Good bye, February. You’re a right miserable month after all. Hate cold. Hate wet. Hate cold and wet together. One wicked storm was supposed to bring snow to the valley, but nothing that interesting happened. Just cold.

Between basketball and more basketball, I got a little editing and writing done. At the end of April, I’ll be attending the LA Times Festival of Books on the USC campus. I have a one hour signing. Looking forward to a road trip with my college boy.

Ravensong didn’t make it past the first round of the ABNA. A bit disappointed, but ultimately, it’s better to have tried than not. Still waiting to hear about the sequel to Emerald. Hopefully, March will bring some good news.

For a limited time, Wild Wolf has offered all of their titles for 99 cents on Kindle. That move has increased sales and more importantly, rankings. Hopefully, more exposure and reviews will follow.

Emerald is doing well on Amazon UK, dropping to number 14 over the past weekend and ranking in two different categories. It has reached its lowest number on Amazon US as well. With the huge number of overall sales on Amazon US, it’s difficult to move significantly with just a few purchases, but at least I have made it below 40,000.

In addition to that, I’ve been accepted for the Author Booth at the California State Fair this summer. I also entered the ABNA for a second time with my contemporary fiction Ravensong. I learned how to Twitter, although I find I don’t have as much to say as I thought I might.

All in all, January has been a productive start to the new year. Let’s hope things continue.

I don’t consider myself a glass half-full, glass half-empty sort of person. When I look at my life, it seems events pretty much sit on the mid-line. However, as I reflect back on 2010, I have to admit that the year was half-full.

In April, I had my first novel published. In July, I attended my first book signing with many others to follow. In November, I got to see my novel on the shelf of a bookstore. Not only that, but I survived a significant pay-cut from my day job and didn’t lose the house.

May saw my oldest son graduate high school at the top of his class and August saw him off to college. In December, he finished his first semester quite handily. Also in May, my middle boy survived his first year of high school and got his first job refereeing soccer. In July, he volunteered for the zoo as a camp counselor. March saw the youngest into his recent baseball season with a batting average to be envied. In May, he finished his first year of junior high with straight As and this fall, he entered basketball like a lion, dominating the boards and putting up double doubles nearly every game.

In October, the Giants won the World Series and brought me back to the 80s in San Francisco when the Niners dominated and everyone knew of the City by the Bay. Thanksgiving with the family reminded me how lucky I am to have everyone home and healthy, and a more economical Christmas reminded me of what was important in that holiday.

So now as I look ahead to 2011, I can say goodbye to the past decade, knowing my cup runneth over. Happy New Year, everyone!

November has been wet. One particularly prolific storm dumped so much water we had to lower the level in the pool to accommodate it. We must have looked like a sight, dragging a hose through two gates, holding umbrellas over our heads. Attaching the hose to the pump forced the umbrella to tilt and rain ran down my back. At this point a more logical, less determined person would have abandoned the umbrella. Not me.

There is nothing more blissful than coming indoors after a drenching, changing into dry clothes, and sitting down before the fireplace. Those “little” things let you know you are alive: dry clothes, warm bread, fire…oh, and puppies.

Thanksgiving was a pleasant affair with the family. The oldest son was home and we spent the week eating out, catching a movie, and taking a break from the frenetic energy of our typical schedule.

Emerald continues to do well on Kindle, dropping at one point to number 14 in epic fantasies. I am so torn by the entire ebook situation. I truly love the smell of a bookstore, the feel of a book in my hands, but I also see the practicality of an ereader. It is certainly more environmentally and economically sound. Not to mention that I can understand why someone would rather pay ebook prices on a new author who hasn’t proven herself yet. Still, I wonder if paperbacks will ever disappear entirely. For now, I’ll stay a fence-sitter, but I can’t deny there’s a little voice whispering that I really wouldn’t mind if someone got me a Kindle for Christmas.  Shhh!

October has not been an easy month to get any writing done. Work has occupied my entire focus. I’m grateful for the day job, but it does make having a second career difficult. Sometimes I wish there were more hours in the day…sometimes.

I have been able to attend two book signings. The first on the 23^rd was fun. It was a benefit for the Orangevale Public Library at Barnes & Noble. The staff treated me so well and the volunteers from the library were interesting. I sold a few books and met two other authors. A local paper came and took pictures. That was a new experience for me, not the most comfortable one, but I can’t deny I was a little struck by the attention.

Emerald remains in the top 100 for epic fantasy on Amazon Kindle in the United Kingdom. The obsessive/compulsive need to check the ranking is worrisome (other authors will know what I mean). I’ve forced myself to limit it to one time a day. I think I’m going to have to move that single look to the end of the day because I’ve found that the direction of movement in the ranking colors my mood.

No wonder so many authors turn to drink. Kidding!

