It's Raining...Gophers?

So we've had a bit of weather in California lately. Lots of rain, thunder and lightning. Plus a few bizarre tornadoes touching down in residential areas. I saw a waterspout waaaay out in the ocean on my drive to town. Where am I? Oh yeah, California.

Weird things to see in my State.

To continue on with the weirdness theme, I saw something on Sunday that I couldn't believe. My German Shorthaired Pointer, Bo, was sneaking around in the back yard. He had something in his mouth when he meandered into the gargage and crawled into his crate. He was definitely up to no good.

I peeked in and to my utter surprise saw three (pinkish with a light brown fuzz) baby gophers. Bo was carrying them one by one into his crate and laying them down gently on his pillow. He hadn't crunched a one.

I can’t imagine what was going on inside his doggy brain. Did he think they were snacks for later, little friends, puppies, or what?

They were cute, sort of.

But now I'm wondering, do I need to get my dog a pet? Aren't my boys enough pink--albeit, not so fuzzy--creatures to cuddle with? Am I making too much out of three doggy chew toys?

I'm a Cha-Cha Answer!

How cool is that?

Okay, I didn’t know what Cha-Cha was either. But after a little investigation, it is an answer place for mobile phone users. Say you want to know the name of that actor who starred in that film…you know, the one with the hair, and the eyes, funny name, right there on the tip of your tongue, it’s driving you mental. You ask everyone, friends, family, total strangers on the street, no one can help. Your head is threatening to explode. But wait…there is a place with answers-Cha-Cha.

So someone asked: Who are authors similar to the style of Sophie Kinsella? (The author of Confessions of a Shopaholic—the movie came out a few months ago)

The answer?

Similar writers to Sophie Kinsella are Stephanie Hale, Kimberley Troutte , Teri Wilson, and Charity Tahmaseb

What the--?
How--?
Who--?

Wow.

http://www.chacha.com/question/who-are-authors-similar-to-the-style-of-sophie-kinsella

One Loving Thing Day

(Photo by Diego Hernandez)
On December 21st, I'll be blogging at Beyond the Veil: http://paranormalauthors.blogspot.com/ and also on CNN.com.
And in honor of Winter Solstice--the shortest, darkest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere--I am proposing a radical plan to keep each other warm.

Historically, cultures have celebrated the Winter Solstice as a time of rebirth. Ancient cultures came together during for festivals, feasts, dancing, singing, and cuddling with loved ones around the warm hearth fires. Many modern cultures still follow the old traditions.

As for me, this dark, cold, short day brings hope. Every moment after December 21st (the occasional storm excluded) will be brighter, sunnier, warmer. From here on out the darkness will be behind us and up ahead are better days. After the doom and gloom year we’ve been living through, I’m thinking we all could use a more sunlight in our lives.

So what is my radical plan? Call it a challenge.

I challenge everyone to do one loving thing on December 21st. Just one. It doesn’t really have to be world-changing, or earth’s-axial tilting. No, just give a gift from your heart, do a good deed, help someone…I don’t need to tell you, because you’ll know the loving thing when you do it.

I’ll post about my one loving thing, and if you can, come post at Beyond the Veil or here about yours. Your comments will inspire others to do one loving thing and it will snowball into a giant lovingthingerama.

And maybe, just maybe, this will be the best darkest day ever.

Interviewing Death

If you had a chance to ask Death a few questions, what would you ask?

Today over at Beyond the Veil, the website for Samhain Publishing's paranormal and SF/fantasy authors,
http://paranormalauthors.blogspot.com
I interview Cain and Sara, the main characters from my book, Soul Stealer.

Cain is Death and Sara is the woman he is supposed to kill until the two strike a deal that turns the Natural Order on its head.

So what would you ask Death? You could do what Sara did and ask for more time, but I must warn you that there is a price to pay if you go that route.

There's always a price.

Around and Around the Galley I Go

I'm finishing my galleys for Catch Me in Castile.

Galleys are the proofs for a print book. The publisher asks the author to take one final read through and make any corrections before the book goes to print.

Gulp. There's something very final about the whole process as if my living breathing creation is now going to be set in stone.

F-O-R-E-V-E-R.

I wonder if the Evanovichs, Roberts, Rowlings, and Kings of the world all feel like throwing up each time they open their galleys?

Checking my nerves, I remind myself that this is the way things should go. My baby needs to go off into the world without me. It's as it should be. Perefectly right.

And so I check for typos, word choice, blantant errors, and author stupidity for the very...last...time. And press send.

Keepin' in Touch

Hi gang,

it's been a while since I blogged. Life has been a bit crazy lately. Kids are back in school and my job as lunch-maker, homework corrector, kid-driver began in earnest. How do other mothers do this wildness called life?

I'm not complaining because I love every minute of it. (Well, except Algebra, I didn't like it the first go-around and don't like it much more now that my son is taking it. Ugh). But I am curious since there is clearly not enough time in the day, what do you let go?

Here's my list of thing I've let slide:
housecleaning (check),
exercise (check),
cooking full-blown meals (check),
sleep (check),
make-up for anything other than a fancy function (check),
blogging (check, need to rectify)
reading (no way!).

On the publishing front, I am expecting my galleys for CATCH ME IN CASTILE any day now. The print book comes out June 1, 2010. I can hardly wait to get it in my hands. Seeing it on the bookshelves would be pretty darned cool too.

You all stay well!

Catch Me! Hurry!!!!!

What? And why is she screaming?

I'll tell ya. My dream finally came true.

Catch Me In Castile is OUT NOW!
click on Samhain Publishing

Sorry, having trouble keeping the screaming to a minimum. Here, let me whisper the next bit...

Buy it at: My Bookstore and More

If you are Kindle-licious you can go to: Amazon.com


"Catch Me in Castile will take you on a journey across the world and into the belly of an engrossing suspense. Kimberley Troutte also delivers on a heartfelt romance between a Spanish doctor and a woman who just needs something positive to happen in her life. There is also a bit of the paranormal to the storyline and a ghost who seeks answers..." Night Owl Romance Reviews.