! Share your thoughts and any recommendations below.