Every author needs to experience the fun of having a book signing in her hometown. On September 4^th, I spent the afternoon in Borders books in Elk Grove. Family, students, and colleagues showed up. There were so many people around the table that other people were drawn in. I sold out in three hours.

As always, the bedrock of my personal fan club was there: my parents and my sons. The oldest came home for the weekend and walked into the store with his girlfriend.

My aunt came in from Colorado. We haven’t seen each other in at least a year. She brought other family members with her. I was sitting at the table, signing a book, when a woman said, “You’re Dale’s niece.” My uncle Dale died when I was nineteen. Honestly, it took me a moment to register what I heard, then I looked up in astonishment. It was my aunt’s niece, whom I have never met before, but she came to my signing. Well, if I’m honest, my aunt was probably the bigger draw.

My roommate from college came up and it was as if no time had passed. We talked and laughed like the college kids we once were and I forgot for a moment that I’m not twenty anymore.

Current and retired colleagues were there. Of course, there’s no way for a bunch of English teachers to enter a bookstore without picking up other books and buying them. It’s a good thing the signing was shortly after payday.

However, the biggest honor was the students who came to show their support. One student arrived and offered to help me set up, then others came later wearing homemade shirts, promoting Emerald.

I left the bookstore feeling happy. Whatever comes of this venture, however many books I may get published, I will never forget the delight of this experience.

Post Script: Emerald is currently number 10 on Amazon UK’s Top 100 Kindle titles and number 84 in books. Yes!

August saw my oldest son leave for college. School began for all of us and after a leisurely summer of reading and swimming, we were plunged back into the insanity of early mornings and late nights. I still can’t make myself understand I need to be asleep before midnight.

The book signing on the 28^th in Santa Rosa was fun. The people were encouraging and friendly. I was amazed at how many people stopped just to discuss books and writing, sharing a few moments of their Saturday with me. I appreciated the interest…and of course, the sales that were made.

I nearly adopted a cat on the way home. The pet store next to Borders was having a huge adoption event. They had the most adorable kittens there, but one in particular stole my heart. Thank goodness sanity prevailed. As if we needed another animal in this mad house. My two cats would probably have packed up and left, not to mention Pepper, my 10 year old dog. She would so not be appreciative of a frisky kitten attacking her whenever she moved.

The month of September will be busy with book signings. Then band competitions will begin, along with basketball games. I haven’t had much time to sit down and do any productive writing in a few weeks and I miss it.

Fall is pressing around the corner. No more sitting by the pool or watching the morning glory wind its way around everything. Soon the trees will turn and the patio furniture will be stored away.

July opened with a fun family dinner for the 4^th of July. We set off the smallest fireworks I’ve ever seen. They looked like something Barbie and Ken would have at their own Independence Day celebration. It was downright adorable.

I had my first book signing at Folsom Borders on the 10^th. It was a hot, slow day and there weren’t many people out shopping. I did manage to sell four books, although two were to people I knew. Baby steps they say. However, the people I met were encouraging and enthusiastic. That made my day. My two legitimate sales were to people who seemed excited to read a new author. Bless them! It’s those small acknowledgements that keep me going.

The following weekend I attended a writer’s conference in Marin County. The setting was a beautiful Catholic high school, ringed by mountains. The grounds were covered in trees. Idyllic. The two keynote speakers were James Redford and Peter S. Beagle, the author of The Last Unicorn. The remaining speakers ranged from screen writers to mystery authors. As cheesy as it sounds, I have to admit I loved the atmosphere of so many creative minds gathered in one place, sharing their experiences with one another.

I have booked four signings at Borders throughout the Sacramento area. I will also be attending the Salinas Writer’s Conference in September. While at the conference, I’ll have a chance to pitch the book to an agent.

Emerald received a glowing review from Star Shadow, calling it epic. It was so exciting to see someone else’s opinion of it. I also received another reader review on Amazon. We’ve been trying to get other sites to review it and got a bite from a fantasy site that is searching for the top 100 fantasy novels in print. Can’t wait to see what they think.

June has been an eventful month, but most of all, the sun has been out and we’ve been swimming. I love summer.

Come see me on the 10^th at my first signing at the Folsom Borders. If you’re in the area, drop in and keep me company.

Emerald is now available on all on-line sites, except Borders. It is also available on Kindle in an electronic version. Hopefully, marketing will increase the sales. So far, Emerald has received one glowing review on Amazon, but it could use a few more.

We started editing the second novel, The Norrad. Already I’ve rewritten major scenes and anticipate rewriting a lot more. It could probably use a trim as well. It’s actually longer than Emerald in its current form.

I’ve begun writing the seventh novel in the series. This one will be a departure from the others with a whole new land to discover, but some of the old characters will return. The novel takes place ten years from the last one and forces the characters to embark on further adventures.

Summer is finally here and the weather is improving. What a great time to pick up a book. Emerald would be the perfect choice if you’re looking for escape. Wink! Wink!